“What can I say? I see someone in need, and I help. I’m charitable like that.” I almost forget that I hate this girl, almost. But then Kenny’s lifeless body flashes through my mind. “Stay away from me, Aurora. I mean it. You don’t know the type of people I live with. If they would have caught you, well, you don’t want to know the nightmare that would follow. And rein yourcousins in. This…” I point to my face. “…was Dante’s one and only shot.”
I stand up and walk out of class. Straight to my car. I don’t have the energy for fucking school right now. I also don’t want to be around when Aurora and Dante square off. That’s a war I want no part of. Even if I did cause it.
My heart races. Tonight is the night we hit the Valentino shipment. A whole container of weapons. I didn’t hesitate to volunteer my time to help with the acquisition of those weapons. But now, sitting in the car, waiting for my father’s signal, doubt is settling in.
I pull out my phone and message Aurora. I need to make sure she’s as far away from here as possible. I’m sure she’s not going to be at a container yard, but who the fuck knows if she’s following me or not?
Me:
Meet at the cabin. I want to talk.
Less than three seconds. That’s how long it takes her to reply.
SB:
Okay.
That’s it. Just okay? Fuck, she’s too trusting. Why isn’t she questioning why I suddenly want to talk? How does she know I’m not walking her into a trap? Now I really do want to talk toher. Make her see some fucking sense and get her shit together before she gets herself killed.
“Ready?” my dad asks.
“Ready.” I nod at him.
I’m fully kitted out: Kevlar vest, multiple handguns, and a rifle. This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Used to join my father’s crew all the time in Boston. Aim, break in, shoot anyone who tries to get in our way, load the container onto the back of one of our semis, and get out. It’s actually pretty easy.
Following my dad and a handful of his soldiers, I don’t hesitate when I spot the first guy to aim a barrel in our direction. I pull the trigger.That was for Kenny.I might not be able to take out the person who actually killed him, but I can take out members of the organization responsible for creating her.
In less than an hour, we’re driving away from the container yard, a load of Valentino weapons on the back of our truck as we make our way to the warehouse.
I wasn’t planning on heading to the cabin. I figured she’d show up, realize I wasn’t there, and leave. But when I logged into the GPS tracker I have on her phone, I saw that she was still there. And now, I feel like an ass. Again.
I could just ghost her. That would be the smart thing to do.
But, no, I’m fucking drawn to her and can’t seem to stop myself. I also have something of hers I want to return because having them in my pocket is driving me insane with need. She left a pair of panties in the pocket of my school blazer. I didn’t find them until I got home. I was tempted to keep them. They were my favorite.
Stopping at the local convenience store near the cabin, I pull in to the first open spot and grab a bottle of whiskey. I’m going to need it if I’m going to get through the rest of the night. When I tug my card out of my wallet to pay, a piece of paper falls ontothe counter. I pick it up, turn it over, and see a picture of us. Aurora and me.
I scrunch it up in my hands and shove it into the front pocket of my pants. Is there anything she didn’t fucking touch? I should have watched the rest of the footage. But I didn’t want to risk leaving it up, so I took a screenshot and then deleted the recording.
I park at the cabin, jump out of my car, and walk inside. The bottle of whiskey in one hand and a gun in my other. Because this is Aurora I’m meeting after all. Who the fuck knows what she’s got on her?
I pause when I find her laid out on the sofa. Asleep. I set the bottle down on the table, pick up the throw blanket from the back of the chair, and put it over her.
“Mmm, Connor, I love you,” she mumbles, still asleep.
“I know,” I whisper back, kissing the top of her forehead.
Then I stand and walk right back out the front door. I can’t be here with her. She’s a fucking weakness I don’t need. A temptation I thought I was strong enough to resist. But now, I’m not so sure.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
He was here. I woke up at around three in the morning, a blanket over me and a bottle of whiskey on the coffee table. The same brand that Connor likes to drink. I searched the entire cabin, hoping to find him, but the place was empty. Itisempty.
I pull out my phone and send him a message.
Me:
Why didn’t you wake me?