He shakes his head. Too quickly to have thought the questions through. I don’t dwell on the warmth that spreads through my midriff at the gesture. Don’t stop to think why I stare with fascination at the thick veins that jut from the back of his hands.
“What things do you need to sort with your friend?”
“Details.” His blue eyes catch the pastel green of the walls, sparkling teal as his expression turns to amusement. “You ran my carefully laid out plans right off the road.”
I duck my head, staring at the scores across my wrists. I’d struggled so hard and for what? So I could have a casual chat with a… I don’t know. Robber? Thief? Drug dealer?
“What were you in prison for?”
“Murder.”
The word should cause me alarm. Instead, a thousand other questions flit to my lips. Who? How? When? Why? Would you do it again? Are you planning another right now?
Would you end my misery if I asked you nicely?
He opens the cabinet under the sink, replacing the bottle of antiseptic and pulling out an old plastic supermarket bag. One sweep of his arm and the packets are stored in their new receptacle.
“Why’d you escape? Where are you running to?”
He leans over and puts his wide forefinger against my thin lips, resting lightly for a second before he pulls it away. “No more questions. And no speaking while my friend is here.” He purses his lips. “In fact, you should probably stay in the bedroom. There’s no need to cue him in you’re here at all.”
“Why?” I blurt before realising the question contradicts what he just said.
This time, his eyes join in the amusement, creasing at the corners while they briefly rest on my face. “He’s dangerous.”
“Shouldn’t I come along as backup then?”
Kai’s expression shifts. I see a brief flicker of longing ignite behind his eyes; lost as he bursts into laughter. “What are you going to do? Fight him for me? You just lost to a piece of string.”
All trace of merriment drops from my face. I recall the intrusion of his fingers, forcing their way inside me, even though I was bone dry, surely enough evidence they were unwelcome.
Unwelcome until you came on them, came on his dick.
Regret patters across the room, embracing me in its smothering hug until my breathing turns shallow.
“If he’s so dangerous, why are you going to him for help?” I snark. Anything as a distraction from what just happened in the bedroom. What might still crackle between us.
“Not dangerous to me. Dangerous to you.” He shrugs and walks from the room, calling back over his shoulder, “It’s your decision, I’m just giving you fair warning.”
Fair warning. Like any of this is fair.
It could be worse. You could be sitting in a prison chair, trying to fish packets out of your vag without help.
I stride through to the bedroom and slam the door, wanting release from the stupidity of being me. The man just violated me and here I am, upset by his laughter, that he’s excluding me from the conversation with another man.
That’s not why you’re upset.
No. I’m upset because my son might be attacked at any moment and the person who might be able to help is instead absorbed by his escape.
Maybe you should help yourself.
I could. I could run right now. Get to the prison. Tell the guards of the threat to my boy’s life. An option I dismissed earlier because as soon as I alert corrections, the Highway Rangers will pay another visit, this time to kill me. But I’m out of options.
Joshua won’t thank me for getting him stuck in protective custody but it’s better than the alternative.
Anything’s better than the alternative.
The pall I felt earlier lifts. Malakai’s friend is coming, a perfect distraction. Forget running through the woods in my sensible one-inch heels, I can grab my car. Even if it’s locked, I can break a window.
