He chuckles. “Yeah, don’t do that.”
“I’d have to find her first.”
“I know where she’s at.”
“Where?”
“At Hayley’s mom’s place. I saw a picture of them earlier tagged at the salon. They were getting their hair done.”
I forgot all about Liri going to see her dad this weekend. I was going to offer to go with her for moral support. I know all about fucked up families.
“Guess I won’t be able to track her down until Monday.”
“You know where she is. It’s Friday night in Hinkley.”
“The Dragway.”
Liam gives me a fist bump. “I just need to change the air filter then you are back in business.”
“Let’s go get our girls back.”
Hinkley is a piss ass poor town where racing on a Friday night is bigger than football. Racing isn’t a pastime it is a religion where I come from. My father was a big contributor to making that happen. Him and my mom were high school sweethearts and we had the perfect life and the perfect family. Until he threw it all away for some ass. My father was everything to me. I wanted to be like him. Dillan and I would follow him around the garage carrying buckets of tools around while he’d prep for his next race. Eventually he got noticed. Went to the big time. He was living large and around Hinkley he was king. Then Mom noticed a lump on her breast. She was in her early thirties, and it was unheard of for a woman her age to have cancer, but she did. Had to have a double mastectomy.
Susie, fucking ready to help, ready to save the day, swooped in like a real friend should. She got Dillan and me off to school. Hell, she even helped us with our homework. She quit her job to take care of mom around the clock. Dillan didn’t notice the little things I did because he was too busy sniffing up Noelle’s skirt. Susie’s little darling of a daughter. A slut like her mother.
She was screwing my brother and Susie was fucking my father. Mom had gotten an infection and had to be hospitalized. Dad was supposed to be in Georgia for his next race. I was late getting home from school because Dillan was supposed to take me to see Mom, but he ditched me for Noelle.
I had missed the bus and had to walk home in the rain.
The house was dark, but I could hear their moans and the slapping of their bodies as I came in through the mudroom that was right off the garage.
“Dillan?” I called out my brother’s name to give them fair warning. I figured I was gonna go in and find him with Noelle, but I didn’t. I followed the noises to the kitchen. There was my father, pants around his ankles with Susie bent over the kitchen counter where I made cookies with my mom. His fist was wrapped up in her hair and she was begging him to go faster and harder.
I vomited right there on the floor.
My father turned and when our eyes met, he was pissed at me. Yelled at me because I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. “What the fuck are you doing home?” He snarled, pulling up his pants.
I couldn’t speak. I ran out of the house and grabbed my bicycle. Riding fast to the hospital to get to my mom. I would later learn that my father hydroplaned while he was out searching for me. He went over an embankment and into the river. He nearly drowned and his right leg got pinned and crushed. That was the end of his racing career and his marriage.
Mom couldn’t handle the truth. Her best friend and the man she loved had betrayed her in the worst possible way. They had fallen in love.
Dad moved in with Susie and took Dillan with him. I stayed with my mom and did my best to look after her. I forgot to lock up her pain meds one day and she found them. Took over thirty painkillers. I came home from school and there she was laying on the kitchen floor in front of that stupid counter. When the ambulance drove away with her, I was sure she was dead, and I took a sledgehammer to that counter instead of my father’s head like I had wanted to.
I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t enough for her. Why Mom couldn’t be happy with it being the two of us. We were a family. We didn’t need Dad or Dillan. I didn’t know it was the other way around and none of them needed me.
I was alone all this time until Liri.
She’s the first person who has gave a damn about the real me.
To everyone else outside of Liam, I’m just a good looking asshole with a fast car who likes to get laid.
She made me think I could be more.
That she saw me as more.
The way she looked at me when Jackie told her that I paid for her abortion gutted me.
I have to win her back.
I’ll tell the world she’s mine. That I’m her boyfriend. I’ll do whatever she wants as long as she’ll come back to me.
Chapter 29
Liri
Hinkley Dragway is a lot different from the drag race I went to with Killian. There is a long strip of blacktop with two lanes. We have to purchase tickets to watch from the stands and there is even an announcer. It is on the up and up and I doubt these men and women race for gas or ass. When I hear the engines revving a thrill shoots through me, and I find myself wishing I had called Killian and put an end to our fight. I miss him but that still doesn’t excuse the lie he told or that he was willing to throw Liam under the bus to protect his secret. Every time I think about it, I get mad all over again.
Hayley and I grab some sodas and find a seat on the bottom row by the start line. The races won’t start for another twenty minutes or so. They are still working out the lineup and making sure the driver’s are legal. “I’m glad we came.”
“Me too.” She almost smiles. We invited her mom, but she had a date with this plumber she met when one of the sinks needed replaced at her salon.
Hayley sees some people she went to school with and leaves me to go say hello. I’m not up for meeting more people who probably fucked Killian. I know he has a past, and I can’t hold it against him, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. There’s only him for me. He’s the first guy who has ever meant anything to me. He says he’s never wanted to try for anyone accept me, but he shared his body with all these girls, and I hate it. I hate that they know him in ways that I don’t. I stare out at all the cars getting ready to race. My thoughts go back to Killian and the way he stared at me in challenge when he was at the start line. He gave me such a rush.
Being with him was like a drug.
“It really is a small world.” My eyes snap open, and I see Hunter taking a seat next to me.
“Oh. Hey. What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same.” He beams at me. “I’m racing tonight.”
“I didn’t know you liked to.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. I never got the chance to tell you.”
“Ouch. I deserve that I suppose.”
“Nah.” He knocks his knee against mine. “Just fucking with you.”
An odd feeling causes goosebumps to fan up and down my arms.
“Who are you here with anyway?”
“Um, Hayley. She should be coming back any minute now.” I look around but don’t see her.
“Any chance I can get a kiss for good luck?” He winks.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
Hunter leans over and kisses my cheek. “Maybe you’ll change your mind after I win.” I jerk away and slap my palm to my cheek, wiping his kiss away.
I am about to tell Hunter that he shouldn’t get his hopes up when he is yanked off the bleacher. I look over and Killian is standing over him. “Stay the fuck away from my girlfriend.”
Hunter laughs and backs away. “Last I heard she was single. I’ll see you soon, Liri.”
“What the fuck was that about?” Killian is in my face.
“You’re causing a scene,” I hiss, as everyone’s staring at us.
He makes a ‘so what face’. “I don’t give a damn about any of them.”
“What are you doing here? Did you follow me here?”
“No. Maybe you should be asking Hunter that. He seem
s to always pop up wherever you are. Is that guy giving you trouble?”
I shake my head. “No more than you are.”
He winces. “I gotta go get set up to race. Will you come with me?”
Every cell in my body is crying in protest when I tell him, “Not this time.” He can’t show up here and think he can pretend nothing happened between us.
“Can we talk after. Please?”
I nod.
My phone pings with a text from Hayley.
Hayley: Liam is here. Is it cool if I talk to him?
Liri: Of course. Stop texting me and get your man back. We can meet back up at your mom’s later.
Hayley: Killian is here.
Liri: I saw. So is Hunter. Text me later.
Killian: You look beautiful tonight.
I blush and look for his car but it’s getting dark and there are too many vehicles.
Hunter: You looking for me, gorgeous? We should go out again sometime.
I frown. I told him that we weren’t going to happen. Why is he pushing it now? Is he watching me? The thought gives me the creeps. I don’t get guys at all. They say women should come with manuals, but I think it is the other way around. I text Killian back and ignore Hunter.
Liri: Text me after your pass, and I will come find you.
After sitting on the bleachers for an hour my butt is numb. I leave my seat and go to the concession stand to purchase a drink and cotton candy.
Someone taps on my shoulder and it’s Hayley.
“Hey. How’s things going with Liam?”
“We’re going to meet up later to talk. He’s going to get Killian’s car ready.”
“Cool.” I feel bad that I told him no about hanging with him until his pass, but he has to learn there are consequences to lying.
Hayley steals my cotton candy and we return to our seats.
“What’s Hunter doing here?”
“He said he was racing.”
“Weird. I’ve been to these things a lot with Liam and Killian and have never saw him before, but a lot of people race.”
“Hope there’s not any wrecks tonight. That poor Marcum boy still hasn’t woken up from his coma.” I overhear the people sitting behind us talking. Panic starts to takeover. What if Killian gets hurt? What if what happened to my father happens to him? I know he is in a car, but I heard what those people said, and this could be equally as dangerous. My palms start to sweat and my belly gurgles in discomfort.
“Just breathe, Liri. He’s done this a million times.” I try to tell myself that Hayley is right, but that feeling of what if hangs out in the back of my mind giving me doubt.
Finally, I spot Killian’s car and nervous flutters spread through my belly. Riding with him and watching him race are two different things. My knees are bouncing, and I am gripping the edge of my seat. Killian’s tires dig into the black asphalt while his rear end begins to dance as the smoke blows into the crowd while his engine whines and his exhaust roars with that sexy muscle car sound. Warmth spreads through my veins like wildfire. The Christmas tree lights up and on green his car jumps forward and hauls ass down the track. I jump up out of my seat, keeping my eyes on his taillights.
Hayley’s fingers press into my wrist. “He won. Come on.”
She leads me through the crowd to where Liam is. He’s shooting the shit with some of the other drivers and their mechanics. He gives Hayley a chin lift and strolls over to us. Things between him and Hayley still feel tense, and I notice he doesn’t even take her hand as we wander toward where Killian is pulling his car up at. There’s about four cars between us and he gets out of the car with a smile on his face. I’m feeling like we can put this whole Jackie mess behind us. As I was watching his car speed down that strip of blacktop all I could think was what if something goes wrong. What if he gets hurt and I never told him how I feel?
Jackie was before and I am his now.
That’s what I tell myself until I see some chick with black hair and white tips I have never seen before rushing up to him and shoving her tongue down his throat.
“Oh hell,” I hear Hayley say next to me.
“I can’t do this,” I whisper as the scene sucker punches me straight in the heart.
When I come out of the Dragway, Hayley and Liam are silently following me, and Killian has my car blocked in with his.
I fold my arms across my chest and lean against my driver’s side door.
“Will you just listen to me.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Hayley and Liam are going to take your car to go work their shit out and you are going with me.”
“No, Killian, I’m not. You can’t boss me around.”
“Get in my car, Liri.” He crowds my space, boxing me in. The scent of his musky cologne coupled with his grape bubblegum breath makes my knees go weak, but I’m pissed.
“No. Whatever you need to say just say it. I saw you with that girl back there.”
“I shoved her away. She’s some chick I knew a long time ago. When I saw you walking away, I jumped in my car and came straight here to this spot.”
“How many other girls will there be who think they can just kiss you or fuck you whenever they decide to throw themselves at you.”
“A lot.” He throws his hands up. “Happy?”
“I can’t be second best or your current hookup. I won’t do it. I deserve better than how you treated Jackie.”
“She wasn’t pregnant by me. It was Woodrow or Ben. You can ask her. That’s why she was there so you could hear the truth straight from both of us. Woodrow too.”
“You could have told me that yourself.”
“She didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Then why did you give her the money?”
“What?”
“Why would you pay for her to do something like that if you didn’t think there was a chance, Killian?”
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I thought there could be a tiny chance, but you can’t hold that against me.”
I want to. I want to drive off in my car and never see him again.
“Liri, please. I’ve never begged anyone for a damn thing a day in my life, but I will get down on my knees for you.” And he does. Killian drops to his knees. “I’m falling for you, Liri Hart.”
I suck in a breath and take in his words as I gaze into his eyes. I don’t know if I see the truth there or if I am fooling myself into pretending.
“Please, Liri. Get. In. The. Car.”
There’s this quote that says our hearts eat lies when they are hungry. Mine is hungry for him.
For his love.
Chapter 30
Liri
I hand my keys off to Liam and follow Killian to his car. I slide into the passenger seat and my seatbelt is sticking again. Killian reaches across me, and I look into his eyes wondering if everyone else is as crazy for each other as we are. He moves in to kiss me, and I hold my hand up between our faces.
His expression falls and he looks pale.
“Some skank just had her tongue rammed so far down your throat she could probably taste what you had for dinner.”
“I didn’t want her to kiss me.”
“I know that, but it doesn’t mean that I want your mouth on mine after being on hers.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I repeat him.
He grips the steering wheel tightly. Tight enough his knuckles are turning white.
“I’m sorry if that hurts your feelings, but I should have been the one to kiss you in victory after worrying myself to death about your safety.”
He smiles. “You were worried about me?”
“Of course I was, Killian. I care about you so much… I…just don’t make me worry about you.”
“That’s not what you were going to say.”
“Yeah well. I forgot what I was going to say,” I huff.
I was going to say because I love him, but that’s insane. We hardly know each other. I can’t love him be
cause if I do, I won’t be able to handle it when we don’t work out. We’re doomed. I know it. He knows it. Everyone knows it, but we can’t seem to stay away from each other.
“Where are we going anyway?”
“A hotel.”
“What?”
“You’re supposed to go see your father tomorrow, so I rented a room, for us, that way we don’t have to drive back.”
“Who said I was spending the night with you?”
“Liri, will you stay the night with me?”
“Well since you asked nicely then yes.” I smirk.
“Now that we have settled that. Am I forgiven?” We’re stopped at a traffic light and he has this poor me expression on his face with his bottom lip jutted out. He looks so pitiful I can’t bear it.
“Yes, Killian. I forgive you but I can’t be around Jackie.”
“I know. Thank you for giving me another chance.” The light changes but he doesn’t pull out.
“Don’t screw this up. Don’t lie to me.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
He leans across the console as the car idles and holds my face between his palms. “I want to kiss you, Liri.”
“I know.” I grin.
“Why must you torture me?”
“Because it’s fun.”
A car horn blares behind us but he doesn’t move back to his side of the car.
“You need to go. We’re holding up traffic.”
“I know, but I’m not moving from this spot until you kiss me.” His nose brushes against mine. His mouth is close to claiming my lips.
The car behind us goes around us but slows down enough to yell, “Moron,” at us.
We both laugh and then I give in and kiss him.
Killian’s tongue slides into my mouth and it is as though everything bad that has happened in the past week has been erased.
We get to the hotel. It’s considered a local historic landmark. Killian said the building is over eighty years old or something like that. The room is okay though. It has a queen-sized bed and we have a great view of downtown Hinkley which really consist of four streets. The bedspread is some hideous maroon floral pattern that has seen better days, and I wonder if it is as old as the hotel. There’s a TV so I switch it on to some complimentary music channel and set the volume on low to provide background noise. I must be crazy for coming here tonight. No matter what Killian does I can’t seem to stay away. We’re drawn to each other. He feels it I know he does.
The Story of Killian & Liri (Cruel Love Book 1) Page 16