When at last I saw him ambling along through the parking lot, I sat up straighter. Eager now. This was going to be good.
Dom got into his car, completely oblivious to anything I’d done. He started the engine, waiting a few minutes for it to warm up before backing out of his parking space. I waited for him to exit the parking lot before following, needing to keep a safe distance between us. I didn’t want him to spot me in his rearview mirror.
The drive was relatively uneventful. I kept waiting for something to happen. When it never did, I grew increasingly frustrated. We crossed through downtown. It didn’t seem that he was headed home. Maybe he had a stop to make first or a job for the Kings.
When we stopped at a red light, I made sure there were two or three cars between us. Thankfully, I never lost him anywhere along the way. I tapped my fingers impatiently on the wheel, hitting the gas as the light turned green.
“Come on for fuck’s sakes,” I muttered. “Show me something good.”
Dom turned down a side street with little traffic. An area off downtown where plenty of criminal activity took place. Drug dealers, prostitution, and everyday thieves. He had to be here on business. Since there was very little traffic, I couldn’t put any vehicles between us now. I did my best to hang back while keeping him in sight.
Right when I thought for sure nothing would happen, Dom’s back passenger tire flew off, rolling into the street. He fishtailed as he lost control of the car, sliding head on into a power pole.
Fuck, yes. Now that was satisfaction.
I pulled over down the street, watching his car in my mirrors, expecting him to get out. When he didn’t, I frowned. He hadn’t been going that fast. I’d hoped he would be on the highway when this happened. Maybe on the way to the church. My mistake. I’d been too eager.
Muttering obscenities to myself, I got out of my car and headed over to Dom’s. As I drew closer, I saw that he was slumped over the wheel. As if the damn airbags didn’t go off.
Pissed off with myself for even considering this, I opened the door to check on him. He surprised me with a fist in my face. I jerked back with a startled shout.
Dom got out of the car, grabbing the front of my hoodie. “Are you fucking serious, Noah? This is your big retaliation? That’s fucking pitiful.”
Despite his fake out, he did have a fresh lump forming over one eye. Not nearly good enough. He was right. This was far from my best attempt. Why did I go for the hurt when I should’ve made sure to go for the kill?
If I didn’t know myself so well, I would almost wonder if I’d done this on purpose. Luckily, I knew better than that.
“It was supposed to happen when you were on the highway.” I caught his wrist before he could hit me again. “Somewhere more dangerous.”
“Uh huh.” Dom wasn’t buying it. “I’m sure it had nothing to do with finding a way to get up close and personal with me again. Why don’t you just admit that you want it? Admit that you want my cock again.”
A sly chuckle slipped from my lips. “I’d be more than happy for another round with your amazing cock. Too bad I’d also have to deal with the rest of you.”
Dom’s expression darkened. “Funny. You really amuse yourself, huh?”
I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a funny guy.”
He gave me a shove that sent me stumbling back into the street. “I don’t think you’re funny at all.”
Unable to stand there and take it, I shoved him back, throwing him against the car. “Maybe that’s because you have a shit sense of humor. You need to lighten up a little. Enjoy life. Do you enjoy anything ever, Dom?”
Grabbing hold of my hoodie, he pulled me against him. “I enjoyed fucking you while you moaned my name.”
We were close enough for me to feel his heart beating. A frantic pace that matched my own. Something about this man made me feel more alive than I had for a long time. Face to face, our lips almost touched, brushing lightly. I ached to kiss him. To take him right there up against his damaged car.
He wanted it too. I felt it. We were so close to making it happen when a blacked out SUV slowly drove past us. I glanced up to find the windows so dark it was impossible to see the occupants.
My gut told me who was inside. Project X was here, scoping us out. It had to be them. As the vehicle slowed down, I grabbed Dom by the hand. Pulling him away from the car and into the alleyway that ran between the buildings.
“I think we have trouble,” I said, urging him on.
“What’s going on?” Dom glanced behind us, looking back the way we came.
“Project X has been in town. I think that was them. I think they’re looking for us.” How could I possibly explain to him that they asked me to kill him? That was a conversation that would not end well.
Dom gripped my hand tighter as we raced down the alley. “Why would they be looking for us? There is no us.”
“They must’ve been following me. Or maybe you. I don’t know. There’s some shit going on with them. I can explain later. Right now we have to make sure they don’t find us.” We werealmost to the end of the alley when the black SUV turned in, blocking our escape.
