“You got it, brother.” He fishes the keys to his cage out of his pocket and trades me for the key to my bike.
“Call me soon as you got something.”
Slick nods and takes off. I close the door and sit the food and drinks on the worn coffee table and lay the envelope with her new life to the side. Trudging to the bedroom where she sleeps my stomach rumbles at the scent of bacon, cheese, and egg biscuits. When I open the door she’s just waking up.
“Hey,” she whispers.
“Got you breakfast. Get dressed and meet me in the living room.” I drop her bag on the edge of the bed.
“Okay. Thanks for last night. For listening. For just being here.” Her wavy blonde hair hugs her shoulders as she slips out of bed in my tee looking too damn good in it. Too damn grown and fucking broken.
I grunt and clear the tickle from the back of my throat. “Don’t mention it.”
Alexa’s gaze flitters over my chest. Her lips tip into a smirk that shakes me deep in my bones. She doesn’t need to be looking at me, flashing me that fire in her eyes that threatens to burn me. To scorch me to the ends of the earth. “Guess you’ll be wanting this.” My shirt flies over her head and whips across the room. Her bruised and defiled body put on full display.
I close my eyes and grip my shirt in my fist. Turning my back to the sight, I call out, “Get a move on. Got shit to do today.” Like find that bastard and end his life.
“Okay,” she croaks, and I shut the door.
In the hallway I pause and lean against the wall. Sucking in a breath I shake my head and laugh. Who’d ever think Alexa Neville would be able to bring me to my knees, but here we are. That girl will be my undoing. I know it and so does she. I shove off and go to the living room and grab my biscuit, ripping into it with my teeth and tearing off a big chunk of egg. I crumple the wrapper and put my shirt back on. My shirt smells of Alexa. Fuck me.
The heat of her stare penetrates me minutes later. I glance up and gone is the broken girl. Alexa stands across from me a woman wearing too tight jeans and a black top with a deep V showing off her cleavage. Her hair hangs in a loose braid over her right shoulder. Makeup done up, pretty red lips. Gazing at her right now you wouldn’t know she’d been raped, but I know. I can’t forget. That bastard won’t forget it either the short time he has left.
“Hungry?” I receive a nod in response.
Alexa plops down on the couch next to me, her thigh pressed to mine. The sweet yet faint smell of her perfume washes over me and hums through my veins. Sweet as candy. Sweet as that red lip gloss she’s started wearing lately. She used to wear a shade of bubblegum pink. What’s that say about me that I know when she changes shit up. I’m a filthy fucking bastard, and yet I don’t give a fuck. The damage has been done. Her fate is wrapped up with mine. I knew it when I first saw her. I wanted her. I still do, but I can never act on those desires.
I’m not a good man, but I try to be for Rochelle. If it wasn’t for my daughter, I’d left Ruthie a long time ago. My wife is a bitch, and I know she’d make damn sure I never have contact with Ro. Ruthie knows too much. Bitch could put my ass back in prison. Loves to hold shit from the past over my head. And yet I still stay loyal and faithful like a fucking dog.
Alexa twists the cap off her orange juice and takes a long drink. “What’s the plan?”
“Taking you to get checked over. Don’t give me no lip or fight me on this. I know someone who will be discreet. Bit of a drive though.”
“All right. I won’t.”
“Good.”
Her hand reaches out for mine, and I let her take it though I shouldn’t. One touch could spark a fucking wildfire. “Thank you for doing this. For everything. If I didn’t have you...I don’t know what I’d do.”
“Don’t mention it. Finish that off we gotta head out.” I drop her hand and stand up. Pulling my cigarettes out of my cut I light one up and peek outside through the blinds. A couple kids are walking toward the bus stop. They are about the same age as Alexa, but she’s not like them. She is unlike anyone I’ve ever met.
I take a long draw off my Marlboro and dig Slick’s keys out of my pocket.
“All set.”
I look over at Alexa and she has her bag strung over her shoulder. “You got everything?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s roll.” I open the front door and glance around once more for prying eyes then shuffle Alexa toward the cage. Slick has a black Ford F-150 with tinted windows. Not something I’d choose myself, but it’ll do for what I need it for. People see a pretty blonde in Slick’s cage they won’t think twice about it. They see her on the back of my motorcycle there’ll be talk. Whisperings I don’t need. Don’t need the fucking 5-O getting in my business again.
“Buckle up,” I growl, as I climb into the driver’s seat and adjust the mirrors.
Alexa fiddles with the radio, and I ignore her for most of the drive. She tries to talk, but I shut her out. I need to get my head straight. Whenever she’s near me I can’t even breathe right. The AC blows, giving me whiffs of her sweetness. I steal a glance her way, and when I see her tears, I fucking break. I gotta fix this. Fix her. I just don’t know how. We’re an hour outside of Charleston now. I turn down the radio and catch her gaze as I pull off at a gas station.
“Want something?” She shakes her head. “I’ll be back.” I don’t wait for a response. I get out needing a break from being so close to her and yet so far away. The smell of gasoline assaults my senses, and I head inside for a coffee. I grab what I need and at the counter is these big square red cinnamon flavored suckers Rochelle loves so I grab a handful of them. I think Alexa likes them too. I pay and get back in the truck. Alexa’s resting her head against the window. Her eyes are closed. The weight of the world balanced on her shoulders.
“Hey.” I tip her chin up. “You good?”