“I don’t want Ash.” I stopped walking and looked at her. “If I wanted her, I’d be with her. But I’m not. She’s not who I want.”
“Neither am I. You can’t honestly tell me that you’d risk every Luxen around here turning their backs on you for me.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “And you have got to stop assuming you know what I want and what I would do.”
She started walking again. “It’s just the challenge and the connection, Daemon. Whatever you feel for me isn’t real.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I spat.
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I know.” I appeared in front of Kat, eyes narrowed as I stared down at her. I thumped my hand off my chest, directly above my heart. “Because I know what I feel in here. And I’m not the type of person to run from anything, no matter how hard it is. I’d rather face-plant against a brick wall than live for the rest of my life wondering what could’ve been. And you know what? I didn’t think you were the type to run, either. Maybe I was wrong.”
Kat blinked as she pulled her hands out of her hoodie. “I don’t run.”
“You don’t? Because that’s what you’re doing,” I argued. “You pretend what you feel for me isn’t real or doesn’t exist. And I know damn well you don’t feel anything for Bobby.”
“Blake,” she corrected, walking around me. I followed “I don’t want to talk—”
I ground to a halt; my heart caught and then sped up in my chest, mirroring Kat’s. Two Expeditions were parked on either side of my car, blocking me in. Without saying a word, I stepped in front of Kat.
The DOD was here.
Chapter 15
I recognized all of the DOD officers immediately. Officer Lane was the first to step forward, his wary gaze trained on me. “Hello, Mr. Black and Ms. Swartz,” he said.
“Hey, Lane.” I kept my voice calm. “I wasn’t expecting you today.”
“We got into town a little early and saw your car.” Lane smiled.
Officer Vaughn squinted, as if trying to see through me. For once in her life, Kat was remaining quiet behind me. “What were you guys doing out here?”
“There was a party here last night, and we were looking for her cell phone.” I threw a grin over my shoulder and prayed to whoever may be listening that she didn’t have her cell on her and it didn’t ring. “She lost it and we’re still looking for it. So I can meet you guys later. Once we find the…”
The passenger door of one of the Expeditions opened and an icy blonde-haired woman stepped out. I swallowed a curse, recognizing the sharp features. “Underage drinking?” She smiled, but it was fake. It was wrong.
Every part of me tensed as I stared at Nancy Husher. Dealing with Lane and Vaughn was one thing, but this woman? She was trouble, and not the fun kind. I didn’t see her often, and the fact that she was here did not bode well.
“We weren’t drinking,” Kat spoke up. “He knows better. His parents are like mine. They’d kill him.”
I kept my face blank as a sheet of paper.
“Well, I was hoping to catch up with you, Daemon, and we could get an early…dinner.” Lane motioned toward his Expedition. “We only have a few hours. I hate to cut your cell phone search-and-rescue short.”
Staring at Husher for a moment, I nodded. “It’s okay. I can take her home and meet up with you guys.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Husher said. “We can take her back, and you guys can catch up.”
Oh, I did not like that. Not at all. A muscle thrummed along my jaw, and I was seconds away from telling Husher she could go screw herself, but Kat stepped forward with a bright smile. “That’s cool with me,” she said. “I just hope it’s not going out of your way.”
My right hand clenched and I wanted to shout at Kat. She didn’t know Husher, didn’t know what that woman was capable of. I didn’t want Kat in the same zip code as Husher, let alone in a vehicle with her.
“It’s not out of the way,” Husher replied. “We love the roads back here. Fall colors and all. Ready?”
Kat walked toward the SUV, glancing back at me as Husher opened the back door of the Expedition. I forced my legs to move toward my car, but I didn’t take my eyes off the vehicle. Not when Husher closed the door on Kat. Not when that woman smiled in my direction before climbing into the passenger seat. Not when Vaughn got behind the wheel. Not until the Expedition backed out of the field and pulled out onto the road, disappearing from view.
There was nothing I could do.
Helplessness poured into me, followed by bitter frustration.
Lane stopped by his driver’s door. “They’ll take your friend home, Daemon.”
I met his steady gaze and spoke the damn truth. “I don’t trust a single one of you.”
“That’s a vice versa thing,” he replied. “Always has been. You and I know that, but they will take your friend home.”