Page 13 of Kalix

KALIX

It’s just Reed and I tonight. Who knows where Isaac is, probably inside the bar getting stupid drunk and trying to get his dick wet.

But not me; I’m just waiting for my little rabbit to crawl into my trap.

She went out with Lexie tonight, something she normally doesn’t do, and while I’m okay with it, I’m not about to let her that far out of my sight.

Glancing down at my watch, I check the time again. It’s almost midnight, I wonder if I should just bust in and make sure everything is going okay. What if something happens and I’m not there to protect her? What if I can’t save her?

I shift on the seat of my bike, a sudden rush of anxiety hitting me at the thought of something happening to her. I’d fucking kill myself to meet her on the other side if that was the case. I’d never be able to forgive myself .

My jaw flexes, and I rub my sweaty palms along my jean-clad thighs, the urge to smoke growing by the second.

I shift in my seat, readying myself to pull a smoke out of the pack and light up when movement at the front door catches my eye.

It’s my girl. Relief washes over me, but anger quickly replaces it when I see who she’s with.

It’s not just her friend, but also the douche from the library.

I rack my brain trying to remember his name… Ah, Alex.

They stand off to the side, and I watch from my spot in the shadows to see what happens next.

I go ahead and use the time to flick the lighter and light my cigarette.

The end glowing a cherry red as I take a big inhale and blow the smoke to the sky.

Lainey rubs her arms nervously, like she’s uncomfortable about what’s going on, and the hair on the back of my neck rises.

My jaw flexes as I continue to watch, trying to figure out which of the two she’s with is about to have a target placed on their back when I watch her wave bye to her friend who walks away.

What the fuck? Why would she just leave her?

Lexie starts walking in our direction when Reed whistles and leans back. He’s always been the chillest of the group, clearly not seeing all the same red flags that I am at the moment.

“Damnit, Kal, you didn’t tell me her friend was hot. Think we could double date?” he muses.

“Shut the fuck up,” I hiss.

“What, man? I’m being honest. She’s hot as fuck. What’s her name? I know your crazy ass knows what it is.”

“Lexie, now shut the fuck up.” I say with more finality in my voice.

“Care if I go after her?”

My eyes narrow into slits as I turn to stare at him. Motherfucker wears a cocky grin across his face like he knows he’s getting on my nerves.

“Go get rejected all you want. You know I don’t care. Don’t you dare do anything stupid and ruin my chances with Lainey though, got it?”

“Yep. Got it.” he nods as he starts his bike and flips a uie to head down the way that Lexie went. Stupid dude just thinking with his dick.

When I turn back to see what they’re doing now, the two are gone.

My head swivels back and forth, trying to figure out where exactly they could have gone.

After a quick sweep of the street, I start my bike and pull out onto the road.

I go slow, searching up and down the street.

This is fucking ridiculous, where could they have gone?

Throwing my bike into park, I walk on foot to try to get a better idea of where they went.

Quiet pleas sound from beside me and I whip my head in the direction of the dark alleyway to see what’s going on.

“I-I’m sorry but—” the voice says and my heart plummets. It’s Lainey.

I gas it past them and park along the curb, not even bothering to turn it off before I’m barreling toward the alley. My vision is nothing but red. How dare he?

Her eyes are scrunched up while he pushes himself against her.

I get to them in two strides. Fury fills my veins as I grab his shoulder and haul him off of her.

He wasn’t expecting to be interrupted, giving me all the more leverage in this situation.

His ass hits the ground with a thump , and I’m standing over him, seething.

He doesn’t recognize me, not yet. But, the longer I stand here, the more the pieces are fitting together.

“Hey, you’re the guy—” But I don’t let him finish his sentence.

Yeah, I’m that mother fucking guy.

I swing, my first colliding with his face, causing a satisfying crunch to follow.

Lainey gasps behind me, but I can hardly hear it with the blood whooshing through my ears.

I land blow after blow, his face becoming more disfigured by the second.

Blood spurts from open wounds and pours down his face from the misshapen nose.

He curls in on himself, trying to protect vital organs like he’s the victim in all of this. Please.

I back away for a moment, giving him the reprieve needed to think he’s safe from my wrath, and I turn to Lainey.

Fuck, she’s perfect. Tears track her face, ruining the makeup she put on tonight, but she couldn’t be more beautiful.

I walk up to her, her face tilting up to look at me as I rub a thumb under one eye.

Her tears and the blood mix together, leaving a swipe of red along her pale skin. It’s the perfect color for her.

“Are you okay?” I breathe out.

A puff of air escapes her as she looks down, away from my gaze, but I bring it right back to me, staring into her big eyes.

“Y-yeah. I’m okay. You got here before he could do anything else.”

Her hands move to cover her eyes as she continues to take short, shallow breaths. I need to get her out of here as soon as possible before she hyperventilates.

Alex starts shifting behind me, so I hold up a finger to Lainey.

“Just one second, little rabbit.”

I turn around, finding Alex on all fours—trying to limp away—and use all my leverage to kick him in the gut, making him drop back down with a groan.

I squat and grab him by the hair at the top of his head to force him to look at me with the remaining vision he has left through his swelling eyes.

“If you ever dare to look at her, talk to her, fucking breathe in her direction,” I start, “I will fucking end you. Do you understand? The only reason you’re breathing at this very moment is because she’s standing behind me, watching every little thing I do, and I don’t want our first night together to start with her witnessing a murder. Kapeesh?”

I drop his head, letting it thunk back to the ground, and turn my attention back to Lainey. Her wide eyes are staring down at me, tracking my motions as I come back in front of her.

“You-you’re the guy from chemistry class.”

“Yes, I am, beautiful. I will explain everything later, but right now we need to get out of here before someone sees us. Okay?”

She seems reluctant at first, but then quickly nods her head before I grab her hand to pull her behind me as we head to my bike.