I hated him for it.
But I hated him more for what he’d put Siren through. I stroked her hair as her heart broke for a man who didn’t deserve a single one of her tears. I kissed her forehead and wiped her cheeks. Her sobbing had quieted but her tears silently streamed.
The night grew damp and she needed to hydrate but I couldn’t bring myself to get up because the selfish part of me wanted to keep holding her. It was all I’d wanted since she’d left my bed, just to have her in my arms.
But not like this.
“I gotta move us, darlin’.” I didn’t want highway patrol to find us or worse.
She nodded but she didn’t move to get up.
“I’m not lettin’ you go, you hear me? I’m just gonna put you back in the car, okay?”
She wrapped her arm around my neck and the gesture of trust was almost more than I could take.
“Good girl.” I kissed her temple and hoisted us up. The bruising on my chest burned and my arm stung but I didn’t give a shit. I wasn’t putting her down. “Easy now.” I opened the door and gently placed her in her seat.
Kendall watched me with wide eyes but she kept her mouth shut.
“You’re gonna be okay, darlin’, you hear me?” I pulled the seat belt out and clicked it into place.
She nodded once and curled in on herself. She looked so small.
I reached in the center console for a bottle of water. Unscrewing the top, I held it to her lips. “Drink for me, baby. I need you to hydrate.”
Her hand trembling, she took the bottle and drank while I caressed her shoulder. When she pulled her lips back, I capped the bottle. “I’m gonna drive us the rest of the way now, but if you need me to pull over, all you gotta do is say so. Okay?” I brushed a strand of her hair from her face but she didn’t respond. “I need you to answer me, Siren.”
“Okay,” her hoarse voice rasped.
“One more hour, and I’ll get you outta this car,” I promised.
She nodded.
I stood and shut her door. Sucking in a few lungfuls of night air, I jogged around the front of the Challenger. Before I pulled back onto the road, I stroked Siren’s cheek and placed my hand on her thigh.
Blue eyes full of sorrow met my glance and she reached for me. Wrapping her hands around my arm, she tucked her head down and closed her eyes.
I leaned over and kissed her hair. “Sleep, beautiful.”
I drove the rest of the way to Miami with her hands clinging to my arm.
They were both asleep when I pulled into Blaze and Layna’s driveway. I looked over at Siren then reached behind me and tapped Kendall on the knee. Her eyes opened and she looked at me weirdly.
“What?” I whispered.
“Nothing.” She sat up.
I gave her a look that said I wasn’t in the mood for any of her shit.
Then she surprised the hell out of me. “You did right by her.” She nodded at Siren. “Few years ago, I would’ve fallen in love with you for that alone.” She busied herself with putting her jacket on.
“You ever gonna tell me what happened?”
“Nope.”
“Is Candle your old man?”
“Nope.”
“Fuck buddy?”
“Not even close.”
“Roommate?”
“Stop trying to guess.”
“You involved with the LCs?”
She sighed and looked at me. “Candle’s my friend, that’s all.”
“Does he know that?”
“You’d be surprised what Candle knows.”
I was about to ask her what the fuck that meant when Siren stirred.
I cupped her face and ran my thumb across her cheek. “Hey, darlin’, we’re here. Stay put, I’ll come get you.”
Kendall climbed out behind me and went for the trunk.
I stopped her. “I’ll grab the bags after I get you two inside.” Kendall nodded without any argument and I opened Siren’s door but when I went to help her with her seat belt, she pushed at my hand.
“I got it.” Her voice was hoarse from crying.
“I know you do but I’m still helpin’.” My tone gentle but firm, she was getting my help whether she wanted it or not. I helped her out of the car and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Despite her earlier protest, she sagged into me. “Few more steps and we’ll get you horizontal, stretch that leg out.”
“How’s your arm?” she asked tiredly.
“I’m all good, darlin’. Don’t worry ’bout me.”
She stopped and looked up at me. “Why wouldn’t I worry about you?”
Jesus. I could stare into those eyes forever. And that scared the shit outta me. “You flirtin’ with me, Miss Archer?” I smiled.