Page 34 of Ride Forever
Chapter 13
Sloane
Isquinted in the sunlight, my dress shimmering at one-hundred-million megawatts.
I hopped over to a slice of shade, the soles my feet burning on the concrete. I never got any shoes, just a shove out the door. Glancing back at the FBI field office, I flipped it the bird, knowing full well I was on the security feed.
What now? I supposed I had to walk through the street looking like I was doing the ultimate walk of shame until I found a telephone. Shit, I didn’t even know anyone’s cell number. Who memorized those these days? Not me.
Sitting on a ledge that ran around a flower bed full of cactus plants, I rubbed my eyes. My makeup was well and truly smeared by now. Thinking about King’s deal, I longed for a shower to wash the slime of his gaze from my body. He’d been almost… I couldn’t think of the right word. A psycho bad guy from a comic book? Maybe. He was right about one thing. I secretly enjoyed the power trip of taking my father’s life.
That’s what Chaser was afraid of, I thought.I wasn’t facing what I’d done. My indifference was something to worry about. Iammy father’s daughter.
What now? I had a piece of paper shoved in my bra with a number to call when I was ready to make the deal. Deliver Chaser or else.
Why King didn’t just track me and snatch Chaser the moment we were reunited, I didn’t know. It didn’t make any sense to me. What his twisted game was, I had no idea, all I was certain of was he wanted everyone to suffer while he basked in the glory of all his perceived power. Knowing I was suffering over my choice made the asshole hard.
Staring down at my dirty feet, I felt hopelessness smack me in the face.
“Sloane.”
I shot to my feet and glanced toward the parking lot.
“Chaser?” My voice sounded child-like, and my heartbeat sped up. Had he come for me?
I spotted him between some parked cars, and I darted across the molten concrete to meet him. I flung myself into his arms, buried my nose into his shirt, and breathed deeply. He held me tightly, his embrace feeling different somehow. More…intimate.
“You came,” I whispered.
“Of course, I did,” he replied. “I’ve been searching for a way to get you out since your arrest, but I see they let you walk.”
“They didn’t have enough evidence to charge me,” I said. “But I’m still a suspect. I was given the ‘don’t leave town’ speech, but fuck ’em.”
“Are you okay? Did they…”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m okay. Just…shaken, I guess.”
He ran his hands over my body, which I assumed was so he could see if I was all in one piece. “Where are your shoes?”
I shrugged.
With a frown, he grasped my hand and led me away from the field office. It wasn’t exactly an inconspicuous dart to freedom, considering my current blinged-out state.
The car was at the far end of the lot, which was bad news for my bare feet. I winced as I stood on rocks and zigzagged from shadow to shadow.He could’ve carried me. Chaser unlocked the doors, and I threw myself inside, my feet so sore they felt as if the flesh was melting down to the bone.
“Sloane. Are you really fine with this?” He grasped my shoulders and studied me. He’d had the same look in his eyes when he’d asked me about killing Marini.
“I guess I’m indifferent as always,” I muttered. “Do you think that makes me like him?”
“Like…” Chaser shook his head. “No. No, I don’t.”
“The deeper we get, the more unsure I become.” I rubbed the sole of my foot, the flesh tender from the scorching concrete. I didn’t feel much of anything.
Chaser didn’t say a word. There was nothing left to talk about when it came to our humanity levels. After a moment, he handed me my blue aviator sunglasses, and I shoved them on my face with a sigh. Bright lights did nothing for my retinas.
“What now?”
“We’re leaving Las Vegas,” he replied, starting the car.
