Chapter 23
Act II, Scene XV: The Nomad, Greenwich
Titan
‘I have to go,’ I said to the woman at the bar.
I’d considered going home with her, to keep any thoughts of Kalina at bay.
But now I would do anything to get to her. And fast.
I shrugged my jacket on and grabbed my helmet.
All I’d thought about since last night was Kalina.
And Kalina with Charlie.
And what a terrible friend I was.
Fucking hell.
It didn’t matter that I likely broke the speed limit, or pulled some risky and stupid moves on the road, as soon as she’d sent me her location I was on my bike.
I’d barely pulled into a parking spot before I was off my bike.
‘Don’t touch me!’ A voice yelled from the shadows beside the wall and it took a second for my eyes to adjust, but my ears knew the voice like my own.
With one arm on the wall, a guy leaned over her.
My stomach dropped. I clenched my fist, and stalked towards her in long, quick strides. Before I’d reached them, the guy groaned and doubled over.
Kalina’s eyes widened then her gaze met mine. ‘I’ve always wanted to do that.’
‘Are you okay? Did he hurt you?’ I wrapped my hands around her arms and I assessed her face and body.
‘No, no I’m okay. He…it’s okay. I’m fine.’ She shook her head.
She didn’t look fine. Her eyes were glossy and her body shook.
‘Wait right here,’ I said and turned on my heel to the guy who writhed on the ground as his hands cupped the front of his jeans.
I crouched in front of him, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pushed his back against the wall, making sure his head hit the exposed brick hard enough for him to groan.
‘If you so much as breathe in her direction again, I will break your fucking kneecaps. Apologise.’
‘I’m…I’m…sorry,’ he stammered.
‘You’re lucky she got to you before I could.’
I let him go and his body landed on the ground with a loud thump.
Kalina’s face had reddened and the tears that had threatened to fall before streamed down her cheeks now.
I wrapped an arm around her and walked a short distance away from the spot.
‘Hey,’ I said, and pulled her into a hug. ‘I’m here, it’s okay. You’re okay.’
She wrapped her arms around me and I held her against my chest until her breath steadied.
‘What if you weren’t here?’
I rubbed her back in small circles. ‘You handled things pretty well on your own.’
Her breath stuttered as she inhaled. ‘Could you take me home, please?’
‘Of course.’ I brushed my knuckle along her cheek lightly. ‘Give me one second.’
I held her around the waist as I walked to the entrance. The security eyed me as I came close.
I told him about the guy lying in a heap outside the bathroom. He nodded once at me. ‘I’ll handle it.’
Kalina looked between us, her brows furrowed in confusion.
‘Don’t ask.’ It was best she didn’t know what would happen to him, and by the look of the bouncer, it was going to hurt.
Even from out here, the place was full, loud, and warm. Kalina’s nightmare.
‘Let’s go. You’re not going to be happy with the transport.’
She smiled, even though it didn’t reach her eyes. ‘Cashing in your prize?’
‘I would never force you, dimples.’
‘I want to get home as quickly as possible.’
‘Is that an enthusiastic consent to the bike ride?’
A small smile crept onto her face. ‘Yes. Come on, before I change my mind.’
I pulled a jacket from the side saddle bag once we reached the bike. ‘Take off your coat.’
‘Won’t it be cold?’ She pulled her coat closer to her body.
‘No, you’ll be warm and safe. The most important thing.’ I held out the jacket.
She shrugged the rust-coloured coat off her shoulders and my throat restricted. It was not the time to be looking at her, but the black mesh top and leather mini skirt jumbled my thoughts.
I shook my head to clear it. She really turned my mind, and life, upside down.
‘It’s Scarlet’s but it should work to protect you.’ I zipped it up and adjusted it. The sleeves were way too long and it fit Kalina really well in the chest.
‘Is the helmet going to mess up my hair?’ She pouted, trying to get a smile out of me, but she was still shaken. Her body was literally shaking in my grip.
I brushed some of her hair back. ‘It’ll keep you safe.’
She nodded.
‘May I?’ I said and lifted the helmet above her head.
‘Yes,’ she whispered.
I helped her tighten the straps and every part of me wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her until she stopped shaking.
But I needed to get her home. Needed her to feel safe.
I put my helmet on and stepped over the bike. ‘Come on,’ I patted the seat behind me.
‘Can you help me?’ Her voice was so soft. It broke my heart.
‘Hold on here,’ I said, and patted my shoulder, ‘and put your foot here, then swing your leg over.’
She tried twice before I held out my arm to steady her and give her the leverage to get her leg over.
‘I won’t let you fall. I promise.’
She pushed her body flush against mine, and her thighs hugged my hips tightly.
It was not the time for me to go hard but my body decided to override my brain.
This was wrong. Kalina and Charlie were getting to know each other.
Not to mention she’d just had a traumatic experience.
‘How will you know if I’m okay back here?’ she yelled over the rumble of the engine.
‘Here, if you need me to stop, tap thrice.’ I took her hands in mine and wrapped them around my middle then tapped against her knuckles.
‘Okay,’ she yelled and tapped once. ‘Like morse code?’
It reminded me that I still had her birthday card in the pocket of my jeans.
‘Yeah, exactly like that.’
I gave her hand a squeeze and she squeezed back once. I took it as a signal from her and started the ride to her house.
I took it slower than I would’ve if I were alone.
Kalina’s arms and legs clutched me like her life depended on it. Which, I guess, in a way they did. I rode through the back streets so she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the late-night drivers.
When we reached her house, I parked beside the pavement then killed the engine. I held her arm to steady her as she climbed off the seat.
‘You okay?’
‘Yes.’
I smiled. ‘Good.’
I helped her remove the helmet before taking off my own. Her hands immediately went up to smooth down her hair.
I wanted to tell her she looked beautiful every single time I saw her. Every version of her was beautiful to me. But, instead, I gathered her coat from my bag.
‘Scarlet should be home. Are you going to be okay?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, thank you again.’ Her gaze darted from mine to the ground and back again.
I took a step closer and she closed the distance.
‘Kalina—’ I started. I had no plan for what it was I’d wanted to say, but her ringing phone made us both jump, neither of us realising how close we’d been to each other.
‘Sorry,’ she said as she rummaged through her bag and pulled out the noisy device.
‘Charlie?’ She answered the call and relief flooded her voice and features.
My heart sank.
‘I’m fine. I’m home…’ She looked up at me and her gaze darted across my face.
I inhaled deeply.
‘I’m not. I’m at home. I called Titan.’
I took a few steps away from her to give her some privacy and mindlessly scrolled through my messages.
There was one from a regular meetup and another for work.
I texted her back to say I wouldn’t make it tonight and ignored the work text for now.
‘We can talk tomorrow when you get back. Okay. Bye.’ Kalina hung up.
‘Everything okay?’
She shifted on her feet. ‘Charlie had a work emergency and his flight was delayed on his way back. He couldn’t contact me to let me know.’
‘So, everything’s fine between the two of you?’
What was I hoping she’d say? That she miraculously reciprocated my feelings? She didn’t know about them, and if I kept it that way, Charlie would make it up to her and they’d live happily ever after.
She took a few seconds to reply. ‘Yes.’
It was all I needed to know.
‘Good. That’s great. I should go.’
‘Titan, wait. I—’
‘Goodnight, Kalina.’ I didn’t wait for her response as I climbed onto my bike and yanked my helmet back on, and I didn’t turn back to look at her before I rode away.