“Michael fought alongside you yesterday.”“Yes, for you. Because you got hurt. Not because of me, or some brotherhood or some shit.”She rolled her eyes. “Come on. If we don’t get started, we’re going to be late. You can come home with me after school and get your bike.”I grinned. “Oh, really now? Will your mother be home?”All she did was giggle, giving me an answer that suddenly made me want this entire school day to be over.We walked hand in hand through her neighborhood, and I got a good look at it. There was trash lying around in the streets. The lawns were filled with dirt and mud rather than freshly-trimmed grass. The homes had crooked porches and dilapidated roofs. Rae and her mother honestly lived in the best house on the block. Which still wasn’t saying much. It gave me a glimpse into the life Rae led. The dark shadows that shrouded this place. The smell that hung in the air around the homes, no matter how hard the wind blew.But, once we got to the exit of the neighborhoo
I shook my head. “We stop producing cakes at seven.”“So no more cakes.”“No, ma’am.”“What if I pay for the cake?”“There isn’t anyone to make the cake right now. The bakery’s completely shut down.”“What if I wait for a bit?”I paused. “Waiting won’t do you any good. There’s no one here to make your cake.”“Well, can you call someone in?”“To make your cake?”“Yes. Aren’t you listening?”Miss Blue Ice Cream Spoke up. “I need help. This is melting, and I need you to help me.”I sighed. “Then go put it back so it won’t melt. I can be there in a second to help you track down some rocky road in a blue container.”Mrs. Carrot spoke up. “Oh, a blue container? If you like non-dairy products, there’s a rocky road in a nice light blue container at the end of the aisle, on the left. It’s tucked beside the sherbets.”Were these people fucking serious right now?Thankfully, Bryan came over and busted up the convention. Which enabled me to check out the three customers that had gathered around m
I kissed her skin. “Mm, you had me at ‘oh.’”I hoisted her against my body and threw my leg over the bike. I settled her down against it, feeling her legs lock around me. Her hands clung to my leather jacket, pulling me closely against her. And as we sat in the shade of the trees planted specifically for this little shopping complex, I felt myself give way to her.“Shit, Rae.”My hands slid up her shirt. I cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples through the padding of her bra. She rolled against me, my bike holding us steady as her tongue explored my mouth religiously. I wrapped my arms around her, running my palms along her bare skin, feeling her shake and shiver as goosebumps poured over her skin. I sucked on her lower lip and she kissed across my cheek. I felt her nibbling on my earlobe, causing me to growl out as my cock jumped with need for her.Then she pressed her lips against the shell of my ear. “We really should get out of here.”“You don’t have to tell me twice, beautiful.”
ClintonI reached my arms out and fisted the guy’s shirt as he came for me. I backed him all the way up to his car as Rae let out a yelp. I had to get these guys away from her. They were predatory, and they announced it well enough with their eyes. My bike was close. Really close. And the key was already in the ignition. I pinned that asshole to the hood of his car to give myself time to think. A well-placed knee to the groin turned his buddies’ attention away from Rae and to me.“Get him, guys.”As they ambushed me, I heard Rae calling out. The crunch of dead grass could be heard, and I hoped she was climbing into that fucking tree, doing her best to get away from these assholes. They ripped me away from the guy I had pinned to the hood of the car, tossing me back to my bike. And as I fell to the concrete, I gazed up at my getaway, hoping with all my might they’d follow me and leave Rae alone.Piss them off first. They’ll follow you then.“That all you got?” I asked.I leapt off the
Boyfriend? Is that what Clint was to me?The word made me smile.The operator cleared her throat. “Your boyfriend came where, ma’am?”I shook my head. “Yes. Sorry. My boyfriend came to see me at work. We were standing in the parking lot after I locked up, and four drunk guys in a car pulled into the parking lot. Started harassing us. Calling us names. Throwing beer bottles and things at us. They were trying t—”I heard the operator typing in the background as tears rushed to my eyes again.“They were trying to what, ma’am? Where are you currently?”I sighed. “I’m in Riverbend, in front of the elementary school beside a place called Grady’s Groceries. I don’t have any other address other than that. You guys have to hurry. My boyfriend started fighting with these guys so they wouldn't get to me. They were talking about things. Taking advantage of me and all that. He got on his bikeand rode off, and a car full of drunk teenagers are following him. He’s in a lot of trouble. Please.”“All
There was nothing but the sound of the wind rustling the trees. Nothing but the sound of water rushing underneath the bridge. I peeked over the edge, seeing a great expanse of black with small caps of dark blue where the water rushed over smooth rocks at the bottom of the river. I’d completely forgotten this place existed. This small slice of country paradise on the outskirts of one of the biggest cities in the country.I need to bring Rae here sometime. Have a picnic.I smiled at the thought. The idea of bringing Rae here and sitting on the bank of the river. Our feet in the water. Our eyes, watching fish swim upstream, trying to fight the current. Our hands, interlaced as we looked out over the nature that surrounded us with full stomachs and a peaceful presence.I let myself dream about it for a second before my mind took the helm again.Sitting duck, Clarke.Adrenaline rushed through my veins again. I cursed myself as I struck my bike’s engine back up. It was happening again. Me l
But I settled for shaking my head as I leveled him with a DEFCON-5 stare.“Fair enough. I deserve that.”I nodded curtly, trying my hardest not to say anything. Trying my best to save my voice so I could keep calling out for Clint. I had to wake him up. As long as Michael was here, he wouldn’t let me down that bank. Yelling was all I had to get him to wake the fuck up and get back here.Because he couldn't leave me. Not now.Not when I finally had all I wanted.42ClintonI felt my head pounding. I felt disoriented. For some reason, I felt water rushing over my legs. And I had no idea why. I sniffed the air, groaning as my head pounded with frustration. I felt something sharp underneath my side, prompting me to move. So many things bombarded my senses as I slowly came out of it.Came out of what, though?I swallowed hard, tasting the metallic essence of blood. I smelled smoke. And oil. And dirt. Why did I smell oil? What was going on?I thought people smelled toast before they had str
PART 2Raelynn“Rae, stop!”I growled at him. “For the love of fuck, you’ll let me go. Even if it kills me.”My phone stumbled out of my hand as I bit down into Michael’s arm. But he released me. And I threw myself toward the edge of the bridge again. I felt him rushing for me, desperate to pull me back as I gazed over the twenty-foot drop. Sirens finally sounded in the distance. I flashed my light down there, catching yet another glimpse of where Clint was.After slipping away from Michael’s attempt to block me against the metal railing, I rushed for the tree line.“Rae, are you thick-headed? You’re going to get yourself killed!”“I’m not leaving him down there by himself, Michael! Get over it or go home if you don’t like it. I’ll have an officer take me home.”I tripped over tree roots I couldn't see and forced myself to slow down. It was a very long drop to the river. A drop that would easily put me in Clint’s position if I wasn’t careful. But I knew he was alive. He had to be aliv