Chapter 26
I’m going stir crazy being in this house with nothing to do, and I’m running out of clothes. Yes, technically I could do laundry now that I actually know where the laundry room is in the house, but I want to get out. No, I need to get out.
I’m almost thirty years old. I’m perfectly capable of going and doing things for myself.
It will be simple. I’m just going to grab some things from my house, and have a little alone time.
Plus, it’s really past time for me to face the damage that the intruder did to my house, even though Camden has assured me that it has all been repaired and cleaned up.
I need to reclaim my independence, or at least try to. I’m not a damsel in distress, and I’m getting tired of being sequestered away for my safety.
Yes, I relished the protective nature of my mate in the beginning, and I still do. It is ridiculously hot when he gets all protective and dominant. But at the end of the day, I’m used to being on my own, and not asking for permission to do what I want.
So I’m going out. I’m going to get dressed in something other than sweats or pajamas and get out of this house.
I have already accomplished the getting dressed part, so the next step is leaving the house.
Of course, I then realize I don’t know where my car keys are.
Sighing and grumbling to myself, I go off to find Brent.
Surely he will know where my missing keys are.
Well, shoot .
I can’t find him, or anyone for that matter. Of course, when I actually need someone they are nowhere to be found. I know Don and Aiden have gone to work, but I didn’t think they had all left. Had they?
I don’t even see Camden.
What the hell, did they leave me here and not say anything? Fine, I’ll use one of their cars.
I probably should text Don and ask, but he is at work and I haven’t gotten around to getting the other guy’s numbers. It hasn’t really come up. They are always around, except, of course, for now.
My mind is made up. I’m just going to borrow a car. I’m a good driver.
I walk through the house back to the garage where I know Brent keeps a few vehicles. I have to admit I’m getting a little excited. I have been eyeing one in particular. I can’t wait to drive that baby.
With the flip of the light switch, I walk down the few steps into the large four car garage. Two cars and a motorcycle are still parked. They really did leave me here alone, what the hell.
Brent’s SUV that he normally drives is missing, which solidifies my decision to borrow one of his other cars. With the keys hanging in plain sight, I snatch the ones to the sleek, blacked out BMW that I have secretly been drooling over.
With the push of a button, I’m seated in the plush leather driver’s seat.
I inhale deeply, closing my eyes for a moment as I take in the luxurious smells.
Brent’s scent permeates the car’s interior, and I can’t deny that his scent does something to me.
It’s incredibly potent, and sitting in his sleek sports car, I’m finally brave enough to admit to myself that I like his scent just as much as I like Don’s. What does that even mean?
Adjusting the seat and the mirrors, I smirk to myself because I just know that will irritate him.
I start the car, reveling in the growl of the engine.
A thrill shoots through me, and a wide grin spreads across my face.
The garage door rolls up, and I take off down the driveway. I’m going to have fun today.
Cruising around town in Brent’s car gives me so much joy. A little bit of that joy comes from stealing his car, and I’m big enough to admit that. No one has called my phone wondering where I am, so I assume that they don’t even know I left. I grin mischievously.
I wonder if I can make it back without anyone figuring it out.
I get a few texts from Don asking how I’m doing, and I just happen to not mention what I’m actually getting up to.
I only feel a little guilty. There is just something about driving a powerful expensive car that puts oneself in a great mood.
I can definitely see why Brent has this car, even though I don’t think he drives it often.
But it also makes me wonder just how much money he has, and what he actually does for work.
I don’t go to my house right away. Instead, I spend the next few hours doing a little shopping, making sure to stop and grab a much needed latte, and then I drive by my house to grab a few things that I have been missing.
I mentally prepare myself to expect the house to be trashed, but when I pull into the driveway nothing looks out of place.
Without having my keys, I have to climb over the side gate, and walk around to the back door. Lifting the garden gnome that sits next to the door mat, I grab my spare house key. Good thing the intruder didn’t find this.
“Well, here goes nothing.”
Unlocking the back door and replacing the key, I walk into my house.
I haven’t been here in over two weeks, and it feels weird. The house has been cleaned, but I notice immediately that some of my furniture is missing. My bottom lip quivers slightly. It had taken a lot of careful consideration and time to get all of the items in my house.
I shake myself out of my funk, not wanting to get upset over furniture that can easily be replaced. That’s if I even want to replace anything. The most important things to me are already safe at Brent’s.
Walking through to my bedroom, I notice that even more of the furniture is missing, and I’m starting to think that this trip has been a waste of time.
The clothes that had been left are no longer present.
Why hadn’t I even asked anyone what kind of damage was done to my house?
I should have asked, but I had been too relieved just knowing that Indy was fine.
I hadn’t cared in that moment; it just hadn’t seemed important.
Realizing there is nothing for me to grab pisses me off.
My fists clench and a growl bubbles up and out of my throat.
This was my home! Someone had come in and wrecked it!
I want to throw something, but there isn’t anything for me to throw.
That realization makes the anger slowly ebb.
Taking in some deep breaths, I try to calm myself.
It’s no use dwelling on what I can’t change.
I exit my bedroom as my phone begins to vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see it is Don and quickly accept the call.
“Hi, babe.”
”Kinley, what are you doing right now?” His careful tone immediately puts me on edge.
“Why?”
”Baby…why did I get a notification that you are in your house?”
Looking around suspiciously, I answer.
“Seriously, Don, did you have cameras installed in my house?”
”Baby, we told you we installed a security system.”
“Don…I just walked in. There is no security system.”
“Yes, there is, but that is beside the point. How did you get there? Are you by yourself?”
”Why does it matter, Don? It’s my house, and besides, you all left me at Brent’s by myself.”
My irritation grows further, hearing his next response.
“Baby, you could have messaged or called me.”
“Don…I love you, but I’m a grown ass woman that doesn’t need permission to leave the house and run errands for myself.”
Muffled curses answer me before he responds more clearly.
“Kinley, I absolutely know that, and I wouldn’t even bring it up if you didn’t have someone gunning for you who knows where you live.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I take in a deep breath to calm my frustration.
“Well, I’m not going to be here for much longer.
Had I known that there wasn’t anything salvageable, I wouldn’t have bothered coming here to get some of my stuff.
” Hearing him getting ready to say something, I quickly continue, cutting him off.
“And before you say anything, I didn’t ask one of you because I needed to get out of the house.
And just so you know where I’m going next, I’m going to get a few things to make for dinner tonight and then go back to Brent’s. ”
A deep exhale of breath answers me.
“Ok, be safe, call me if you need anything. Even if it’s something small…please.”
Still not mentioning that I have Brent’s car, I agree that I will and end the call.
Locking up my house, I quickly get back into Brent’s car and drive over to the grocery store.
Trying not to let the conversation with Don irritate me further, I concentrate on making a grocery list in my head of the food I will need to make dinner.
Making it to the store, I carefully park in a spot far away from other cars, not wanting to add getting the car scratched to my list of transgressions for the day.
Though thinking of Brent’s expression when he realizes I took his car does cheer me up a little.
Why does it give me so much pleasure irritating him?
I shrug and grab a cart. I’m not going to worry about that.
I don’t know what it is about grocery shopping, but it just has a way of relaxing me. The only thing that could have made it better is if I had my ear buds and could listen to an audiobook while I did it. I wander the aisles, occasionally grabbing something I need, but I’m in no hurry to get back.
All checked out with a cart full of groceries, I push the cart out to the waiting BMW.
With the parking lot almost empty it’s easy to spot the lone black sports car, but as I draw closer a pit in my stomach begins to form.
I quickly realize something is very, very wrong.
Glass litters the ground all around the car, and it takes a few moments for my brain to process what I’m looking at.