Page 16

Chapter Fifteen

Kai

I listen to Tokyo hum softly as she gets ready in her room, the faint clinking of makeup brushes against a glass jar filling the quiet. My phone buzzes on the nightstand, breaking the moment. Rolling over, I grab it and squint at the screen. Missed calls from the guys and Stacy. One notification catches my eye—a message from Lovergirl666.

A grin spreads across my face as I slide the notification to the side, opening the app. It’s a selfie.

She’s dressed in a white mesh bodysuit corset, shimmery pink butterflies scattered like constellations over her skin. Her long hair is styled in perfect space buns, adorned with matching pink butterflies that sparkle under the light. Her white-winged eyeliner highlights the shimmer dusting her eyelids, the bridge of her nose, and the curve of her cupid’s bow. She looks like magic personified.

Lovergirl666: Heartless tonight ;)

I glance at the clock—8:57 p.m.. Shit. Almost nine. Scrambling out of bed, I drop my phone, cursing under my breath. Before I can pick it up, faint footsteps approach my door, followed by a soft knock.

“Kai?”

My hand hovers over the doorknob as I glance down at myself—still dressed in yesterday’s work clothes. Deciding not to overthink it, I pull the door open.

The picture didn’t do her justice. She’s utterly breathtaking. The white of her bodysuit contrasts against her light brown skin, every pink butterfly shimmering like stardust under the hallway light. White fishnets wrap her legs, leading to fluffy white boots that complete the look. More pink glitter covers her exposed skin, trailing along the edges of her thong.

Her brown eyes, warm and rich like melted chocolate, catch mine, holding them for a beat before she speaks. “Are you still going to Heartless?”

I nod, leaning against the doorframe. “I got a race first. I’ll meet you there.”

She smiles, small but warm. “Okay, well, I’m about to head out with Miko. He should be here any minute now.”

“Sounds good. I’ll text you when I’m around.”

“Okay.” She turns to leave, but I call out before she gets too far.

“Hey, Trouble?”

She glances back, her eyes catching the light, glowing softly with a subtle hint of pink glitter dusted across her lids.

“You look magical. Fucking perfect. Be safe.”

Her cheeks tint pink under the shimmer as she gives me a timid smile and a small wave. I don’t watch her leave; instead, I shut the door and head to the bathroom. Stripping down, I step into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the day and the image of her smile, though it clings stubbornly to the edges of my thoughts.

The drive to Eden Valley is a blur of dark desert roads and the hum of my car’s engine. The faint glow of neon grows stronger as I get closer, pulsing like a heartbeat in the distance. By the time I pull into the meet-up spot, the air is electric with anticipation. A dome rises out of the desert like something from a dream—pink and red neon spilling across the barren landscape. Android bots designed to look like cute and seductive cupids dance around it, shooting arrows in choreographed waves toward the glowing structure. Each arrow lights up the sky, giving the illusion they’re aimed at the crowd, and every time the beat drops, the crowd roars.

The techno music blasting from the dome echoes through the valley, heavy bass lines vibrating in my chest. The rave is already in full swing, its chaotic energy spilling over into the starting line.

But I’m not here for that. I’m here for one reason only, and that’s for her.

The crowd at the starting line is just as alive as the rave. Neon lights flicker on rows of modified cars, and the smell of gasoline and burning rubber hangs heavy in the air. People mill around, shouting bets, throwing cash, and hyping up the racers. I pull up next to Chino, who’s leaning against his car with no shirt, his inked chest on full display. His goggles sit on his shaved head, and he’s rocking baggy jeans with a teddy crop jacket. Beside him, Lalo is smoking, dressed in a see-through black shirt, baggy cargo pants, and an arsenal of alternative jewelry chains hanging off his neck and wrists.

“Damn, you guys clean up nice,” I say as I step out of my car, the cold desert air biting at my skin. My black long-sleeve shirt clings to me, rips exposing flashes of skin. The gun holster slung across my chest is more for show than utility, but it works with the black cargo pants that sit low on my hips, showing off my v-cuts. The silver studs and chains on my belt catch the light, and my black circle shades complete the look.

“Where’s Tokyo?” Lalo asks, looking around.

I shrug, scanning the crowd. I don’t see her. Not yet. For a moment, my gaze drifts to the dome and the cupid bots. Their mechanical movements are hypnotic, each arrow lighting up the air like streaks of fire. When the beat drops, they blow kisses to the crowd, sending more arrows flying. The crowd cheers, lost in the spectacle.

The races begin, engines roaring as some unknown white boys line up with Beto and his gang.

“I thought we were racing tonight?” I ask, my irritation bleeding into my voice.

Chino taps my shoulder, squeezing it. “You know the Cobras—they needed in. We’re sitting this one out.”

“That’s bullshit.”

Lalo nods, taking a drag from his cigarette. “But you know how the streets are,” he says, exhaling smoke.

I sigh, knowing they’re right. “No Stacy?”

I shake my head and reach into my cargo pocket, pulling out a tube with a pre-rolled joint. Bringing it to my lips, Lalo steps forward, flicking his Zippo to light it. I take a long pull, the burn settling into my lungs as I exhale slowly.

“Those assholes are ruining tonight for us,” Chino grumbles, watching the red Challenger line up with a decked-out Mitsubishi Eclipse. “I thought I’d walk out of here with five stacks in my pocket.”

I glance toward the crowd again, and from the corner of my eye, I catch a familiar shape. A movement. A silhouette I know too well. Tokyo. Her figure is unmistakable, even in the chaos. She’s arguing with someone—a figure in a creepy porcelain doll mask, their body cloaked in shadows. My chest tightens.

Taking another pull from the joint, I absentmindedly pass it to Lalo, my focus locked on her. “I’ll be back,” I mutter to the guys, pulling my phone from my pocket. My feet move without thinking, heading toward her as she shoves the masked figure back, anger etched in every line of her body. Before I can reach her, she storms off into the crowd, vanishing in the sea of bodies.

My eyes dart across the crowd, searching for her. The pounding bass, flashing lights, and shifting shapes blur together, but then I spot her—standing by Miko’s Honda.

“Tokyo!” I shout over the music, pushing through the crowd toward her. She’s standing still, her shoulders tense, and as I approach, she slowly turns to face me. Her lips curve into a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m all good,” she says, her voice light, almost too casual. “You clean up nice.”

“Tokyo, who was that?” I get straight to the point, but she waves me off with a scoff.

“Who was what?”

I step closer, my voice low. “Tokyo, don’t play with me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Jeez, it’s a fucking rave. Have some fun, Kai,” she says, brushing past me.

I watch as she opens the back door of Miko’s car and pulls out a silver metal bat. She twirls it once, the grin on her face sharp and dangerous.

“What the fuck? Bringing a bat to a rave?” I ask, my tone sharper than I intended.

She shrugs, still twirling the bat as if it’s nothing. “Call it security.”

I step forward, pressing her body against the car, my hands shooting out to rest on the cool metal on each side of her head. Her body flushes against mine, and my voice comes low, rough, the words leaving no room for argument.

“No one will touch you if I’m around. I’m all the security you need.”

She tilts her chin up, her brown eyes narrowing slightly. “Where’s Stacy?”

“It doesn’t matter where she is. You are my sister. My baby.”

“Kai…”

Her voice falters, softening, and for a moment, it’s just the two of us. We stare into each other’s eyes, caught in something unspoken, something heavy that lingers in the space between us. Her perfume is intoxicating, sweet and sharp, and the tension feels like it could snap at any second.

The sudden screech of tires tears through the air, shattering the moment. Engines roar as the race begins, and she playfully pushes me away.

“Let’s go have fun. Loosen up,” she says, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding, but the knot in my chest doesn’t ease. As she starts to walk away, I reach out, grabbing her wrist. The softness of her skin under my fingers is a stark contrast to the frustration boiling inside me.

I pull her back toward me, my grip firm. “You stay with me all night,” I order, the words heavy with something I can’t quite name.

She doesn’t fight it. Her feet fall into step with mine as I guide her back to the guys. The closer we get, the harder my chest tightens. Lalo’s whistle cuts through the chaos, his gaze locking on Tokyo, and I know exactly what’s going through his head. It always is.

“Damn, mamas,” Chino says, his grin wide and lazy. “You look better and sexier every time I see you.”

Tokyo doesn’t miss a beat. “Funny, you look thirstier and more desperate.” Her bite is sharp, her words quick, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

Fireworks erupt overhead.

pop. pop. pop.

Hearts burst in the dark sky, illuminating the dome in a wash of pink and red. The crowd cheers, their voices rising in unison as the robot inside the dome takes center stage.

The cupid-like android moves with eerie precision, mechanical yet disturbingly human. She blows a kiss, her body twisting seductively before she draws back an arrow and fires into the air. Her blonde waves cascade over her naked form, the small angel wings on her back glinting in the light. Her voice, amplified and sultry, rings out over the chaos.

“Welcome to Heartless. Leave your heart at the door.”

Her hand plunges into her chest, and with a wet, tearing sound, she rips out a glowing, pulsating heart. The crowd screams in delight and horror, the line between the two blurring under the dome’s neon glow.

“Yo, WHAT THE FUCK? THAT’S CRAZY!” Chino shouts, his voice almost lost in the cheers and pounding music.

Beside me, Lalo is already recording, his phone tilted upward to capture every second. The cupid android continues to dance, her movements smooth and seductive, as a hidden section of the dome hisses open. A new energy surges through the crowd, everyone jostling to be first in line.

“NO phones. NO rules. NO mercy,” the sign above the entrance flashes, the words a challenge as much as a promise. The roar of the crowd grows louder as they head to the entrance.

I glance down at Tokyo, her body still pressed into my side. She’s tense, her shoulders tight, and when I look closer, I see her hand tightening around the handle of the bat.

“You good?”

She nods, but her jaw is set, and I don’t miss the flicker of something dark in her eyes. Her grip on the bat doesn’t loosen.

And neither does mine on her.