The Protector (Barrett Boys #3) - Jordan Ford Page 0,24
much of a sunny personality from Indigo Shaw. She’s kind of wooden and robotic. I’ve yet to see her smile. Our conversations have been polite and appropriate. Short and to the point.
Yeah, this could be a really sucky assignment.
But it has to be better than watching over Ruby.
And it pays well.
I just have to focus on the money. Do the job. Be a hero if I have to, and finally find my way out of Loserville.
****
I arrive at the Shaw mansion right on time, pulling my car around back, as I’d been instructed to. Azim is waiting for me with a set of car keys.
“Just to keep things under the radar, you’ll be driving one of Castle’s latest purchases to Fitzroy. It’s a brand-new model, only just released, so no one associates this car with the family yet. And it’s probably the least ostentatious one he owns.”
I nod, nervously wrapping my fingers around the chunky key.
I spot the brand and frown. “Genesis?”
“Rated as the safest cars in the world last year. You’ll be driving the GV70. It’s a nice crossover with all the bells and whistles.”
Crap. I better not crash this thing. It probably cost a bajillion dollars or something.
Walking around to the sleek car, Azim introduces me to the flash vehicle. It looks like an SUV to me, but maybe a little small. I can’t help falling in love just a bit. I’ve never driven anything so nice in my entire life. Brushing my fingers lightly over the steering wheel, I breathe in the smell of new leather and try to ignore the wave of doubt crashing over me.
Am I seriously up for this?
Feeling way out of my depth, I start the car when Azim tells me to, then slowly drive it around to the front of the house where Indigo is waiting with her bags.
Mine is already on the back seat, leaving plenty of room in the trunk for Indigo’s stuff.
While she hugs her father goodbye, I walk around and load up the car. She doesn’t have as many cases as I was expecting her to. That’s a nice surprise.
Ruby’s standing there pouting, muttering about the fact that Indigo obviously plans on wearing the same thing every day.
“She’ll stand out whether she wants to or not. She’s got ‘look at the loser’ written all over her.”
“Oh, Ruby, shush.” Her mother fights a grin while squeezing the horrible girl’s arm.
She may be knockout gorgeous, but that Ruby is one nasty piece of work. And she seems completely oblivious to this fact.
Indigo may be an ice queen, but I think I prefer that over the crazy, stupid, high-maintenance type. Thank God I’m not Burk.
I glance up the stairs and notice him hovering in the doorway. He looks at the back of Ruby’s head, and I can’t help wondering if part of the reason he wants to go to Fitzroy is to get away from her.
My stomach trembles with a sympathy laugh that I manage to quell. I’m the lucky one right now. I have to remember that.
Burk glides a hand down his thin black tie. His charcoal suit looks pristine, and if I could see his shoes right now, I bet they’d be gleaming. Yeah, Indigo has this guy pegged. He looks like a secret agent and he freaking loves it.
I stifle another chuckle as I finish loading up the vehicle, then wait by the passenger door to open it for Indigo.
Practicing what I’ve been taught, I scan the surrounding area, using my peripherals to keep it subtle. There’s an underlying tension around me. I can’t explain what I’m feeling or why, but there’s just this sense that I can’t shake.
Clearing my throat, I look to Azim, who is now hugging Indigo goodbye like she’s important to him. I watch their easy banter, unable to see Indigo’s face. Azim laughs, which kind of shocks me. His entire face changes, and I can see a Roni likeness in there. After a brief hug, he directs Indigo toward Loretta.
The housekeeper is already crying, blubbering in unintelligible Italian.
“Va bene, Tornerò.” Indigo touches her face. “Ti amo.”
“Ti amo, mio topolina.”
Indigo pulls her into a tight embrace, and they stay like that until it’s kind of awkward.
Finally Indigo steps away and rushes to the car. There are tears in her eyes, which I’m guessing I’m not meant to see, so I act like they’re not there and close the door behind her before walking around to the driver’s side.