Chapter 32
Myles
“Do you even know how to drive?” Alexandria scoffs at Cash from the passenger seat.
There was no convincing her not to come.
She said she would follow in her car if that’s what it took.
So, here we are. Cash is driving, Alexandria’s riding shotgun, and I’m sprawled out on the back seat.
My body is still screaming in pain. The stitches are holding up well, and Cash’s friend was able to get me some pain meds fast, so that has helped take some of the edge off.
“If you would shut the fuck up with your constant nagging, maybe I could focus,” Cash snaps back.
“You two sound like an old married couple,” I laugh from the back seat. Cash’s eyes burn with fury in the rearview mirror at me and Alexandria’s hand comes flying back and smacks me in the leg. “Hey, fuck off. That hurt.”
“Then don’t say stupid shit! How much further till we’re there?”
“I don’t know, Angel. Why don’t you open those beautiful eyes of yours and look at the screen yourself? Jesus Christ, Myles. I don’t know how you’ve put up with her for as long as you…”
*Smack*
The car jerks to the left as Alexandria smacks Cash upside the back of his head.
“What the fuck was that for!?” he screams as he straightens the car.
“For being an ass!” she snaps back.
“Alexandria…Can you save some of that sass for when we get there?” I ask sweetly. She turns in her seat and glares at me.
“I wanted to talk to you about that,” Cash starts.
“Oh, here we go again. I told you, Cash, I’m fine. I can take care of myself in there. I don’t need...”
“That’s fine! I’m just saying, since you clearly don’t know how to follow orders, or at least don’t want to follow mine, I’m putting you with Dex’s crew.”
“What? No! I’m staying with Myles!” She looks from him to me, and I just shrug.
“No!” Cash sighs, his patience wearing thin. “I have a feeling this is going to get rough for me and Myles. If you’re so determined to help, having you in the second wave would be best. That way, I don’t have to constantly keep an eye on you.”
She huffs, crosses her arms, and turns to look out the window.
“That’s fucking shit, and you know it. You still think I’m going to get hurt or be too much of a liability.”
“No. I would rather just Myles and I go in on our own first. Then you come in with the crew and help rescue Mina.”
His eyes meet mine again in the mirror, silently begging me for some backup here.
“He’s right, Alexandria. If I’m distracted fighting the fucker, I trust you to get Mina out. You know how much she means to me.”
With Alexandria’s attention still out the window, I see Cash silently mouth the words thank you to me in the mirror. I nod, then close my eyes.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I know, I hear Cash talking on the phone to someone. When my eyes open, Alexandria’s attention is on me with a finger to her lips.
“I was just wondering why you left so fast?”
“Had some things come up with work and had to head home. Sorry that I didn’t get a chance to say bye. It was an emergency.” Quin’s voice comes through the car’s speakers. My fists tighten, digging my nails into my already cut-up palms.
“Did you wanna come to the San Antonio club tonight or tomorrow? I have some new dancers auditioning.”
“Can’t. This thing’s probably going to take a few days to take care of. Another time, though”
“Sure…Is everything all right, Quin? You seemed off last night,” Cash asks.
I listen closely, trying to hear anything from the background that might give me a sign that she’s still alive…Nothing but silence.
“Everything's fine, Cash. Hey, what else do you have planned this week?” Quin asks. Cash looks confused by his question.
“Nothing except the dancer auditions and preparing for the public opening next weekend. Why?”
“I didn’t know if you wanted to take a couple of days off and come over. You haven’t seen the house since the remodel.”
“Right. Uh, sure. I’ll let you know what day.”
“Sounds great, bro. Still remember how to get here?”
“Of course. See you soon.”
“Yep…Soon.”
The line goes dead, and Cash remains silent. His fingers clench and unclench the steering wheel. His eyes keep shifting to the side mirrors, then back to the road. Side to side, checking everywhere.
“Cash?” Alexandria whispers as she places her hand on his shoulder. “Everything, okay?”
“He knows…”
“What? How?” I snap as I sit up.
“I just know…The way he stalled at the end there. I think he was running a trace on my phone. That’s why he said things the way he did at the end.”
“Fuck! What if he kills her now that he knows we’re coming? How much longer until we’re there?”
“Hour and thirty-six minutes,” he says quietly. “I gotta call Dex.”
He calls to let Dex know what’s up. We all pull off at a rest stop and try to figure out a new plan. Especially now with the element of surprise gone.
When everything is finished, Alexandria walks away toward an area overlooking the river. I start to walk toward her and check on her, but Dex suddenly jogs over and starts talking with Alexandria.
Dex is younger. I think he’s in his late twenties like Cash.
When it comes to brute strength, I can definitely see why Cash said Dex would win in a fight.
The guy’s got at least forty pounds of pure muscle on him compared to Cash.
I can see him flirting with Alex. He keeps running his hand through his spikey, dirty blonde hair.
I keep an eye on him. Just because he is Cash’s friend doesn’t mean I trust him fully. Look what happened with Quin. My eyes are locked on the pair as Cash walks up in front of me waving a hand.
“What’s going on?” Cash asks. He follows my gaze to where Dex and Alexandria are talking. Dex says something, and it makes her laugh. I act like I don’t notice Cash’s lip twitch at the sight before he snaps his attention back to me. “We need to figure out a plan if shit goes south.”
She laughs again, and Cash closes his eyes. He tilts his head back and forth cracking his neck before letting out a slow exhale. When his eyes open, I can see jealousy in them.
“If shit goes south, you guys get Mina out. Even if it means leaving me…”
“Alexandria won’t let me leave you there.”
“Then you knock her out and drag her out of there, too. Both of them if you have to. Promise me.”
Alexandria and Dex’s voices are getting closer. I glance toward the pair, and Dex’s jacket is around her shoulders. Cash notices and his jaw clicks from how hard he’s clenching it.
“Cash, what the hell, man? You didn’t tell me you had a munequita?” Dex laughs as he pulls her closer. She looks confused by the word.
“Munequita?” she asks.
“It’s Spanish for little doll. And she’s not mine,” Cash huffs before returning his attention to his phone.
Alexandria removes Dex’s arm from around her and hands him back his jacket.
“Thanks…So I guess I’m with you?”
“Hell yeah, you are. Don’t worry, Munequita, I’ll protect you. Then, maybe after all this is over, you and I can get a drink,” Dex winks before heading back to his truck. Alexandria glances at me, and I can’t help but smile.
“What?” she snaps.
“Little doll?” I laugh.
“Yeah, that was even cheesier than Angel.” She rolls her eyes when she looks at Cash.
“Let’s go!” Cash snaps.
Alexandria turns to follow Dex, but Cash grabs her arm.
“What?” she asks, shocked as she pulls her arm away.
“I’ve changed my mind. You’re staying with us.”
Cash continues toward the truck, and Alex looks back and forth between Cash and Dex.
“What the fuck was that about?” she whispers.
“Don’t know…You should probably get in the truck,” I chuckle as I start toward our truck.
“Cash, it’s fine. I’ll go with Dex…”
Cash stops, spinning back toward us and walking past me to stand in front of Alex. She glares up at him as he scowls down at her.
“Get. In. The. Truck!” he hisses. Her eyes narrow into heated slits. I keep backing up toward the truck. I’m not getting in the middle of this shit.
“No.” Her lips tilt into a smirk as she looks at him. I can’t see his face, but his entire body is tense. I can see his hands are balled into fists at his sides.
“Now, Angel. I won’t tell you again.”
“Fuck you! You can’t just order me…”
She shrieks as Cash picks her up and throws her over his shoulder.
She smacks and claws at his back as she flails in his grasp.
He narrows his eyes at me as he walks closer, but I simply open the passenger door.
He tosses her gently onto the seat before hopping up onto the footrail and grabbing the seatbelt.
*Smack*
Her palm connects with his face just as I get into the back seat.
I can hear the click of the seatbelt as Cash finally finishes strapping her in.
He leans forward, getting his face a mere inch away from hers.
I can see the red lines forming where she smacked him.
I’m close to warning him that she bites, but I have a feeling he is aware of the damage she can do, but he’s willing to risk it all.
“Listen here, Angel.” His voice is a hushed whisper, laced with rage.
“If I tell you to get into the truck…If I tell you to keep quiet…If I tell you to get down and take cover…You fucking do it. I’m not going to let you put yourself in harm's way just because you want to be a defiant little brat. Understood?”
“You’re the one who told me I was going with Dex because you didn’t want to keep an eye on me. So, just let me go with him…
“No!”
“Why?!” she snaps back, inching her face closer.
They’re practically touching at this point. Ever been in an awkward situation with literally no way out of it? Yeah, I’m stuck.
“Because Angel. You’re not his, you’re mine!” His eyes widen at what he just said, and he quickly leans away from her. “I mean…You’re only here because of something my friend did. Dex has enough he has to worry about, so you’re my responsibility, not his.”
He steps down from the foot rail but keeps his hands on the doorframe. He looks over her, then shakes his head before continuing.
“Just please…Listen to me if I tell you to do something.”
“Okay,” she says quietly.
“Thank you.”
He closes the door and slowly walks to the other side. When he hops into the truck, he catches my eye in the mirror. I watch him slowly shake his head, then close his eyes. He cracks his neck once more before starting the truck and taking off.
The GPS chimes letting us know we’re an hour away from our destination.
Not much longer. Just hold on, Sunshine. I’m coming.