Chapter 8
HOLLAND
The blood in my veins surged with such force that all I could hear was a deafening roar in my ears. Panic clawed at my throat, suffocating me as I frantically tried to escape the confines of the car. Each second seemed like a lifetime as I struggled to open the door and finally break free.
As I stumbled out into the night, every fiber of my being screamed for me to run, to protect myself from his potential ulterior motives.
The stranger who had appeared in my driver’s seat had saved me from Draco, but at what cost?
In my thirty-one years of life, I’d learned that every act of kindness came with a heavy price tag.
I needed to find out his intentions and rid myself of him before it was too late.
Right as I started to stand, a pair of scuffed boots appeared in my line of vision.
“I asked you a question. I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”
He knelt and placed a warm palm on my waist as he took my hand in his.
The heat of his touch seeped through my clothes, steadying me even as my knees trembled for reasons that had nothing to do with falling.
His grip was firm but careful, as if he could break me in half or hold me together—whichever he chose.
A shiver raced up my spine, betrayal from my own body, while my mind screamed that no stranger should feel this familiar.
He pulled me to my feet, and I couldn’t look away from him, caught between instinctive fear and something far more dangerous.
A part of me thought I recognized him, but my old life was a blur—and Draco’s chase had me too rattled to trust my memory.
I rubbed my arms, warding off the chill that fear brought along with it. “As I said before, he’s evil. Stay away from him.”
Suddenly, his presence overwhelmed my senses, searing into my brain like the fierce heat of a branding iron.
His hair was meticulously styled, with a short fade on the sides seamlessly transitioning into longer, thick strands on top.
The sharp lines of his chiseled jaw hinted at an untamed strength, hidden beneath the surface, lurking behind the shadows like a predator waiting to pounce.
His jeans hugged every inch of his muscular thighs and long legs, exuding an undeniable strength that was hard to ignore.
My attention was drawn to the defined contours of his broad shoulders, straining against the fabric of his black T-shirt.
As my gaze slid down his arm, the sinister snake tattoo seemed to whisper a warning of darkness and danger lurking inside him.
But the red devil tattoo drew me in like the devil himself was summoning me.
The urge to touch him was sudden and unwelcome. I flexed my fingers, fighting the impulse to reach over and trace the edges of his tattoo with my thumb. He radiated a heat that made the air shimmer, an invisible current that grabbed me and refused to let go.
His brow arched as if I’d offered him a challenge. Completely ignoring my warning, he said, “I’m Kip, by the way. I own the Velvet Vortex.”
For some reason, I had enjoyed time to myself at the restaurant. Maybe it was the warm and inviting atmosphere, but it had always made me feel safe.
“That’s where I’ve seen you before.” I licked my lips, suddenly realizing how thirsty I was.
“I’m there a lot.” He placed his hands on his hips, his intense gaze assessing me as if he could easily put the puzzle pieces of who I was together. “Who is Draco?” he asked again.
I folded my arms over my chest, a clear indication that I wasn’t interested in telling him about the man who had assaulted me minutes ago.
“I want to go home. Thank you for your help. I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be standing in front of you if you hadn’t witnessed Draco coming after me. I can handle the situation from here.”
Draco’s smug face flashed in my mind, and I imagined the satisfying weight of pulling the trigger.
I cursed under my breath, knowing that once again he’d escaped justice.
A seething rage built inside me, fueled by memories of the pain he’d caused.
At that moment, I knew that a bullet to his head would be too quick, too merciful.
No, he deserved to suffer just like I did …
just like … The thought fueled my determination as I refocused on the rare gift presented to me.
How many people had a second chance at life and revenge?
This time, I was ready to deal with matters on my terms and make him pay for his sins.
I walked around to the driver’s side of the car and climbed in. The engine purred to life, and I closed the door. Seconds later, Kip joined me and secured the passenger side.
“If you don’t want my help, that’s fine.”
I pressed my lips into a thin line. Typically, men didn’t give up so easily when they felt the need to rescue a woman in distress, but I didn’t need saving.
Kip noticed me looking at him, but instead of the smugness I expected, his features held curiosity. He shifted toward me, resting his arm on the console, close enough that the heat of him bled into my skin. My pulse tripped, my body betraying me as I fought to keep my breath even.
I didn’t want him to know what was happening, the way my heart thudded against my ribs as if it might jump out and fling itself at him.
His scent—something clean and biting, like rain on an autumn day—caught me off guard.
I’d always considered myself immune to cliché, but here I was, melting for a man I barely knew.
The idea of asking him for help with Draco sent a shiver through me, and I found myself torn between wanting to ask and fearing the answer.
“Take me back to the club. I want to make sure that motherfucker doesn’t take up space at my bar again. Something tells me he’s one to push boundaries when he’s told no.” Kip tilted his head.
“You’re not wrong.” I started the car and shifted into drive. Cautiously, I eased down the alleyway. “He’s mixed up with some bad people and dark shit, but something tells me you know about dark shit.” I glanced at him before I focused on the road again.
He shifted forward, invading my personal space with practiced ease, and I sucked in a sharp breath with his proximity.
“I’ve had my share.”
My brows pinched together as I imagined the possibilities. “I don’t want to know. I deal with enough secrets in my profession.”
He leaned back and rubbed the back of his neck. “And what’s that?”
“I’m a psychiatrist.”
His lips pursed into a thin line, and he remained quiet.
“Tell you what, doc. I’ll trade you secrets.
You give me one about Draco, and I’ll give you one of my own.
If he comes back around, I need to be prepared.
Plus, you don’t know it yet, but you’re going to call me if the son of a bitch shows up again. ”
As unattractive as it was, I full-on snorted.
“I have no intention of calling you. I don’t need your secrets, either.
” I wish it were true. There was something different about his energy.
His presence was strong and commanding, which made him even more magnetic.
But I’d gone down that road before with Coop, and getting involved with anyone even for a one-night stand was dangerous, especially now that Draco was back.
A prickling sensation raised the hair on my neck. Kip didn’t want my secrets; he only thought he did. I was scarred and wounded beyond repair. However, I had a feeling he could be relentless, and the longer he was in the car with me, the more I wanted to know about him.
“I haven’t seen Draco in seventeen years. At one time he was a friend of my family’s, but he betrayed us. I crossed him, and now he’s back for answers … revenge.” I’d left out the detail that Draco had known my real family, but that would fuel too many questions that I didn’t want to answer.
I turned the rental car left toward the club and shot Kip a look, wondering what he was thinking. “It’s your turn.”
My attention bounced between him and the road while he bowed his head and removed one of his contacts before he looked at me. “I have ocular albinism, which reduces the pigmentation in the iris and retina.”
My entire body flinched without my permission before I scolded myself to stay focused on the road. At least I was only driving fifteen miles an hour. Normally I was well versed in hiding my surprise, but when a large man stares at you with a white eye, it’s fucking unnerving.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”
“Most people do. It’s why I wear colored contacts.” I caught his movement from the corner of my eye as he popped the lens back in.
I chanced a sideways look at him. “That must have been difficult growing up. Kids can be mean.”
He chuckled low in his throat. “I was meaner.” He pointed at another back road, then said, “Turn here. I don’t want you at the front of the club in case Draco is waiting for you.”
A hush fell over us as I followed his directions into the parking lot and eased to a stop in front of the employee-only entrance.
Instead of getting out of the car right away, Kip turned to me. “Give me your phone.”
My forehead creased at his tone, but I rummaged through my purse until I located it. Giving it to him, I waited, scanning the area around me in case Draco was around. To my relief, I didn’t see him, or anyone else for that matter.
“Call me if he shows up. That’s not a polite request, either.”