Page 186 of Bad Attitude
No bike of course, damn it, but it’s the only clothing I have.
No phone and no wallet either. Getting anywhere is going to be a monumental pain in the ass.
It must be about three in the morning. I’m really hoping Declan is going to sleep for a good few hours, and I only need about ten minutes… if my plan holds.
I pad back down to the basement, checking my jacket immediately. My keys are there, much good will they do me, but just as I suspected, the diamonds and black box have gone. I’ve already made the decision not to search; the risk of being discovered is too high, and he could literally have put it anywhere. It’s more important to get out, tell Kurt. For that, I need to get back to LA. Find one of the crew.
I pull on my leathers over Declan’s shirt and slip into my boots. The front door is at the bottom of the stairs, up one floor. I give the basement the finger as I walk out. Maybe I did like what happened in there—some of it—but that doesn’t mean I have to admit it.
This is the dangerous moment. Walking back up, my boots a lot louder than my bare feet. I should’ve waited until I was out before pulling them on. Too late now. Instead, I creep. Step by careful step.
One of the floorboards creaks loudly, sending my heartrate spiking. I listen hard, but there’s no movement from upstairs. Another minute of sneaking, and I reach the door. It’s a simple matter of unlatching it, stepping out. It’s not locked beyond that.
Declan’s truck is parked on a ramp before the garage door.
And my bike is beside it. Beautiful, sleek, red, andmine.
I stare at it. That was unexpected.
How the hell did he get it here?Whyis it here? Did he really intend for me to have it back? Or did he just take it so that it wasn’t a clue I’dgone missing?
My keys are in my pocket. My helmet’s in the back of his pickup, the gloves stuffed inside, where I always leave them. I’ve got everything I need, and in a moment, I’m back on my bike. Wincing as my sore body protests.
He’ll probably wake as soon as I start the engine, but that doesn’t matter. He can’t stop me now. Nothing will catch me.
I glance up at the window. I think that’s the other bedroom; ours was at the back of the house. But I imagine him lying there, sound asleep, thinking I’m… what, willing?
No, Declan. I wasnotwilling to be drugged and kidnapped. Fucked against my protests, no matter how good it was.
Lied to, over and over andoveragain.
Screw you.
I turn away, start the bike, and ride.
Free and alone, untouchable.
There’s enough gas in the tank for a hundred miles. After that, I’ll need to find a bank. Answer enough questions to draw some cash from my account. That’ll mean waiting until morning, but I don’t care. I’ll be gone, on my way to LA.
And I’ll never let Declan fucking Hale near me ever again.
Thirty Six
Declan
Iwake up early, but the bed is cold where Raven was lying.
In both senses of the word, as it turns out.
Shit.
I thought she’d accepted things last night. Clearly, she hadn’t.
Okay, so yes, maybe I did go a little bit far with the drugging and the kidnapping and the interrogation. But I thought she understood it was a game.
She enjoyed it, didn’t she?
I made it clear it was just a scene, didn’t I?
