No time for mental breakdowns.
No one was coming to save me or get me out of this fucked-up situation. It was all up to me, and I was useless if I broke down.
When the truck finally slowed and exited the interstate, my heart shot straight into my throat. Despite all the thought I’d given to what I’d do when we stopped, I still hadn’t decided anything. I peeked out from beneath the tarp in time to see us get off the exit and head down a busy downtown road. I wasn’t sure where we were headed, but my intuition told me it was probably a venue in the heart of Dallas.
I swallowed hard. It had been easy to sneak around in the dead of night, under the cover of darkness, but now it was the middle of the day. The sun shone brightly, without a single cloud overhead. Would I be able to sneak off the flatbed without being seen? Could I put enough distance between me and the caravan before anyone noticed?
Here’s to hoping.
After what felt like an eternity, the truck stopped moving. The rumble of the engine died, and I waited for the driver’s door to slam. I held my breath, my heartbeat pounding in my ears, and nervously glanced out from beneath the tarp. We were parked next to another cargo truck, so I couldn’t see the parking lot, but I didn’t notice any movement. No truck drivers, no performers.
A blessing in disguise?
If I couldn’t see anyone, maybe they wouldn’t see me slip out with my backpack and make a mad dash to… somewhere thatwasn’t here. I just had to get far enough away from the caravan that no one saw me. Then, I could work out my next steps.
My stomach turned with nerves.
On three, I told myself, reaching for the strap of my bag. I took a deep breath with each number of the countdown, then squeezed out through the opening. The air outside was way cooler than beneath the tarp, and instant relief washed over me.
Using one of the truck tires to descend, the same way I’d climbed up, I dropped to the pavement and stumbled. My legs were jelly.
Voices nearby made me freeze.
Shit.
The blood turned to ice in my veins, and I cautiously whipped my head around, searching for circus performers or crew members. There weren’t any. Whoever it was must have been a few rows over.
Footsteps scuffled on the ground, and someone laughed.
Cautiously, I hurried toward the back of the truck, peering around the end of it. I still didn’t see anyone, which was a good sign. There were several trailers and cars, and it looked like most of the cargo trucks had already arrived. Beyond the lot was a busy downtown street, with countless tall buildings surrounding the venue.
Anxiety prickled up my spine. It would be super easy to get lost in a city like this but also easy to blend in.
I only hesitated for a beat, but before I could hurry out of my hiding place, a voice behind me nearly made me jump out of my skin.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?”
My heart slammed against my ribs, and I froze.
Turning around slowly, my eyes locked with Revel’s piercing blue ones. He was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt that huggedhis muscular torso to perfection. A scowl contorted his features, annoyance evident in his expression, and my throat tightened.
So much for not being seen.
“I…”
What could I even say? I didn’t want to tell him I stowed away on the flatbed, but how else would I have gotten here? Not to mention, I was a terrible liar. He’d see right through any bluff I tried to use.
Of all the scenarios I’d envisioned on the way here, this wasn’t one of them.
“You’ve got some nerve,” he said, his disgruntled expression intensifying. He took several steps closer, and I moved backward, trying to keep space between us. He was just as intimidating in the light of day, if not moreso, his alpha aura nearly pulsing around him. “Just couldn’t take no for an answer, could you? Or was this Daze’s idea?”
“I just needed a ride,” I said, taking another step back. “Don’t worry, I don’t want to join your precious circus.”
He cocked a brow at me, his eyes narrowing. His candied-apple scent slammed into me a second later, and my thoughts hazed over. “So, Daze let you hitch a ride? Or you snuck into one of the trailers? I’m sure the police would love a breaking and entering call. What do you think?”
Damn it.
Surely, he wouldn’t call the cops.Would he?
