Silence falls for a beat as I gnash my teeth to dust. Then his voice takes on a darker tone. “Although I’m starting to think you have a bigger weakness now.”
My jaw clenches so hard it aches. If he touches a single hair on Jessica’s head, I’ll rip him limb from limb.
My silence speaks for itself. The old man chuckles. “I’ll forward the details to you. And keep me updated on the missing dagger.”
The call ends.
For long seconds, I stare out the window, phone pressed to my ear. Only when a soft, familiar voice says my name do I finally turn from the depressing view.
Stifling a yawn, Jessica rests her head against the door frame, a small smile thawing the ice behind my ribs.
“Hi, baby.” The words are out before I can stop them, but I don’t want to take them back. If anything, I want everyone within a ten-mile radius to know she’s mine.
Jessica smiles even bigger, drawing my gaze to the deepening dimple in her left cheek.
“Hi, babe.”
TWENTY
JESSICA
Over the following week, Mom’s condition remains critical but stable. She hasn’t regained consciousness, and the doctor warned us that she probably never will. It’s a waiting game now.
To think I might never hear her voice again or see her smile hurts too much to even think about. Grief waits around the corner, like a shadow I can’t outrun.
That’s why I agreed to meet Kane this afternoon, even though it’s a bad idea.
I’m not in a good place right now. Meanwhile, he’s been nothing but sweet and patient, even when he didn’t have to be. He could have dropped my ass and gone back to his sparkly life in the Heights. But he’s still here for some reason, blowing up my phone every morning and night.
The truth is, he deserves better than a grieving girl from the Falls who wants to escape reality for a while. But I still can’t bring myself to do the right thing and leave him alone because I’m selfish.
So I take.
I take what he offers because it eases the ache, even if it’s only for a few hours while he fucks me in every position possible.
In those moments, when he’s buried deep and has me pinned beneath him, there’s no room to think about the uncertain future or all the reasons I have to feel sad. It’s just him, that thick cock between his legs, and mindless pleasure.
But no matter how hard I try, I can’t outrun myself. The heartache is like water boiling in a pan. It doesn’t matter how hard you press down on the lid. It’s only a matter of time before it boils over and makes a big mess. I don’t want Kane to have to clean it up.
We pull up to the starting line at Dark Lanes. It’s late afternoon, and the sun is setting. No one else is here at this hour. It’s just us.
I take in the scene. The place looks different in daylight, without the large crowds, buzzing energy, and thumping bass. The sun is sliding toward the horizon, casting long lines of light across the abandoned train tracks to our right. On the other side, the warehouse sits quiet and square behind the fence.
Kane unbuckles his seatbelt. I follow suit, and we sit in silence for a moment, bathed in the dying orange light. I wonder how many more of these sunsets I’ll see before Mom is gone forever. I also wonder how many of these breathtaking sunsets I’ve taken for granted over the years.
“I’ve always wanted to come here.” My words waver, barely steady. Kane listens, his large hands resting on his thighs, his eyes on the sunset.
“My brother would never let me.”
“Do you always do what your brother says?” The rumble of his voice reminds me of the deep orange glow outside. Warm. Comforting.
My mouth pulls into a small, reluctant smile as our eyes meet. “Obviously not.”
He knows me better than that by now.
His lips quirk. My cheeks heat under that intense gaze. “Why did you stay away?”
I turn my face toward the track again, the sun warming my cheeks through the windshield. The sky is a vivid blend of oranges, pinks, and purples.
