Page 22 of A Midnight Romance

Lux

Buzzing with adrenaline, I suck in a deep breath to calm the nerves, but I’m flooded with the scent of this musty motel room instead so it does nothing to ease me.

On the flight, River briefed me on how the night would go. Similar to Rich’s kill, I’m here to face Nolen and show him that the group of tormentors he’s part of did not take away my power.

River’s slowly letting me in on his plans, and I appreciate it, but as I stare at him securing Nolen, I’m eager for more.

When River’s done, he backs away and stands next to Sebastian and I.

“What do we do now?” I ask, unsure what to say or how to let on that I want more of a role in this kill.

River and Sebastian exchange a quick glance before River answers. “We wake him up.”

“How?”

“Just like this,” Sebastian says as he walks over to the bed and slaps Nolen’s face with the back of his gloved hand. “Time to wake up, buddy. ”

After slapping him a few more times, Nolen startles dazed and confused. “What the fuck?” Nolen’s eyes flick upward, spotting each one of us standing masked in front of him. “Where am I? Who the fuck are you people?”

Nolen’s eyes squint for a brief moment before realization dawns on him. “Wait, you’re the guys who grabbed me behind the strip club. River Thompson?”

“You know, Nolen, we need to stop meeting like this. I’m sure there’s more to you than the ability to use women as you wish.”

“Is that what this is about?” His expression turns smug. “You were going to get your turn, but now that Rich is missing, you’re upset that Andrew wants to put a hold on things for a while?”

My eyes fly to River as he steps forward.

On hold? What is he talking about?

I expect River to mirror my confusion, but he doesn’t seem surprised.

Instead, his jaw clenches and he says, “You think I took you because I didn’t get my turn?”

“Maybe, or like Rich, you didn’t even want to do this anyway. This life isn’t meant for a timid little accountant like him. And maybe you too?” Nolen baits.

River clicks his tongue. “You’re about to find out exactly what type of man I am.”

“What the hell is this about?” Nolen asks with impatience.

River looks over his shoulder, giving me the okay to go ahead with what I need to say.

“Do you remember me?” I ask, walking to the side of the bed.

“You do look like a woman I fucked. But you all do look the same, don’t you?” He laughs devilishly .

River glances over his shoulder at Sebastian with a devilish chuckle, before swinging his arm back and ramming into Nolen’s cheek. A loud cracking sound fills the room as River effectively breaks Nolen’s jaw. The sounds of his crushing cheekbone echo through the room.

“Ah, fuck!” Nolen screams as his head whips to the side.

“You know what this is about. Let me tell you.” River grabs his face bringing it back toward us. “You and your friends are done hurting women. And you see this beautifully, strong woman standing in front of you?”

Nolen’s expression hardens. “Yes.”

“She’s going to help end your life,” River tells him with a quick glance in my direction.

My heart pounds against my ribcage. This part of the plan was never discussed, but I can’t say I’m upset about it—more anxious or eager?

Sebastian steps forward, placing a hand on River’s. “Quick word, River.”

River shoots a threatening look at Nolen before walking to the other side of the room with Sebastian, but not before taking my hand to join them.

“What are you doing?” Sebastian spits out, keeping his voice low.

“We didn’t discuss this, but Lux deserves a chance to truly avenge herself.” River’s words speak for me, verbalizing how I feel brings a warmth.

“How do we even know—” Sebastian begins as if I’m not standing right next to them.

“I can do it,” I interrupt.

River’s eyes beam as they meet mine. “I’ll show you.”

“What the fuck?” Sebastian whispers to himself .

“She can’t do it, can she?” Nolen’s voice grates my ears like nails on a chalkboard. “I knew you wouldn’t.”

“Shut up,” Sebastian tells him, then turns to River. “Are you sure about this?”

With one more look at me, River nods. “Yeah.”

Sebastian clasps his hands behind his head with apprehension and frustration.

I swallow hard, trying to remember the times my father took me to the shooting range, which was only a few times, but I enjoyed it.

He insisted, reminding me knowing how to properly use a firearm doesn’t mean I’ll ever have to use one.

But now I find myself face-to-face with a predator, feeling grateful I learned the basics.

“With a gun, right?” I ask, I hear my voice shake with adrenaline.

Can I really do this?

Am I able to take another human’s life?

I have to. I have to stop him from hurting someone else.

Sensing my fear, River rubs his thumb on the inside of my palm. “Yes. I’ll be right here with you.”

I nod, biting my lip.

“You can do it,” he tells me, guiding me over the bed where Nolen lies, still secured to the frame.

Drops of blood spill from the inch-long slice in his face while he flushes with panic. “Listen, if you let me go, I will tell you whatever you want to know.”

“I already know what I need to know,” River says with steady authority.

Nolen grimaces, fighting to keep his mouth shut, accepting he’ll have to give in. An attempt to save his own life, but what he doesn’t realize is that it won’t make a difference .

With a heavy inhale, I breath in ready to say what I need to say. “You cannot hurt me anymore,” I begin.”

“You’re still standing, so apparently you didn’t meet the same fate as the others. Maybe, be grateful?” Nolen’s lips pursed together with anger, the whites of his eye now filling with a deep scarlet.

Anger flows through my veins in combination with adrenaline.

I should be grateful that I’m the one who survived? And how am I using my spared life if not for avenging what happened?

“You have no more power over me. When you’re dead, we will move on to the rest of your friends and we won’t stop until we’ve taken care of all of you.”

River wraps a hand around my back, placing a handgun into my right palm. The metal shocking my skin, but on reflex, my fingers curl around it.

“Okay, fine, I get it. You’re pissed, but this is all Andrew’s fault.

That’s why he had his eyes on you that night.

Some stupid vendetta he has against the police because of what they did to his brother.

” He coughs up phlegm and blood, his words slurring as he drifts in and out of consciousness from the needle I pricked him with.

“And Thompson, I knew there was something fucking weird about you.”

My chest tightens from his words. “What vendetta against the police?”

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” Sebastian chimes in from behind us, sounding annoyed.

River agrees with Sebastian, because his body is suddenly flush with mine. Standing at my back, he brings both hands over mine as we grab the trigger together. “Okay, Lux.”

Bile creeps up my throat, but I swallow it down. “I’m ready. ”

River brings his face close to mine as we both stand with our arms out pointing the barrel at our target. “This is for everything he and his friend took from you.”

“This is one step closer to getting my life back.”

“Keep your eyes open,” he says. “Now, on the count of three.”

Sucking in a gulp of air and holding the breath, I let River command my movements.

“One.”

My muscles stiffen.

“Two.”

A tear rolls down my cheek as my chest burns.

“Three.”

One silenced bullet flies directly into Nolen’s head right as the force sends me backward. Not expecting the kickback from the shot to knock the wind out of me, I lose my balance, but River’s arms tighten bracing me as I stumble.

“Wow, Lux,” Sebastian comments, suddenly at my side. “Not bad.”

My hands come to my heart as it hammers against my lungs and I struggle to take a full breath. This is happening.

“Are you all right?” River angles his head to capture my eyes.

“I think so.”

I finally chance a look at Nolen, handcuffed to the bed, with blood, and what looks to be flesh or brain matter, splattered on the dated flowery wallpaper behind him.

After only a moment, I have to look away from the scene, my head burying itself into River’s shoulder.

He leans in to press a deep kiss onto my temple and my heart skips a beat.

“Okay, I’m going to call Hayden and the guys to clean up,” Sebastian says, sliding off baseball hat to smooth his hair before putting it back on. “I’m sure you’re going to want to take Lux back to the plane to rest before we leave.”

“Yeah, we should head back.”

I listen to their conversation, but my mind is occupied by what just happened. It reels from how River guided me and the lingering effects of the gentlest kiss which seemed simple, but carried so much more with it.

“Let’s go,” I hear River say as he guides me to the SUV outside. The ride to the airport feels like a blur, and by the time Hayden comes back with Sebastian I'm exhausted.

River and I sit across from each other by the window as Sebastian boards the plane, walks right past us and into the back bedroom and shuts the door. It’s the early morning hours by the time we take off.

“How are you doing?” River asks, leaning forward on bent knees.

“I’m doing better now that we’re headed back.” I wish I had more to say, but I don’t. Not sure if I’m in shock or relaxed, but at this moment my brain is slowly catching up with what my body is feeling.

“You should be proud of yourself.”

His kindness makes me break a smile, but the truth is, I helped kill a man. And not like with Rich where I was a bystander. River might have helped me pull the trigger, but I did it.

Am I okay with this?

What type of person does it make me that the feelings I get are not remorse, but relief?

“I am, but it doesn’t erase the fact that I took a man’s life,” I confess, looking away from him.

“You shouldn’t feel guilty. Not when he deserved it.”

I hear his words, and they do resonate, but being conflicted internally is something I’m going to have to carry myself. “I know. ”

River’s hand comes up to cups my cheek. It’s comforting and it makes me not feel as alone.

“It will get easier. Just remind yourself that you’re taking out the trash in a way that the law would never be able to do. At least, that’s what helps me.”

I’m struck by how casually he mentions it. This is the first time he’s admitted to doing this often, and it does somewhat confirm my suspicions.

A slight change in expression shows he’s carrying something.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“Remember, I mentioned I was at the club that night you were taken?”

“I do.”

“I was there to stake out Andrew.” My heart stops.

Unsure of where this conversation is going, I remain silent to let him finish.

“I have been watching him for a while from something he did in the past and unfortunately got away with. He introduced me to Rich, Nolen, and Duncan and asked me to join his group. I was playing along with it once I realized it wasn’t only going to be him I was after anymore. ”

River was after them the whole time?

“Is that what you refused to tell me when I asked you what you meant about you and your guys were taking care of it?”

“Yes. Andrew still thinks I’m interested.”

“He thinks you’re one of them?” I ask, my mind spinning.

“He thinks I want to be one of them.”

I knew River was hiding more than what he was telling me, and although I’m grateful for his admission right now, I’m shocked. “Wow. Okay. ”

“Lux,” he whispers my name. “There’s something you should know.”

I squeeze my eyes shut making sense of everything he’s saying. “Yeah?”

“This is what I do.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, but I know what he’s alluding to.

“I think you know.”

River leans back in his chair, eying me intently. Like he’s searching for more of a reaction to his confession. But what he doesn’t know is that I don’t care and the darkness in him is something I recognize in myself.

I give him an understanding smile.

He stands. My head tilts upward toward his tall frame, watching him move closer to me. Unexpectedly, he bends to scoop me up. Stifling a stomach of frantic butterflies, I tuck myself into his hard chest.

River sits back in the seat and I melt into him. “That’s better.”

There will be more time to process and ask him questions in the days to come, but right now I’m exhausted.

“Are you upset?” he asks.

“No, I get it.”

A chuckle vibrates his chest. “I’m infatuated with you, Lux Levinson.”

We spend the remainder of the flight in that position.