Page 26 of Sinful Need
Dragging my hand over my head, I inhale a deep breath and collect my thoughts. I pull my cell phone from my pocket and dial Storm’s number.
“Shouldn’t you be on a plane by now?” Storm asks when he answers on the first ring.
“I can’t find Rayne. Her house is trashed and there’s no sign of her.”
“Fuck. We’re short a tech man but Hawk tracks her phone. Hold on, let me figure this out.” Fear thuds against my temples as the silence drags on, “Got it. She’s heading north on State Road 9.”
“What the fuck is she doing?” I ask more to myself then Storm and disconnect before he can answer.
I fire off another text to Chainz with an update and fire up my bike. The best thing about this pit stop of a town, you can be clear to the other side in less than ten minutes. I pull out of the driveway and head north towards my future fleeing as fast as she can. I won’t let her get away even if I have to drag her ass to that plane.
Chapter 15
Rayne
I clutch the steering wheel, my foot heavy on the gas pedal as street signs whip past my passenger window. My insecurities gnaw at the edges of my sanity. Do I trust Fuel with my secret or do I keep my foot on the gas and leave it all in the rear view mirror? The potential outcome is weighing heavy on me but I’ll never know the answer if I don’t give him the chance to prove he’s become the man I always knew he’d be.
I cast a quick glance in the rearview mirror as if I’ll find the answer there. My eyes meet her innocent gaze. Her blonde curls bounce with each bump on the road, her tiny hands gripping her stuffed bear. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut.
I jolt my steering wheel, turning the car around quickly. The illegal U-turn and the gravel kicking up under my tire wells are the last things on my mind but I let out a heavy breath that my frantic reaction wasn’t met with flashing lights and blaring sirens. Every minute I waste is a minute too much. I’m miles in the wrong direction and I can’t let his plane leave without taking the chance my heart is screaming at me to take. For once in my life, I’m following my heart to hell with the consequences.
Pressing my foot to the gas pedal, I pick up speed. With each passing mile, the fear that once crippled me transforms into a fierce determination. Hawk may haunt my thoughts, but I won't let him steal our future.
As the miles blur, I steal glances at the clock on the dashboard. Time ticks away, it’s well after three a.m. and I can’t be sure I’m going to make it to him in time. Jase’s voice rings in my ears, and I remember he said the plane would leave before sunrise. That’s two hours from now and I need one at the most. If they haven’t left already. Tears flood my eyes. My hesitation could have cost me everything. What if he left without me? Worse yet, what if he thinks I didn’t want to come with him? I push the fear aside, I can’t think about him thirty-one thousand feet in the air thinking that one night was enough for me. It’s never been enough and it sure as hell isn’t enough now, I was just too blinded by my fear to realize it.
A glare from a single headlight cuts through the dark ahead of me, barreling closer on the opposite side of the road. My heart hammers in my chest. It could be Hawk or another member of the Viper’s Den. It could be someone hired to come after me. After all, I have something he wants asleep in the backseat.I’m being irrational, there’s no way it could be Hawk. Still, my pulse quickens. For years, fear is all I’ve known and old habits don’t break that fast. I press harder on the gas, the engine's roar not loud enough to drown out the thoughts racing through my mind. My eyes dart between the headlight closing in on me and the clock on the dashboard. My pounding heart jolts into my throat as my thoughts are shattered by the ominous vibrations of my cell phone somewhere in the seat next to me. I reach for my bag sitting in the passenger seat, and rummage through it with one hand. My fingers desperately searching for the phone somewhere inside it. The unsettling buzzing amplifiesthe tension as its whereabouts elude me. It could be a warning, it could be Jase.
My fingertips connect with the phone’s surface. Taking my eyes off the road briefly, I reach deeper into the bag trying to wrap my hand around it. The car veers to the left and my bag catapults forward, its contents spilling out. Papers scatter, and the phone thuds against the floorboard. My hands tremble as I white knuckle the steering wheel, trying to regain control as the car whips into the oncoming lane and the world outside my windows blur. A sudden impact reverberates through the car before it comes to a stop. With a quick spin, I turn toward the backseat to find Lily perfectly fine. I swallow hard, thankful we’re both still alive and turn back around scanning the dark street for whatever I hit. My eyes lock on the single headlight on the ground sending a shiver down my spine. I hop out of the car and cross toward the motorcycle flat on the ground, its rear wheel still spinning.
As soon as I see his face, sheer panic shoots ice through my blood and I drop to my knees.
“Oh my god, Jase.” I crawl to him, tears streaming down my face. “Oh my God, what have I done?”
I was so preoccupied with my own thoughts I made a careless mistake and now Jase is hurt. I can’t believe I let this happen. Please don’t be dead.
I reach for his hand and his fingers close around my wrist, “Why were you running? ”
“I wasn’t. I mean I was but I changed my mind.” I manage to answer between sobs, “I’ll explain later. I need to get you help.”
I jump to my feet and run back to my car in search of my damn cell phone again. I check on Lilly still asleep in the backseat and retrieve my cell phone from the floor, noticing the missed call from Storm. Did he know Jase was looking for me? Ican’t think about him now. I need to get Jase help. I’m just about to dial 911 when the roar of two more motorcycles I didn’t notice approaching before slices the silent night.
As the two men get closer, I freeze when I catch sight of the behemoth leading the way. Dark black hair and a thick beard obscures his face but the unsettling gaze of his dark eyes and set jaw sends a shiver crawling down my spine.
“What the fuck did you do?” His deep, accusing growl makes my body tremble.
“It was an accident. I didn’t mean to.”
He crouches over Jase and the headlight glints off the massive silver chain adorning his neck. Still trembling, I step closer, recognizing him from the bar yesterday. He’s the President of the Krymson Destroyers. Jase’s club.
My fingers hover over my phone as I contemplate my plan to call for help. With Lilly in the backseat it might be best if I let them handle it. Thankfully it doesn’t seem like Jase is injured badly. He has severe road rash on his arm and leg and a bloody gash on his forehead but he’s alert and his focus is locked on me. I, on the other hand, might not be so lucky judging by the pulsating vein on Chainz’s forehead that looks like it’s ready to erupt.
“I’m fine, Prez. Just a little nauseous.”
Unlike the brute force of the club's president, the second man wearing the VP patch exudes a different kind of strength. His steely demeanor lurks underneath tousled blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. His clean-shaven face is etched with the same deep rooted concern that Chainz has. He positions himself over Jase with deliberate and calculated movements. The muscles in his arms, adorned with tribal tattoos, flex with determination as he lifts the motorcycle up.
“Thanks Tank. Now help me up.” Locking their arms around his waist, they hoist Jase up. Jase tetters as he putspressure on his legs but it doesn’t appear anything is broken. Thank God. I don’t know what I would have done if I had killed him. “Take me to my Ol Lady, already.”
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face, as I dab the tears from my eyes. Chainz growls under his breath but they walk toward me slowly so they don’t cause Jase more pain.
