After I zipped the suitcase, I started to pace the bedroom.
It was fight or flight time in my heart, but what could I do? I had no car, obviously. It had been blown up.
Blown up?
Who would blow up my car? Who would want me dead like that?
My mind raced. I started to feel jittery.
I needed a drink.
I rushed to the kitchen and started opening and closing the cabinets. I even resorted to the silverware drawer, wondering if there was a small bottle hidden. The only thing I found was a pack of cigarettes. I had no idea how old they were. I hadn’t smoked in a long time. The only reason I ever did was to look cool in front of people, like an idiot. But the cigarettes looked good.
I licked my lips and grabbed them.
When I left the apartment and went down the back emergency stairs, I knew I was defying Luke. All I wanted was one smoke. Maybe two. I’d probably end up with a headache and stomachache but at least that would give me something else to focus on for a little while.
Outside, I huddled behind the restaurant like a teenager sneaking their parents cigarettes. I put the cigarette to my lips and flicked the lighter. My hand shook, making the flame dance. I put the flame to the tip of the cigarette and started to suck.
“You know, those will kill you.”
I yelled, dropping the cigarette and the lighter.
I spun and saw a guy standing a few feet away. He wore jeans, black boots, and a leather jacket. As I scanned up and met my gaze with his, I lost my breath.
That hair.
That build.
It was him. The sexy monster from the fight.
“Who are you?” I asked. I reached for the door to the restaurant but didn’t open it.
“Just checking on you,” he said. “You’re alive.”
“Yeah. I’m… alive…”
Does he know? What does he know? Why is he so fucking sexy?
“You’re Rose, right?”
My face burned red. “How do you know my name?”
He took his hand from his pocket. He had a picture of me. “I found this. With this address on the back. Look, I know it’s not my…”
The sexy guy stepped toward me but then jumped back like he’d been punched in the chest.
I didn’t even hear the ping of the silenced gun going off.
I looked back and saw a car at the end of the alley.
Holy shit… someone was here to kill me…
~
I didn’t have a chance to ask if he was okay. He could have just ran away, saving himself. He wasn’t the intended target. But he didn’t run away. He caught his balance and came storming at me.
Logic finally kicked in - he was part of this! He was going to try and kill me!
I opened the backdoor to the restaurant.
The sexy guy was right behind me. He slammed the door and grabbed me.
“We have to get out front. I have a car.”
“Who the hell are you?” I asked. “Are you here to kill me?”
“No, sweetie, I’m not.”
Sweetie.
It shouldn’t have done a thing to me, but looking at his dark eyes, dark hair in his face, I was melting already.
“You’re shot,” I whispered.
“Let’s go.”
“I have to get my stuff!” I said.
“Are you serious right now?”
“Yes. If I leave I can’t come back. You don’t…”
He gritted his teeth and pointed to the metal stairs.
We made it halfway up before the door opened below us.
“Come out and play!” a voice yelled.
That was followed by echoing footsteps.
When we got to the apartment door, the sexy guy opened it and we rushed inside. He slammed the door and pointed. “You have two fucking seconds.”
“Who are you?” I asked again. “This doesn’t…”
Sexy guy grabbed me by the shoulders. He smelled of all man. Lingering sweat. I looked to each of his hands. His knuckles were swollen, a few had crusts of scabs.
He was a fighter. A real fighter. The gorgeous fighter who had been facing the wall, in tears.
“Wes,” he said. “My name is Wes. That’s all you need to know. Someone is trying to kill you. And now I’m shot and in your apartment. We have to get the hell out of here, right now.”
“I… I’m not supposed to leave,” I said. “I shouldn’t have been outside.”
“Dammit, sweetie, there’s no time,” Wes yelled at me.
I had no reason to trust him, but what choice did I have? If guys barged into the apartment and killed me… or maybe they’d kidnap me. Use me against Luke. Torture me the way Luke would torture people to get information.
I started to shake.
Then there was pounding at the door.
“Open up, cupcake!” a voice yelled.
“Fuck,” Wes said. “Hurry. Get your damn bag and lets go out a window.”
Wes ran to the window and looked out. There was a small ledge and a chance to jump to the fire escape. One slip though and you were gone. Maybe you wouldn’t die from the fall, but you’d be hurt. And then these guys at the door would be right after me. Or us.
“It’s too dangerous,” I said.
I ran into the bedroom, Wes behind me. Funny how it dawned on me that it had really been a long time since I was alone in a bedroom with another man. Yet there was no time to really dwell on it.
Wes stood in the doorway, hands balled into fists.