Page 53 of Broken Promises

“Just wanted to wash my car, Donovan. It’s not that deep. Raven and Lopez went to bed, so I didn’t particularly want to wash it out front of the house and keep them awake,” I replied as I reached for the sponge, pausing when she drew her gun on me and aimed it at my head. “That’s not very polite.”

“Stop fucking around and tell me why you’re back. You have some kind of agenda, and I think whatever you’re up to is going to get people hurt,” she said in a low voice, stepping closer until my back was against the car. “What game are you playing?”

“I’m just minding my business and trying to wash the pussy juice off my car. You’re the one stalking me and waving a gun in my face,” I answered dryly, lifting my wet hand up and flicking water in her face. “I get it, you don’t trust me. You don’t have to remind me every goddamn second of the day.”

She scowled, pressing the barrel of her gun to my forehead. “Stay away from them.”

I smirked, managing to get my gun out from inside my jacket and under her chin before she noticed.

“You think you’re some tough bitch because of your name, but the Donovans aren’t the only big fish in the sea of criminals. One day, you’ll wave that thing at the wrong person, and they won’t give a shit about starting a war with the crews.”

She didn’t back down, I wasn’t expecting her to, but her eye twitched with annoyance as we stared each other down.

“You’re a nobody, Ander Lavaro. I’ve pulled your entire history apart. Middle school dropout, dead family, no criminal ties outside of local gangbangers. I know all about your chop shop business, the street races you hosted, the dodgy drug deals, and the rich prick parties you dragged Lopez to. Don’t act likeyou’re on the same level as me. You’re just a scared little bitch on the run from the mafia. I could hand you over, you know?”

I wasn’t surprised that she’d looked into my background, it was what I did when I was suspicious of someone.

The last thing I needed was her dragging me to Stefano and fucking up my plans to take him down though. Stefano wouldn’t be grateful, he’d just put a hit on her and everyone else for knowing about his shit in the first place.

“Good idea. Take me to him and make it obvious you know he’s got hits out for a bunch of people. Add yourself to the list,” I said calmly, her eyes narrowing.

“I could just kill you myself.”

“You could, but then your new bestie would hate you. I’m growing on her.”

“Don’t fucking touch her, Lavaro. She’s too good for you,” she growled, refusing to back down.

“You’re very judgy for someone who’s fucking their brother.”

“He’s adopted!” she hissed.

“And Raven’s an adult. She likes my hands on her,” I smirked, hearing a car in the distance. “Ahh. Sounds like Mommy’s coming.”

Irritation flashed across Beckett’s face, but she didn’t move, not even when Rory’s Maserati drove in and stopped in front of my car.

“What the fuck are you two doing?” she snapped as she climbed out and stalked towards us, the passenger door opening as Slash got out.

I sighed, giving Rory my attention. “Your psycho kid rolled up on me and waved a gun in my face. I was just washing my fucking car and minding my own business.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Rory snapped, apparently not liking me all over again too.

“Beckett,” Slash said sharply, not needing to say anything else to make her understand what he wanted. She hesitated before lowering her gun, and I wasn’t dumb enough to keep mine aimed at her, so I lowered mine too.

“I don’t appreciate calls this late from Stone giving me a heads-up that you two are having a public standoff. This isn’t how we handle shit,” Rory bit out.

Beckett looked so much like her, apart from the fact that Rory was covered in tattoos from the neck down and her eyes were blue. It was a little freaky.

“There’s nothing that needs handling,” I explained, motioning to Beckett. “She literally just showed up and threatened me.”

“What are you doing in Ashburn so late?” she asked, and I pointed to the car like she was blind.

“Uh, washing my fucking car. It’s a car wash. You guys have been in the crime business too long, you’re paranoid. I wasn’t ready for sleep, and my car needed a wash. Instead of being an inconsiderate prick and keeping Raven and Lopez awake, I brought the car here. I’m not the bad guy.”

Beckett rolled her eyes, and it was on the tip of my tongue to call her out, but it wasn’t worth pissing her off again.

Slash moved forward, running his eyes over my car. “You weren’t out racing or anything?”

“No. I don’t race anymore. It almost killed two of the most important people in my life,” I said firmly, but Beckett snorted.

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