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It’s peaceful, almost serene as if we were anywhere else but here. I take a deep breath, wanting to say how I feel at this moment, but a tap at the window causes both of us to jump.
“It’s just me,” Aiden says as he leans down and looks at us.
“For fuck’s sake,” Conner mumbles as he turns on the car, which is silent thanks to the electric engine, and rolls down the window. “Are you trying to give us a heart attack?”
“No, are you trying to give me one? It’s been ten minutes and you haven’t answered a single damn text message,” he growls as he holds up his phone.
Conner looks around. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Aiden cracks his neck and leans on the car. “I followed you and parked a few blocks away. This isn’t exactly a great solo mission.”
“Well, I didn’t go solo, now did I?” Conner grabs my hand as to make a point but doesn’t let go. I don’t pull away. I like how it feels. I don’t care that he’s in control, not about this anyways.
“We need to get out of here. Why are you still here?” Aiden asks.
Conner glares at him and Aiden narrows his eyes. “Think with that brain of yours, the one up here, Pound,” he mutters as he motions to Conner’s head.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Aiden’s right, but I love how pissed Conner is at the moment. Why does Conner being wound up make me want to jump him? I’m not sure I know the answer, but I don’t care. Even though our lives may not be this exciting forever, I know any moment I spend with Conner Sterling will most definitely not be dull.
“We’re leaving. You should, too,” Conner says.
Aiden nods and glances over his shoulder at the Sterling property. “I saw headlights earlier.”
“A car went in a few minutes ago. I didn’t see who it was,” I explain.
“Who would be here so late at night?” Aiden ponders as he keeps his eyes glued to the neighboring property, but we can’t see the office or the loading area from where we are.
“It doesn’t matter. I got the vial,” Conner states as he holds it out to Aiden. Aiden picks it up and holds it up to the light, examining it. “I’ll need to take this to Ella. She has better equipment to test this. I want to be absolutely sure.”
“When will we know?” I ask, hoping he’ll say tonight.
“A day, if she can rush it. The diagnostics take some time,” he explains as he carefully places the vial in his pocket and then pats it as if to make sure it’s really there.
We all look back at the Sterling property. The last container is being hoisted off the cargo ship. I can hear the yells of the men working the loading dock in the distance. I hear a door slam shut. Something about it makes me want to get out of here.
“Let’s go,” I say as I squeeze Conner’s hand. He grips mine tightly, his fingers weaving between mine. Even though I’m still scared and unsure of what tomorrow will bring, I feel comforted by his touch as if, together, we can do anything. I’m not sure what will happen, but I know now that I will not leave Conner. I know he won’t leave me. We’re in this together, until the end, whether it’s a happy one or not.
“Yes, we should get out of here. I don’t like that someone is here at night,” Aiden agrees. Remembering my phone, I reach into my pocket and pull it out. “I got photos, just a second.”
I pull up my photo app and then zoom in on the license plate, hoping beyond hope that it’s not blurry. I fidget with the editor on the image, brightening it and sharpening it. It’s not perfect but the tag number is readable.
“Here. Recognize it?” I ask them as I turn my phone around. Conner’s eyes narrow as he thinks, but it’s Aiden’s eyes that have my breath catching. They widen and his face pales in the dim light of the parking lot.
“What?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
“It’s my father’s car,” he says as he looks at Conner.
“Are you sure?” Conner asks. “I don’t remember him having a dark sedan.”
“I’m positive. Because I was there when he bought it six months ago.”
“Why is your father here? At night?” Conner ponders.
Aiden holds up the vial that was in his pocket. “I’m not sure I want to know the answer to that question, but I think we’ll need to find out.”
Conner squeezes my hand more tightly and brings it to his lips. The movement seems more to comfort himself than me.
We hear another door slam in the distance and then yelling.
“Shit, we need to get out of here now. Go! I’ll be right behind you,” Aiden says as he stuffs the vial back in his pocket and takes off running. Conner maneuvers us out of the parking lot. I can see headlights in the distance.
Conner’s hands tighten on the wheel. “Well, if it isn’t my father,” he mutters as his eyes connect with the car coming toward us.
Continue the story in A Man of Prestige.