“What is that noise?” Rage questions.
“I’m brushing my hair.”
“And now?” Rage asks clueless and surprised.
This is going to be hard.
“I just told you, I was taking a shower. This comes after.”
“Seriously, man? I mean, you have long hair, you should know this. Anyway, be right back I need to take a leak.” I hear Carter’s voice and then a door slamming.
The conversation stops for ten seconds, then Rage continues with endless questions. “Are you naked?”
I roll my eyes. I don’t want to engage in this kind of conversation with him, for both our sakes. I spent my entire flight thinking about him and the sexual tension between us. It needs to stop.
“No, Rage, I’m not,” I lie, making him sigh in disappointment. “Is Carter back yet?” I need him back here to censor Rage, though let’s face it, I don’t think anyone can censor theSoulless Bastardspresident.
“Why? Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asks.
“Not at all. You think too much of yourself sometimes,” I shoot back.
I loosen the knot on the towel and let it drop on the bathroom floor.
“Was that the towel hitting the floor? Why are you torturing me like this?”
Oh my god, really?
“Torturing you? You had to go withthatword? Great choice of vocabulary, Rage,” I reply. “Is this how it’s going to be all the time?”
“Yes. This is how we are going to run this. Get used to it, kiddo.” He pauses for a second. “Now, go get some rest. You have a few hours for yourself. I’ll wake you up when it’s time.” This last he says with his usual aggression.
“How? I’m not sleeping with this thing in my ear. I can’t.” I grab an old T-shirt and I put it on.
Rage says, “Honestly, kiddo, I don’t give a damn.”
Chapter Nineteen
SARAH
“Rise and shine, Snow White.” I hear Carter’s voice inside my head, and that makes me jump.
Am I going to get used to this damn thing?
“Snow–”
“I heard you! God damn it!” I open my eyes and barely recognize the hotel room. It’s dark, so I turn on the light. “What time is it?” I feel like I swallowed a fucking desert, my mouth is so dry.
“Five in the morning for you, and you got a train to catch, remember?”
“Oh, not again. Please not another hard surface for my butt,” I beg.
“Yep, that ass of yours is going to have to endure it again,” Rage cuts in.
* * *
Once at the Atocha train station, I pay the fare and exit the cab. I can’t believe my eyes. Europe’s architecture is breathtaking, and the detail on this façade is leaving me with my mouth open. I enter and take in the high ceilings and steel columns give this place a distinctive and ancient magical look. Now that I think about it, it kind of looks like King’s Cross train station from Harry Potter movies.
“You ain’t there as a tourist, kiddo,” Rage points out.
