“How long ago did you talk to her?”
“I called you right after we hung up. I was in traffic on the way to pick her up when she called and cancelled. I don’t have a good feeling about this. I’m sorry. I know it’s Valentine’s Day and you probably have plans—”
“Don’t worry about that. You did the right thing.” He quickly catches Raven up on what I told him and she replies, but I can’t understand what she’s saying. “Killian, you go on over to Layla’s, but do not go inside. Wait for us in the parking lot and keep your phone on you, understand?”
“Yeah.”
“Chances are everything’s fine, but we’ll be there in about thirty minutes, so just hang tight until we get there.”
“Okay, sure, sounds good.”
“See you in a bit.”
~~~
Time drags on. I’m pacing the lot with my phone welded to my palm.
It’s been over thirty minutes, and I’m about to call Jonah back when his truck comes barreling into the lot.
He parks next to my car, and he and his wife Raven hop down from the truck. They both look insanely pissed off, which only ratchets up my panic. That and…there’s no Blake.
“What’s going on? Where’s Blake?”
Jonah’s jaw ticks. “He’s not coming.”
“Not coming?” I motion to the second-story apartment where Axelle and her mom are inside with her dickhead ex-husband. “What if he’s hurting them up there? How could he not come and help them?”
Raven steps into my line of sight, and I’m struck by the softness in her pretty face. “Killian, they’ll be okay. Chances are everything’s fine. Let’s not freak out until we have a reason to.”
I nod. “Okay, yeah, let’s go.” I move to jog up the steps when Jonah snags my arm.
“Whoa, hang on there, Killer.”
I whirl around and glare at his hand on my bicep. Respect flickers in his expression and he lets me go.
Raven takes to the steps. “I’m going to go feel things out.”
“This is a stupid idea.” Jonah’s arms and shoulders are tense.
“We talked about this. If you guys come with me, we might make things worse.” Raven sets unwavering eyes on us. “I’m not a threat to Layla’s ex.”
Jonah growls, and I make a sound in the back of my throat that comes out more like a groan.
“Fine, you have five minutes and then we’re coming up,” Jonah says through clenched teeth.
She nods and jogs up the steps. I watch until she disappears around the railing. Jonah looks downright deadly in the glow of his phone as he watches the seconds crawl by.
Axelle’s only mentioned her dad a couple of times. Her mid-semester move from Seattle to Vegas doesn’t say good things about this guy.
Were they trying to get away from him? Was he abusive? God, if he hurts her, I’ll fucking kill him.
My hands shake at the thought of him laying a hand on her perfect skin. I pace the parking lot, my eyes darting from Jonah to the direction of Axelle’s apartment and back again. Usually, I’d be awestruck being so close to the Heavyweight Champion, the man I’ve idolized since he had his first fight more than five years ago. His shoulders look like they’re about to Hulk out of his T-shirt, and the veins in his forearms bulge against his colorful full-sleeved tattoos, but this is no time for hero worship. I’m just glad he’s here. No one, not even the biggest asshole in the world—which I’m sure Axelle’s dad is—would fuck with The Assassin.
“Time’s up.” Jonah takes the steps and I drop in right behind him. “Killer.”
I slam into his back and peer up at him, straightening my glasses. “What?”
“Stay here.”
“But—”
“Listen to me.” He steps down one step, and damn, the guy is huge towering over me. “I don’t know what’s going on up there, but I do know everyone in that apartment is an adult and can handle whatever’s about to happen—all except Axelle. I’m going to get her out of there, and when I do, she’s going to need you down here so you can keep her safe. Understand?”
I can’t even think clearly enough to understand what he’s saying. All I hear is she needs me and I can keep her safe, so I nod and step down.
“Good. Hang tight.” He takes three steps at a time until he’s gone.
I rip my hands through my hair, the waiting making me crazy. Why didn’t Raven come back down before the five minutes were up? Or at least peek out to let us know everything’s okay?
Because everything isn’t okay.
I go back to pacing. My scalp burns from scraping my nails on it. She’s okay. She has to be. And when this is all over, I’m not waiting another second to tell her how I feel, to let her know I’ve never been more in love with anyone in my entire life. I’ll do whatever she asks me to, jump through any hoops she lays out, if it means she’ll give me a shot at making her happy.
She claimed my soul from the first time we met, and I can’t imagine ever loving anyone the same way I do her. If she’ll have me, I’ll—
The high-pitched shriek of truck tires speeding around the corner calls my eyes and I skid to a halt.
Black Rubicon.