Page 58 of Fallen to Thievery
I kept pace with him. Tom followed a good distance away with our bags. The whole interaction between them had me insanely curious. Is this what Grayson meant when he said he wasn’t usually nice to anyone? But this man was downright frightened of him.
“Johnson?” I questioned, my curiosity getting the better of me.
Grayson shrugged. “Johnson, Smith, Jones… Anything that’s mundane enough to not attract attention.”
“Then what’s your real last name?”
“I can’t make it too easy for you if you decide to turn on me.” He winked at me as we walked through the large doors. There was a black Range Rover standing next to a private jet.
Tom hurried forward to open the passenger door for me, but Grayson waved him off, opening it himself. I slid into the leather seat, and watched Grayson move around the car to where Tom held the door open for him. It was obvious that Tom was no chauffeur. He took a few steps back from thecar, uncertain where to stand as not to be in Grayson’s way. But Grayson slammed the door shut again. I couldn’t hear what he was saying to Tom, but the man was getting more nervous with each second he had to stand in Grayson’s presence. And I could see why. Grayson was intimidating. Everything about him, from his clothes to his size, to his stance, to his expression and now the scars over his eye, would make lesser men cross the road to avoid him. Tom nodded fervently every now and then, and visibly relaxed when Grayson finally turned away from him.
I couldn’t help but peer up at Grayson as we drove off. I had to know what the deal was with Tom.
Grayson’s mouth twitched. “You’re staring, Princess.”
Did I always do that? Or did I just stare athimwithout realising? “What did you do to that man? He looked like he was about toflee.”
Grayson looked unaffected by my words. “The recipe for the best employee is a bit of fear and good money. In my line of work anyway.”
“So, he works for you?”
“In a sense. He’s on the payroll.”
I nodded. “Is Grayson even your real name?” The thought unsettled me deeply, opening a pit in my stomach.
Grayson’s eyes flicked to me, softening as he beheld my expression. “Yes, my mother gave me her maiden name. Her father died two months before I was born, and she wanted to continue his legacy.” He scoffed. Something about it amused him.
My heart squeezed at the little piece of himself that he offered to me. “Where are we anyway?”
“So many questions today, Princess.”
I turned towards the window. He was right, but things felt weird between us since our last conversation. And I desperately wanted a distraction from my own thoughts.
“MayIask something?” Grayson sounded unsure, which was very unlike him.
I nodded, watching as the trees blew by.
“Do you mind if we take a little detour? I have some… business to attend to in a nearby town.”
I scoffed. “You mean you have something to steal?”
“Thatismy business, darling.” He gave me a dazzling smile that stopped my heart.
I looked away. All my emotions were constantly simmering at the edge. Smiles like that could tip it over. And I had no intention of crying about Grayson, in front of Grayson. I just needed to concentrate on the fact that I was going home.
“How long would this detour take?”
Grayson contemplated it. “If all goes according to plan, no more than a day.” He paused to look at me. “Would you be okay with that? Having to see my face for a whole extra day?”
“And this can’t wait till after you take me home?”
His face fell. “I guess it could.”
My heart lurched. He was doing this detour so I’d be with him for another day. Was he also taking this as hard as me? “If you get me some snacks for the road, I think I could bear it. Your face, that is.”
We stopped at a small gas station in the middle of nowhere. I stayed seated as Grayson hopped out, but he turned. “You coming, Princess?”
I got out and followed him to the back of the car. “Aren’t you afraid anyone might recognise me?”
