Burned(Devil's Blaze MC 2)(22)

I finish packing my makeup and toiletries and zip my satchel with a sigh. I’ve enjoyed Texas. Since escaping from the Snake and leaving France in our rearview mirror, Bethie and I have called quite a few states home. At first it was just Georgia and Kentucky because Bethie was intent on finding Skull again. After the bastard broke her heart, we broadened our horizons, figuring the safest thing to do was to get as far away from Georgia as possible. So far, Texas has been the best. We’re going to meet up in Oklahoma, but we have California in our sights. We figure we won’t stand out quite so much in a big city. We’ve gone over it and over it, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Then again, nothing in our lives has been easy. I used to think I was the one who had it worse, but not anymore.

Bethie loves Skull. She loves him so much I hear her late at night crying in her room over him. What would it be like to find the love of your life, only to be torn away from him? And then finding him again, only to find him with someone else?

Bethie says I’m strong, that she wishes she could be just like me. What she doesn’t realize is, she’s stronger than I’ll ever be.

I shove all of these thoughts behind me. I’m putting off leaving. I know I am. Driving is hard on me with my leg, but I do need to get going. I check my things one last time, then grab my satchel, my laptop carrier and jacket, then head for the door.

When I open it, I freeze. The last thing I expected to see when I opened the door was Torch.

“What are you doing here?”

“Holly?” Torch says, staring at me, just as shocked. I freeze. Fuck. I can see the exact minute understanding hits him. “That’s how you knew my name was Torch. You knew who we were and what I was doing here.”

Bluff your way through, Katie. Bluff your fucking ass off, I repeat over and over in my mind.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, ignoring the other two who stand behind him. “You told me your name. Listen, it’s cute, you showing up here and all, but I’m running late.” One problem at a time, that’s all I can handle. I lock the door, turning my back to him and acting like I don’t have a care in the world.

“Is that a fact?” asks Torch, and the tone of his voice makes me nervous.

“Afraid so, but hey, maybe we could meet up later at the bar for lunch.”

“Where are you headed… Holly?”

The way he stressed my fake name doesn’t escape me, but I soldier through. I just have to commit to my lie; I have to get to my car and get the fuck away. I know these back roads better than anyone. I can lose them; I just need to get to my jeep.

“Headed?” I call back. “Oh, my grandmother’s. She lives in Odessa and she’s feeling pretty bad. She caught a stomach virus and can’t seem to shake it. I’m going to go be with her for a little while, you know? Help go take care of her.”

“That’s awful sweet of you.”

“Well, I care for her. That’s what you do for family, you know?” I figure I’m about ten steps away from my jeep. Ten steps and I can find freedom. Ten steps.

“Yeah, I get it. But hey, I have a question.” I ignore the way my heart speeds up in panic. Five more steps, just five more.

“What’s that?” I ask, still walking. Four steps…

“How were you going to have lunch with me if you’re going to Odessa?”

Fuck! Three steps… Deep breath, Katie… Deep breath…

“Okay, well, I guess I wasn’t really planning on meeting you.”

“I bet,” he says snidely, but I’m jumping up and down inside because I’ve made it to the jeep.

“Well, you have to admit, you finding my address and just showing up here, that kind of stuff screams stalker, Hunter,” I tell him, unlocking my jeep. I open the door and remove the strap to my laptop off my shoulder so I can throw it in. Torch grabs it, and that’s when I realize he’s beside me and not in front of me. “I could have got that,” I grumble. He doesn’t say anything, but he does slide my overnight satchel off of my shoulder. “Whatever, just put them in the back, will ya? I need to get going. My aunt needs me.”

“Your aunt? I thought you said it was your grandmother?”

Fuck!

“That’s what I meant,” I insist. “You have me all flustered. Can you just put my stuff in the back so I can get going?”

I don’t know what I expect, but it isn’t the feel of cold metal latching around my wrist. I look down to find Torch putting a handcuff on one of my arms, then deftly latching the other to his own wrist. “What—What are you doing?” I ask stupidly, because it’s pretty clear what he’s doing.