Page 61 of The Devil Can Be Kind

“Aw sweetie, did some girl give you that excuse at a club? That’s really sad.” I mock-soothed him, rubbing him on the back like a child. “But no, I have to prepare for the love of my life…who is arriving any minute!”

Jesse’s face looked at me confused until Marco clarified for him. “She means her new car.”

“Well, I am off to rearrange my sock drawer. Bye, boys!”

A soundof a reversing truck echoed from the other side of the mansion, and I jumped to my feet, screeching with excitement.

I had been sitting on the terrace online shopping for furniture all morning, unable to sit still in anticipation for my new car’s arrival.

It’s here! It’s here!

I all but ran out to the driveway as a covered transporter came to a stop on the driveway.

“Mrs. La Torre, it is good to see you. You look well.” The salesperson greeted.

Mrs. La Torre?

He must have said it by mistake.

I didn’t raise it though. “I am well, thank you.”

The doors to the transporter were pulled open by the driver and a few minutes later my car was descending slowly onto the driveway. The sleek onyx paintjob gleamed against the sunshine, and a smile so big it hurt, plastered itself across my face. It was goddamn beautiful.

“So, what do you think?” He asked, gesturing to the vehicle that was more akin to something out of aBatmanmovie.

“I think it looks too fast for her to handle.” Came Jesse’s mocking voice as he approached us.

The men laughed at my expense, and we proceeded to walk around the car, examining it intently.

“As you can see, the armoring company have fitted extra thick ballistic glass and ballistic steel, culminating in high grade run-flat tires and armored wheel wells.”

Armoring company? That was news to me.

I shot Jesse a pointed look that said ‘we’ll talk about this later’, and he shrugged sheepishly.

We took our seats in the front, and I was talked through each of the various functions available. The thing resembled a spaceship more closely than it did a car, and I was blown away by all its features.There was an array of different screens, control panels and buttons adorning the console…none of which I had the faintest idea how to use.

I stayed out in the car the rest of the afternoon, too busy reading the driver’s manual to contemplate going in for lunch. I only took it for a drive once, too invested in learning everything about my new car before properly taking it out. I played around with all the features and learned how to use the navigation system and entertainment center in more detail. I also figured out the car had a distress beacon… which quickly led to two of the security guards legging it out the side of the building toward me.Oops!

I made a mental note not to touch that particular button again.

After they went back inside and the afternoon had drifted into evening, I set about adjusting the interior lighting until the cockpit glowed a deep shade of red.

A gentle knock on my window brought me back to reality, and I rolled down the glass, unable to make out who was on the other side in the darkness.

“It looks good, Ada.” I heard his voice before I saw his face. “Do you mind if I join you?” He gestured his illuminated chin to the passenger side and my chest sputtered.

I nodded, and the passenger door promptly opened. I tried not to watch as Marco’s muscular body came to rest gracefully in the leather bucket seat beside me.

The car filled with his spicy scent and his presence immediately warmed the air, brushing against my skin. Hedidn’t seem to notice the sudden heaviness between us, focusing on adjusting his seat and looking over the car’s interior.

Lord have mercy.

“It’s alright, isn’t it,” he remarked looking about the inside. I couldn’t help a stupid laugh from escaping my lips.

“Marco, you are sitting in a $240,000 car, and all you can say is ‘it’s alright’? You’re such a snob.”

“I prefer ‘vehicle enthusiast’,” he corrected with a smirk, earning him an eye roll.

---