Liar

  When the car in front of us turned down the street to head toward the police station, Blake drove past, parking down the road in front of a lawyer’s office that was closed for the evening.

  I popped up, turning in my seat to look out the back window.

  Marc and Brandon were pulled from the car. They were escorted inside.

  They were both calm. Straight faces.

  Like they’ve done this a thousand times.

  “Real pros you’ve got there,” Blake said. He’d twisted to check out the back window, too. “Not afraid of a night in jail.”

  My heart was in my throat, as if watching them go inside that building would be the last I ever saw of either of them. “I need to find Axel.”

  Blake rolled back into his seat. “He’s going to call their Academy group. You should pay attention to who he talks to.”

  “We need to find Sara,” I said. “We don’t have time for this. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

  “What’s that?”

  I turned in my seat, sliding back into place. “I don’t know. We can’t find Fred. We can’t seem to locate the mother. The guy…Henry. He’s confident. Like he’s already won. I mean, he had his bounty hunters over for a party, right? If he was looking for an escapee worth two hundred k, wouldn’t he have all his guys out looking for him?”

  Blake corrected himself in the seat. “Are you sure he isn’t in jail already?”

  “The woman said the job wasn’t done yet.”

  “Maybe he’s finished up another case,” he said.

  “Maybe. The grandmother paid him off to not chase after the guy any more. Maybe he’s celebrating that, but the woman said the job wasn’t done yet. He’s still watching the apartment. Future said he might try to double…double down? Capture him and get their money back, anyway. They haven’t done it yet. Why isn’t the mother looking for either of them? Why can’t we find her? It’s like they all disappeared.”

  Blake combed his hair with his fingers. “I don’t know, sugar plum. Sound like this girl you saw at the party is the talker. Who was she?”

  “I don’t know. I may need to ask Future.”

  “So we’re going back for her? That’s risky. You can’t show your face there again.”

  “I need to get a hold of Axel, too. I need to make it look like I ran away after I saw Marc and Brandon had been arrested.”

  “You’re not wandering the streets alone waiting for him to show up.” He put the car into drive and started rolling down the street. “I’ll drop you off at the hotel. If they ask, you can tell them you hitched a ride.”

  I took the phone out, looking at it. “I could call them.”

  “No,” he said.

  “I should call them now, tell them I’m on the way,” I said. “If I let you drive me, we might get caught together. And I need you to go back for Future.”

  “Hold your horses there,” he said. He stepped on the gas. “One thing at a time. I’m taking you to the closest fast food place or shop on the block nearby the party. I’ll wait until someone shows up for you, and then I’ll look for Future. If they get too interested in her, she may be disappearing, too.”

  I gazed over at Blake. He’d never met her, and he was protecting her from people he thought could kidnap her, even if it might not be true. “You know,” I said. “You’re not the same guy I met two days ago trying to poison a well.”

  “It was three days ago when you first met me, and you can’t hold that over my head forever.” He flashed a smile, dazzling and clever. “And I am the same guy. I’m not a bad guy.”

  I twisted my lips to say thank you in some way but couldn’t find a way to say it without being corny.

  Blake dropped me off at a gas station that was a block away from the party house.

  “I’ll wait until you’re picked up,” he said.

  “Go get Future,” I said, and started to climb out of the car. “You’ll know her when you see her. Ask for her. Make sure she’s okay.”

  “Hey,” Blake said, snagging my arm before I could get my second foot on the ground.

  I leaned back toward him, wondering if he thought of something else we’d forgotten.

  Blake leaned over and kissed me.

  My first reaction was to pull back, and I almost did. I was a whirlwind of emotions. It didn’t feel like the right time for this.

  Then suddenly his lips parted, and I found something. A small piece of security. An escape. From all the uncertainty around me, he felt sure.

  And it scared the dickens out of me. My heart raced and I leaned further into him, parting my lips, too. It was like I needed to feel absolutely sure about something and he may have been the only thing left that made sense.

  Why did I have a problem saying no to anyone lately? I was in desperate need to feel wanted and anyone showing me affection drew me in quickly.

  He tilted his head into the kiss. His lips grazed along mine at first, and then went deeper, sucking at my lower lip and tracing his tongue across it. His hands released the car and he captured my face. His fingers traced my neck.

  When he broke, he kept his head close to mine, nose to nose. “Every bone in my body is telling me to take you to Europe right now,” he said in a raspy voice.

  “Blake…”

  “But you’d probably find something out there to save,” he said. “And I’d end up crawling after you.”

  I grunted. I started to pull away.

  His hands cupped my cheeks and he forced me to face him. “I would, too,” he said. “Find some cause and justify it by thinking I’m doing the right thing. It’s probably why I like you. We’re so much alike.”

  “We’re completely different,” I said. We had to be. He was super rich, had all the privileges given to him. He wouldn’t understand me, who had always been poor, always had to scrape to get by. If he got tired of this, he could go back to being the rich playboy he was before. I thought I’d always have to struggle to get what I needed. As it was, I was depending on other people for a place to live, for food, for everything.

  He laughed and softened his hold on me, but traced his thumbs across my cheeks. “We’re both crazy,” he said. “We’re both here for the same reason.”

  “I’m here for a girl,” I said, trying to get him to focus. “She’s been taken.”

  He nodded slowly, the smile deepening. “It’s what I’m here for. Just not the same girl.”

  My heart thundered. “I…”

  He cut me off by kissing me again. My eyes instinctively closed.

  I pulled away. I didn’t want to, but there wasn’t time, and the guilt was heavy.

  Blake eased away from me. “Whatever happens,” he said, “don’t let them make you disappear. Don’t make me have to tear apart every damn one of them to find you. Because I will.”

  I floated from his promises. “You’d find another girl. You don’t even know me.”

  Blake flinched. “You’re so cruel.” He nudged me. “That’s it. Get out before I get crazy and propose to you or something.”

  I grunted. “Jerk face,” I said, and I climbed out. I held the door open for a moment, thinking about apologizing but then slammed the door. Propose. Like anyone would marry me. Idiot.

  He laughed loudly. He remained there in the lot while I walked into the gas station. To drive him crazy, I went into the women’s bathroom to make my phone call.

  I took a moment to press myself against the wall to let my jumbled nerves settle.

  THE GENTLE HEART

  Once I managed to kick the spell of Blake Coaltar out of my system, I started to call Axel and then stopped. I was worried he may yell at me about this, about leaving the boys.

  I dialed Corey.

  He picked up after a half ring, like he’d been waiting. “Hey!” he said. “How’s the party? That still going on?”

  “Corey,” I said, realizing the boys may not have gotten their one phone call after being taken to the station. They didn’t know. “Marc and Brandon go
t arrested.”

  There was a slight pause. “What?”

  I told him about Brandon checking out the house, Marc going in after him. “There was a fight. I was running around the side of the house, and they were getting pulled into the car in cuffs.”

  “Axel!” He said away from the phone, and there was shuffling on his end. “Got you on speaker, Kayli. Where are you?” he asked me.

  “I don’t have keys to the SUV,” I said. “I wasn’t sure if I should go to it anyway, because they know the car now. They know it’s the same one that was checking out Fred’s apartment. I walked down to a gas station.”

  “What’s the name of it?” I think it was Axel asking, the voice was farther away.

  “I…” I realized I hadn’t even looked at the name. “Sorry, I ran into the women’s bathroom to call. Didn’t check. I can go get the address.”

  “Stay in the bathroom,” Axel said. “Don’t leave it. We don’t need them finding you now. Keep your phone on and we’ll find you.”

  They could trace where I am. “I’ll stay here.”

  “Getting her location,” Corey said.

  “Call her a cab from the hotel phone,” Axel said. “Keep her on the line though. I’m going after the boys.”

  “I should go,” I said.

  “You’re staying out of this,” Axel said. “You’re done.”

  “But…”

  “Kayli,” he barked. “I’ve got the boys. I’ll get them out. If they don’t associate you with us, you may be one of the only ones left that can get close and figure out what’s going on with the missing girl. Stay there until a cab gets there, then have it take you here directly.”

  “Okay,” I said, with some relief. I’d anticipated having to go inside the police station, a thought that made me tremble. Did I have police phobia? I just didn’t want Marc or Brandon to think I’d just abandoned them.

  “Stay with me, Kayli,” Corey said. “Almost got you.”

  I sat in one of the stalls while I waited. The gas station attendant probably thought I’d died in the bathroom. I wondered if Blake was still outside.

  At least there wasn’t a chance of Corey driving up and spotting him.

  “If you’re ever in trouble or running from someone,” Corey said while we were waiting, “call a cab.”

  It took only ten minutes after Corey placed a call before a cab showed up. As soon as he said it was there, I ran out, leaving Corey on the phone.

  “Keep me on the line until you see me,” Corey said.

  I scanned the lot for Blake before getting in the car, but I didn’t see him. I wondered if he’d left.

  I climbed into the cab, which smelled musty. The driver had his cell phone in his hands and he dropped it off into the cup holder. “The hotel, yes?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  He was off. Corey must have given him the hotel name.

  “Car break down?” he asked.

  “Uh,” I said, “yeah.”

  He nodded. I wasn’t sure he believed me. Maybe because I was dressed a little slutty.

  Once he pulled around, I spotted Blake. He had pulled to the farthest corner of the gas station, where there was an air machine. He waited until the cab pulled onto the street before he turned on his engine and started rolling forward.

  For a moment, I was worried he’d try following, but he turned off a street, heading back toward Henry’s house.

  I settled into the seat.

  ♠♠♠♠♠♠

  Corey was hanging out in front of the lobby doors. The moment the cab rolled up, he jumped forward, opening the door for me.

  “Kayli,” he said, as I stepped out. “You okay?”

  I nodded, although my lips felt glued together. I’d been worn thin earlier and now I was ready to fall to pieces. It’d been a wild week.

  “Give me a second.” He looked in where the cab driver had rolled down the passenger window. He held out cash. “Keep the change.”

  The cab driver nodded, rolling away.

  I stood aside. I waited for Corey to tell me how much he knew, if he knew about Blake, about what had really happened at the party.

  Corey turned to me, his smile brightening and he held out his arms in welcome. “Holy crap,” he said. “Seriously, are you okay?”

  My eyes widened and I stiffened just for a moment, surprised. I don’t know what I had been expecting, probably to be bombarded with questions right away. Lured by his warmth, I stepped toward him.

  The moment I did, he finished closing the gap between us, like he’d just needed my signal. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight, pressing his cheek to mine. His hands rubbed my back, fingers massaging my spine. “Kayli?” he asked, checking in.

  I sighed and relaxed into him. His hug was warm and so sweet. I encircled my arms around him, a little loose at first because I was tired, but I found myself hugging him tightly, as hard as I could muster, for a second. “I’m okay,” I said, although a little croaky.

  “Come on,” he said, shifting to put an arm around my neck to tug me toward the hotel. “Are you hungry? I’ve got pizza coming. You like pepperoni, right?”

  I snuggled into him, walking with my head against his shoulder like we were old pals, my arm still wrapped around his middle as he held on to me. “Perfect,” I said.

  “Good. Axel and Raven left,” he said. “Last I heard, they were already at the station.”

  “So we’ll stay here until they call us?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” he said. He guided me toward the elevator and pressed the button. The doors opened instantly and we loaded in. “Probably a good thing they went instead of me. Raven was getting restless.”

  “I’m surprised he’s been sitting back.”

  “Someone’s got to take the night shift,” he said. “Raven and Axel probably will now.” The elevator started to rise and he pulled me tighter. “Okay but tell me all about what happened. I got bits and pieces, but catch me up.”

  I talked to him as we got to the room. I wasn’t sure how much he knew, so I started from when I last saw him until the party. I was still talking as we both claimed spots on one of the beds. He took one of the pillows, lying on his side, propping himself up on one hand. I sprawled out on my back, pillow under my head, facing him but occasionally looking at the ceiling.

  “So that’s where you got the skirt,” he said, looking down at my outfit.

  I shifted my legs as I realized I was kind of spread eagle with the skirt on. Very un-ladylike. “I want to change before anyone gets back. I don’t want Raven seeing me like this.”

  Corey hopped up instantly. He went for his own overnight bag, dug out an Indiana Jones T-shirt and some blue boxers. He presented them. “Will these do?”

  I smothered a laugh, not wanting him to think I was laughing at him. He was just so helpful and happy that he seemed to switch my mood instantly. I got up, reaching for the clothes. “Yeah,” I said.

  “I like the skirt,” he said, “but I don’t think it’s you.”

  My smile lifted. That sounded good. He didn’t care for it and I didn’t either. “Marc and Brandon liked it.”

  Corey shrugged. “It’s okay. I mean maybe if it was different. It’s a little too…sexy.”

  I think he meant slutty and was trying to be nice. I nodded. “Yeah, I’m not really…”

  “Well, I mean you are,” he said. His cheeks started turning red and he pushed a palm against the back of his neck. “I mean, hang on. There’s just different…you… Erm.”

  His fumbling made me laugh this time. I waved my hand. “No, I get it.”

  His smile lifted and he laughed, too. He opened his mouth, muttered a few syllables and then there was a knock at the door. He diverted his attention. “Must be the pizza guy.”

  “I’ll go change,” I said.

  I started heading toward the bathroom, but stopped to sit on the bed and take off the kitten heels. I looked for a place to put them out of the way but where I
would see them; I had to return them to Future.

  Corey opened the door for the pizza guy, inviting him in for a second. Corey took the pizza, so the guy could pull out the receipt from his pocket and smooth it out. The pizza guy, looking around, spotted me. “Three whole pizzas for just you two?”

  I don’t know why, but the question irked me. “Yup,” I said, my eyes wide, dropping the shoes on the bed and then standing. None of your business either, buddy.

  “I think she’s claimed a whole one for herself,” Corey said, with laughter in his tone. He came back to sign the receipt.

  “Your girlfriend can eat the whole thing?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Probably,” Corey said. He signed and passed the paper back. “Thanks.”

  He nodded, looked once more at me and then left.

  I rolled my eyes, easing a bit. I wasn’t usually so grumpy with someone bringing me food but I didn’t like being challenged as to what I could do, like eat a whole pizza, just because I was a girl.

  Corey locked the door after the pizza guy left. I started toward the bathroom. Corey smiled as I passed him. “That’s like the umpteenth time we’ve been boyfriend and girlfriend,” he said, with a playful laugh.

  “Must be a sign,” I said, feeling better now that it was the two of us again. “You and I should just go out.”

  He beamed, laughed again and nodded. “Okay.”

  I giggled and then walked into the bathroom, closing the door. There was an instant where I thought maybe he might have been serious, but I shook it off. He’s gay. He was laughing. I was laughing. He knew better.

  Although if he wasn’t interested in just boys, I would have serious problems choosing between him and Brandon, along with the rest of them.

  But there was that whole Academy mess. He was part of it. I couldn’t forget no matter how innocent he seemed.

  I changed, used the bathroom, and washed my face. I combed my hair out with my hands. I wanted a shower, but was too hungry to do that now.