Rage finishes covering my tattoos, and the air surrounding us feels heavy. Everything feels awkward, he is visibly uncomfortable, and that is making me feel weird.
That’s the reaction I always get when someone notices my scars, and in his case it’s even worse. Not only he’s seen them, he’s felt them. He didn’t say anything, but I felt his hand jerk back the moment he touched my skin for the first time. I shouldn’t be surprised by this. After all, Rage’s style is to show no emotions. But he continues until he is done. Though as he completes his task, my past comes back to haunt me.
The whole situation sucks. I feels like someone died, and I’m attending the funeral.
“Sarah, I need you to stand up and walk to the door,” Carter orders as he monitors the data coming from the implanted GPS.
“Okay,” I fix my T-shirt and follow his instructions.
“How does it look?” Rage asks Carter.
He nods back. “All good, let’s go.” He grabs the duffel bag and goes to the door.
“Are you ready?” Carter asks with a concerned look.
I know too well why he is acting like this. I’ve put him in a spot, and I’m not happy about it, especially because I know this could cost him his relationship with Bruno.
I grab my bag, go to him and put my hand on his right shoulder. I look at him because I need him to see me and listen. “Carter, if I find him, I promise I’ll do everything to make him understand that I didn’t give you any choice. And if I don’t find him, and shit hits the fan, you have my blessing to never tell him about what happened. I don’t want you guys fighting over me. You are way too important for each other. Please, always remember that.”
“It’s not–” he starts.
“I’m sorry about everything, I really am. Punching and pushing you over the limit was wrong, but I will always do what it takes if it means I can see him again. I hope someday you’ll understand and forgive me.”
He looks spooked. The old Carter, the careless person who always jokes about everything, even when things are fucked up, is silent and buried deep inside him.
“Sarah, you know I’ll never lie to Bruno. I make my own choices knowing well enough the consequences. Now listen, I need you to follow our instructions very well. You know I fucking hate that biker, but I’d be a fool to ignore his expertise in the field. He is, unfortunately, the first guy I trust with stuff like this after Bruno, so listen to him too. Don’t do stupid and risky shit. Please think before you act, fuck… I sound just like him.” He worries about me.
“I know you miss him too.”
“Damn right I do, so bring him back in one piece. Fuck, bring them both back.” There are tears in his eyes that neither of us acknowledge.
“I will do my best,” I reply with a tense smile as I reach over to hug him.
“We should get going befo–”
Rage yells from the doorway.
“What’s keeping you? Come on!”
Carter rolls his eyes.
I smile. “You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up in a sec,” I reply in a hurry.
Carter leaves the house, closing the door behind him and giving me the space I need to look around and say goodbye to my things, to this life.
I collect my cellphone, a notepad and some necessities for the eighteen hours’ flight I am about to take. As I’m about to grab the doorknob, I realize I’m forgetting what started all this, the piece of heart Bruno left behind. I go back to my room for it and put it inside a Ziploc bag to keep it dry and protected.
I step outside, lock the door and turn around facing the street. I don’t see them.
Where are they?
A car horn sounds and I turn my head to the left. A black Jeep Sahara with tinted windows waits for me. I walk to it and sit down in the back, right behind the driver’s seat. Both turn their heads as I buckle up.
“What?” I ask.
They both stare at me with a worried look.
Just what I need.
