Page 30 of Wraith
“And that’s the only reason you’re doing this, loyalty to a friend.”
Wraith glanced at her.
“Forget I said anything.”
He cleared his throat. “We have to get a new car and some provisions. We’re heading to Kurgan. If you wanna get some sleep now is the…”
“How long?”
“Three hours.”
“No. I’m fine.”
Wraith nodded without taking his eyes off the road. He could hear something in her voice, a kind of hitch he hadn’t heard before. Something happened between his speech about loyalty and her question and he was so tired he couldn’t focus to find out what. He had to keep track of all the things he had to do to keep her safe. The yearning was beyond anything to do with her father. Having her sleep in his arms tugged at him and switched on something inside he’d thought was long lost. Even as they ran for their lives toward a painting with the power to kill or save them, Wraith ached to feel her soft and trembling against his chest again. He wanted to smell her hair like cherry blossoms falling against his face.
But it wouldn’t be appropriate.
Instead, he settled for getting into Kurgan early in the morning, fought through rush hour traffic to find a place to sit it out until he could get a few plans in motion. The home belonged to Amelia’s father. He hadn’t bought it under his real name, Wraith figured they had a few days tops before anyone would come looking. Once there, Amelia left him and locked herself into one of the upstairs bathrooms. He waited outside the door for a breath but didn’t hear the shower turn on.
Aside from anything else, she must be hungry. They hadn’t really stopped on the drive to Kurgan and though she hadn’t said anything, he knew he should get her something to eat.
Before he left, he found a couple of heaters in the kitchen and carried them into one of the bedrooms. After turning them on, he grabbed his bag and entered the bathroom. He hadn’t shaved in a few days so his beard was already growing in. Pulling out a Chelyabinks Bulldogs hockey hat, he stuffed his head into it. He ensured he wore a hooded sweater under his coat and climbed the stairs.
“Amelia?”
“Yes?” She opened the door and poked her head out
“I’m going out for a little bit. Don’t open the door for anyone.”
“So, I’m staying here by myself?”
“You’ll be safe here,” he said.
“Gimme a few seconds to put my clothes back on. I’m coming with you.”
“Amelia, no offense but you’re a black woman in a white town…”
“What do you really mean?”
“It means you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.” Wraith growled. “Are we going to have another one of our little tiffs? I really don’t have time for it.”
Amelia eyed him angrily. “Look, I’m sorry.”
“I know you don’t want to stay here alone.” He touched her chin gently before letting his hand drop. “I can move faster by myself and I blend in. I look like all of them.”
“Fine.” She made to close the door. Wraith braced his palm against it to stop her. “Just leave.”
“Amelia…”
She turned away from him and though Wraith wanted to stay and talk out the moment they just had, he knew it wasn’t possible. “I started a couple of heaters in the bedroom. A fire would draw attention so please try staying warm by those.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
Amelia did close the door then and for a moment, Wraith stood staring at it. No matter what he did there was no winning with her. He heard the shower start and groaned. She was on the other side of the door, naked with water flowing over her beautiful, soft, dark skin. It was a thought strong enough to make him weak in the knees.
Chapter 9
