up to our spot in the mountains and lay in the bed of my truck, thinking about her.
When it was quiet and I was left to nothing except my own thoughts and the infinite stars, I prayed. I’ve never been a religious guy, but Trix is rubbing off on me. Either that or I’m desperate with nowhere else to turn. Hell, I’d do anything if it keeps her safe. Including praying to a God I’m only now starting to believe in.
I pull out my phone to call Drake, but notice I have one new voicemail. How the fuck did I miss that?
I freeze in the parking lot, halfway to my car, when I hear her voice.
“He’s back. Don’t worry. I’m still only yours. I love you.”
“Fuck!” I speed walk to my truck, throw my shit in the back, and peel out of the lot toward her house. Deep inside, I know I could be fucking up all her plans, but hearing those three words lights a fire in my chest. I need to touch her, to lay my hands on her, feel her warm skin and her beating heart behind her ribs to know she’s okay.
It doesn’t take long before I’m parked in her driveway next to a gray Smart car in the driveway. Not what I’d expect a guy named Hatchet to drive, so I jog to the door and pound hard.
The door swings open to reveal a smaller brunette. She’s dressed in conservative pants and a professional-looking button-up collared shirt, untucked. “Can I help you?”
A man comes up behind her. He’s average height, dressed similarly, with glasses and a frown. “Kim, you know this guy?” He glares at me.
“I’m looking for Trix. Is she here?”
Her eyes narrow. “And who’re you?”
My chest warms at how protective Trix’s roommate seems to be. “I’m her boyfriend.” It’s bold, but fuck it. It’s the truth.
The brunette, Kim, shakes her head. “No, she’s not. I’m pretty sure she’s at work, but I don’t know. We don’t cross paths often.”
Work. Of course. It’s Saturday night. “Okay, right.” I shake my head and step back. She’s fine, at work. Safe. I force my pulse to slow. “Sorry to bother you.”
“Wait.” Kim holds up her hand and disappears back inside while her man watches me intently. When she comes back, she hands me a Zippo lighter with an eagle engraved on the side and a black Harley Davidson tee. “Are you looking for these?”
I flip the lighter over in my hand then shove both items back at her, fighting the urge to roar. “These aren’t mine.”
“Oh, oops.” She flashes an embarrassed smile, hissing through her teeth. “I’m sorry. I thought . . . Never mind.”
“No, thought what? What did you think?”
Her gaze darts to her boyfriend’s and then back to mine. “Well, I mean you know Trix. She uh . . .” She chews on her lip.
“Guess you weren’t here for the party last night?” Kim’s boyfriend chimes in, a sympathetic smile plastered across his dorky face.
“No.”
“I just assumed . . . wow.” She rubs her forehead. “This is embarrassing.”
“No, it’s okay.” It is so not fucking okay. “I knew she had a party.”
I swallow hard and take another step back. Did he spend the night? Here. With her. I’ve never even spent the night here.
Without saying good-bye, I turn toward my truck, not moving nearly as quickly as I was when I got here.
Fine. He spent the night. But she said she’s still mine, so no sex. Does that include her mouth on his—fuck, no. I can’t go there. Not even in theory.
This is torture. Absolute fucking torture.
I growl and stifle the urge to put my fist through the window of my truck. How will we ever be able to survive this?
At this rate, we won’t.
Thirty-one
Trix
Angel, Kayla and I pulled up to Caesars Palace with Santos in tow. Hatch was right. After a call to our boss and what I’m sure was a massive money exchange, we were cut from our shift early and picked up by a limo.
Memories from the last time I was here pierce me with regret, and I swallow the lump that forms in my throat. So much has changed since my first run-in with Mason. Walking through the giant doors into the casino, I’m not the same girl I was before he crashed into me.
Back then I was floating, unsure of what I wanted. And now, I’m dead set on my future. With this last obstacle keeping us apart, I