Save Riley(39)

She smiled and gave me a quick hug, “I’ll be waiting and I’ll do my best not to let you down, Jax.”

I inhaled the scent of her hair deeply; juniper breeze has always been my favorite. I gently pulled away from her and nodded as I walked out of the house.

I went to my car and got in. I took a deep breath and gripped the steering wheel tightly. I had Riley and she was on my side as far as I knew, but now knowing that I had her was changing me and I couldn’t let that happen. I had to stay in control because this was my house and my rules. I was the mentor now and I had to be sure that insipid things like love were not spoken about or felt. No matter how badly I want it.

I laughed to myself as I secured my seat belt and turned on the car. I wasn’t much of a mentor but I never thought the day would come when I would find someone like Riley who I wanted to share this world with. To show them what it was like to be like me and now I was off to get her captive and watch her start to grow into her inner deviant.

Forty five minutes later, I was sitting in my car outside of The Brewery. I had a ritual I would follow when I was going to abduct a captive. I would wait in my car for at least thirty minutes and watch everyone that walked in and out to see if there could be a problem or if anyone would notice the person missing. Of course, I took a huge chance with Riley knowing that I could potentially have been the last person she was seen with, but I also brushed it off as it was also common knowledge that she was going to her grandmother’s funeral. Still, I knew that bringing her home would be much better for both of us than to stay in Wyoming or Louisiana where the chances were too great that I would be caught.

I leaned back in my seat and watched the crowd of people walking in and out. “What the fuck?” I muttered to myself. I leaned over the steering wheel and shook my head. I saw Purple walking into The Brewery and she looked absolutely anxious as she checked the rather expensive watch on her arm. It was apparent by her disposition that she was late. I rolled my eyes and looked at the time on the console to make sure I would be on time to start my routine. I opened the car door and stepped out. I pulled on the bottom of my white button down shirt to straighten it out and rolled up the sleeves to sit above my elbow. This should be an easy snatch as long as I could engage Purple into conversation and keep her attention, which of course had never been an issue for me before but every mark was different.

I stepped into the dimly lit bar and walked around the already drunk patrons and looked around for Purple. I grinned when I saw her sitting at the bar alone checking her phone and looking around. Apparently she was looking for Riley but little did she know she was going to get me instead. I pushed my way past a few more people before I finally got to her.

“Hello,” I said sitting in the empty stool next to her.

She looked at me through narrowed, suspicious eyes before nodding and turning her attention back to her watch. She sighed impatiently and looked around causing me to chuckle. I couldn’t help it; I knew that she was waiting for someone that wasn’t going to show up and it made me feel a bit more powerful.

“What are you drinking?” I asked nodding at her glass.

“Queensland Iced Tea,” she replied with a tight smile. She made it a point of looking at her watch again and I had to turn my face to hide my smile.

I waved the bartender over and ordered a Rusty Nail. I could never afford to get intoxicated so this was my drink of choice on the nights I chose my captives from bars.

“Waiting for someone?” I asked her, after I paid for my drink and took a sip.

“Yes, actually I am. So if you wouldn’t mind ...”

I laughed and looked at her, “That was a bit harsh, don’t you think? I’m just trying to make polite conversation. I’ll leave once they get here, promise.”

“Fine but conversation only. I’m not exactly interested in men,” she replied curtly.

Oh. Fuck. This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought. Okay think Jaxton.

“So you’re waiting for Riley, yeah?” I asked taking another sip of my drink. I wanted to smash the glass into her face, render her unconscious, and drag her out to the car. It was a sudden moment of anger that if I knew I didn’t control, I would end up doing just that. Deep breaths. You can do this even if she is an insufferable, pompous bitch.

“You know her?” she asked curiously.

I nodded and drank down the rest of my drink. I had to get the glass out of my trembling hand. I had to get it far away so that I wouldn’t break it on her face. I needed to go outside. I needed fresh air and I needed it now.

“I’m gonna go outside for a bit, care to join me?” I asked through clenched teeth.