Chapter 10
KAIRO
The streets of New York turn into a river within seconds of the sky opening and the harshest November storm to hit the city erupts overhead.
I huddle in my seat and stare at my phone while Martin weaves expertly through the storm, and the gentle music in the car is disturbed by the rhythmic thump of the wiper blades battering back and forth.
My last conversation with Ryan led me to research everything I could about land rights, including the extent of a tenant's power, depending on how long they’ve held the building.
It gets murky enough that people like my father often benefited from these laws, and a lack of knowledge prevents people from fighting back.
But as we pull up to a stoplight, something makes me look up and my heart freezes in an icy grasp when I see her.
Between the raindrops racing down my window stands Devon.
I’d know her anywhere and the dark shadows of the streets warped by the pouring rain can’t hide her from me.
She huddles over herself trying to protect her cast from the downpour.
Yet, I can’t see her face.
Is this wishful thinking, my mind trying to slot Devon into any space that accepts her because I so badly want to see her again?
Regardless, I grab my umbrella from the casing and shove open the door, much to Martin’s audible surprise.
The wind whips away his cry as I hurry out into the downpour.
Rain lashes against my face like icicles flying through the air while the wind tugs violently at my clothes.
It’s a momentary struggle to get the umbrella open but once it pops up, I rush toward Devon and thrust it over her head.
She slowly turns to face me and the wariness on her face melts into anger the moment we lock eyes.
But it is her.
Devon.
Out here in the middle of a New York storm at one thirty in the morning, absolutely soaked to the bone and resembling a lost kitten.
“Kairo?”
The anger in her word warms my heart more than I expect, and it’s tough not to smile just at the sound of her voice. “Devon, what are you doing out here all by yourself? You’ll catch your death! Let me take you home.”
“I’m fine,” she snaps, stomping one foot on the ground and sending a mini tidal wave over my leather loafers. “I’m going to get a cab.”
Peering past her into the dark streets, the only cars that pass are personal vehicles.
No cab in sight.
At this time of night, most are probably lingering around the active clubs ready to pick up drunken partiers and she will have to search for one.
“Nonsense. I’m right here and I know where you live. Please, let me drive you home. Save your money.”
“Oh, because I’m so poor that I can’t afford a taxi fare?”
Despite her hair plastered to her skull and the raindrops dragging her mascara down her apple cheeks, the fire in her eyes doesn’t waver.
“I don’t need your pity so why don’t you—”
A deafening clap of lightning followed by an ominous rumble of thunder makes us both jump and Devon cuts herself off.
Her resolve crumbles instantly.
“Fine. But only because it’s raining and I don’t want you to bill me for water damage to your shoes.”
She stomps past me, and I struggle to keep the relief off my face.
Regardless of what she said, there’s no scenario in which I would leave her alone out here, but pushing that boundary dangerously risks pushing her further away from me.
It’s not like I have any sort of chance with her anymore, but that doesn’t stop me from caring.
I follow her into the limo, much to Martin’s relief, and fold the umbrella.
Once it’s back in its casing to catch the water, I close the door and Martin slips back into the car.
“Where to?” he asks over his shoulder as he turns up the heater.
“Miller residence.”
“Miller residence?” Devon asks sourly. “It’s creepy that you know where I live.”
“Given that I know you stay with your parents, I have their address because of our business with the bakery. It’s not intended to be creepy,” I say while briefly shaking the water from my hair. “Do you want a blanket?”
Devon stubbornly holds herself as far away from me as she can reach until she’s almost pressed against the opposite door.
Given my bulk, there’s not as much space as she’d clearly like, so I keep my knees pressed together to give her what extra inches I can spare.
“No,” she mutters, despite the clack of her teeth as she shivers.
She leans over on herself to keep her cast pressed against her body while winding her other arm across her waist.
From the color, it looks damp, but given the severity of the storm, she’s succeeded in keeping it mostly dry.
“Why were you out here all by yourself?”
Devon’s attention fixates on the window and she doesn’t reply.
“Did something happen?” Concern coils like a snake in my gut and an anxious tremor moves through my heart.
I calm it by pressing my palm flat to my knee and digging my fingers into the muscle before my leg can start bouncing. “Devon, are you okay?”
She sighs deeply and glances over at me with narrowed eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Walking around New York at this time of night by yourself while dressed like that?”
“What do you mean by that?” she challenges instantly.
My lips part as I take in her thin, drenched jacket, the sopping hem of her pink top and her white pants that cling to every angle of her legs due to how much water they hold.
“I simply meant you’re not dressed for a storm, so it looks like you were caught by surprise, that’s all.”
“Oh, and I suppose you knew it was going to storm?”
“My weather app,” I say quietly, tapping the back of my phone where it sits on the armrest beside me. “So yeah.”
Her look sours even more. Not the right thing to say, it seems.
We fall silent.
Devon turns back to the window and despite the warmth flooding the car, she shivers violently.
I want to reach out to her and draw her into my arms, warm her with my body heat, but I also value my life.
Every so often, I catch Martin’s curious glance in the rearview mirror as we weave through the streets and the storm continues to pound the windows.
The wind picks up such strength that every turn feels like a fight even from where I’m sitting.
“Devon…” I try again. I can’t help myself. I want to talk to her. I want to hear her voice even if she’s angry with me.
“What?” She doesn’t look at me and instead tightens her arms around herself.
“I’ve been calling, trying to talk to you, but no one has been answering.”
“Our family lawyer advised us not to speak to you.” She flashes me a killer glare. “About anything.”
“A good move,” I remark softly as the world around us lights up with another clap of lightning. “But I have a proposition for you and I feel like it’s something you will want to hear.”
“I don’t really give a shit about how you feel,” Devon says.
This time, she does look at me and the anger in her eyes is mingling with hurt. “I stopped giving a shit about how you feel when you came to the bakery and pretended to be my friend. Do you have any idea how insane a position you’ve put me in?”
It’s like a dam has broken and everything she wants to say pours out with such ferocity that her words are tripping over one another.
“You’re killing my family’s business and on top of that, I can’t even fight it properly because your insurance paid for my broken arm, so now it looks like I’ve taken money from you and anything I do to fight you will lose day one in court.
And if I refuse, then I end up with a medical bill I can’t afford and we have no choice but to accept your shitty offer! ”
From her perspective, it does look like I concocted some elaborate plan to trap her from all directions and my heart throbs with guilt.
I may as well have pushed her right into the path of the car, and the swelling urge to fix things almost suffocates me.
“Devon, that’s exactly what I want to talk about. I have found a—”
The vehicle suddenly lurches violently to the side, sending both of us off to the left.
Instinct overtakes me and I reach out an arm to protect her from the lurch but at the last second remember her aversion to contact.
Instead, I grasp the seatbelt and tighten it with my fist to keep her upright while the car swerves back and forth.
Something bangs and splutters, then metal screeches and groans before being swallowed by a loud rattle.
Martin brings us to a trembling stop and grips the wheel, his eyes wide with alarm. “Shit.”
“Shit? Martin, what’s wrong?”
“Gimme a minute.” Martin unbuckles himself and hurries from the car, disappearing out into the storm with an umbrella in hand.
I glimpse him at the hood of the car before he pops it and vanishes behind the metal.
“What’s wrong?” Devon’s anger is replaced with concern and her eyes meet mine for a moment.
“Whatever it is, Martin’s the one who can fix it,” I say confidently. But the seconds tick by and Martin doesn’t reappear.
Concerned, I grab the umbrella from before. “Stay here.”
Climbing out of the car, I shut the door behind me and against the powerful storm, I rush to the hood of the car.
Martin’s bent over looking at the engine and making worrying sounds while touching things I could only dream the name of.
“What’s happened?” I ask, leaning with him.
“If I told you, would you understand?” He smirks at me while turning a knob.
“No, but I can listen.”
“In short, we’re fucked. Something blew. It might be because of the water but I can’t tell with all this…” He gestures around with a groan. “Water.”
“Right. Shit.” Straightening up, I glance around at the street and am pleasantly surprised to find we’re not far from my penthouse. “Do you think you can fix it?”
“Nah, you’ll need George for this. This is beyond me. Sorry, Boss.”
“It’s not your fault, Martin. Thank you.”
I turn to hurry back to the car only to find Devon standing a few feet away, once again getting soaked.
Moving my umbrella over her immediately, I forgo scolding her and flash her a soft smile.