Danger Zone

3. Ride

Chapter three

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"Explain to me again why we have to take your truck? Black beauty is obviously much nicer," I complained, looking wistfully at my mustang that would be stuck here without me for three months.

The weekend passed in a blur of packing and making last minute arrangements for the trip, and Monday morning had rolled around quickly.

Dante rolled his eyes and lifted my last bag into the bed of his truck. The rippling of his muscles from the effort could clearly be seen through the fitted white t-shirt he'd sported. "Because you insisted on bringing Rittz rather than being a sensible person and letting a friend keep him. The backseat of my truck is much bigger and he'll be a lot more comfortable."

As if sensing he was being talked about, he let out an eager bark and wagged his tail. Dante's face scrunched up as if he'd come from another planet and suggested world domination.

I raised an eyebrow, "You don't like dogs?"

"I don't see why anyone would. All they do is run around, chew stuff up, terrorize people and poop everywhere," he muttered.

Returning his earlier sentiment, I rolled my eyes. "Of course you'd be able to relate, terrorizing people is your specialty."

"Ha ha," he responded dryly as he pulled his door open. "Now let's go, it's 6:30 and we need to report to headquarters by 6:45."

I led Rittz into the backseat and shut the door behind him before getting into the passenger's seat myself. He started the engine and began driving the route to headquarters.

Pop music flooded the truck and I snickered when he blushed and fumbled with the radio, cutting Ariana Grande off mid phrase. "I do not listen to that trash," he said firmly, as if to reassure me.

"Your blush tells me otherwise," I teased, delighting in the blush that returned. He muttered a "shut up" and continued driving.

His truck was very roomy to say he was the only one who traveled in it.  It was also extremely clean, I couldn't even find a smudge on the windows. I guess that answered my question on whether or not he was a neat freak.

I'd worried about little things such as that the entire weekend. I was still anxious about having to work with a partner, despite how 'not so bad' he seemed.

Maybe that's what you're worried about.

It was true, honestly I preferred an asshole who I couldn't care less about. It removed the possibility of attachment and disappointment.

My phone startled me out of my thoughts, making me jump slightly before digging through my purse for it.

"And you make fun of what I listen to," he scoffed. I shot him a quick glare before putting the phone to my ear.

"Kalimera," I greeted my mother.

"Good morning my child," I could hear the smile in her voice as she replied. For some odd reason, she loved when I spoke my native language.

"You're calling earlier than usual, is everything okay?" I asked, settling the phone between my shoulder and my ear.

"Yes everything is fine, I just remembered you'd be leaving at seven for your trip so I didn't want to disturb you or anything," she started before being interrupted by my dad yelling hello in the background. "Your father says hi," she added.