Page 65 of The Devil Can Be Kind

He brutally turned the wheel, and we started drifting across the empty expanse, tires screeching against the tarmac. I squealed with the initial shock but began cheering as adrenaline kicked in. It spurred him on, and after initially righting us, the car sunk into a large doughnut that left black tire marks streaking across the floor and smoke lingering in the air.

“I take it back! I take it back!” I laughed as we came to an abrupt halt. Marco was smiling as well, flashing me a perfect, toothy grin that made me feel…things.

“Again!” I demanded, and he immediately repeated the process.

This time he held the doughnut until we spun out and my head felt dizzy. Skid marks littered the parking lot, and I couldn’t contain the grin of contentment adorning my face.

It was then that I noticed a police car pull up slowly just outside the entrance behind us.

“Shit! Marco, the cops!” I exclaimed, touching his shoulder to get his attention and trying to ignore the jolt of static the contact sent up my arm.

He just laughed. “Then let’s give them a show.”

He reversed fiercely, the speedometer hitting almost thirty before he jerked the steering wheel, throwing us to the side. We came to a violent standstill, facing at the squad car as he revved the engine thunderously in challenge.

“Are you crazy?” I yelled.

It appeared my fears had been short lived however, as the cop car lingered for only another second before slowly peeling away and disappearing down the road.

“What the hell?” I asked in confusion.

I mean we paid off the cops in Las Vegas don’t get me wrong… but they didn’t know us by our vehicles or anything. Not to mention I’d had the car for less than 12 hours.

“It’s the number plate. It tells them to fuck off.”

How powerful is this family?I gulped.

“I told you. The name La Torre comes with a lot of perks,” he said, reading my expression.

Instead of continuing our stunts around the parking lot, Marco pulled off into the now quiet streets and headed back to the house at his previous languid pace. The once aliensurroundings were fast becoming familiar, and I couldn’t deny the sense of comfort I felt as we pulled into the perfectly manicured driveway of the mansion.

Marco didn’t park the car outside the garage as agreed, instead preferring to pull up out front. He then handed our garbage over to Layton and Wyatt, who materialized behind us, and after triple checking the car was locked properly, I joined him inside.

The house was quiet and dark as we entered, and I couldn’t catch sight of Lucia or Jesse, which indicated it was probably much later than I’d thought.

“I think everyone’s gone to bed,” Marco said. His muted voice resonated in the silence.

I turned on my heel and found him standing close behind me. I met his gaze and felt a familiar heat vibrate through my body. He looked ridiculously hot, still dressed in civilian clothes similar to those he wore this morning.

His hand reached out and caught a stray hair from the side of my face, gently tucking it behind my ear.

I held my breath, shocked by the tingles that danced across my skin at the contact.

Slowly and cautiously, he leaned in toward me and I stilled as his lips brushed my cheek gently.

“Goodnight.”

He pulled away and looked down at me with a half-smile playing on his face.

It took me two seconds too long to process the gesture before my legs started working, “Goodnight, Marco,” I said as I turned to the stairs, beginning my ascent.

“Ada?” I turned around to look back down at him.

“Do you still think I’m a bad driver?” His charming boyish grin was back.

Damn I could climb that like a tree… No! Stop it!

“Jesse’s better.” I shrugged and his arrogant smile turned into a frown. I laughed.Got him again…

---