CHAPTER THIRTEEN #3
“Back home. There are some loose ends that need to be taken care of. After that, we’ll head into the City. I have some business I need to attend to,” he stated evenly.
Freezing like a deer caught in the headlights, she felt her heart plummet to the floor. Remembering their conversation from the night before, she swallowed hard.
“Business? And does this business happen to involve Bloodbayne?” she asked, her voice shaking ever so slightly.
“Yes,” he replied, deciding that he did need to be forthright with this information. “It does. But like I said, he won’t hurt you. I won’t let him ever hurt you.”
Blinking at him, she sat dumbfounded. Holy fuck . He was actually serious.
“You’re talking like I’m going with you to see him,” she said nervously. “Please tell me that I’m not.”
Staring blankly at her, he plastered a mask of false indifference over his handsome face. He didn’t want to take her to Bloodbayne, but the situation was completely out of his hands. This was the only way his Boss would spare her.
“Well, I’m not going!” she spat loudly. “You can just fuc—"
“You don’t have a choice!” he hissed angrily, his deep voice hovering above a whisper. “WE don’t have a choice! Now, please! You said you trust me so just...just fucking trust me, will you?”
Narrowing her eyes, she folded her arms over her chest. She didn’t understand why his silly plan was rubbing her the wrong way. It wasn’t like he would live long enough to see it through.
Because Lexi, if Kade plans on taking you to see Bloodbayne, that means Bloodbayne already knows about you.
Do you see the problem, now? Kill Kade and Bloodbayne will go after you.
OR you can let him live and be protected from Bloodbayne.
Huh, seems like a no brainer to me! But what do I know, right? Nikki said.
Letting out a sigh, she raised her right hand and pinched the bridge of her nose between her middle finger and thumb. Things were going to get messy, no matter what. She was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t. Why were things always so damn difficult?
“Fine,” she said.
Giving her a curt nod, Kade picked up his mug and polished off the rest of the coffee. God how he hated fighting with her. Why did she have to be so stubborn? “Good girl. Now, can we just try to have a nice day? Please?”
“Yes, husband ,” Lexi mumbled.
“I will admit, I do love having you call me that,” he said before letting his steely gaze move behind her. “Oh, heads up, Sweetheart. Breakfast is here.”
Balancing three full plates of fragrant food in her arms, Peggy carefully walked towards the newlywed couple with a small smile on her face.
“Ok, love birds! Let’s see. We’ve got steak and eggs for the mister...blueberry pancakes with extra syrup and butter and a double order of eggs and bacon for the misses,” the waitress stated, setting the various plates in front of the pair. “Would you guys like some more coffee?”
“Yes, please,” they both said at the same time.
Snickering to herself, Peggy looked back and forth between the two. It warmed her heart to see a couple so in sync. They probably finish each other’s sentences too , she thought to herself.
“Aww, you two really are made for each other, aren’t you? So adorable. Ok, I’ll be right back with that coffee!” she said before taking her leave.
Picking up his fork and knife, Kade began to cut his steak into bite sized chunks. He was extremely happy with the waitress’ statement.
“See? Even a stranger can tell we’re meant to be,” he said, shoveling a forkful of meat and runny eggs into his mouth.
Not daring to make eye contact with her captor, Lexi doused her blueberry pancakes in warm syrup and muttered something sharp under her breath. She doubted the waitress would be so enthusiastic if she knew the true nature of their relationship.
“What was that?” he asked between bites of his breakfast.
Reluctantly lifting her eyes, she plastered a smile on her face and shrugged her slight shoulders. “I just said that you’re right! Everyone can see how I feel about you,” she replied flatly, slicing through her pancakes with the edge of her fork.
Swallowing a mouthful of food, he silently watched his love as she began to eat bits and pieces of her hearty meal.
He didn’t care for her tone but wasn’t going to start another tiff over it.
It was something he simply needed to take note of and monitor.
If he needed to redirect her attitude before they went back home, then so be it.
Feeling the uncomfortable heat of his gaze, she took a bite of crispy bacon and pulled her attention to the waitress returning to their booth.
The evil glint in her captor’s eyes put her on edge.
It gave her the much-needed reminder that he was a dangerous man.
She needed to get the hell away from him, the sooner the better.
There had to be a way for her to alert the waitress. There just had to be.
Stepping back to the table, Peggy began the process of filling up the newlywed’s empty coffee mugs.
There was a tension in the air between them that she hadn’t felt only a minute prior.
It made the hair on the back of her neck stand up on end.
Understanding that it wasn’t her place to say anything, she simply pursed her lips together into a tight grin and walked over to attend the elderly couple sitting in the next booth.
Keeping her emerald eyes glued on Peggy, Lexi ignored Kade for a moment and focused her attention on the seemingly mundane conversation between the trio.
“Can you believe this snow?” Peggy asked, shaking her head in annoyance. “I mean, I know we are in the mountains but geeze!”
“Oh, I know,” bickered the elderly woman. “It has snowed so much up by our place that our cable and internet have been down for days. I’m so mad! I’ve missed four episodes of my General Hospital, already! I heard that Laura got shot and I need to know what the hell happened!”
“You and that damn soap opera,” chimed in the elderly husband.
“Oh, shut up Barney. You know I wouldn’t watch it if you would act like a husband and actually talk to me,” she huffed before turning her full attention to the waitress.
“At least I still have the radio. Speaking of, did you hear that news conference this morning? The one about the missing woman? The one that was kidnapped?”
Instantly perking, Lexi kept her ears open but dropped her eyes to her plate. Picking at her breakfast, she acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing. Fuck, she thought. They had to be talking about her.
“It was so sad,” continued the elderly woman.
“Her boyfriend talked after the police gave their spiel. I mean, I feel so bad for the guy. It even sounded like he was crying. Just pleading for whoever had his girlfriend, to just let her go. He was so heartbroken! Just listening to his voice I could tell that he loves her so much. I just can’t imagine.
What is our world coming to? We’re all going to hell in a handbasket, I swear! ”
Taking in a sharp breath, Lexi gripped her fork tighter between her fingers and stabbed a piece of pancake. Yes, they were talking about her. The police were looking for her. Leo was looking for her. He still loved her, and he wanted her home.
Curious to know if Kade had overheard what she had, she slowly lifted her gaze towards her captor’s face.
Meeting his wild eyes, she instantly knew he had heard every single word.
He had a look that chilled her to the bone.
One that she knew was meant to threaten her with something hideous if she dared to open her mouth.
Seething in sudden anger, Kade leaned his large body over the table towards her. He wanted to make sure she paid attention to him and not the ridiculous conversation in the booth behind him. He should have killed Leo when he had the chance, it was a mistake he wasn’t going to make twice.
“You know, on second thought,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “I think we’re going to go home tomorrow. Those loose ends need to be tied up as soon as possible. Now hurry up and finish your breakfast, Sweetheart. We’re heading back to the cabin as soon as you’re done.”
Dropping her fork on her plate, Lexi nodded once in acknowledgment. Grabbing her mug, she took another sip of coffee to look unbothered. Holy fuck, she screamed internally. He’s going to kill Leo.
Actually, Nikki quipped. I think it’s more likely that he’s going to make you do it.
Agreeing with the voice in her head, she nervously licked her chapped lips.
Yes, that was exactly what he intended to happen.
He was going to make her kill Leo to prove herself.
She couldn’t let that happen. There was no way she could murder the man that truly loved her.
She needed to make a break for it. If she ran as fast as she could, she might make it to the grocery store before he knew what was happening.
Freedom was within her grasp, she needed to take it.
“I think I’m full,” she said, scooting herself to the edge of her seat. “I just need to go pee before we leave. I’ll be right back and then we can go.”
Seeing right through her paper-thin plan, Kade pulled himself from his seat, effectively blocking her from stepping away from their table. Did she honestly think she could get away so easily? Had she not learned anything about him in all this time?
“Here,” he offered, taking her by the elbow. “I’ll walk you.”
“You really don’t have to,” she countered, wrenching her arm free. “I know where the bathroom is.”
Glaring down at her, he slowly shook his head. Like hell he would let her slip away.“I’ll walk you,” he growled.
Not giving her a moment to protest, he turned down the main isle of the diner.
With slow and steady steps, he waited for her to catch up behind him.
Anger was causing his vision to run blood red; he could feel the metallic taste of adrenaline filling his mouth.
She was lucky he loved her so much. That love was the only thing stopping him at that very moment from strangling the life from her body.
How dare she even think of running from him?
Quickly catching up to her captor, she frantically looked towards the patrons and waitress. She hoped that they would notice something odd about their less than loving interaction. To her dismay, no one seemed to pay them any mind. They were too wrapped up in their own little worlds.
Think, Lexi, think , she repeated to herself. There had to be something she could do.
Following him as he rounded the corner next to the entrance, she noticed a pen lying on the wooden podium in the waiting area.
Making sure he wasn’t looking, she swiped the writing utensil and crammed it into the back pocket of her jeans.
Maybe if she somehow left a note of some kind, help would arrive before they left the cabin in the morning.
Pushing the door to the women's restroom open, he motioned for her to enter with an agitated flick of his head. “Go. I’ll wait for you right here,” he said, his face gravely serious.
“Sure...ok,” she agreed, stepping into the restroom and giving him an overly sweet smile before he closed the door.
Swearing a line of obscenities, she ran to the very first stall.
Quickly slamming the metal door, she secured the lock with shaking fingers.
Reaching for the flimsy toilet paper roll, she tore off a piece and placed it down on the top of the porcelain toilet.
Yanking the pen from her pocket, she took in a cleansing breath and began to scribble a note.
Help me.
My name is Alexandria Curtis.
That man is not my husband.
He has kidnapped me and is holding me against my will.
He is keeping me at Howling Wolf Ranch.
Please send help!
He’s going to kill me!
Hearing a quick rap on the door to the restroom, she jumped to attention.
Flushing the toilet, she picked up her flimsy note.
Her brain was running a million miles a second.
This plan was going to work. Surely someone had to wash the bathroom on a daily basis?
They would find her note and send help. Everything was going to be ok.
Exiting the dingy stall, she frantically looked around the small space for somewhere to place her hastily written plea.
Deciding that it would most likely be noticed on the sink, she walked over to the pedestal and draped the length of toilet paper over its metal faucet.
Saying a silent prayer, she smoothed her hands along the black fabric covering her torso and made her way out of the restroom.
Intently watching Lexi as she left the ladies room, Kade held out his arm and handed her warm puffy coat.
“Here, put this on. I just paid. It’s time to go, Sweetheart,” he said without further explanation.
Gulping audibly, she took her coat from her captor and followed his simple direction.
Zipping the oversized jacket closed, she followed him as he headed towards the entrance of the diner.
Giving the restaurant one last look, she found the waitress wiping down the booth she had been sitting at only minutes before.
In one single, fleeting moment, her watering eyes met Peggy’s.
Unable to speak, she let her nervous face do the talking.
Trying to give the woman some sort of silent cue, she quirked her head towards the restroom just as Kade grabbed her arm and forced her from the restaurant.