Considering her mafia background, she’s prone to lose whatever freedom she’s enjoyed for the last couple of months. Especially if Jeremy has any say in it.
Which he wouldn’t have had if she’d let me deal with him earlier.
Since that option is now out of the question, and I had nothing to say that wouldn’t have come out sounding petty, I marked the conversation as Not Read until I could think of a better reply.
And that brings us to the now where I followed Eli in his nightly endeavors. Which is still better than tossing and turning in bed, being scratched by Tiger for sport, or entertaining Remi’s drunk ramblings—that usually include revealing any secrets he’s come across.
“There he is.” Eli’s lips pull in a smirk as he jerks his head in the direction of a buff man slipping out the back entrance.
“How can you tell it’s him? He could be going out for a smoke.”
“One, he could’ve had the smoke inside the property. Two, he’s grabbing a blunt but not lighting it in order not to draw attention. Three, and most importantly, he’s walking in strategic lines that I’m sure are the cameras’ blind spots. Guess who goes to these lengths to leave a property they’re supposed to be guarding?”
“Someone who has something to hide.”
“Bingo.” He grabs me by the shoulder. “Remember when we used to release those worms and cockroaches in the garden to watch them wiggle and struggle away only so we could catch them? Time to repeat the process.”
“Dad aborted our plan every time, remember?”
His smirk widens in pure imitation of what I assume Lucifer looks like on his throne in hell. “Lucky for us, Dad isn’t here.”
It’s useless to remind him that Dad eventually finds out about everything. But even I am willing to forgo that possibility if it means I’ll get closer to my goal.
We follow the guard, keeping a safe distance away until he’s off TKU’s soil.
His hands are in his pockets and his steps are measured, unhurried, and have a careless rhythm to them. He’s used to this street, despite the fact that it’s hidden.
Considering he’s not a native to the island, like all of TKU’s students and guards, this can only be a learned behavior he’s acquired with time.
“He’s off to meet someone,” Eli voices my thoughts, then grins. “Want to guess who?”
Sure enough, the guard reaches a secluded area on the beach. We hide behind the corner of a building as he does a full sweep of the area before he opens the door of a high-end, and very familiar, black Tesla.
We expected the loud McLaren that Landon treats like a lover instead of a car. He absolutely loathes electric cars, so he would never switch to a Tesla.
“Brandon…?” I voice as the guard disappears inside.
“Brandon’scar,” Eli tells me with a raise of an eyebrow. “That Landon could’ve easily taken for a ride. It goes without saying that he wouldn’t have used his own for this mission. He’s probably used Remi’s and yours before.”
Now that I think about it, Landon did take my car for a spin in the past. He could’ve easily borrowed any of our keys to conduct this operation.
We wait for a few minutes, watching the black car with tinted windows. Then, finally, the guard steps out and starts walking away from us.
The Tesla revs, something Bran would never do, before it speeds down the street.
“We’re getting that guard,” I say.
“My thoughts exactly, baby bro.”
We take our time following the man through all the twists and turns he takes.
When he reaches a secluded alley, Eli and I share a look, then we diverge in opposite directions.
I stand in front of the guard, hands in my pockets, with every intention of blocking his path.
He stops, narrows his mean eyes, and then reaches into his jacket. Before he can pull out whatever weapon he has hidden, Eli smacks him from behind with a rock.
The guard falls to his knees on the dirty ground, revealing the manic smile on my brother’s face.