Page 11 of Blood
“Thank you,” I mouth as we head out and lock up.
“Kaleb, where’s your car?” Mom asks, looking around.
I point up the road. “Blocking the exit, so we need to get going, girls.” I try to rush them as Mom pulls them in for another hug.
“Oh, hush you.” Mom smiles. “We could be gone for a few days. I want to hug my babies one more time.” Her arm shoots out in invitation for me to join.
Sighing, I give in because no one tells Helen Cromwell no. Spreading my arms wide, I pull my dad into the hug too and pull my parents close. The five of us stand in a huddle for a few minutes before a final goodbye.
“I love you,” I tell them as they climb into my dad’s car.
Mom pauses. “We love you too, sweet boy.”
“I’m so tired.” Sam yawns. “Why did you park so far away?”
“Because I thought someone was murdering my whole family, and I didn’t want him to hear me coming when I avenged you,” I reply, too tired to filter my response.
Shelby makes a weird gurgle sound, causing me to look. Her hands are clenched into fists as she tries to stop shivering. If her jaw clenches any harder, she’ll chip a tooth.
“You should both have coats on. The truck’s unlocked, run and climb in.” The words are barely out of my mouth before Shelby takes off, making me smile. “Are you not cold?” I ask Sam, who is still walking calmly next to me.
“When have you known me to run?” She frowns. “Unless someone is chasing me, I’m good.”
The image warms my body. Being surrounded by tall, thick trees still covering the ground in darkness does nothing to help. Instead, the scenarios keep coming, images of what can never be.
We catch up to Shelby quickly, and she’s struggling to pull the door open. “Come here.” I place a hand on her back as she steps down and move her to the side slightly before pulling the heavy door open. “Careful,” I warn, helping both girls in.
Headlights settle on me as our parents wait for me to move the large truck. Giving a final wave, I climb in behind Sam, discreetly adjusting my cock as I sit. The fucker hasn’t gone down since Samantha mentioned being chased.
“This is a really big truck,” Shelby comments from the passenger seat, holding her hands over the heating vent even though the truck isn’t running. “Do you get lonely driving around all the time?”
With a flick of my wrist, the vehicle rumbles to life.
“No.” I smile with a shake of my head.Company isn’t hard to find,I silently add. Even if they’re not the woman I want.
“I wish you wouldn’t travel so much,” Sam murmurs. Propping her elbows on the two seats, she leans forward fromwhere she is sitting on the small cot that I bed down on while on long hauls.
“I have to work.” I shrug.
“I know, but you could work in town or close like Michael and Daniel do.”
“Sam,” I sigh. We’ve had this conversation before. She doesn’t understand. She never will because I will never tell her the reason I travel—the access it gives me. But we’re not doing this tonight. I’m tired, she’s tired, and that never ends well.
Sam’s arm shoots out as we come to the end of the road, causing me to yank my head back.
“Oh look, you hit the tree. Mustn’t have seen it in the dark.” She tuts, shaking her head.
My irritation level skyrockets.She did not just say that?
“First of all, get your arm out of my face,” I start, then tap her arm with two fingers. “Second, I have never, ever hit anything with any vehicle. Never. And third,” I snap, turning to her with raised brows, “that”—I point at the deformed tree—“is still a sore subject. You stole my car and then totaled it by hitting a fucking tree.”
“I don’t know. That damage looks kind of new.” The playful look on her pretty face does nothing to sway my irritation. It was a great car.
“That damage is a year old, and you know it,” I tell her, holding up a finger.
Shelby’s soft giggle slices the tension.
“Shelly belly, I suggest you remember whose house you will be staying in.”
