Page 131 of Malice and Surrender
Revving the Mustang, I pulled out as the motorcycle started up the ramp. I followed and spotted the red taillight of the motorcycle gaining distance. I didn’t bring Camille out just so Kai wouldn’t recognize me. She had a whole fuck ton more get up and go.
The car roared like a lion as I shifted into fifth, making me smile wide. “I know, girl, it’s been a while since I opened you up, but don’t worry, we have a bit of ground to cover.” I wanted to ask her if I could make out with Raine in here one day, but I didn’t need her having a fit and stranding me on the side of the road. Camille could be a petty bitch.
We flew down the outside lane, and once I was a comfortable distance away, I pulled in behind another car to follow. It was way too bright out to get close
I knew what Kai’s plan would be. He didn’t give a shit about Jace or me, so as soon as he found Raine, he’d try and convince her to only be with him. Kai didn’t exactly strike me as the sharing type, but I had something that the other two guys involved didn’t have, and that was faith.
I’d seen and felt Raine’s heart, and I truly believed she wouldn’t let Kai storm into her orbit and steal her away. She left for a reason, and it wasn’t because she didn’t love me. It also meant I needed to be smart. Kai would still try to talk her into only being with him, and if by some miracle she talked him into sharing, he would have demands. I needed them to work out whatever that was before I stormed the castle. If Jace were here, he’d say, ‘Fuck that shit,’ and bust the door down to get to Raine.
Of course, when we argued last night, his solution was to announce to the world that she was his girlfriend. He also suggested flying off and making some other place our home, like Venice, Paris, or maybe Ireland. It was great in theory if Raine wanted to do it, but I doubted it. That would only last so long if Kai saw Jace and Raine on the television. Then he would only become more obsessed and enraged. I knew my personality types, which was why I handled the talking and Jace did the stomping.
I smirked at the thought and picked up my phone, staring at the missed calls from Jace. I couldn’t listen to these messages or answer them right now. If I did and told him what I was up to, he would have a meltdown of epic proportions. I loved him, but sometimes that overprotective side was a bit much.
We had been on the road for three hours when Kai pulled off for fuel. This was the tricky part. I should top off too, but the question was how to do it without being noticed. I pulled up to the furthest pump from Kai and lifted the hood on my sweatshirt to cover my face.
I looked over my shoulder and spotted the little sign on the pump, covering the credit card slot that said I had to pre-pay inside. Well, wasn’t that just fucking perfect? I watched Kai go inside the store and head to the men’s room. This was my opportunity. Jumping out, I made my way inside. The guy behind the counter gave me a once-over. I realized I must look like I was about to rob him with my hands stuffed inside the pocket.
“Hey, I need fifty on pump six, and I’ll take these,” I said, grabbing a handful of different candy packages. “Oh, and a bottle of water.”
“Which one,” the guy asked.
“Which one what?”
“Bottle of water?”
“I don’t know your biggest, I guess.” The guy looked at me like I had two heads. I tapped my foot, nervous about being found in here if Kai came back out. “I’ll grab one,” I said calmly while inside, I felt like screaming.
Marching over to the fridge, I opened the door and grabbed a large water. Of course, that was when I heard the men’s room door’s hinge squeaking open. Oh fuck, please let him have already paid, was all I could think as I walked back to the counter to pay. Of course, I didn’t have that kind of luck and could hear his heavy boots on the cheap tile floor coming up behind me. The hair stood on the back of my neck, warning me of the danger.
It felt like the guy working the counter was moving as slowly as possible as he put my stuff in a bag and handed it over. I stepped sideways, pretending to look around, and then escaped to the bathroom and locked the door.
“Oh fuck. What am I doing,” I asked my reflection. “I’m going to get myself killed.” I gave myself a stern look. “No, I’ve got this.”
Shaking off the building anxiety, I quickly took a piss and washed my hands, horrified that I would have to touch the handle.
The bike was still in the same spot when I got outside, but there was no sign of Kai. I was so busy staring at the black bike that I didn’t notice him until I rounded the far pump and froze in my tracks. He was leaning up against my driver's side door, smoking a cigarette and looking as casual as could be, but as his eyes met mine, I knew he was contemplating murder.
“Hello, Avro,” Kai said and took a drag off his smoke.
“You really shouldn’t do that,” I said, and he cocked an eyebrow at me. “Smoking at a gas station. There’s a reason they have all those, do not smoke here, signs up.”
Smirking, he took another pull and then dropped the cigarette to the ground stomping it out with his shitkicker. I was pretty sure he was going to try and shove the boot up my ass.
“Why are you following me?”
“Who says I was? Maybe I was just out for a nice drive in my sexy car.”
Kai smiled. “She is a sexy car, I’ll give you that, but the rest is bullshit. I spotted you an hour ago. So, I’ll ask you again, why are you following me?”
Giving up the lie since I sucked at it anyway, I lifted my shoulder. “Well, I thought that would be obvious,” I said, and Kai rolled his eyes and then rubbed at them as he swore something about a Wilder answer. I had no idea what that was supposed to mean.
“Look, if you know where Raine is, then I’m going to follow you. I know you don’t like me, but I love her, so if that means you’re going to shoot me for it, then so be it. I’m not letting her disappear.”
Kai turned sideways and leaned against Camille, his eyes roaming over the shiny paint job. Internally I screamed don’t scratch my baby, but managed not to say anything and give him the ammunition. I imagined him dragging the large silver rings on his hand along her side just to make me faint.
On a bright day like today, it was blue, but as soon as the shadow hit, it would look purple, then black at night. I spent a fortune for it to be done, but it was worth it. She was a beast and deserved the best.
“You played me.” He smirked, but it wasn’t a friendly look. “You figured I’d find a way to track her down, didn’t you?” I shrugged, not agreeing or disagreeing. “You’re braver than I thought, Avro. Stupid, maybe, but definitely braver. Go home. I’m not hunting down Raine. If she wants to take off and never come back, then so be it.”
