“Because we need you, chaplain. And you need us.”
* * *
Alexei wasn’t alone. Juana and Liliana were in the back of his car, half hidden by Rubi’s hulking frame between them.
Their presence kept me quiet, but it was obvious by the bag in the footwell—the one I’d packed before Saint had invaded my tantrum—where I was going.
I’d never been to Alexei’s penthouse; no one had, save Cam and Saint. Actually, I’d never been in a penthouse at all, so it was hard not to stare when he pulled up close by and pointed to the affluent apartment block.
“There is an underground car park, but there are cameras. I could disable them, but it will take time we do not have.”
“What’s the plan, then?” I eyed the swanky building. “No offence, but me and Rubes don’t look like we live here.”
“None taken, chaplain. Do not worry. There is a tradesman entrance around the other side. I hacked that security system a long time ago. Rubi can take the girls in that way while you and I provide a distraction for the doorman at the front.”
“What kind of distraction?”
“The kind that will not make him question why you are in my home if he notices I am no longer there.”
“Booty call, baby,” Rubi hooted from the back seat.
I cringed. “Really?”
Alexei shrugged. “It is the only reason Horatio has ever known me to have visitors, though I would appreciate if you at least pretended to be dressed.”
Yeah. Okay. Because my fucked-up Korn T-shirt was going to fix everything.
I bent to the bag at my feet. Unzipped and two things I hadn’t packed stared back at me. A bottle of lemon oil and a sparkly gold hair tie.
Motherfucker.I pushed them aside and dug through the mess of clothes beneath. My Korn T-shirt wasn’t there, but Mateo’s worn Harley crew neck was, and I was too frayed to argue with fate.
I pulled it on. In my peripheral, I felt eyes on me. Liliana’s. I met her gaze by accident and she smiled.
Smiling back cleansed my soul, a pathetic twitch of my lips before I focused on Alexei again. “How demonstrative do we need to be?”
Alexei’s mouth flattened into a thin line. “Nothing that would make you uncomfortable. Only me.”
Neither scenario sat well, but Alexei was still getting used to Cam’s family caring about him, so I kept quiet and listened while he gave Rubi and Juana their orders.
“It would be easier to do this in the dark, but there was no time to wait. If you do exactly as I say, you will be fine. If something unexpected crosses your path, run, drive,leave.” Alexei passed Rubi a spare car key. “And do not look back. Embry and I will handle whatever you leave behind.”
Rubi nodded. “Good pep talk, bro. Come on, kids, let’s go.”
Somehow, he manoeuvred his big body past Liliana and opened the car door, sliding out. He guided Liliana under his arm and held out the other to Juana. With them safely in his embrace, he steered them away, and they disappeared into the city bustle like an ordinary family.
Mateo’s family.
Alexei started the car again.
I tore my gaze from where Rubi had just been. “Where are we going?”
“To the car park beneath the building. Horacio would think it very strange indeed if I left my car on the street.”
It was an alien world to me. I’d never been in an underground car park. Or a fancy lift with a thousand fancy buttons. “Dude, you’re rich.”
Alexei rolled his eyes. “So are you, in the things that matter.”
The lift doors shut and it began to ascend.
