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The Ferris Wheel takes us up again as I stare at Adeline without her knowing. The wind ruffles her dark hair and the afternoon sunlight caresses her beautiful face. The urge to kiss her, right here, right now, is overwhelming. And she has no idea what she is doing to me.
"Luke?" she says my name, now staring at my face.
I snap out of my thoughts and smile. "Yeah, the view is good."
"What were you thinking about?" Adeline asks, giggling.
"You," I tell her the truth.
I’m not sure of what I see in her eyes but it looks like a glint of excitement. She quickly hides it by lowering her eyes. “Me?”
I watch her carefully as I speak. “I can't really understand what it is about you.” My eyes narrow. “You’re…special.”
Adeline lets out a soft laugh. She looks at me. "Maybe I am."
I let the truth tumble out because it’s exactly what any guy on a date would say. Because it brings me closer to my goal. "You fascinate me and I want to know more about you."
"You already know something about me," Adeline replies, her eyes smiling in a way that trips my breath.
"What's that?"
"I have three brothers and one is an unrepentant drunk."
I laugh at her statement, remembering my confrontation with Lawrence. Does she know Lawrence is far more than that? He’s a murdered. Just like the rest of her family. I realize I want to picture Adeline as an innocent and ignorant wolf, clueless to the truth. Innocent of the blood they have on their hands.
I pull back imperceptibly. I’d be stupid to think that. What if Adeline’s a distraction set up by her brothers? What if Lawrence is out to capture me when I least expect, finally tearing me to pieces in front of his ravenous pack?
The last member of my pack would be dead. Justice would never be served.
"I'm sorry about what he did," Adeline apologizes, reaching over to rest her hand on mine as if she can sense me withdrawing.
I shake my head, trying to clear it of the confusing thought. "I know it's not your fault."
"My family is that way. They’re weird."
They’re killers! "Why are you doing this?"
Adeline knits her eyebrows together, giving me a confused look. "Doing what?"
"You don't know me,” I say, trying not to sound accusing. Or is that desperate? “You just met me last night. I’m a total stranger but it didn't stop you from getting front row tickets for my grandma and me. Why are you being nice to me?"
I expect her to talk about the sex. It has to be the only reason she's trying hard to make friends with me.
"I feel a connection to you," Adeline says softly. "I can't explain it but I just feel it. And no one deserves my brother's treatment. So the front row ticket is my little way of saying sorry."
I stare at her for a long time. Did she just say connection? Does she feel it too?
Fuck. Or is she better at this than I gave her credit for? Is she sucking me in with a false show of vulnerability?
"But despite it all, I love them," Adeline adds, finally glancing up.
My gut clenches as it feels like ice water just flushed through my veins. "Your brothers?"
She nods. "Yes. I love my family. We all look out for each other.”
“I see.” This is just the reminder I needed.
Adeline looks out at the expansive view as the Ferris Wheel peaks. “But at the same time, I feel controlled.” She returns her gaze to me as she chews her lip. “You know that feeling of being locked up in a cage? You get everything you want. You see everything you want. But you can't spread your wings and fly. You can't feel the wind in your hair. That's what I feel, Luke. I want to break out of my cage and be free."
