Page 66 of The Villain

There’s no reason for them to have done this. To have sent that loaded gun. It’s just illogical.

“Anything I should know?” Enzo asks.

I glance at him, shake my head. “No, nothing. I’m taking the Ferrari.”

“Oh? Why?” he asks, and I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “I mean it’ll be easier to keep track of everything in the SUVs. Everyone knows the Ferrari.”

“I’ll be fine, and you’ll follow with the men.”

“You don’t make my job easy, Cassian.”

“You don’t do this because it’s easy, Enzo,” I say, looking over his shoulder when I hear Allegra’s combat boots on the stone floor. She’s carrying her backpack, her dark hair plaited into two thick, long braids on either side of her face. She looks curious, maybe a little excited? She’s been cooped up in here for days, so I get it. But themoment she meets my eyes, she narrows hers, her expression shifting to annoyed and, as usual, contrary. It makes me smile. “Excuse me,” I tell Enzo.

Enzo steps aside, but I don’t miss how his eyes follow mine to watch her too.

She takes in the collection of soldiers at the door.

“Don’t look so sour, Moth,” I say, taking her backpack. “Your face might freeze that way.”

She shifts her gaze to mine. “What can I say? You bring out the worst in me.”

I chuckle. “Ready?”

“For a road trip with you and all your friends? I’m sure it’ll be the most fun I’ve ever had.” She’s not going to give me anything. But I don’t really deserve anything, do I?

“Come, Little Moth, I have a surprise for you.” Before she can say anything, I take her coat off the rack and drape it over her shoulders. With my hand at her back, I guide her out the door and past the two SUVs to the 1966 Ferrari 275 a soldier just drove around. I take the moment to enjoy the expression on her face, her surprise, her disbelief. Her delight?

“Mr. Trevino,” he says, handing me the keys. I take them and manually unlock the trunk to drop her bag inside.

“We’re taking that?” she asks, dragging her gaze from the car to me.

Then I remember the accident that killed her father and wonder if I’m misreading her expression.

“It’s safe,” I tell her. I’ve maintained it meticulously over the years. It’s a passion of mine and a hobby I don’tget to spend much time on. It, like cooking, relaxes me. They’re about the only things that do.

She glances at the car again before looking back at me. “It’s not that, I’m just surprised.”

I raise my eyebrows, amused. “Is it so strange?”

She walks closer to the car, rubs a smudge off the door. “I figured you’d be the obnoxious sportscar type. Not a Ferrari 275,” she says.

“You know the model?” Now it’s me who’s surprised.

Her grin wide, she turns to face me, and she looks far too pleased with herself.

I chuckle, open the passenger side door. “Well, I guess we’re both full of surprises today.”

“Wait. Don’t you have a bag?” She asks before getting in.

“I have an apartment there.”

“Oh. Of course you do.” She climbs into the car and can’t hide her enthusiasm as she peers closely at everything. Weirdly, it pleases me.

I close her door and walk around to the driver’s seat. When I climb in, she’s looking into the back. It’s a two-seater.

“No soldiers hiding back there?” she asks, running her fingers over the red leather piping of the seat.

“They’ll follow.” I glance in the rear-view mirror to see Enzo and several others filing into the SUVs. I start the engine and head out.