“The Godfatherokay?”
“Hells yeah.” I hand him his drink. “The last time I watched it, after this stupid party your brother dragged me to, I visualized Kaiden in place of every victim. Imagining his face getting blown to bits never got old.”
Harley looks at me like I’ve grown ten heads, and I realize I just fucked up. He’s fiercely protective of Kai and thinks the sun shines out of his backstabbing ass.
I mess up his hair, giggling. “I’m kidding!” I drop beside him again. “Drink that and tell me it doesn’t feel good.” I clink my glass against his. “Cheers!” I drain mine in one go, and not to be outdone, Harley knocks his back too.
His face pulls into a grimace and he sticks his tongue out. I can’t help laughing, but it’s genuine this time. “It’d be better with salt and lime, but beggars can’t be choosers.” I grab his glass and refill it. “Another couple and you’ll be begging for it.”
He looks warily at me, so I sit closer, pushing my body right up beside his, and lick up the side of his neck. “You smell gorgeous,” I murmur. “I’m glad Rick left you here and not Joaquin. He’s too grumpy and no fun at all.”
My words do the trick, and soon, we’re barely paying any attention to the movie as I ply poor, innocent Harley with shot after shot while I basically drink water.
“I don’t feel so hot,” he slurs after a while, and thank fuck, because I’m running out of time. I have forty, maybe fifty, minutes, tops, before the others arrive.
“Why don’t you lie down.” I push him down flat on his back. “I’ll get you some water.”
“Need to sleep,” he mumbles, curling on his side and shutting his eyes. Two minutes later, he’s snoring softly, and I creep out of the room.
I sprint to the bike, pulling the helmet on and flooring it out of there. Thankfully, there’s a big sign for the mini-mart, and I find it easily. I have just enough cash left to pay for the disposable cell and some credit, and I call Xavier once I’m outside the store.
“Abby?” he asks before I’ve said a word.
“How’d you know it was me?”
“Thank fuck.” Air whistles down the line. “I’ve been praying you’d call.”
“This is the first opportunity I’ve had, and I don’t have long.”
“Are you okay? Are you hurt? I’ll tear those new elite fuckers from limb to limb after I’ve gouged out their eyeballs with pitchforks, pissed on them, and set them on fire.”
“Wow. That’s very specific.”
“I’ve had nothing but time to plan their deaths. I have lots of creative ideas.”
I smile even though he can’t see it. “I miss you.”
“Miss you too, but stop fucking around. Where are you?”
“I’m in a town someplace in central Nebraska. I have a plan. Listen carefully.”
“Shoot.”
“You have this number now, and you can track me, right?”
“Affirmative, Double oh-seven.”
I roll my eyes, grinning. “The Anderson brothers are taking me to Kaiden. They won’t tell me where, only that it will be Tuesday evening before we arrive. I need to speak to him. I want answers, but then I want you to come and get me the hell away from him.”
“Gladly, darling. Just turn your cell on once you arrive. I’ll track you and ride to the rescue.”
“Thanks, dude. I don’t want to waste a second longer in that asshole’s company than I have to.”
“I second that.”
“Is Charlie okay?” I ask, kick starting the engine.
“He’s fine. He flew home a few hours ago. He’s pissed they got the better of him, and he’s got a goose egg the size of a football on the side of his head, but he’ll survive.”
