“Okay, Josh. I’ll meet you there. I need to get back to my friends right now, though.”
Josh’s cheeks flushed and he pulled her to him, hugging her fiercely and quickly. “Thank you, Lainey.” He kissed her cheek, twitching as he stood back. “I should go anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He grinned at her before turning and walking out of the bar. Finally. Feeling like she could breathe again, Lainey walked back to Payton and Cole. Rita placed the entire bottle of vodka from her earlier shot on the bar.
“Need this?”
“God, yes.” Lainey poured herself two more shots and drank them down before her heart settled. When Josh had grabbed her, the embrace was tight and quick, but the unease she’d felt when he’d touched her hand had skittered over her entire body. Damn, she’d needed a drink. His colors had been as bright white as usual, with no hint as to why he was affecting her so strongly.
“Hey, Payton?” Lainey said. “Have you ever met anyone who blocked your skills?”
Payton topped up her own shot glass and handed a fresh one to her. “No. Why?”
“I can’t see anything in Josh, just a few brief glimpses.” Lainey swallowed the shot, pursing her lips from the sour taste. Payton’s eyes went wide.
“Nothing?”
“Hardly anything. I’ve been trying to figure it out since I met him.”
“Jesus, tell me next time. I would have tried to read his mind. Don’t put yourself in front of a bullet like that, Lainey.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s anything that major. Just . . . it’s weird. Normally people are full of signals, colors swirling, but Josh—nothing.”
“Guy’s an ass.” Cole spoke up.
“Yes,” Lainey laughed. Cole knew all about what she could do from Payton, he had to, but talking about it with him was still a little odd. “Why couldn’t I tell?”
Cole reached over and squeezed her hand briefly before dropping an arm around Payton’s shoulders. “I don’t know, Hon, but you know what I’ve seen a lot of: beautiful girls who didn’t stay away from the wrong men and ended up nearly dead because of it.” Their eyes met and the wrong feeling ran through her veins again. “Promise me something, Lainey? Both of you? Stay away from him.”
Payton leaned into Cole’s embrace and Lainey nodded at them both. “I’m telling him tomorrow that I don’t want to see him again, but he’ll still he around the gym.”
Cole took a swig of his beer. “You let me and Aaron worry about that.”
“Thank you, and I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Gotta keep my best girls safe.” He smiled and warmth washed over her. Lainey hadn’t told Aaron the truth about her abilities yet, but Payton was right. Being around other people who knew was worth it. It was like being home. She’d tell him, as soon as she’d gotten rid of Josh.
18
Lainey
Lainey caught a cab to the pier the next afternoon. She didn’t know how confronting Josh was going to go, and it was better to be able to make a quick exit than have him able to corner her at her car. The streets surrounding the pier were a maze that was too easy to get backed up or lost in. It was her day off, and so she’d managed to dodge Aaron that morning. Better to tell him where she’d been when it was all over and Josh was history. Aaron had finally opened up to her a little the day before and she didn’t want to push him back into his gray mood by bringing up the one guy he couldn’t stand. Lainey huffed at the thought. She’d been so stupid! Aaron might be quiet—reserved, even—but he never hated anyone. In fact, he went out of his way to help people. That he’d had such an open and obvious dislike of Josh should have been a massive warning sign.
The cab pulled up outside an old shop that sold hand-blown glass decorations. She paid the driver and climbed out, but had barely closed the taxi door when a hand closed around hers. She jumped and when she turned around, Josh was standing close behind her. Too close. Lainey shook his hand loose, and Josh raised his eyebrows.
“You don’t want me to touch you in public, is that it?” His aura pulsed, but remained white.
Think quickly.
Lainey pulled her tote open and fished around, her hand emerging with a pullover. “Sorry, I’m just kinda cold.”
Josh grinned and slung an arm over her shoulders as they walked to the carnival entrance. “No problem.” He smiled and pulled her closer to him when they got to a ticket booth. “You want to go on the Ferris wheel?”
Just get it over with.
“Umm, I’m kind of hungry. How about we sit and get some food?”
Josh shrugged. “Sure.” He led her over to a Mexican hot dog stand, ordering one with everything for both of them. Plunking the food down on a nearby table, he left to buy drinks. Lainey stared down at her hot dog. The meat was wrinkled and brown, and the mayonnaise had been sitting out in the sun an hour too long. She couldn’t stomach a single bite, nor any of the situation that she knew was coming as soon as Josh returned. Why had she ever wanted to hook up with him in the first place?
Because he was hot and interested in you.
Yeah, he was real gorgeous, right until you disagreed with him on anything. Then he turned on a tantrum a three-year-old would aspire to. Wow. Was that what had been going on with his colors? She’d thought he was all deep and mysterious, but perhaps it was the exact opposite. Maybe she couldn’t read his aura because there wasn’t anything there. Lainey wrinkled her nose. When she stopped to really think about it, it seemed obvious. The man clearly wasn’t a Rhodes scholar.
Josh chose that moment to return, a yard of beer in one hand and a small cup of lemonade in the other. “Josh, what is that?” Was he really going to drink a tube of beer that was nearly up to her waist?
“What do you think it is?” He slammed back nearly a full foot of beer in one big gulp. Shit, she didn’t need him hammered right now. She should turn around, just turn and walk away without another word, but then what would happen? He’d chase after her, cause a scene, maybe even beg. Or he’d get angry.
No. This was over, it was done. She just had to tell him that. Lainey sat back down, flexing her fingers and trying to take a deep breath.
“Hey.” Josh sat next to her, beer still in his hand. “What’s wrong with you today?”
“Nothing.” Lainey stared down at the wrinkled hot dog. Flies were already gathering around it, setting themselves down on the beans.
A perfect reflection of this whole relationship, really.
“You haven’t even taken a bite of your food.” He lifted the glass and took another swig, drops falling down on his shirt.
“I’m not hungry.” If she wasn’t already as nervous as hell, she’d definitely have lost whatever was remaining of her appetite with that display.
“So you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Here went nothing. “Just things lately, everything’s been changing. A lot. And it’s all a little overwhelming. I need some space to think things through.”
He stood, dropping his beer. It fell to the ground with a sharp crack, the glass splintering and amber liquid running out onto the ground. “What are you saying, Lainey?” His voice had dropped, the words almost growled.
She had to be firm, leave no room for any doubt. Lainey raised her head and looked him straight in the eyes. “What I’m saying is that I need a break. From any of this, from us.”
“You’re breaking up with me?” He took a step forward. Taller than Lainey by nearly a foot, he loomed above her and over her. Lainey refused to back down. She could do this. Her gaze locked with his, almost challenging him to try something, anything. For once, the size disparity between them was working in her favor, people passing by noticing the huge man standing too close to the petite blonde. Little parts of emotions started to filter through her consciousness: curiosity, concern. Lainey blocked them all out and stared directly into Josh’s eyes. They were numb, not filled with anger—in fact, filled with nothing at all. His aura was another story. That bubbl
ed and swirled, until it suddenly opened, revealing its full self to her for the first time. A black well lay in the center, practically storming with anger and resentment. It had been compressed into a tight ball, so tight and thick that until then, she hadn’t noticed it. There were his real emotions, being pressed together by a thick wave of dark green envy, hatred, and insecurity. The white mask was gone, and it scared her to death. That was all she could see in his eyes.
Death.
Josh didn’t care about anything or anyone. The only emotion swirling in his core was white-hot anger. It was tearing him apart, pulling all other colors out of him. His eyes were glazed. Josh was gone, and what was left was a hunter. She turned around to run, but he jumped over the table and tried to grab her hair. His fingers tugged hard on her ponytail and Lainey fell forward, slamming her head against the table edge. The world blurred and a warm, wet trickle ran down her face. Gasps from strangers mingled with cries of “Hey! What’re you doing?” but she didn’t stop to listen.
Get up. Get up and run or he’ll kill you.
Lainey had no idea where the thought came from, perhaps an angelic revelation, but she wasn’t going to ignore it. Breaking glass cracked behind her and then crisp footsteps as Josh stepped over his broken yard glass, a piece in his hand. She reached out her hands, still blurry through her eyes, and pushed herself up. Somehow she got to her feet and pushed her way through a concerned crowd. She didn’t care that her forehead was bleeding. She had to get away. She ran through the food stalls, ignoring the yells behind her, and didn’t look back. She had lost her gift, lost her senses, and fell into the arms of a murderer.
What would death be like? Would it come on slowly and painfully, or sharply and quickly? Would she fade into a sea of darkness until there was nothing left? The colors had always been with her, for as long as she could remember. Would they fade too? She turned and looked over her shoulder, panicked, her feet never slowing. Shouts still followed Josh as he pushed after her. He was too strong, too fast, and he was closing the gap. She dared another look back. Josh was held up in the crowd and she lost sight of him.
If you can’t see him, he can’t see you!
She turned, taking in her surroundings for the first time. She’d run clear across the pier, leaving the booths and people behind. The meandering lane in front of her looked empty and the only way she was going to be able to leave was on foot. Josh would have to make it back to his car, wherever that was, to follow her any distance. She darted over the lane, nothing more than a thin strip of pavement that led under the pier. She could hide out there.
Weaving her way through the wooden poles, Lainey forced herself to draw breath. Spots were dancing in front of her eyes, her heart was threatening to explode, but she had to keep moving, if only to stop her calves from cramping up. She’d gotten about a week’s worth of workouts running away from a madman. Lainey slapped a hand over her mouth at the thought, muffling any sound that would dare to escape. This was exactly the type of situation Aaron had been worried about. Fuck—he was going to kill her himself when he found out what she’d done. The pain she felt now was nothing but a stark reminder of exactly how much trouble she was in. She’d let her gift make decisions against all common sense and now she was trapped alone and in the dark, hiding from a man who would just as soon cut her throat and throw her into the waves lashing the shore just a few yards away. Her knees gave way under her and she fell gently into the soft sand.
It was completely ludicrous. And of course Aaron’s gun was sitting back in her drawer at home. She hadn’t wanted to have it around all those people. People who had parted like the sea churning right where she stood and let Josh chase her. She stood, wiping away the hot tears that had fallen on her cheeks. Josh still hadn’t appeared down the bend, but he would. Of course he’d look under the pier—it was the most obvious place she could have hidden. Once he searched the carnival grounds, it wasn’t like he’d just get in his car and leave. He was too intense for that, had always been from the beginning. She didn’t understand why he was so locked on her, but the glimpse she’d seen beneath the white had told her everything she needed to know. He was obsessed, and he’d scan the area, searching every corner, before he’d ever let her escape.
Lainey pushed her way back to her feet. She had to get up, push through the pain cramping her legs. Moving was the only option she had. She weaved her way through the support poles, her feet sloshing through the waves, bogging her down. Strips of sunlight from the sky pushed through the boards above her head, beckoning her forward to where the full light shone beyond the planks of the boardwalk. She was nearly there. Surely when she made it back out into the sunlight, there’d be other people.
The light got closer with every step, her feet dragging and chest burning. She was almost there, her fingers brushing the sun’s warmth when something hard slammed into her head and she collapsed onto the gritty ground. Lainey rolled over just in time to see Josh snarl.
“You’re not getting away from me, Bitch! She won’t let me fail.”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a syringe. Lainey scrambled backward but went nowhere, her wet feet slipping in the sand. He grinned. “You’ll like this. You’re lucky. I only get it when I’m good.”
Josh bit off the cap on the syringe and spat it on the sand. He shoved the needle into her arm. A quick bite of pain pinched her arm before the world went fuzzy and then sank away.
19
Aaron
Aaron opened the juice bar that morning. The gym could run almost without him, with Rico taking up the slack, but the juice bar was all Lainey. Aaron liked it there. Her touches and style were all over it, even when she wasn’t there. When she couldn’t be there herself, he preferred to open up rather than call in a temp staff member.
The day passed quickly enough, as Lainey always left him already-prepped ingredients for her day off. He worked through the crowds methodically, not as cheerful as Lainey would be, but his usual frown was absent and he didn’t scare anyone off, either. That put the day in the win category as far as he was concerned. When he looked up from cleaning up from the late afternoon rush, Aaron smiled. Payton scowled in response and he chuckled. Nothing new there. Payton had a wall a mile high surrounding her, one that only Cole was allowed over on a regular basis. Aaron didn’t take it personally. She still looked tired, though. Yesterday must have been difficult for her, too, he guessed. Cole followed, looking plain troubled. That worried him. He and Cole had spent some dark moments together, and it wasn’t like him to be moody just for the hell of it anymore.
Unless there’s something to be moody about that I don’t know yet.
Payton plunked herself down on a stool at the counter and Aaron wasted no time in getting over there. “What’s going on, guys?” She and Cole exchanged wary glances.
“She said she’d handle it, Cole.”
“Pay, he needs to know. Even if—”
Aaron couldn’t wait for them to finish the argument. “This have anything to do with why you look like you haven’t slept all night, Payton?”
“He’s going to find out at some point. Might as well be now,” Cole said, shrugging.
“Fine,” Payton said. “But I’m going to need something a little stronger than a blueberry smoothie for this conversation. What you got hiding back there?”
Aaron resisted the urge to lean forward. Cole would have him on the floor in three seconds, no matter who he was. No one threatened his girl. Instead, he gripped the counter hard enough to turn his knuckles white. “Tell me. Now.”
“That fucking piece of shit, Aaron. The little prick turned up at the bar last night.”
“What happened? Did he hurt her?”
“No.” Judging by the tone in Payton’s voice, the encounter hadn’t been entirely innocent. “She didn’t want to talk to him, that much was obvious, but the little shit actually begged.”
Cole threw him a dark look. “He didn’t lay a hand on her. I was watching.”
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Aaron gritted his teeth in frustration. “So what the hell did happen?”
“She saw right though him, thank God, said whatever she needed to get him to leave. The guy isn’t stable, though. Everyone can see it. She told me after he’d left that she was telling him it was over.”
“What? When?” Lainey shouldn’t do something like that alone. How long would it take to tell Josh to fuck off? It would only take Aaron five seconds to throw him out the door. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
Payton laid a hand over his in a rare show of compassion. “She wanted to face him herself. I understand that, Cole. She’s doing it today at the carnival, surrounded by people.”
Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose. “How long has she been gone?”
Payton glanced up at the clock. “Right now, at least two hours.”
Aaron’s entire body went rigid. “I have to go. Can you guys stay and watch the bar?”
Cole stood. “I’m not letting you go on your own. No need to have to deal with a murder charge.” He turned to Payton. “You’ll be okay here on your own for awhile, Gorgeous?”
Payton was already strapping on an apron. “Got it. Aaron, if he comes here, I will fuck him up for you.” She grinned. “I could do with the practice. Go get your girl.”
They took Aaron’s car to the pier. The Jeep could be parked practically anywhere and was easier to get out of fast. Aaron’s hands flexed on the wheel the entire drive. Josh didn’t take the word no well, he knew that from experience. If he’d hurt Lainey at all, if there was one bruise on her creamy skin, Aaron was going to make an example out of him.
Lainey (Dreamcatchers Romantic Suspense Series Book 4) Page 11