“Maybe a dog or a cat? I mean, I could ask for a cow.” I wink at him trying to break up the heaviness that’s clouding his face.
“Cat, yes. Dog, yes. Cow, no freaking way. You want to step in cow shit and smell it while out on the pool deck?” He arches that eyebrow at me.
“Maybe you’re right. When everything is settled, we’ll look at getting a dog,” I negotiate. I’d say a cat, but I know the health issues that you have to watch out for while pregnant. Not that I am pregnant. When that time comes, though, Drake would lose his ever-loving mind if he found out a litter box could harm me. He’d probably make it an outside cat, and there is no way any animal of ours will be relegated to the outdoors.
“Sounds good. Come on, angel. I’m ready to get us home.” He helps me up off the couch. I slide my shoes on, and we make our way towards the front entrance, where Drake locks up before we head to his truck. I no sooner sit down in the front seat of his Tahoe when I realize my car is sitting at work.
“Drake, I need to get my car from the parking lot.”
“Your parents went and picked it up. It’s at the house, in the garage,” he replies.
“Oh.” I lay my head back against the headrest.
“I got you covered, angel. Never doubt that.”
“I’m learning that,” I whisper out, my eyes focused on the streetlights in front of us, already counting down the minutes until we’re home.
Nineteen
Drake
Today has been a shit show, finding out who’s been behind the calls, now the images, and who’s been on my property. It’s making those tingles run down my spine. Not in the way I like either. Nope. This is a completely different feeling. “Angel, you’re buckled in, right?” I don’t take my eyes off the road.
“Of course, I am. Why? What’s wrong?” Her voice is groggy. My girl, when she’s tired, she’ll fall asleep anywhere.
“Just making sure. I have that feeling.” We talked about my past in the Marines, how it makes your senses sharper. Hell, all of us guys are that way. Once I told her about everything that’s happened with Taylor and Kellie, her eyes were as wide as saucers. She understood my need to keep her close at all times. We weren’t in Alabama when shit was going down with Cam and Easton. It burned a whole in our guts the entire time too. That’s why when they decided to move to Virginia, we were all gung ho.
“You want me to call Travis?” she suggests.
“Not right now, but keep your phone beside you.” I haven’t told Giana there’s a car coming up behind us, heavy on the petal too. Too heavy with the winding curve of a road that leads to my place. I know it’s not the neighbors who live in the area either. None of them would be as stupid to drive like this person is. My gut is telling me exactly what my mind is playing over and over in my head too.
“Wow, do you see that person behind us? Are they trying to get around or something?” Giana’s head is moving from the passenger mirror to looking over her shoulder.
“Yeah, I have a feeling we both know who it is.” When Bridger and Slade left, I let Giana know who we were dealing with. To say she was shocked was an understatement, but my angel took it in stride, grabbed my hand and said, “We’re in this together.” And that was that.
“I have no doubt. Go ahead and call Travis to at least put him on the line,” I tell her, my eyes never leaving the road in front of us.
“So much for getting home and piling into bed,” Giana laughs.
“Oh, we’ll be doing that. It just may be during the day instead of at night.” She takes her phone out, dials Travis’s number.
“Hey, G, everything okay?” We can hear rustling in the background. He must be getting out of bed so as to not wake Raelynn.
“Hey, well, about that. It seems we might need some backup. Drake is driving, but we’re being followed, and the driver is, well, a wee bit cuckoo for cocoa puffs.” I hear Travis laugh.
“I don’t doubt that for a bit. Okay, I’m heading that way. I’ll bring backup too. Who knows what all is involved? You good, Drake?” he asks.
“Oh yeah, nothing like living on the edge, man.”
“Jesus, keeping you guys out of trouble is not easy.” Travis may sound like it’s another job, but deep down he’s always in the thick of it with us.
“As if you weren’t once a part of it with us.”
“True enough. Alright, I’m walking out the door. Raelynn is up now and will be around if Giana needs her. I tried to be quiet, but that woman, she feels when I get up,” he says.