Page 58 of Runaway Queen

Kids spilled out across the parking lot, and I powered through in the direction of the staff lot.

A black Jeep pulled up in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.

The door opened, and a tall man got out. He was broad and tattooed, like a blond-haired, green-eyed Nikolai, except this one managed a smile that didn’t look murderous. Students scattered and stared. Of course they did.

It was the Irish guy from the coffee shop. I narrowed my eyes at him as he leaned against his Jeep and looked me over. Bran. His name was Bran.

“Taxi service.” Bran smirked. “In you get.”

He opened the passenger-side door for me, ignoring the curious looks of passers-by. Several girls had their phones out, snapping discreet pics of the bad boy.

“Excuse me, do I know you?”

“Ouch, I thought our coffee shop encounter was very memorable.”

I studied him. “If I was going to remember you for anything, I think it would be for chasing me through the school in a mask the other night. That was you, right?”

“A gentleman never tells.”

“Do you know Nikolai Chernov or not?”

“Only as well as a brother.”

“I guess you also gave him my number to terrorize me with?”

“You look fine to me. His terrorizing must have gotten lighter since prison. ThePalachis losing his touch.”

“ThePalach? What does that mean?”

Bran shrugged with perfect nonchalance. “I don’t speak Russian, love, I have no idea.”

“Sure you don’t. Why are you here?”

“I told you. I’m your taxi service. Point me in a direction, and I’ll go.”

“I have a car here, you know.”

“Yeah, I’m familiar with that piece of shit. You won’t be driving it again. Let it rust in the lot or get towed for all I care.”

“Excuse me?”

“Nikolai doesn’t want you driving that death trap. He wants me to drive you.”

“Babysit me, you mean? Where is he anyway?”

Bran lounged with indolent grace. “Why, you missing him already? He’ll like hearing that.”

“I’m not—” I bit off my words. What was the point in denying it? “I can drive myself.”

“But I’m not going to let you, so just do us both a favor and let me take you to see your son.”

“And my car? I can’t just leave it here.”

“Have it towed, like I said. Or I’ll get it taken to your house, whatever you want.”

I sighed, checking my watch. I really needed to get going to the hospital. “Whatever. Just this once, and only because I’m going out for dinner with Chiara after, and she’s driving.” I got into the car. It was quietly expensive inside. The kind of luxury I hadn’t experienced since I’d left the De Sanctis lifestyle.

Bran settled into the driver’s seat. “Chiara, is that the little firecracker from the coffee shop? The one who was talking about her husband, spitting, and daddy in the same sentence?”

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