Page 9

EIGHT

FIVE

CUTE GIRL—DIGGY GRAVES

CALISTA

W ith the fall air sweeping in quickly, I shiver with each anxious step I take through the city. I know I need to get out of sight. I need to go somewhere nobody will think to look for me. But where?

Addy walks closely beside me, protecting me in her own way, and right now, I couldn’t be anymore grateful for her company.

I think back to when I had my freedom, trying to remember the places I was always warned to stay away from. And suddenly it clicks. Taking a dark alley, Addy and I head for Boston Commons, knowing there’s a shady part of the city there where crime is at an all-time high. Drug dealers, gangs, illegal street racing—you name it—all go on down there, making it the best place for me to hide out.

Reaching into my backpack, I flip through the stack of money I found in Mr. Brown’s house, guessing there to be over ten grand; it’ll do for now. My hands glide over the barrel of the gun I stole, and a funny feeling swarms inside me.

Taking Mr. Brown’s life did something to me. I’m not sure what, but I want that feeling again. I’ve awakened a dark side of me that I didn’t know I had, and although it might be good for me, it’s not good for the motherfuckers on my list.

“Where are we going?” Addy asks, happily skipping beside me, the wind blowing her long blonde hair in her face.

She looks so free—exactly like how I feel.

I pull my hand off the gun, feeling a tingle dissipating inside me that I wanted to feel more of. Zipping the bag, I sling it over my shoulder and turn her.

“We’re going down to H-town.” I shrug, hoping I’m right about no one coming to look for me down there.

“Why don’t we go find the guys? They’ll let us stay with them!” she giggles, raising her arms above her head, welcoming the chilly wind that follows our every step.

I shake my head, surprised that she didn’t think that one through. “No, that’s the first place anyone would look. I’m not trying to go back to hell, Addy.” Pulling out a pack of smokes from my pocket that I took from Mr. Brown. I light one for the first time, already loving the way the nicotine makes me feel as it enters my bloodstream and makes my head spin.

We walk until we hear the revving of engines, bikes zipping down the street below the overpass, and a faint ring of gunshots followed by sirens. We’re here.

Turning the corner, Addy and I walk right into a large crowd of girls and guys, all watching the street race that’s about to start. Fascinated by the bright colors, the sound of heavy hitting bass rattling the street, and the array of decked-out cars, I stop near a corner store, leaning against the column under the overhang.

“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Addy gasps, her eyes bright and wide, just like mine.

“I know. I’m in love already,” I laugh, inhaling the cigarette again, along with the exhaust fumes floating in the air, holding the smoke deep in my lungs for as long as I can.

I take another look around, feeling a sense of freedom and anonymity in the midst of all the chaos. This is the perfect place to lay low for a while, at least until things cool down.

Addy grabs my hand and pulls me towards the edge of the crowd, eager to get a closer look at the action. As we make our way through the bustling group, I can’t help but feel a surge of adrenaline and excitement, a small thrill that courses through me and makes my entire body tremble with desire. For what? I’m not sure, but I fucking love it. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

We find a spot near the starting line, the thrill palpable in the air. As the engines roar to life, I find myself getting lost in the moment, feeling a sense of liberation I haven’t felt in a long time—in fact, ever. I glance over at Addy, who is beaming with delight written all over her face. For the first time since I’ve been on the run, I allow myself to relax—to forget about the troubles that brought me here in the first place.

As the race begins, I lean in closer to the barrier, exhilarated by the speed and intensity of the competition. Right now, in this very moment, surrounded by the pulsing energy of the thrilling underground environment, I feel alive—truly alive. And for the first time in my entire life, I allow myself to believe that maybe—just maybe—everything will turn out okay.

“I haven’t seen you around here before,” a deeply seductive voice comes from behind me, and I force myself not to show fear as I turn around to see who the mystery man is.

My jaw drops when I come face-to-face with him, completely covered in tattoos with a black Carhart beanie covering his head and a tall, muscular body wrapped head to toe in black, which makes him look so fucking hot—whoever he is. I can’t take my gaze off of him, and as I slowly raise it to meet his emerald green eyes, I find myself getting lost in the twinkle in them that glimmers under the neon lights.

“I’m Five,” he introduces himself with a perfect smile on his face that shows off his pearly white teeth and the hoop pierced through the side of his bottom lip. “Do you want a drink?” he asks, holding up a red Solo cup with some kind of clear liquid inside.

Finally managing to speak, I whisper, “Sure, thank you.” And I take the cup from him without asking what it is, tossing it back in one gulp.

Completely naive and unsuspecting, I keep my eyes on him as I drink it. Pineapple lingers on my tongue, and I can tell that what I just drank was Malibu and pineapple, and fuck, it was delicious.

“The um… Uh, my name is Addy.” I blurt out eventually, not knowing what I should’ve told him.

I see Addy standing beside him, intensely checking him out, laughing at the fact that I used her name instead of mine.

“Addy, what a sexy name.” He licks his lips as I do the same, his eyes darting directly to mine.

“Thank you.” I smile, not knowing what else to do or say—not knowing how to react in a situation like this.

I just hope that I’m blending in. But realizing that I’m still wearing a wicked short dress and my bloody heels, I begin to panic on the inside... until I look around and see half of the girls wearing outfits even sluttier than mine, their asses and tits hanging out—at least mine aren’t.

It looks like I might just fit in after all. Maybe I don’t have to hide in the shadows anymore.

The lights around the crowd fade into the background as Five keeps talking to me, his voice soft and inviting. But my focus shifts to my peripheral vision, and I notice someone heading in my direction from the other side of the street.

Fuck, it’s them —it’s the guys that I used to call my best friends. How the fuck? There’s no way I can stay here now. They couldn’t have known I would be here, right?

“Hey, it’s time for the next race!” Five shouts over the growing noise, gesturing towards the starting line. “You should come watch with me.”

I hesitate for a moment—still in utter shock—weighing my options. But then, without a second thought, I follow him into the sea of people, grateful for the distraction.

As the drivers take off, leaving a thick cloud of dust and fumes behind them, I begin to feel a slight sense of belonging—like I was made to fucking be here.

Nervously, I look over Five’s shoulder, watching Dominic, Killian, and Ash getting into three separate cars parked next in line for the race, and stupid butterflies swarm in my fucking stomach.

I didn’t know they raced. But to be fair, there’s a lot about them that I don’t know, including who the fuck they are anymore.

The feeling of Five’s heavy hand planted on the small of my back sort of jolts me awake and into the present. Peeling my eyes off the guys, I look up at him and flash a timid smile, suddenly feeling quite vulnerable and more exposed than I did before.

“Hey, is there somewhere that I can change?” I ask, tugging at the hem of my dress, feeling very self-conscious, just wanting to get out of the outfit that holds so many unwanted memories.

“Yeah, my place is just upstairs there,” he says with a stunning grin on his thick lips and a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

Pointing to the spot above the tobacco shop, he waits patiently for my answer, which doesn’t take me long to blurt out.

“Do you mind if I use it?” Batting my lashes and putting on a sweet face to get what I want, he nods, leading me back through the thick crowd with his hand still protectively on my lower back.

I know Addy is still following me, but I don’t dare look back to see if the guys have noticed me. As much as I want to see them, I don’t at the same time. I’m not ready just yet.

Once inside, Five gestures for me to follow him up a narrow staircase to his apartment above the shop.

The room is sparsely decorated, with a few pieces of mismatched furniture and a distinct smell of stale smoke lingering in the air. Without a word, Five hands me a fresh t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, giving me some space to change.

“Oh, I have clothes, but thank you,” I tell him, but as he goes to take them back, I yank my hands away, deciding against it.

“What, you want to wear them now?” His brow raises playfully, and his tongue darts out to lick his lips.

“Yeah, I want to be comfortable,” I admit.

“Fine by me. I’m dying to see how sexy you look wearing my fucking clothes,” he mutters, doing an obvious sweep of my body with his hungry, dark eyes.

I can hear Addy giggling as she talks to Five—even though he can’t see or hear her—and I’m grateful for her carefree demeanor in contrast to my growing anxiety.

“Well, I’ll show you in just a minute,” I flirt back, following his simple directions to the only bathroom in his apartment.

As I change, I take a moment to collect myself and figure out my next move. I can’t stay here forever, and I certainly can’t keep running from the people I used to call my family. But for now, being near the excitement that happens in the underground helps me forget my troubles, and besides, there’s something about Five that I want to explore, even if it is wrong.

When I emerge from the bathroom after changing, freshening up, and taking more of my medication, I find Five leaning against the wall, watching me with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.

“Feeling better?” he asks, his gaze lingering on me longer than it should.

I nod. “Yeah, much better,” I reply, trying to sound confident. “Thanks for the shirt and pants. I appreciate it.”

“I was right,” he growls softly, rubbing his hands together as his bottom lip gets tugged between his teeth. “You do look hot as fuck in my clothes. Where the fuck did you come from all of a sudden, Little Mystery?”

Staring at him as we stand awfully close in his dark hallway, something comes over me. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I’m able to finally make my own choices or what, but I step up to him, fisting the hem of his shirt and giving him a little tug against my body.

“Hell,” I admit. “I came from fucking hell.” I stand on my tiptoes to reach him, now in a pair of crisp white Nikes, and boldly press my lips against his, taking control of a kiss for the first time in my life.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but I’m swept off my feet immediately. He grabs the back of my beck and pulls me closer, holding me in place while his tongue puts mine in a trance from the intense battle they’re locked in.

“You’ve got this under control,” Addy whispers in my ear as me and Five stumble down the hall, tearing at each other’s clothes. “I’m going to watch the race,” she adds.

I open my eyes, and she’s gone, no one but me and Five alone in the dark, desperately fiending for one another. I don’t second-guess myself or dwell on the fact that this isn’t the right way to cope with my trauma.

But, fuck, is there a right way?

“Addy,” Five mumbles against my lips as one hand slides up my shirt and the other dips into the front of my pants, pausing, teasing, and addicting.

Forgetting that I told him Addy was my name, I don’t answer right away, feeling upset that he called out Addy’s name and not mine. And then he says it again, pulling me toward the bright lights shining in through his window.

“Addy, is this what you want?” he asks, sincerity in his eyes that tug at my heartstrings.

No one has ever asked me that before. No one has ever cared about what I wanted. So the fact that Five cares does something tantalizing to me, making me want to give him everything I fucking have to offer.

Fuck it.

“I want this, Five.” I smirk, feeling my heart racing. “I want you to sweep me off my feet like you did with that kiss.” I tug my bottom lip between my teeth and lean in to kiss him again, feeling the strong rush of desire flooding my veins.

The heat sizzles between us as we stumble further into the room, lost in each other and the moment. I forget about all the trouble that lurks outside of these walls, and I let myself get swept away with Five. We crash onto his bed, our bodies entwined and our passion fueling a raw need for each other. He allows me to let go of my past, the darkness, and the fear, and I let myself be captivated by the thrill of this new desire.

It’s wrong on so many levels, but it feels so damn right.

One by one, each piece of clothing we’re both wearing comes off, and before I know it, he’s staring at my naked body—scars and all. I don’t shy away from his gaze, especially not when I see the look on his face—like he wants me. Like he loves what he sees. I roll on top of him and wrap my hand around his throat as he rolls a condom swiftly on his massive dick.

“You ride?” he asks, holding my hips and guiding me down on his shaft.

“Of course I ride,” I moan as I sink on him, feeling the piercing in the tip of his dick pushing through the thin latex and against my cervix.

I shudder, sitting up straight and arching my back, my hand still wrapped around his throat.

If I squeezed hard enough, I could strangle him. But with a dick this good, do I want to kill him? Fuck no.

I begin to bounce slowly, feeling every inch of him slide in and out of me. His eyes roll back and his grip tightens, his hips surging upward to meet my movements. As I ride him, he thrusts, making the pleasure stronger and more intense.

My body and nerves are on fire in the most delicious way possible—my head swimming in the riot of sensation, in complete awe that sex can feel this fucking good.

I’m addicted now.

Five keeps his eyes on mine as we fuck, even as I choke him, slamming down on him so hard that the sound of my bare ass slapping against him echoes in the small room.

“That’s it. Fucking choke me, Little Mystery,” he grunts, now slamming me down on his cock as we both get closer and closer to finding our release.

I tighten my grip and lower my mouth to his, kissing him with dominant strokes, grinding against him while his cock pulses inside my pussy. And then, releasing my hip with one hand, he wraps it around my throat, squeezing just as tight as I am.

I don’t panic, like when Gunnar choked me, but I allow it, feeling my entire body tremble as my orgasm begins to control me. Everything happens so fast, and I fuck him even harder, faster, desperately trying to chase each wild feeling rushing through me. And then it ends with me soaking his cock and him filling the condom, both of us panting and collapsing beside each other, reveling in what we just did.

As the night comes to an end and the rush fades, I lie next to Five, feeling things I’ve never experienced. I don’t know what tomorrow holds or what will become of my life, but for now, I relish the comforting weight of his arm around me and the peace that washes over me as I lie in his embrace.

“Damn, Addy. That was..." he pants, kissing the side of my sweaty forehead. “That was fucking incredible.”

“I know,” I giggle, sitting up abruptly. “Let’s go watch the race now.” I quickly change the subject, not knowing how to deal with the mushy side of my emotions just yet.

He nods, and after we get dressed, he leads me back downstairs and out to the street, where the last of the races are coming to an end. As we walk around outside, I can feel the familiar pull of adrenaline and temptation drawing me back in.

Maybe this was the break I needed—a chance to lose myself in something other than my problems. For the first time in a while, I feel a small sliver of hope, like I might make it out of this hot mess and start fresh. Maybe there’s a chance for redemption, and hopefully I can find a new kind of freedom in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

But as I catch a fleeting glimpse of the guys, the knot in my stomach tightens once again. My parents pop into my head next, and I know that they’re out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to unleash hell on me. I can’t let them find me. Not now. Not when I’ve just started to feel free.

I glance back and see Addy, who has found herself in the company of some new friends, giggling and twirling her hair. I can’t help but smile.

With one final look at the race unfolding in front of me, I take a deep breath and remind myself that for now, I’m safe. I’m free. And I won’t let anyone take that away from me ever again.

As I join Addy, I let myself be consumed by the music, the laughter, and the beautiful fucking chaos of the moment.