Rellik(51)

I shook my head and grabbed my book bag and headed out to rehearsal, which was only a few miles away.

Trigger looked up at me as I entered and shook his head before playing a few chords on his guitar.

“You’re late,” he said without looking back up at me.

“The cops had Roman Street blocked off for a fender bender.”

“It’s a dangerous world out there.” He glanced up with a smirk as he continued to play.

We rehearsed for the next hour before eating pizza that we’d ordered from The Peddler. I was on edge, anxious to get back to Ella. I hated leaving her alone after what I’d just done. But I couldn’t skip out on the gig, or Phantom would know without a doubt I’d been with her. I couldn’t have him stopping me from what I had to do.

We played to a packed house, but I couldn’t see anyone but Ella as I sang through our set. By the time our gig ended, I told the guys I was heading off with some bar slut to her apartment so I could go back to Ella.

Ella was asleep, curled up in a ball in the center of the bed. I took off my clothing and crawled in behind her, wrapping my body around hers. She sighed contently in her sleep, and I lay with her in my arms, wide-awake for hours.





Impatient

Chapter 26—Ella

Impatient: restlessly eager

When I awoke, Ryder was already dressed and sitting on a chair, watching me.

“Get ready,” he said. “We have something we need to do.”

“What is it?” I yawned, stretching my back. “You could have woken me up.”

“You looked so peaceful.” His smile caused my cheeks to heat. I pushed from the bed and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready as quickly as possible. Ryder followed, leaning against the doorframe and watching me in the mirror.

“I need to go get my car. I can’t keep taking the Durango and leaving the guys stranded.”

“Where’s your car?” I spit into the sink and turned on the water to rinse my mouth.

“At my mom’s house. She shouldn’t be home at this time of day.”

I wanted to ask him why he was trying to avoid his mother, but I knew he would tell me if that was information he wanted to share.

By the time I was finished getting ready, Ryder had already called a cab, and it was outside waiting for us. He put our bags in the trunk and held open the door for me to slide into the backseat before getting in beside me.

He gave the driver the address and tapped his fingers on the armrest to the beat of an unfamiliar song as we made our way out of the city area and into Eddlebrook.

“That one.” He pointed to a small, beige, ranch-style house. After paying the driver, he grabbed our bags.

“Just wait right here,” he said as we stepped inside. I stood in the entryway as he disappeared down the hall and through another door. After a few minutes, I was growing impatient and desperately needed to use the bathroom. I walked down the hall and pushed open the door he had gone through.

“Wow, that’s your car?” I stepped closer, and Ryder spun around.





Consequences

Chapter 27—Rellik

Consequences: a result or effect of an action or condition

I felt my chest tighten as she peered inside the old Barracuda, the memories flooding back like a tsunami. Her eyes met mine and I struggled to breath.

“Before we go after Bryce, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Here eyebrows pulled together and I knew she couldn’t think of any secrets bigger than the one we shared about her father.

“What is it?” Her fingers ran along the dark hood of the car as she turned to me, waiting.

“Your father wasn’t the first person I killed.” I swallowed against my tightening throat as her hand went to her chest; a look of confusion marred her beautiful face. She could turn and run from me now and I’d let her go. I didn’t deserve a happily ever after.

“Say something.” I could barely form the words, the betrayal she felt hanging thick and heavy in the air between us.

“You’re sick just like my father.”

“That doesn’t make his crimes any less horrific, Ella.”

“But what does it make you?” She stepped back fractionally, but it was enough for me to notice she was scared, contemplating running. For the first time, someone was looking at the real me, the murderous, vengeful monster who craved retribution.

“Ella.” Her name rolled off my tongue, painfully, as if saying good-bye. “I promise you, I never meant to hurt anyone.” I took a step forward, my hands in front of me, palms facing her to let her know I wasn’t a threat.

“Who did you hurt?” Her voice cracked under the fear, and I wanted to kill myself for making her afraid. She had been through enough, and the last thing I wanted was to hurt her. But I’d be lying to say I didn’t enjoy what I did to her father. Watching the light die out in his eyes satisfied a deep primal need inside me.