Page 20 of Shamelessly Loyal
Without music or comment, he just turned the car away from the waterfront area and headed down a long city block. When he pulled into a coffee place and the drive-thru, I was a little grateful.
Coffee had been nice, but this sounded like a damn treat. After we had our drinks, he drove us out onto the road and then we were on the highway.
“You have questions,” he said without preamble. “We’re alone. Feel free to ask.”
“I was free to ask earlier,” I pointed out, savoring the next sip of the frothy milk confection. It was a perfect white mocha with a hint of toffee nut.
“But you haven’t,” he said. “Though I admire the very thorough search of my room and appreciate the fact you put everything back.”
I shrugged. “A girl needs hobbies, and there’s no reason to trash your place.” I let the yet just dangle out there unspoken.
His soft chuckle sent another shiver through me. “Mayhem, you’re a handful.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“In prison, people like you were dangerous because you were cunning. You say little, offer less, then wait to see what knots the others will tie themselves into trying to determine your intentions.”
Prison.
“Maybe you should worry about your own and not mine,” I told him. “I’ve been transparent with mine.”
“Have you?”
The challenge wasn’t his first. He’d been full of them when I arrived, but our little exchange of kisses had created a demilitarized zone between us. Might be time to cut down that barbed wire.
“Yes, I’m here about Emersyn. Not you. I don’t care about your time in prison. Whether you were there or not doesn’t concern me. What does, is how you decide to behave.”
Though he hadn’t asked, I added, “While I haven’t cared for all of your behavior, you seem to be acting out of some primitive urge to protect me. Understand that I am allowing it because it allows me to stay where we will hear about Emersyn. If that changes, so will my cooperation.
Silence greeted my statement. It remained silent until I’d nearly finished my drink.
“You…are not at all like I expected.”
“Irritating?” I tried not to smile. Defying expectations was important. You could only keep people on uneven ground for so long. At the moment, I had no idea where we were driving. It didn’t seem particularly aimless nor purposeful, for that matter.
I didn’t even know why we were out driving, except maybe he wanted to speak to me alone and changing the environment offered him some position of power.
Maybe.
“No,” he said, a lie if I ever heard one. “Not exactly. Though I am surprised someone as educated and genteel as you is at all comfortable around us.”
“Educated and genteel do not equal weak or ill-prepared. Or at least they don’t always. Just like money and status can’t make you a “good person,” it doesn’t necessarily make you a bad one either.”
His snort spoke volumes for his opinion.
“You don’t have to agree. You’re a decent enough person.” I hesitated to say good. While I might agree he was, he hadn’t earned that kind of compliment yet.
“I’m not a good person, not like you are.”
Laughter escaped me, part disbelieving and part just flat-out amused. “I am not remotely a good person, I’m just very good at playing the game.” Better than some realized.
“You love my sister,” he countered, and I smirked as I set the empty cup down in the holder.
“So? You love her too. Loving her doesn’t make me a good person. Just means I’m willing to get dirty to protect her.” No matter what it costs.
ChapterSix
MILO