Chapter 48
The front door opens, and I sit up, my heart racing when I get my first look at my girl today.
She looks good enough to fucking eat, but I check her for any signs of pain.
She still isn’t okay after her wound. She walks fine, and she isn’t pale, so I relax and check her out before my eyebrows rise.
She wears a gray skirt that reaches mid-thigh, with two buckles across the right hip.
Her usual black boots fit her legs perfectly, and her top is an oversized sweater.
Bexley’s hair is loose, and her makeup is more dramatic than normal. She looks like she’s going all out.
Something is different today. Usually, she’s trying to outrun us and looks annoyed, but today, she appears happy. There is a mischievous glint in her eyes when she glances at my car as she heads to her bike.
She has been ignoring the new one we bought her a week ago. Hers is scratched up from her chase with Butcher, but she doesn’t care. Now, though, she hesitates before she walks to the new one and climbs on, making me sit up as she starts it, letting it purr to life.
My chest clenches. Does this mean something? I think it does.
Lifting my phone, I hit dial. “Get here now.” I hang up and leave them to figure out where I’m going.
I start the engine in my new lime-green Porsche that matches her new bike and pull out after her.
She doesn’t speed too much, apparently going slow for me to keep up. She’s usually trying to outrun us.
Is she luring us into a trap to kill us? Maybe, but I still go willingly.
It’s the most attention she’s paid us in two weeks, and I’ll take it. My patience has been wearing thin. I miss her too much to keep this up forever, even if we have a plan.
By the time we pull into the aquarium, the others are with me. Kane parks his car to my left, and Zayn pulls into a spot to my right. We get out as she looks back at us before heading to the ticket kiosk.
“What’s going on?” Kane asks.
“Not a clue.”
“It’s a trap. She’s probably going to feed us to sharks,” Zayn supplies. “Let’s go.” He hurries toward the kiosk, so we follow.
“Three adults,” I say, craning my neck to look around and see her inside, even as I speak.
“Here.” The bored kid slides three tickets over then stamps our hands as we reach for them. “Head inside. Have a nice day exploring our oceans,” he recites boredly.
“We didn’t pay.” I frown, pulling out my wallet.
“The hottie before you did. She said, and I quote, “There are three mean-looking assholes coming after me. Don’t worry, I’ll keep them in line. Give them their tickets.’” He shouts, “Next,” and we have no choice but to move on. We share a worried look and walk inside.
She bought us tickets. It’s definitely a trap.
I’ve never been so excited. My steps speed up as we head past the photographers.
“Do you want a picture with a seal?” they call after us, but we ignore them as we step through the automatic doors, the air conditioner hitting us.
There are kids screaming and running around, with frazzled parents chasing them, but we are on the lookout for a familiar black head of hair.
“Split up and text when you find her,” Kane orders, going left to the Arctic exhibit.
I go right to the tropics, and Zayn heads outside.
I’ve never been before, but Tommy always asks to go.
It’s busy as hell, but once I’m inside the winding exhibit, the brightly colored fish and jellies make me stop for a moment before I remember why I’m here.
I find her in the next section. She’s in front of a giant tank, staring at some iridescent jellyfish. There’s no one around her as she stands with her hand on the tank, her neck craned back. She looks so beautiful that my feet carry me to her before I remember and swerve to a fish tank instead.
Neo: Found her.
I shoot off the text and location, and then I watch her. My brothers join me not long after. She doesn’t seem to be in a rush as she wanders through, reading the information and looking at the fish and animals.
We stay one tank away at all times, standing before it like we are looking, but in fact we are watching her, no matter how amazing the animals are.
She takes her time at each exhibit. “Where is the trap?” Zayn whispers. “It has to be around here somewhere.”
A kid bumps into us, and Kane tries to sidestep him, but the little brat narrows his eyes and kicks Kane in the knee. “Move, old man.”
“Old man? You little brat. Where are your parents? I’m going to teach them manners.” I watch my brother argue with the child, who sticks his tongue out before running away. Hiding my smile, I look up and realize she’s gone.
Fuck.
I race forward and finally find her outside, looking at otters and seals.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I walk around with my brothers so I can stare at her across the way.
She has to know we are here, but she studiously ignores us like we aren’t.
That or she’s biding her time. Who knows with her, but Zayn is right. I’m excited.
When she’s finished wandering around an hour later, she heads to the gift shop, picking things up and putting them back down. I glance back and find Kane and Zayn have a basket overflowing with items. “She obviously liked them, so we are buying them for her.”
“Bribery won’t work on her. She’s too smart for it,” I remind them. “Though, she might be impressed that you are trying.”
Kane simply shrugs, and when we get to the cashier, we have eight overflowing baskets.
I end up paying because they are right. It can’t hurt.
When we get outside, she’s sitting astride her bike on her phone, so we dash to our cars and follow as she puts on her helmet and pulls out into the busy, midday traffic.
She typically weaves through traffic and speeds to avoid us, but she’s currently driving leisurely.
The slow pace only amps up my anticipation that she’s up to something.
Maybe I should be scared, but if anything, I’m eager.
Even if it’s a trap to kill us, I’d thrive under her attention.
The next place she stops is even more surprising than the first—a multistory cinema.
By the time we get inside, thanks to Kane parking his car way at the back, she’s holding a tub of popcorn, heading past the barriers to the screens.
Hopping over the ropes, we skip the line.
Kane goes to the servers while I yank out my wallet and throw some bills at the people grumbling unhappily at us for cutting.
When I join Kane, he hands me a ticket. “Three tickets waiting again like last time.”
“Definitely a trap,” I mutter, especially when I see the film title and realize it’s the new zombie horror movie. She’ll probably wait until we are focused on the movie before she slits our throats.
How romantic.
“Here.” Kane hands over a stack of bills. “Rent out the entire theater. I don’t want anyone in there but us.”
He’s obviously thinking the same thing I am and reducing the risk . . . or he doesn’t want anyone to see him get scared since he hates horror movies. Holding my ticket, I turn back as Zayn whines, “I want popcorn.”
“Fine.” Smashing down more bills, Kane grumbles. “Give him the largest bucket you have, and a drink too or he’ll whine more.”
Goods in hand, we find the screen and head down the dark ramp. The advertisements are already starting, and she’s sitting a few rows back from the front. Her boots are kicked up on the seat in front of her as she munches on her popcorn. We take three seats directly behind her a few rows back.
Despite the film playing, I watch her the entire time, noticing her small pout about halfway through when she finishes her popcorn. I’m on my feet before I know it, ignoring my brothers as I return to the concession stand and get what I need.
I sneak back in and wait. A few moments later, the now five-hundred-dollars-richer server brings her more popcorn, a drink, chocolate, and a hotdog. She doesn’t seem confused, but she does eat it.
Zayn chuckles. “Really?”
“Bribery.” I shrug. “Like you said, it’s worth a shot, and the only way to that woman’s heart is family, money, or food.”
“Don’t forget weapons,” Kane adds, covering his eyes with his fingers. “Why couldn’t she pick something else to watch?”
“Maybe she likes seeing you squirm,” I tease as I shove a fistful of popcorn in my mouth. I wait for her to make her move the entire movie, but she doesn’t do anything, and when it’s over, she collects her trash and leaves, getting back on her bike.
What is happening?
I can tell my brothers are equally as confused, but once again, we follow her.
This time, she parks outside of an Italian restaurant downtown.
It’s within an old steamworks building and covers three floors.
It’s a trendy new place in an up-and-coming area—I know because I’ve been trying to convince my brothers to come here for weeks. Their burgers look incredible.
She heads inside like she doesn’t have a care in the world, so we park our cars and follow.
“I think we should talk to her,” I suggest as I step into the dimly lit interior. The mix of brickwork, modern, and old works for the place. It’s filled with tables on different levels and down wooden stairs, and it has a homey vibe.
“She might still be mad,” Zayn cautions.
“I think we should anyway.”
“Let’s see what she does first,” Zayn suggests.
“No, he’s right. She’s leading us around for something. Come on.”
A bright, bubbly male server pops up in front of us. “Sai brothers?”
“Um, yes?” I reply.