A Gorgeous Villain (St. Mary's Rebels 2)

And then Pete and Reed start arguing over Pete’s accounts.

Reed sits at the computer at Pete’s desk and tells Pete that he needs to take better care with his finances. That from the looks of it there are some pending invoices that customers haven’t paid yet. Pete tells Reed not to tell him how to run his business. Then Reed tells Pete that Pete won’t even have a business if he keeps going like this and that Pete should move aside and let Reed fix stuff for him.

And to get back at Reed, Pete tells me stuff about Reed’s Bardstown High years, how Reed used to spend all night up in the garage, how he’d be so interested in everything but tried to pretend that he wasn’t. Pete also says that Reed is some kind of a genius with cars.

At which point, a customer appears and Reed chooses to disappear, making me realize that Pete’s compliment was what sent him away. I saw his face, all tight and somehow shaken up.

I realize that their bond is so precious, Pete and Reed’s. Like father and son. And I’m so grateful that Pete was there for him when he had no one.

But that’s not the end of it. I realize something else too.

I realize that Reed loves cars.

I mean, he would have to, to build one of his own, but this is something else.

He’s at ease here, in his element.

Among the cars, checking them out, looking under the hood, sliding under one’s body, working with tools. Tools I don’t even know the names of. All I know is that while sitting inside Pete’s tiny office, watching Reed talk to customers and other employees, I’ve never seen him happier.

Not even when he was playing soccer.

I mean, back when he played, he was fantastic. But he was also super competitive, super wrapped up in winning and goading others, my brother especially. It brought out the worst in him.

It brought out the villain.

But this is different.

He loves this. He has a passion for it.

Halo moves inside me and I rub my stomach, trying to calm her down.

There’s Daddy, I tell her. Look how happy he is here.

“He loves it,” I murmur, watching Reed bent over a sleek black car.

“He does,” Pete says from his chair, pulling my attention back to him.

“I’ve never seen him like this. So relaxed and at ease.”

His smile is fond. “That boy loves cars, yeah.”

I wring my hands in my lap. “Do you think… Do you think he can come back and work for you?”

His smile wavers slightly but still remains on his lips. “You’ll have to ask him.”

I swallow. “He won’t talk to me.”

He chuckles then, his beer belly shaking. “Yeah, that sounds like him.”

With emotions pressing into my throat, making my voice all wobbly, I say, “I’m guessing the house that I live in is yours. He said it belonged to a friend and you’re his only friend.”

Pete nods. “Yeah. He wouldn’t ask but I offered. It was something Mimi wanted. A vacation home but not really out of town. Just close to the cliffs and secluded. Something we could escape to when we wanted. Anyway, he was going to rent an apartment but I told him to take it. After Mimi, it was sitting there empty anyway. How are you liking Dr. May?”

My eyes widen when I realize that Pete was the one who recommended her. “I… You recommended Dr. May too?”

“Well, the boy was freaking out. Showed up at the garage with a mountain of books, saying he didn’t know the first thing about any of this.” Pete chuckles again fondly. “He was a sight to see that night. Told me he needed a doctor, a good doctor, a fucking excellent one for his Fae but someone out of town and so I hooked him up with Mimi’s old doctor. We never had kids but we did try and Mimi seemed to like her.”

Then I blurt out, “Thank you. For being his friend. I-I grew up in a big family. I mean, my parents were never there but I grew up with four brothers who took care of me. They still do. And I was so scared when I found out about…” I rub my belly. “But I had friends, and even though my brothers were mad, I knew I could count on them. But he… didn’t have anyone. To talk to. He pretended he was fine. He always does that, but yeah. So thanks. For helping him.”

At this, moisture coats Pete’s eyes. “He’s a pain in the ass with his crap about computers and things but I love that kid.” When I smile, he says, “Like you.”

I swallow again, this time thickly, painfully. “Please don’t tell him. I’ve made him a promise.”

“He’s a clueless asshole, isn’t he? Making such a sweet girl cry for him.” He shakes his head. “I won’t say anything. Even if I did, I doubt it’d get through his thick head. But you, Callie, you don’t be afraid to push him. Don’t be afraid to do what needs to be done to make that bastard see sense.” Then with a twinkle in his kind eyes, he says, “And when you get a chance, ask him what he keeps in the trunk of that fucking Mustang of his.”