Page 46 of Raze
See, Aiden? I’m like a magnet for trouble.
Which I realize isn’t thebestattribute for a girl to have, but I’ve made it useful for me, and that’s what counts.
The last Ken Doll saw of me, I’d gone to congressman Joe’s home for food. And neither of us made it back to the party. Luckily for me, the congressman was seen after that night, so his current disappearance shouldn’t link anything back to me. He may suspect something happened between us and then the congressman tossed me to the side when he finished with me like the others.
Ken, because I can’t remember his actual name, orders his drink at the counter. I push my phone in my pocket, trash my current coffee, and rise to get in line behind him. He shifts to the side counter to wait for his order while I ask for another overpriced coffee.
“I’ll get that,” Ken speaks up beside me as I’m fishing through what bills I have left.
Game on.
“Oh! Hi…”
“Steve.”
“Steve.” I smile.Ken. He hands the cashier his card while keeping his plastic smile on me. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” We move to the side counter. “I didn’t see you back at the party after you left with Joe.”
“I’m sorry. I still didn’t feel well after eating and had my friend pick me up and take me home.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I’m glad we could see each other again then. Are you still interested in the internship at my firm?”
Both of our drinks are pushed across the counter. He takes them and hands me mine.
I blow into the small opening of the lid and the steam warms my lips. “I am, but I was hoping to ask you more about it.”And hopefully find some sort of tie between you and GE.
His smile widens, and he withdraws his cell phone from his inner jacket pocket. “As you should. I have a meeting to attend, but if you’ll put your number in my phone, we can work out a good time for both of us.”
“That would be great!” If only I remembered the number of mycurrent burner phone. I whip out my phone instead and start a new text. “What’s your number? I’ll send you a text so we have each other’s numbers.”
Ken recites it and I send him a simple message that reads:Rebecca.
His phone buzzes, and he checks what I sent him. “Perfect. It was good to see you, Rebecca, but I have to run.” He waves with his phone.
“No problem. Thank you again for the drink!” I wave back as he leaves the coffee shop.
I smile behind my drink.
This is a good first step in proving to Aiden that my plans get results.
Something big and warm clamps down over my mouth, and I jolt awake. Fear shoots through my limbs like electricity and sets my heart racing at who could have found me.
“Calm down,” a familiar voice says softly above me. Dane waits for the panic on my face to melt away before he moves his hand. My heart is still galloping a mile a minute, and I focus on convincing it not to jump off a cliff.We’re safe; we’re fine.Just another one of the guys breaching my personal space yet again.
“Either you’re up and ready in two minutes, or I’m leaving to see Vera without you.” Dane leaves the room but keeps the door cracked so I can see his back as he waits forme.
My brain scrambles to put two and two together between still waking up and slowing down the panic. Vera. Out.
Oh, not again.
I throw the blankets off me and dress as fast as possible, knowing that Dane would love the excuse to leave me behind. He’s upholding his end of our deal but trying to find a loophole around it. I pack myself with knives and a gun. I know I promised not to harm Vera, but she might not come alone this time.
I’m ready in record time and open my door fully to let him know. Dane frowns when he sees me, his lips thinning to a flat line but staying shut all the same.
All their vehicles are parked in the truck bays of the firehouse. I open the main door, and Dane pushes the motorcycle through it and keeps walking it down the drive. It isn’t until we’re down a road that he climbs on and starts it.
He hands me a backpack. “Put this on.”
