As they made their way toward the hangar, she asked, “Nervous?”
“Why?”
“You know…meeting the parents.”
“I already met them?—”
“Not as my man.”
“I don’t get anxious.”
“You’re a badass beast,” she murmured as they entered the oversized garage.
“They’re gonna love me,” he said as he opened the driver’s side door.
When she opened the passenger side, he said, “You aren’t wearing a disguise. Get in the back, Sydney.”
After she climbed into the back seat, he got behind the wheel and backed out. While waiting for the oversized door to close, he asked, “Don’tcha wanna know why they’re gonna love me?”
“Because you’re a super-sexy badass Santini?”
“Because I love their daughter… and they’ll see that.”
SYDNEY
Sydney had trustedher gut on Tank, and she’d been right. He was a solid man. Reliable, loyal, and determined.
She opened the nav app, entered her parents’ address, and started it up. “They live in Alexandria, overlooking the river.” Then, she pulled the binos, turned around, and began searching for a tail.
“Are they near Hawk and Addison?” He rattled off their address.
She checked the map app. “Same area.”
“What are you gonna tell your mom and dad?” he asked.
She slid her gaze toward him, appreciating his strong profile, the way he tucked his long hair behind one ear. From her vantage point, she had a clean line of sight to his face. And she soaked up his handsome features. Everything about him worked for her. He was sick handsome, built like a tank, but she loved his character the most. Yet, he was like her. A trained killer, a hitman, an assassin.
He’s a complicated man… and he’s all mine.
“Sydney?” he said. “You there?”
“I like you Theodore Santini,” she said. “Something crazy.”
He smiled. “Don’t ever stop.”
“Don’t give me a reason.”
He chuckled. “I love a woman who lays down the law.” Then, his gaze softened. “I won’t, and in your heart, you know that.”
She had an assassin’s heart—a heart of stone—but shedidtrust her gut.
If I chose him, he’ll be mine… forever.
After a beat, she said, “I’m gonna keep things chill, just ask my mom about the cabin.”
Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the neighborhood, stopped at the curb. “Are we clear?”
“Looks that way, but give it another minute.”
