Page 47 of Like Grim Death: Part One
I like it here.
And yet, last night, the pain tonight along the backs of my thighs, worries about my kidneys, the reason I ever accepted drugs from Atlas in the first place; it all blurs with trauma inside my mind.
Before I can speak, figure out how to put everything into words without sounding pathetic, without revealing my biggest secret, Atlas rolls his eyes at my silence, scoffing, but he doesn’t release me.
“If you ever wanted anything more for yourself, Ella, if you ever wanted tobe something…”He leans in closer, tilting his head so his lips are just over my own.“Run.”
I don’t move for long seconds, his blood on my palm.
Irritation, confusion, exhaustion, it all slithers in my veins. Before I can formulate a response, he laughs, his breath sweet against my mouth.
“I know what you really want, and it’s not Maverick.”
A thrill of something forbidden knots my stomach.
“I know why you walked all this way in the dark. You’re in over your head and you can’t cope. And more than that, you’re greedy, huh?” But despite his words, I can tell by his tone…he’s going to give it to me.But as he pulls back, reaching around to grab something from his back pocket, he glances up at me. “I needed you last night and you didn’t answer.” His words are softer than anything else he’s said.
I dig in my brows, confused. “Answer? Answer what?”
He pulls a baggie from his pocket but keeps his eyes on me. “I texted you.”
My face flushes hot as I shake my head, my gaze darting from him to my escape. And I give him the truth. “I didn’t get anything.”
* * *
In the darkness, I pace along the side of the road, in front of mine and Maverick’s house. But is it really mine?
Atlas’s words ring in my head. One word, really. Over and over and over as the night wind tangles through the trees, a roaring sound that sends a shiver down my spine. I cross my arms tighter over my chest, head down as I stare at the slick pavement, mulling over the possibility.
Run.
I won’t.
I don’t want to. But there was something hidden beneath the command, wasn’t there? Some sort of warning or sign. Does he know what’s happening to me? Is he trying to save me? Does he need me to savehim?He never told me what he claims he needed me for last night.
Bursting through my thoughts, I hear the engine of a car. Steeling my spine, I pick my head up, watching the watery headlights coming from the entrance to the street. I glance toward my house, the dark shutters, the looming stone, and Cain’s Camaro. No light inside is on that I can see, and for a moment, I think of running back in through the front door. If something happens to me out here…
The car screeches to a stop at the fork in the road, where it can turn left, toward us, or right, toward Atlas’s house.
I make my move then.
I run to the side of the house, creeping close to the stone, my jacket scraping on the rough wall as I slide my hands into my pockets and hold my breath, waiting.
It’s a white Mercedes, although I don’t know enough about cars to know anything more than it’s four doors, and I see the symbol on the hood. The lights are blue-white, and it doesn’t put on a signal as it turns into the driveway, coming to an abrupt stop at the end, even though there’s plenty of room for it to get closer.
The car shifts to park, and I hold my breath, my heart thumping too fast.
Cain is a shit babysitter if that’s what he was supposed to be. Am I going to end up savinghim?
I peer around the side of the house, my boots slipping in the mud, but I right myself quickly, digging my nails into the stone.
A door opens.
I hear an angry voice I’d recognize anywhere.
“Stay the fuck away from here.” The door slams closed without a response that I can hear from the driver.
My mouth goes dry as I lick my lips, wondering if I should walk around the corner now. If Maverick goes inside, he’s going to know I’m not there. What if he thinks I’m with Atlas? What if he suspects something? I’m not in workout clothes so I can’t use that as a cover like I did last night.
