There were two things that heated my blood with passion.Ella and getting justice.
Last night’s memory drifted to the surface as I drove us to our destination.
“Are you sure you want to come tomorrow?” I’d asked her. “I’ll be fine on my own.”
“No way.” She shook her head. “We’re a team. We do everything together. Ride or die, remember?”
Kissing her forehead, I relented. “Ride or die, Ellie.”
“Plus, this ismygraduation gift.”
Of course she’d see a torturing session as an acceptable graduation gift. “I mean, I was going to give you a Birkin…”
Ella looped her arms around my waist. “What colour?”
“Orange, obviously.”
“I’ll take the Birkin,” she quipped. “But I also want to teach him a lesson.”
I grinned. “You’re absolutely crazy.”
“You love my type of crazy,querido.”
That I did.
The summer wind cut through our frames as I finally eased off the highway and neared the abandoned warehouse. It was protected by CCTV—which Josh and Uncle Vance already disabled—and a guard employed twenty-four hours to ensure no one trespassed.
I parked my motorcycle near the edge of the property, camouflaged by unruly trees. Only three people knew what we were doing tonight, and that’s how I intended to keep it.
Ella hopped off first and removed her helmet. I did the same. “How are we doing on time?”
She checked her watch. “We have thirty-five minutes before he arrives.”
“Perfect.” I kissed her cheek. “Stay here while I talk to the guard.”
“Okay.”
Gravel crunched beneath my combat boots as I rounded the warehouse and spotted our old guard Johnny working the graveyard shift.
He wasn’t the least bit surprised to see me, having already been expecting us.
Nodding, he said, “Hey, kid.”
“Hey, Johnny.” I extended my hand for a shake. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” His fingers felt the wadded cash in my palm. “Do you need anything else from me?”
“No, just this.” He thought I was paying him to give Ella and me privacy to indulge in some kinky activities in the warehouse. There was some truth there, I supposed. “Thanks again for your discretion.”
I watched Johnny get into his car and drive off the property.
I slipped on my black ski mask and returned to Ella.
My girlfriend was texting on her phone, leaning against a tree. I snuck up from behind and fortressed her body in my arms, whispering in her ear, “What are you doing, baby?”
She gasped but relaxed into my chest when she realized it was me. “Texting the girls. They’re asking when we’re arriving at the party…”
Her sentence trailed off when she noted my covered face.
