Chapter9
Getting out of the mansion was easy. Getting to the SUV was easy. Getting back to Becks’ apartment was easy.
It was all so damn easy. Nothing to slow me down or extend my time with Becks. Nothing to stop me from getting rid of her.
I didn’t think there would be. I didn’t even hope there would be. But fuck if I didn’t want to let her go. It had taken everything to keep from fucking her up against that door. If I didn’t get her out of my sight immediately, I’d never be able to let her go. Alek was the only one who could keep her safe if I wasn’t around.
As I drove through the downtown traffic, I snuck glances of Becks. She was staring out the window, noticeably ignoring me. She was pissed, no doubt just as confused as I was about our connection.
At least it wasn’t just me. But what the fuck was I supposed to do? Ask her on a date?
This was how it had to be.
It was naive to think I could come home and anything could go back the way it was between Alek and me. And what I’d done to his woman had only made it worse. It would be better for everyone if I left the area and stayed gone.
All too soon, I reached Becks’ shitty neighborhood and brought the SUV to a stop. This was it. This feisty blonde who had me tied up in knots was going to walk into that building and out of my life, and that was going to be it.
She didn’t open the door and run the moment the car stopped, like I expected. We both sat there in silence instead, as though waiting for the other to break the awkwardness.
Words were never my strong suit. I was more of an action man.
Fuck this. I grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her across the console. She kissed me just as fiercely as I kissed her, our tongues warring for control as we put all the frustration of the words we couldn’t find into the kiss.
But then Becks’ hands were fisting in my shirt and pushing me away. I growled in frustration but didn’t fight her.
“All right, dude. It’s been real. This is by far the strangest kidnapping I’ve ever been a part of.” She was still gripping onto my shirt. My jaw was clenched so tight; it was cramping.
This shouldn’t be so hard. With all the shit I’d gone through in the past year, letting this nobody walk out of my life should be nothing.
But when she let the fabric slip out of her fingers, I knew our time was up. “Stay there until Alek picks you up,” I warned.
“Sure, whatever.” She didn’t bother making the lie believable. I’d given her no reason to obey my orders, so I couldn’t blame her.
“Goodbye, Kitten.”
“Yeah, yeah. This pussy is ready to be an outdoor cat.”
I had to grip the steering wheel tight enough to hear the metal bolts begin to creak and moan before she slammed the door shut. There. I’d done it. She was gone.
That was the hardest part. Now I just had to stay still and not follow her up.
Is this what Alek felt for Daisy? Why he would sit up next to her all night just to make sure she was still okay?
I thought she was some conniving agent to have that kind of power over him. But now I was starting to understand my brother’s crazy behavior where Daisy was concerned. I’d only known Becks for a day and already she made me want to turn my entire life in upheaval.
Which was exactly the reason I needed to leave. The more I felt for her, the more danger she was in. Now more than ever, I needed to be somewhere I could keep my wits sharp. Black Thorn had too much power. They had eyes everywhere. They already tried to use Daisy against Alek. If they knew Becks was my weakness, they would use her against me.
As soon as I could get my fists to release the steering wheel, I messaged Alek, keeping it simple and to the point.
Your girl’s roommate is at the apartment. She needs pickup. Black Thorn is watching.
He would have plenty of questions. I didn’t plan on answering. As long as he came to get Becks, that was all that mattered. She’d be safe and I’d be gone.
Just another ghost from her past.
My phone buzzed as Alek’s inquisition started, so I threw it in the backseat. If Alek wanted answers, he could get his ass over here and do his job.
If I wanted to keep an eye on Becks while Alek collected her, I’d have to move somewhere less conspicuous. She knew where I was and would be able to point me out if Alek didn’t spot me outright.
I scanned the street for a new spot to park, but never got the chance to move.
The next thing I knew, a black van slammed into the side of my SUV, and everything went dark.