There’s just something about the tenacity of Kira Noland that’s holding me back. Her will to keep going even though she looks like she’s about to faint. The fact that she got out of ahospital bed to help her sister. The way she bites when she should cower. And for fuck’s sake, I could probably put a bullet in her and she’d get right back up. It’s hard to justify killing something that admirable.
And her sister… Jesus. She’s positioned herself like a shield in front of Caleb, as if I’d ever raise a hand to my own brother. It’s as endearing as it is offensive, and to die just because she had the strength to fight off a piece of shit like Marshal? That’s unjust. Even in a courtroom, her plea of self-defense would probably be denied. The system isn’t fair to girls like her.
But… we’re outside the law right now.
Chapter Eleven
Kira
My eyelids droop as the heat of the flames warms me, soft and hypnotic. I shouldn’t be able to doze off to a burning body, but I can’t help it. Jax is adamant that we stay until there’s nothing left but bones, and he, Caleb, and Nix continue to scrounge up twigs and brush to keep the pyre going.
I’ve slumped down from the rock and onto the ground, unable to hold myself up any longer. The rock is sharp on my back, but I really don’t care. I’m seconds away from resting my cheek on the soil. I tried three times to help find kindling, but each time my vision swam, and I had to stumble back with nothing. I think the only thing keeping my eyes open at this point is the absolute rage I feel at myself for being useless. It’s one thing to not be able to help, another to take a nap while everyone else works. But God, I’ve never felt this bad—not even when Nix coughed the flu into my face two winters ago.
I really should have made that Robert stop at the pharmacy. I can’t help but think if I just had the medications, I would feel better, but I’m not going to be able to get my hands on them until tomorrow. And that’s if I leave earlier enough before my shift to make the detour. The idea of walking makes me want to shrivel up and die, but I don’t have a choice. Fucking Chevy.
Jax flicks a cigarette butt into the fire from where he leans against a tree like a magazine model across the clearing, and I have to resist the urge to whine,how much longer?Because I would never give him the satisfaction, but also, I’m not exactly eager to start the trek back down the hill. My brain, traitor that it is, offers an image of Jax slinging me over his shoulder like I’m weightless, carrying me down without breaking a sweat. Which is ridiculous. Delirium talking. I would sooner die than rely on Jax Landon in any capacity.
He may be nice to look at, but he’s a rich, cocky bastard. And dangerous—if his ease at burning a body is any indication. There’s plenty of girls my age who come into Bell’s, hanging on the shoulders of the bad-boy type, enamored by their cool detachment, but that kind of guy sees girls as toys to break and throw away. And I’d rather never be played with than cast aside like that.
“Little bit longer.” Jax’s voice suddenly carries over the crackling fire, low and warm, and there’s a tenderness to it that makes me blink.
Looking up, I find his gaze is hooded, eyes searing into mine, flickering with the light of the flames. I get the impression he’s been staring at me for a while. In a trance of exhaustion, I stare back, unable to look away as the fire rages between us.
The silence stretches, and somewhere in my mind, I wonder where Nix and Caleb have disappeared to, leaving me weak and alone with a predator. But the concern is faint as the heat causes blurs and ripples in the air between us. The shadows on Jax’s face are warmed by the golden glow, alluring and warning at the same time. He looks to be one with the flames, licking up his flesh but leaving him unscathed. His gaze never leaves mine as he floats through the fire, and my heart picks up.
“Sleep.” His voice is gentle, but the command beneath it is unmistakable as he hovers toward me.
My lips part in disbelief as my head sways, my eyes watery. He’s going to burn me if he gets any closer, and I scramble against the rock, suddenly fueled by terror.
“Kira?”
I blink at my name, the spell broken.
“Kira, you’re exhausted.” Jax is back on the other side of the fire, still leaning against the tree. “You should rest before we have to head back down.”
Any other time, I would snap that I don’t need rest, but I find myself nodding vigorously instead, slightly alarmed at my hallucination.
“Mhm,” I mumble, bringing my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.
Forcing myself to look away, I put my cheek on my knee and close my eyes. Maybe… maybe I do need a nap.
Chapter Twelve
Jax
“Be louder, would you?” I bite out in a low voice as Caleb lopes behind me.
“Sorry,” he whispers and then immediately snaps a twig.
I stop myself from turning around and strangling him.
Kira is out cold, curled against my chest as we make our way back to the cars. I didn’t expect her to make the trek easy, but I certainly didn’t anticipate having to carry her. When her sister woke her, she made it as far as her knees before sinking back down to the earth. Her voice was weak as she mumbled for a minute. But minutes are for people looking to get caught. The quicker we put distance between us and the burn site, the better.
She tried to shove at my chest when I hoisted her up, groaning that she was fine, but within seconds, she was out again. Looking down at her face for the tenth time, something tightens in my chest. She’s so pale beneath the moonlight, and not getting any better. Strands of her hair stick to her clammy cheeks, and I’d be surprised if she didn’t die in her sleep tonight.
The idea should be a relief.
But for some reason, it isn’t.
