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Oh, God. I’ll never escape, will I? The fuckingmobis after me. How did I forget Locke works for the mob? Of course that’s where his loyalties lie. He told me himself, he’s been forced into that life and he’s been working tooth and nail to earn his freedom.
I force myself to take a slow breath in and a controlled breath out before I hyperventilate. Wasn’t I just in this position a few days ago? Trembling and sobbing and on the verge of passing out? Only this time I’m not afraid of Locke hurting me. He already did, and the damage done to my heart hurts worse than the zip ties ever did.
After I've waited as long as I dare, considering there's probably a target on my back now, I decide to run inside and grab a few snacks and water for the road.
Opening the door, I step out of the car, securing my hat and sunglasses in place.
That’s when things go sideways.
ELEVEN
Locke
“You can’t havemy mistress. I have her here,” Mario’s booming voice says down the line and my heart stops.
“What?”
“That was the situation back in New York. We had word that she was here but I was afraid if she heard you were headed back here, she would run before we could grab her.”
I’m silent, realizing I could have given over my angel to the mob.
“The job is done, Locke. You can come back now.”
“I’m done.”
“What?” he asks, his voice sounding lower, deadlier.
“My debt was paid once this job was done. You just said it’s over, so I’m out.”
“I see.”
That’s all he says. Two words and then the line goes dead. Two words and I know I can never go back to New York. I shouldn’t even stay in Pittsburgh for much longer. I need to get my girl and get on a plane before the wolves come for me.
I pull out the SIM card on my phone, smashing it under my foot until the glass crunches before I head down the hallway. The bedroom door is closed and I mentally calculate if there’s enough time for me to make love to my angel before we have to leave. I decide there’s always time for that.
I push the door open, expecting to see Keyera naked on the bed, but the room is empty. I wonder if she’s in the bathroom. Maybe she’s trying to get me to find her, though the sinking feeling in my gut tells me otherwise.
“Keyera?” I call, heading back down the hallway to the bathroom.
It’s empty and I know then that she’s gone. I rush back into the bedroom, noticing the window is open. I look down just in time to see her climb into an old hatchback and pull away from the curb.
I’m out the window and sprinting down the stairs a second later, jumping the last five or six stairs to get to the ground faster. I take off for my car as soon as I stumble to the ground, cutting off a few cars when I pull out onto the street and chase after her.
I don’t understand. Why did she run? Did she not feel what happened between us? The moment she surrendered to me was the sweetest I’ve ever experienced. I think I always knew she wasn’t Mario’s mistress, but that was when I truly believed her.
Those bright, beautiful, vulnerable eyes stared directly into my fucking soul, searing me with her pain, her trust, her desire. All of her. Keyera is branded all over me, her name etched on my bones, her kisses lingering on my skin, her scent filling my lungs even now when she’s running from me.
I know she’s not the target. The only thing I can come up with is that she overheard my conversation and misunderstood something that I said. Maybe I scared her with how cold I have to be when talking to my boss.
That thought has my gut curdling in disgust. I never want my angel to be afraid of me. Yeah, I’m a big fucking teddy bear for her and only her. I’d understand if she had reservations about starting a new life with me, especially after the way our relationship started, but I thought she would at least talk to me about it instead of running the first chance she got.
I spot her car up ahead at a gas station and I cut off the truck next to me in order to turn in after her. Her car is parked near the back of the lot and she climbs out, adjusting her baseball hat as she goes.
Does she have sunglasses? Is she trying to be incognito? God that’s adorable.
I pull up beside her and slam the car into park, throwing open my door and marching right up to her. I’ve got her thrown over my shoulder and stuffed into my car before anyone even spots me.
Keyera squirms in the seat, making it difficult for me to buckle her in. She rains her little fists down on my torso as I wrestle the seatbelt over her lap. I let her. Whatever it is that’s upset her, I’m sure that I deserve this.
