The Com’s eyes flashed back. His driving was too fucking careful. His hands were at ten and two, and he was driving at least five miles under the speed limit. He whispered harshly, “Don’t you know who they are?”
I ran a hand over my face, exhaling a heavy sigh, then leaned forward further and waved a finger in front of his face. “Open the damn window then!” I rubbed at my nose again, the smell stuck inside this vehicle. The cabbie griped at me, slapping at my hand and cursing in what was possibly Russian, so I did what any woman would do when stuck with people from the past. I lunged over the seat, grabbing the wheel when the cabbie shrieked and jerked it the wrong way. I quickly righted our course then snaked a fast hand to the crank to roll the window down, bumping his chest hard with each round. I barked gruffly, “When I tell you to do something, you fucking do it. Got it, asshole?”
“Yes, yes,” he mumbled in shock.
I glanced up, seeing the red light he couldn’t. I shouted, “Brake! Brake!”
Like a good little pissant, he slammed on the brakes and stopped just in time. The pedestrians crossed the street in front of us in a huge mass. The small problem was that my body landed on the steering wheel—or more like, the horn—the thing blaring loudly at the mass crossing the road. Still half hanging over the seat, I waved at the shouting crowd. I yelled out the window, “Sorry! But fuck those damn cabbies, right?”
I pushed myself to the back of the cab, ignoring the round of curses still being shouted at us. Not everyone liked almost being run over. I sat primly on the edge of Elder Fergus’s knees, brushing my hair out of my face as I murmured casually, “Friendly crowd.”
All three of them started choking.
I patted the driver’s shoulder softly. “It really would have gone much better if you did what I asked the first time.”
“Yes, ma’am.” A hurried nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
Elder Fergus, a fist over his mouth, gave up the fight and dropped it to burst out laughing contagiously, the other two following right behind him.
I found myself laughing too, a real laugh.
This was camaraderie I hadn’t felt in three months. And I liked it.
Chapter Thirty-Two
All four of us were still chuckling and wiping our eyes when we exited the cab, the cabbie not taking any fare from us whatsoever. I stretched my back while standing on the sidewalk, rubbing at my stomach which was aching from laughing so hard.
Elder Venclaire opened the door for us to a small, all-night breakfast eatery. Eyeing the four of us, he asked, “What did I miss?”
Elder Nelson wore a huge smile on his face. “She almost killed us.”
Elder Fergus snorted. “Correction: she almost killed twenty innocents.”
Elder Kincaid shrugged, snorting. “Close enough to the same thing.”
Elder Venclaire’s eyebrows were lifted high on his forehead, glancing at each of us, then he nodded his head toward me. “Next time, I’m riding.”
An eye-catching earth Elemental hostess came up behind them, grabbing menus. She ran her fingers across Elder Fergus’s stomach, her pink nails bright against his black shirt. She held her hand firmly against his flat stomach. “Your usual table, babe?”
Elder Fergus glanced down at her face while removing her hand without trouble. “We’ll actually need a table for five tonight, Donna.”
“Five,” she stated slowly, her gaze darting to me. Her attractive brown eyes ran over my form from head to toe, her brows puckered. “Five?”
I lifted both my hands in an easy truce. “I’m not interested in him.” Truth. “But if he’s not interested in you anymore, I can’t help that.” When Elder Fergus cocked a green brow, I shrugged a shoulder. “Sorry.”
His lips twitched. “Friends?”
I nodded, a smile lifting my lips. “I’d like that.”
He held up his own hands. “I’ll really keep my paws off you then.”
I believed him. “Good. I’d hate to break ’em.”
His head tilted back, and his laughter filled the diner.
I smiled, then I turned my attention to the staring waitress. “The table?”
Her composure flared to life, and her spine straightened. She grabbed one more menu from the stand and glanced around the intimate room. “I can put you all in a round booth. That’s all we’ve got to fit your group.”
“Thank you,” Elder Fergus stated gently.
Silent, she nodded and showed us to our booth. “Ryan will be with you guys in a moment.”
“Well…” Elder Venclaire drawled, breaking the silence as she walked away. He had his eyes on the booth. All of them did, as if they were hesitant to sit directly next to one another. “Who’s sitting where?”
“Technically…” Elder Fergus rubbed his mouth, his amused eyes dancing.
My lips twitched, finishing his sentence for him, “There’s only one seat.”
“All right, smart-asses.” Elder Venclaire pointed at the booth. “Everyone pile in.”
Still they didn’t move.