“Don’t waste any tears on them. They don’t deserve a single one.” I reach up and use my thumb to wipe away one that escapes. “Not from you, Petal.”
“I don’t know what to do. I have to run. But what if they find me again? If you’re not around, then I don’t know …” That bottom lip starts to go again, and Orion hops onto the table and rubs against her shoulder.
“He doesn’t want you to cry, either.” I squeeze her hand.
“I know. You two are the only guys I’ve ever been able to trust.” She smiles and sniffles. “I’m lucky to have you, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“Then you won’t.” I flick a glance at the clock. It’s getting late. The town will be mostly shut down, the highways sparse with weary travelers.
“But I have to leave. Sully, listen, I can’t stay when I know they’ll come back, especially when I know they’ll try to hurt you.”
“They can try.” I smirk. “It’s been a long time since I stomped a mudhole in someone’s ass, and I reckon doing it twice will more than make up for the lapse.”
She laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone raise their voice to my father, much less a fist. I think you may be the first person who’s even talked back to him.”
“Yeah? Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret, Petal. I’ll do a lot worse than talk if he comes after you again.”
She nods. “I believe you.”
“But you’re right about leaving. If we stay here, you’ll be a sitting duck for them. I can’t let you be vulnerable like that.”
Her face brightens. “‘We’?”
“You, me, and Orion–we’re leaving town. Together.”
“Really?” She squeezes my hand back. “When?”
“Well, seeing as how you’re already packed, I’d say right now.” I stand and pull her to her feet. In another second, I’m beside her, and in half a second, I have my lips on hers. I kiss her good and hard. I can’t help myself. I feel like I need to brand my name on her soul the way she’s done to mine. So I kiss her like it’s the last time, the first time, every time all rolled into one.
Sweetness and warmth, Orchid is the only thing in this life that’s ever sparked something inside me. There’s no way in hell I’ll ever let her father or that douche Jeremiah stamp that spark out.
“Wow.” She breathes deeply when I finally let her go. “I want …” She looks at my mouth again. “I want more.”
“I want it all, Petal.” I crowd her until she’s against the table. “Everything you have.”
She swallows hard and nods. “I, um, yes.”
I kiss her again, slowly this time, then pull back all too soon. “Let me throw some stuff in a bag, and we’ll be out of here. You sure you don’t need anything from next door?”
“No. As long as I have you and Orion, I’m good.” She seems to shine even more now, her eyes bright.
I grab the nape of her neck and pull her to me, then drop a kiss on her crown. There’s so much between us, like an electric current, but it has to wait. I won’t risk her safety, not when I’ve already seen the threat face to face.
“Grab whatever snacks you want. We’ll be on the road for a few hours, and a lot of it is back highways. I don’t want you to get hungry and not have anything to eat.” I point to the pantry. “I have those kettle chips you like and a bunch of the jellybeans and gummy bears, too. Fill up a bag.”
“Where are we go–wait! You got my gummy bears?” She smiles big and opens the door to the small pantry. “Oh my God. You weren’t kidding.” She squeals and grabs one of the grocery store bags I keep stowed neatly on the middle shelf.
As she’s doing that, I head down the hall to the second bedroom. Inside, I bypass the bed and the dresser, then stop in front of the closet. It has a metal door with a digital keypad. Once I’ve punched in the digits, I pull it open.
Inside is a small armory. Nothing crazy, of course. Just a few rifles, handguns, knives, grenades, and a small selection of tactical gear. My family is pretty well known in my part of the world, so I have to be careful. Even though I’m not part of that life anymore, and haven’t been for a long time, I still have to look over my shoulder.
And now, I have an even better reason to keep an eye out–Orchid. Though I’d happily end her father and Jeremiah with nothing more than my bare hands, I need to be smart and use whatever I have to protect her. So I load up a bag with a variety of lethal hardware, then heft it over my shoulder.