Little Queen

10

Draven's POV

:::

Idalia glances between the car door and the three of us.

Gunner steps closer to her, rubbing her back, "You're safe Idalia we'll be with you the entire time."

Her fingers are fidgeting in front of her again, "you're sure it's safe?"

She's looking at me this time.

"Yes little one nothing bad will happen, you're safe with me."

She turns her head one last time to look at the front door but nods her head and slides in the back. I follow, closing the door behind us and Ranger gets in the passenger seat. When Gunner starts to walk toward the lead car Idalia grips my arm in worry.

"Wait where is he going? Why isn't he getting in the car?"

I run a hand over her hair, "There's no more room in this car little one, he will ride in the lead car. It's okay he'll be safe."

Despite my attempt to calm her, her head is shaking quickly, "No why can't he drive us please Draven please can he drive us I want him to be in the same car as me please."

I guide my lips to her temple, "Okay okay you're okay."

She glances up at me with her big brown eyes, "He's a good driver I swear it!"

"It's okay he can drive us," I say cupping her face, "Angelo get out, tell him he's driving this car."

"Yes sir."

Idalia is instantly calmer and leans against my side. I buckle her in the middle seat and place my arm back around her. Gunner gets in the car clapping his hands together.

"Okay whos ready to roll?!"

The only one who smiles at him is Idalia but even she stays silent. We start to roll out behind the lead car and I hear Ranger lean over to Gunner.

"Why does she think you're a good driver?"

The idiot laughs loudly and gives his partner a shrug, "No idea."

I close my eyes, I didn't even consider that she had never actually seen him drive I just needed her calm again.

I inhale with my nose pressed against her hair, "Darling why do you think Gunner is a good driver?"

Just as I ask this our bodies jerk forward from the idiot slamming on the brake, "Whoops, sorry my foot slipped."

Idalia looked up at me again, shrugging, "He always beats me when we play Mariokart."

My eyes stare up at the roof but Gunners laughter fills the car, even Ranger chuckled.

"It's true I do always beat her!"

I exhale deeply through my nose and try to relax with Idalia in my arms. We jerk back and forth for the entire ride to the restaurant but Idalia doesn't seem to mind. She's pulled her seatbelt out enough that her face is practically pressed against my window. Her father's estate was incredibly remote, located out in the countryside so the only thing outside our windows was trees, farmland, and empty fields.

I unclip her seatbelt and place her in my lap so she can get closer without her buckle digging into her belly. Her eyes stayed wide, constantly moving for the entire ride. I keep one arm across her thighs while the other rests on the back of her neck.

"What's that ?"

She's pointing at the large metal pole that bends over the crops.

"It helps the farmers water their plants little one."