Vicious Rebel (82 Street Vandals #2) - Heather Long Page 0,35

to be enjoying herself right down to the “smelly” overalls—her words when Kellan had insisted she pull them on.

The only other mechanic working today was Old George, and he was half deaf in both ears and preferred to just do his work and ignore us. That he’d found a smile for Starling said a lot more about her than she realized. She made things better.

“No,” I said shaking my head and leaning against the slender section of wall between the open bay doors. The position was on purpose, because we had company across the street, and I didn’t want them being able to track what I said or didn’t say.

I used my phone to send him a text, and when his phone chirped, he leaned back from Starling and wiped his hands on an old towel to clean off the grease before he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

Me: Two men. Gray LeSabre across the street. Been there for an hour.

Rolling his head from side to side, Kellan’s expression never changed as he read the message. Despite the lack of any noticeable shifts, the air around him charged as he raked a hand through his hair and then shoved the phone back into his pocket.

Starling held up the spark plugs with a satisfied smirk. “You owe me twenty bucks,” she informed Kellan, and I swore my eyebrows shot up. Kellan bet her money she couldn’t do something?

“Well, so I do,” Kellan said with a nod. “Good job. Tell you what, how about I pay you later before we grab dinner?”

“I find those terms acceptable.” There was a smudge of grease on her cheek, but her face was flushed from the exertion, despite the damp chill in the air. The interior of the garage was always cold in the winter. Didn’t ever seem to bother Kellan, but I preferred to sit around waiting where it was warmer. “So, what’s next?”

“What’s next is you go into the office and maybe make us a pot of coffee?”

The look on her face said she had zero interest in doing that. “The coffeemaker in there is disgusting.”

I kept an eye on the Buick via the mirror in the corner of the garage that let Kellan see behind him when he was in there working. Our two watchers were still parked there, one of them was out of the car and standing near the corner of the chicken place smoking a cigarette. The other had his phone to his ear.

Maybe I was being paranoid.

Or maybe they were cops and the garage—and by default, Kellan—was under observation.

I got cop vibes off them, or least some kind of investigator. I’d avoided too many of them back when we first started cutting out of the group home. We couldn’t afford anyone knowing where we were going.

“There’s cleaner in the little kitchen in the back of the office.” The suggestion from Kellan earned him so much stink eye, I almost laughed. I’d thought her arrogant and spoiled when I first met her, but she was none of those things.

I also had no idea if she even knew how to clean out a coffee pot, but it wasn’t important. I’d run down the street after we dealt with these guys and buy a whole new coffeemaker if necessary. I’d get her coffee too.

Hands on her hips, she glanced over at me, and I offered a small smile. Looking at Kestrel, she said, “Fine, but I’m going to help Rome after. He’s been waiting.”

I had been, but more, I’d been waiting because I wanted to spend the time with her, and if I went back there without her, I’d lose track of everything. I didn’t want to miss the time.

“Yeah yeah, you’ve done a lot up here, Sparrow.” He tugged her ponytail gently. “Bring me a fresh cup when it’s ready?”

She rolled her eyes like it was such an imposition, but it was hard to miss the quick flash of a smile on her lips. Being included was important to her. I filed that away. I didn’t care when they included me or not. I could go days without seeing my brothers. They knew how to reach me if they wanted something.

“Rome,” she said, focusing on me. “Do you want coffee?”

“Please.” Not really, but she wanted to be included. I could do that. “If you have enough.”

“Cream and sugar?”

“Whatever he has.” I could pretty much drink it in any format. “Surprise me.”

Kellan only snorted a little, but she nodded and then