7. Rae

7

RAE

"Alright, out of the car," I said to IRIS.

"What? But I was just about to eat my sandwich."

"Then you can eat it on the side of the road. Get out."

He rolled his eyes, shoving open the door. "You know, I'm really beginning to think no one truly appreciates all I do."

"Yeah, yeah. Get out."

As soon as he was out, I hit the gas, rolling down my window in the process. As I drove down a few streets, I ruffled my hair, making it look more fluffy than sleek. Using my knee to steer, I pulled off my black leather jacket. I still looked way too badass for a carjacking, but it would have to do. As I turned down the last street, I grabbed lip gloss from my bag and slicked it over my lips. That was about as innocent as I was gonna get.

The final piece of the puzzle was going to require some great acting on my part. I dialed Duke and slid my earpiece in.

"Babe—"

"Don't talk. I'm on a job and need a little play-acting."

"Okay…"

"Just pretend we're having a conversation."

"Why can't we have an actual conversation?"

"Because I need to pretend to be someone I'm not."

"You know, I can go along with that."

"Or you can pretend I'm someone entirely different."

"This feels like a test."

"Why would I test you?"

"I don't know, but you want me to pretend you're someone else. That can't be good. I'm not cheating on you."

Frustrated, I took a calming breath before I lost it on him. "I trust you. I don't think you're cheating on me."

"But you're going to pretend?—"

"I know, right?" I asked like a Valley Girl as I slowly drove up to Rafe and Zavala. "And then Missy told Barbara that Sean saw Blake at the store with that slut!"

"I did not see that coming!" Duke responded.

"I know! And then she had the nerve to act like she didn't know who he was!"

"Shut the front door. That is brand new information."

I rolled my eyes at his attempt to play along. "So, I said that if he was going to —"

Rafe glanced over at me as I rolled past. He looked at me strangely, then understood the point.

"—go out with that bitch, then he didn't need a woman like me at home."

"Get out of the vehicle!"

My lips twitched, but I turned to him. Deciding to have a little fun with him. "Excuse me?"

He pointed a gun at me as he tried not to laugh. "Get the fuck out of the car."

"Do you have any idea what is going on right now?"

"Yes, I'm taking your vehicle."

"Listen, I'm in the middle of a crisis right now. My boyfriend's sister's girlfriend just saw that slut Jenny at the mall."

"Wasn't it Missy?" Duke asked in my ear.

"Lady, I don't give a fuck what your boyfriend's sister's girlfriend saw. Get out of the fucking vehicle before I put a bullet in your skull."

"She's not even that beautiful! I mean, look at me. Do I look like I can't hold onto my boyfriend?"

Rafe tugged the door open and dragged me out. The car rolled forward as he tossed me on the ground, pointing the gun at my head. "For what it's worth, your boyfriend is a fucking idiot."

He winked at me as he helped Zavala into the car. I stood, pretending to be pissed off as he took off in my rental.

"Are you done?" Duke asked.

"Yes."

"What was that all about?"

"I had to get Rafe a getaway vehicle so he could escape with a drug lord."

"So, typical day."

"Yes."

"I'm pretty sure I should be insulted. I'm not a fucking idiot. I would never cheat on you with Missy or let your boyfriend's sister's girlfriend catch me in the act if I were cheating on you."

"It was Jenny."

"Who's Jenny?"

I rolled my eyes and started walking back toward IRIS, who was standing on the sidewalk eating his sandwich. "She's a made-up person!"

"Why was Rafe escaping with a drug lord?"

"Because he wants to get taken back to a super secret island and work with the drug lord."

"You gotta have life goals," he retorted.

"I'll see you Friday?"

"Oh, I forgot, I have to see my brother's best friend's girlfriend about a new car."

I grinned, even though I wanted to kick his ass for mentioning another woman. "You can see her about a car and never have sex again, or you can take me out to dinner and make all the other women in town wish they had a mechanic on their arm."

"Ooh, should I wear my coveralls?"

"Hey, I may want to make all the women jealous, but I don't need them drooling over you."

His low chuckle reminded me of the other night when he was between my legs, teasing me and making me beg for more. "Friday. And I'll be wearing only the coveralls when you walk through the door."

I bit my lip, grinning like an idiot as I walked up to IRIS.

"Who was that?"

"Duke."

He rolled his eyes, crumpling up his sandwich paper and tossing it in a nearby garbage can. "You know, this whole mechanic thing has gone on long enough. He's making the rest of us look bad."

"You could wear coveralls. I'm sure Jane would love it."

He shifted uncomfortably. "I tried. She said it wasn't like the real thing."

I bit back a laugh, patting his arm as I tried to be comforting. "It's okay. Not everyone can pull it off."

"I fucking hate mechanics."