Once we’re seated, Lux looks around before setting her searing gaze on me.
“I like this,” she says, and for some reason, I feel like I conquered something.
“It’s our favorite,” I admit, my hand running through my hair. I don’t know why I feel nervous. I’m not used to caring what a girl thinks about where I take her to eat, usually we never even make it past my truck.
“I’m getting pancakes.” She grins enthusiastically, and some of the tension leaves my shoulders.
“Good choice.”
We order when Davey gets to our table. She’s been a waitress here since as long as I can remember, and has often spent time talking to Ciaran, Kai and I over the years and sneaking us extra bacon from the kitchen. The wise woman’s eyes take in more than I would like and when she appears again, she has a small red, flickering candle for our table. Lux laughs while I try to hide the red flush creeping its way up my neck.
“This looks like a real date now,” Lux remarks, and I can’t help wondering if she’s happy about that or not.
“It doesn’t have to be if we don’t want to label it,” I answer, not trying to put any more pressure on things than necessary.
“What if I want it to be?” she asks, her words catching me off guard. My green eyes lock on her coffee brown ones, mesmerized by the absolute truth I see in them.
“Then it is,” I finally answer, hating that my voice sounds unsteady. Lux has the power to do that to me.
Davey brings out our food, her brow raised at me, because of the silence at our table. Again, the woman sees more than she should. She’s also known me since I was eight and has never seen me tongue-tied. I hate it myself.
Lux chuckles when Davey walks away. “I think she’s worried I broke you.”
I swallow the bite of my burger before answering, “I think she’s just not used to seeing me with anyone. Or a girl I should say.”
Lux flushes. “Well, since this is a date, tell me something about you that I don’t know.”
“Ah, besides the fact I secretly read the entire Harry Potter series?” I joke.
“As amazing as that is, yes, something else I don’t know.” Lux shoves some pancake in her mouth.
“I have a photographic memory. When we leave at the end of August for boot camp, I’m going to be specializing more toward cyber warfare.”
“Wow,” she blinks, “how accurate is it? Are you ever a few words off?”
I shake my head. “I could quote you any chapter of The Goblet of Fire you choose.”
Lux’s mouth drops open, and I cover my mouth with my fist to stifle my laugh. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I sort of think that’s the coolest thing ever. I sort of thought you all are just going into the military to blow things up and stuff.”
“That’s Kai’s dream,” I tell her, laughing along with her.
The mood at our table becomes less cautious after that. She asks a question then I do. It’s a surreal experience, getting to know someone else on this level. I’ve read Lux’s file for Rogue but never once did it mention her favorite color is the burnt orange of a sunset, with a tinge of pink or that she can’t stand the smell of pickles. That’s a weird one, but I give it to her. Over the years, I’ve learned mundane things about Kai and Ciaran. I know their tells and their weaknesses. Things that come from being friends for over ten years and working together in life or death situations. This is the first time for me getting to know more about a girl than just the color of her panties. Even with Aria, I never cared to know more about her. She tried, and often left hints for me to pick up on, but I didn’t care. Maybe that makes me an asshole. Maybe I just needed the right person to care about. My history speaks volumes about the dangers of relationships and forcing feelings.
When Davey drops off the tab, Lux goes to reach for it, but I’m quicker. “Yeah right,” I tell her, holding the bill fold.
“I have some cash,” she responds, sticking her tongue out.
“Keep it. This is a date and I want to pay.” I lift my shoulders while she blushes. I love seeing that pink tinge against her skin.
“This was the best date ever.” She gives me a small smile. “It’s actually my first one.”
“It doesn’t have to be over,” I tell her, taking her hand in mine under the table.
Her smile widens and she nods, game for whatever I have planned.
We leave hand in hand, a far cry from the small distance I had created when we first arrived. I help her in my truck and head back toward the direction of the cabins before passing them. Just outside of town, still on our property though, is an old pier, with a single bench under a gazebo. We used to fish there when we were little and sometimes I go back just to sit in the quietness.
“Oh.” Lux is speechless when we pull up and step out.
It is also the only dock, this side of the lake, with the clearest view of a sunset, and tonight, the orange is perfect.
“Do you like it?” I ask, holding out my hand so we can walk to the end.
Lux glances from me to my hand and back out at the sky. “I love it.”
At the gazebo, I wrap my arm around her waist while she watches the sun fade completely into the water. Everything around us stills, the only noise is a few crickets in the background. I feel content just to watch with her.
When she turns to face me, her hands resting at my sides, I know she feels it too. My hand automatically goes to her long hair, the other one grabbing her hip and bringing her body into mine. The second our mouths meet, her hands tighten on my sides and I groan. Every push and pull of teeth and lips is enough to bring me to my knees. Lux is pliant in my hands, and I can’t get close enough to her.
My thoughts shatter completely when a loud thud sounds nearby.
Instantly, my senses jerk me back to reality, the crunching of gravel under shoes can be heard.
“Stay here,” I instruct Lux, who looks about as disoriented as I feel. Fear creeps into her eyes before I’m taking off down the dock and running toward the noise.
My eyes adjust quickly to the dark, and I see a figure running ahead of me. My legs pump faster, chasing the person through the tall grass. We make it to the marsh and I think they’ll stop, but I’m wrong. I watch in horror and fascination as the person vaults their body through the air and into the swampy mess.
“Fuck!”
“Silas!” Lux yells behind me, and I’m instantly aware of the second mistake I made just now. I left a target alone. Forgetting the intruder, I take off back to where I left Lux, my heart ponding in my chest, a fear I’ve never felt before racing through my veins.
“Raina!” I call her name as I get closer.
“Silas! Over here! Oh my god!” She sounds frantic, I find her standing amongst the reeds, looking down.
I race over to her, pulling her into my arms and shielding her view. It’s already too late, though, she’s seen it, but I hold her anyways.
“Go to my truck. I need to call Matt and the guys,” I instruct, giving her a little push in that direction, while I follow, positioning myself an equal distance from my truck and the water’s edge.
I yank my phone from my pocket and hit one. Matt’s name flashes. “Where are you?”
“At the old pier,” I tell him, sucking air between my teeth. “You need to get here and call Griffin.”
My gaze falls back to the water and the grizzly sight. “I found Julie.”
Lux
I’m going to be sick.
I can’t get the image out of my head. I don’t even want to think about that woman and how long she’s been dead. My stomach tightens and I feel bile at the back of my throat. When Silas took off chasing whoever dropped the body, fear coiled around my heart. Not fear for myself, but for him, running into danger and the unknown. I couldn’t stand where he left me; I couldn’t run back to the truck and seek protection. I had to follow and that’s when I saw her in the water.
“It’s going to be okay,” Silas tells me again, h
is arms wrapping around me tighter, so I can breathe him in. I feel his lips press against my hair and I close my eyes, willing the images away.
Twenty minutes later, Matt, Jason, Ciaran and Kai arrive. Following behind them is the same sheriff from the previous night. His car is not lit up with the reds and blues this time.
“Are you sure it’s her?” Matt asks, walking up to Silas who nods grimly.
Matt, Jason and the sheriff head toward the water, Ciaran and Kai hanging back.
“Damn Si, usually if I want to impress a girl, I just get her flowers. Not show her dead bodies,” Kai cracks a joke, and Silas hits him on the side of the head.
“You chased someone?” Ciaran asks, his eyes raking over the surrounding area. “Into the marsh,” Silas nods, “I’m 95% sure the person was male. Dressed in all black, athletic, but not heavy. He was fast. Had absolutely no fear about throwing himself into the muddy water.”
“Sounds like the same person from prom,” Ciaran responds, his eyes flashing.
“Gutsy to drop a body so close to where you were standing,” Kai adds, and goosebumps rise up my arms.
“Unless that was the intention,” Ciaran throws out.
“It’s been over a week since we found Craig. I’d say Julie has been dead that same amount of time. This was either damage control or you’re right, and they wanted our attention.” Silas pieces things together.
My heart drops. Why is this person so intent on having Rogue’s attention but continues to hide in the shadows? My mind flashes to the small apartment in New York. Nash is consistent in wanting information about Saylor. His goal is either to prove she isn’t safe here or to show her she is safer with him. Could he be the one trying to expose the holes in Rogue’s defenses?
“I’m going to take Lux back,” Silas speaks suddenly, and I wonder if he’s aware of the internal meltdown I’m having. By keeping quiet, am I setting them up for something bigger to tear them apart?
“You should stay,” I tell him. “I can drive myself back. Then you won’t miss anything.”
Silas studies me for a second, and I pray he can’t see the guilt and turmoil written all over my face. “You sure? You can take my truck.”
“Yeah.” I nod and accept the keys he’s handing me. I take them and fast walk over to hop in. When I fire up the engine, I notice all three of them watching me. Playing it cool, I raise my hand in a wave and give Silas a small smile, before gunning it out of there. I need space. I need something familiar to help me process. The image of the extra cell phone in the bottom of my drawer burns a hole in my brain. My fingers twitch. I need to text Nash. I need to make sure he’s stashed in New York then I need to find a way to end this.
Saylor is awake when I get back as well as Mrs. Saffran. Both appear to be waiting for me. “Are you okay, dear?” Mrs. Saffran asks, standing and wrapping me in a hug. I let her, not wanting them to worry.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell them, trying to smile.
“It can be a shock to the system,” Saylor tells me and I get the impression she’s seen her fair share of bodies as well. Unsure of how to answer, I nod then bite my lip. “Well, we’re here to talk if you need to.”
“Thanks,” I tell them both, hating how gruff my voice sounds from holding in tears. I hurry down the hall and to the bedroom. Oaklynn is sleeping, so I quietly rifle through the drawer and find the phone. After throwing on some leggings and a t-shirt, I stash the phone in my jean jacket pocket, then shut the door behind me quietly.
Mrs. Saffran and Saylor are still sitting in the living room when I come back, their worried gazes finding me right away. “I’m going to stay at Silas’,” I tell them and hurry past them before my request can be denied.
With my head down and my arms wrapped around myself, I hurry to Silas’ secured cabin. I punch in his door code, that he showed me last time, and let myself in. It’s pitch black in the room and my pulse spikes. I flip on every light until there are no shadows that can play mind games with me. Sitting on his couch, I reach into my pocket, pull out the phone, and pull up the last message I received yesterday from Nash.
UNKNOWN: Are you messing with me, little girl?
I stare at the words, contemplating and running them through my mind. I last texted him that Saylor was safe here and he should back off. This was his response, but it gives nothing away. My nails tap on the case, my emotions rioting in my chest.
SECURE: Are you here?
I hit send, before I can stop myself. It feels like hours pass before the message finally says delivered. I wait and wait, but there’s nothing. In my head, I try to recall our time difference. It’s now almost one in the morning, so it would be two there. Still, it’s summer and college students usually don’t go to bed until after four, right? I’m about to reach out again, when a key scrapping the lock causes me to jump up. I quickly shove the phone in my pocket right as Silas lets himself in.
Our gazes lock, and he looks equally surprised and relieved to see me. I watch him, a burning need to know he is alright igniting in my chest. Whatever he sees in my face causes his own features to darken, and his eyes become hooded. I don’t think, I just go to him. Silas meets me, my arms wrapping around his neck, his hands lifting me so my legs can wind around his waist. Our lips slam together, desperate and needy. I cling to him, like he is the air I need to breathe, the safety I need to survive. Silas walks us to his room, one hand gripping my ass, the other holding my jaw, while he devours me.
When my back hits his mattress, my arms guide his body, so he’s hovering over me, protective, a barrier between me and the outside world. I gasp, and his tongue seeks entrance into my mouth. He’s sensual and aggressive until shivers are running down my arms and heat coils low in my abdomen. I want him. Silas trails his lips down my jaw, biting, then soothing the marks over with his tongue, causing my hips to rise and connect with the hard ridges of his abs.
“Si,” I say his name, my voice breathy.
“I got you, sweetheart.” He practically growls against my skin, while I melt from the endearment he uses.
Silas pushes himself up above me, his hands tugging his shirt off, exposing every inch of delicious tanned skin to my eyes. The faint vibration against my side, where my jacket pocket is crushed underneath me, is a bucket of ice water to my libido. My whole reason for hiding out here comes back swifter than a tidal wave.
I shove back from Silas, feeling dirty, ugly, knowing I’m keeping something so pivotal from him. This beautiful bad boy, with a heart worthy of everything good, and I’m lying to him. I want to gag. Anger rises in my blood, and I know I need to get out of here. I’m dangerous to him, this lie has become more than I can live with.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, before scrambling out from underneath his body, grabbing my jacket, and running from the room.
“Lux!” I hear him call my name, but it’s too late. I want as much distance between us as possible. I flip the lock on the front door and bolt out into the night.
“Lux!”
I cringe, hoping he isn’t chasing me and knowing if he is, I won’t last long. His legs are longer and he runs for fun. I only run when my life is in danger and I’ve been caught every time. Not exactly a record worth bragging about. I spot a four-wheeler sitting off to the side and remember a spare key is usually under the seat.
“Wait!” I hear Silas call again, and it’s all I need to make up my mind. I flip the seat and grab the key. In seconds, I have the engine running, and I’m flying down the nearest trail, the one I know heads away from the cabins and out toward the cliffs. One look behind me and I know I’m alone, no one is following. I should be able to breathe easier, only it feels like a boulder is sitting on my chest. I’ve been running for so long, trying to survive, doing anything to hold on to the part of myself that makes me human. Rogue was supposed to be my second chance until he happened. All I had to do was report information. I didn’t question if he was a killer or worse, if he was working to break down the agency that was act
ively keeping me safe.
“So stupid,” I mutter to myself, hating that my instincts to survive always cause me pain. Tears well up until my vision is clouded, before they spill in hot currents down my cheeks. The moon is large and bright, creating enough light to help me navigate to the cliffs. Once I’m there, I park and jump off, before kneeling on the ground and dry heaving. The whole night went from fairy tale to disaster in a matter of hours.
With shaky fingers, I reach into my pocket and pull the phone out. UNKNOWN flashes on the screen with three new messages.
UNKNOWN: Am I where?
UNKNOWN: Did something happen to Saylor?
UNKNOWN: You better not play with me, little girl. We had a deal. Unless you enjoy cages.
“Shit,” I mutter to myself, a sob tearing from my throat. I press the phone to my chest, seconds away from either tossing it over the cliff or smashing it to pieces.
A twig snapping behind me lodges my heart in my throat. Realizing I’m not alone, and there is a potential killer in these woods, has my body freezing.
“It’s just us,” Saylor calls to me, right as she steps forward, a flashlight swinging in her hands. Ciaran comes up behind her, and my gaze frantically looks behind him, expecting to see Silas and feeling disappointed when I don’t.
“He thought maybe you wouldn’t want him here right now,” Saylor explains, her eyes watching me carefully, assessing to see if I’m okay. I can feel Ciaran doing the same, probably trying to find out if I’m a threat to them. If only he knew.
More tears run down my face, but I manage to swing my gaze to Saylor. “I don’t know what to do,” I manage to get out between sobs, my body ready to pitch forward. She steps over to me and wraps her arms around my middle. I’m a head taller than her, yet somehow, she manages to catch and hold me.
“Give us a minute,” she says to Ciaran, who discreetly walks back down toward the bottom of the cliffs where another four-wheeler is sitting.
#SummerGirl Page 11