Page 64 of Bullseye
Watching her disappear into the minimart, I rub at the pain in my gut while my brain wrestles with this feeling of unease. There it is again—that damned feeling that Seneca Villetrio is going to vanish out of my life as quickly as she came in.
“Get a grip, Bullseye,” I mumble. Hopping out of the truck, it’s freaking freezing out here in my T-shirt. It dawns on me that I have a zip-front and hoodie with me, I’d just forgotten because I was in such a rush to get to Sen.
Rummaging through my bag in the back area, I grab the zip-front and throw it on. Then, tossing the hoodie on the seat for her, I store her chaps and climb back out with a scraper. One good thing about wet, packing snow, although it’s heavy, it cleans off the truck fairly easily.
By the time I’ve finished removing snow from the roof, and even cleared out the flatbed and bikes so we’re not carrying extra weight from the snow, she comes out of the minimart with two cups of steaming coffee.
Rushing to the door to meet her, I take a cup from her and wrap my hands around it. “Damn, you are a sight for sore eyes.”
Smiling, she nods to the truck and then looks at me. “Why don’t you take a run to the restroom, too? I can watch the stuff.”
It’s a good idea. It makes sense… but something in the back of my brain is screaming at me not to leave her. But my bladder is screaming something else.
Come on, relationships are built on trust, right?
“Cool. Thanks. I’ll just be a sec.”
“Take your time.” She holds out her hand. “I’ll take your coffee into the truck with me.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I don’t know why, but the knot in my stomach relaxes when she takes the coffee. Maybe because it all seems so normal.
Walking to the door of the minimart, I glance back to see her sitting in the cab, sipping her coffee. Reaching forward, she disappears out of sight for a moment, and my stomach flips, but then she pops back up. She must be playing with the radio or digging in her bag for something. Okay. A smile sweeps across my face. She’s there. And she’ll be there, so I can get her home and safe with the Steel Knights before I have to handle Mikey and Tony. Pulling open the door, I hurry into the minimart.
***
“Damn, the truckers made the wait for the men’s room forever…” I mumble as I walk to the truck carrying two bagels slathered in cream cheese. I’m sure she hasn’t eaten in forever, and since we’re closer to New York, there’s a chance the bagels will be decent. Even from a gas station. She probably can’t hear me, but I’ll explain when I hop in. Nearing the truck, I look for her through the windshield, but… I don’t see her.
“Sen?” My heart is racing as I rush toward the truck. “Sen?” Yanking open the door to the cab, I pray she’s there—she’s just hidden from view because she’s messing with the radio.
But there’s nothing.
“Sen?”
Rushing around to the back of the truck… It’s gone. Her bike is gone.
“Goddamnit!” Throwing the bagels onto the ground, I pound my fists against the sides of the truck. “Seneca, why?” Taking a deep breath, I rush to the driver’s side, pull the door open, and hop in. She couldn’t have gotten that far, so I’ll just have Seth put another trace on her phone…
Thankfully, the keys are in the ignition, I knew she wouldn’t leave me stuck, but why would she run…? Again?
Glancing at the floor, I see her bag is gone and then, looking at the seat, I notice my hoodie is gone, too… but her cell is here. Next to my friggin’ TV remote.
If the moment wasn’t so dire, it would almost be funny.
“What?” Picking up her phone, I tighten my fist around it. Now, there’s no way for me to trace her. “Why, Sen? Why would you do this?” I resist the urge to crush it in my hand. What an asshole I am. Why would I trust her again? She ran from the clubhouse—actually went out the damned bathroom window—why would I think that she’s changed?
Some force is driving her to take these crazy chances. All the more reason I have to find her. I can’t let her drive straight into danger. I just can’t.
I would never want to put anyone in that kind of danger—but especially not the woman I lo… care about so very much.
Dragging my hand down my face, scrubbing it, I try to clear my mind so I can think.
“Damn it, Sen!”
Revving the engine of the truck, I know I’ve got only one shot. She grew up on Long Island, and I know her disappearance and running has to do with her brother.
That means, just as I’d thought, she’s heading for New York. The one place I shouldn’t go. The one place my father told me to stay away from.
Peeling out of the parking lot, I click on my turn signal and jump on the road leading to the highway, heading east. This is the one place that, if I’m not incredibly careful, will bring me right to Mikey and Tony. But more importantly, will deliver her to them.
