CHAPTER TWELVE
ATHENA
Everything about this night felt too surreal for me to process. As Damon and I left my building, getting into his Escalade, I had to give myself a shake. Yep, this was real. I was really doing this. Against my better judgment, of course. Not that he’d given me a choice anyway.
I still didn’t know anything about the job he was dragging me along to do. In the darkened interior of the Escalade, I snuck a few glances in Damon’s direction. He pulled away from my building, taking me along for a crash course in crime.
Nerves racked me. What if he was going to kill someone?
I fully believed him to be capable of such things.
My mind raced as I thought of the many twisted activities he may have planned.
Going to jail was not in my plans. I would never become a teacher or hold a decent job if I had a criminal record.
“Can you at least tell me where we’re going and what we will be doing?” I asked, nervously fidgeting with a loose thread on the sleeve of my hoodie.
I expected him to keep being a dick and leave me in the dark. He surprised me by answering.
“I’m going to set fire to a warehouse in the industrial district. Like I said before, you’ll be the lookout.”
“A fire? Why are you doing that?” Even though I didn’t love the sound of arson, I relaxed a little since it could be so much worse.
He glanced over at me with a half shrug. “Because someone is paying me good money to do it. It’s usually a case of someone targeting their competition. Corrupt businessmen. Sometimes the mob. I don’t ask for the details.”
He spoke about it so casually. Like there was nothing abnormal about being a criminal for hire. I didn’t understand why anyone would want to put themselves at risk that way.
“Why do you do it?” I asked. “Aren’t you afraid of getting caught and ending up in prison?”
Damon tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, his head tilted in thought. “I probably should be. I started with petty theft when I was in junior high, and somehow it snowballed from there. By the time I met Noah and the others after high school, I was in so deep there was no going back.”
I couldn’t help but be amazed. I heard no regret in his tone.
Damon was content with the life that he had chosen for himself.
He didn’t talk much about his other friends.
River and Colt. Mentioning them only in passing.
Considering they were dead now, I didn’t blame him.
They had made some terrible choices and paid the price.
“Do you ever want to stop?” Maybe I was prying but I was genuinely curious. “You went to college after all. Why not pursue something legit?”
We eased to a stop at a red light. Damon met my eyes in the darkened interior lighting.
“Maybe one day I will. I went to school to have something to fall back on. To have some kind of useful education. I never expected this to be a lifelong career, although right now it’s setting me up with some pretty stacked offshore accounts.
At this rate, I may never have to work a real job a day in my life. ”
I guess that explained everything. A life of crime would allow Damon to do whatever the hell he wanted with his future. Even though I never envisioned myself choosing such a path, I understood why it appealed to him. Money was the driving force of so many decisions we all made.
“What about you, cream puff?” he asked, turning his attention back to the road as we surged forward through a green light. “What’s your big career plan?”
Maybe I shouldn’t have started this conversation. Discussing my personal goals with Damon felt wrong. There was no reason for us to get to know each other. No reason to learn these things about one another. I guess that was my bad.
“I wanted to be a teacher when I started school. Somehow I thought it would be easier to get my foot in the door after graduating. There are a few potential job opportunities in other cities. I’m not sure I’m ready to move away though.
” My fingers ran along my braid, seeking a way to distract myself.
“A teacher, huh? Weird. I can’t picture you teaching a class full of rowdy kids. You seem like the type that was meant for something bigger. I’m going to park a few blocks away from our target location. I’ll stash the car in an alley, and we’ll walk from there.”
I did a double take, ignoring what he said about the car. “What do you mean something bigger? I think teaching is a pretty big deal. Education is important.”
“Sure. Some people are meant to stimulate the minds of the next generation. You just don’t strike me as the type. Feels like you should be doing something more exciting. Jet setting around the world or walking a runway as a model somewhere. I don’t know. Just bigger.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. This man didn’t know a damn thing about me. Pretty bold of him to make such a statement.
The conversation was quickly forgotten as we turned into the warehouse district. The anxiety already making my palms sweat ramped up. My pulse pounded, my stomach turning.
“How do you know we won’t get caught?” I asked nervously.
Damon pulled into an alley meant for large trucks to pick up and drop off goods. He angled the Escalade in behind a large dumpster where it would be hidden from sight if anyone passed by the alley.
“I don’t,” he said all too flippantly for my liking. “I never have been so far. Let’s hope the streak keeps going.”
He was out of the vehicle, heading around to the rear before I could respond.
My mouth had gone incredibly dry, making me wish I had some water.
Bracing myself for anything, I opened the door and got out.
For just a moment, I was tempted to run like hell.
I quickly dismissed that idea. He knew where I lived, and he would catch me in no time anyway.
Damon pulled a gas can from the back of the Escalade along with a few other fire starting supplies. I couldn’t believe this was really happening.
Not for a second did he show any sign of nerves.
He calmly led the way down the alley, through the streets, to the warehouse he’d been sent to destroy.
I hurried along beside him, trying to keep up with his larger strides.
At this time of night, there was nobody around.
No signs of life. That didn’t stop me from constantly looking over my shoulder.
“You need to calm down a little,” he admonished. “This won’t take long. Get your head on straight so you can pay attention. You need to watch our backs.”
I nodded, trying to swallow around my dry throat. Starting a fire shouldn’t take all that long. Hopefully I would be back home in no time.
“This is the one.” Damon led me around to the back of a large warehouse. There were no signs to indicate what kind of business went on here, leaving me to assume it was something illegal.
Damon pulled me to a stop near the corner of the building. “Stay right here and watch the street. Let me know if you see anyone at all. Even if they don’t come this way. I won’t be long.”
Then he rounded the building to the loading dock at the back, leaving me alone. I shifted uneasily from foot to foot. I shouldn’t be here. This was not at all where I belonged.
My entire body quaked with nerves and anticipation. Adrenaline preparing me for the worst. I almost felt sick, yet at the same time, there was something exhilarating about this sensation.
When an alarm suddenly went off, breaking the silence, I almost peed my pants.
Damon shouted for me to run, and I didn’t hesitate.
Without waiting for him, I took off at top speed, my arms and legs pumping hard as they propelled me forward.
Not knowing where else to go, I headed back to where we’d left the Escalade.
Was Damon behind me? Had someone caught him? I didn’t have keys to his vehicle. If someone grabbed him, I was screwed. Finding my way home from here would be difficult with my phone locked up in his car.
As I reached the end of the street, I glanced back to see no sign of him. Shit. Having no choice, I kept moving.
I’d just turned into the alley where the Escalade was parked when Damon caught up with me. Relief accompanied the fear that drove me. I never thought I would be so glad to see him.
Upon reaching the Escalade, he dropped the gas can on the ground and swept me into his arms. Pulling me tight against him. Kissing me hard as he pushed me up against the vehicle.
The rush of excitement and danger took over, encouraging me as I kissed him back.