Page 21 of Quiet Rage (Wicked Falls Elite #5)

Tamson

I glance at my phone for the tenth time in as many minutes. We’re not supposed to meet here for another few minutes, but my nerves are shot already. I just don’t know what to expect. Is he really going to meet me here to study or is this just another prank… another trap?

Maybe he won’t show at all. That would be the best-case scenario. Maybe I should leave? But no...he would just show up at my house, probably angry that I didn't listen to him.

My anxiety is so bad, I’m sick to my stomach. Good thing I haven't eaten anything yet.

Tapping my foot against the floor, I stare at the door until it finally opens. Kellen’s enormous body appears, and all the air whooshes from my lungs. He spots me right away, his eyes zeroing in on me like the predator he is.

He stalks towards me. Tension builds in my body with every step he takes. He walks around the table, sliding off his backpack before taking the seat next to me. Unzipping his bag, he pulls out a textbook and some papers.

I should be relieved, but I still feel on edge. Scanning the library again, I look for any sign of Tiana and her friends.

“Expecting someone else?” Kellen asks.

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“It’s just us, as far as I know.”

I nod, still apprehensive.

Kellen opens his textbooks and starts telling me his ideas for the project. I try my best to listen to his words, but it’s so hard to concentrate when he sits so close.

“Are you even listening?” he suddenly questions, giving me a hard look.

“Yes… I mean, I’m trying to,” I explain.

“What’s the distraction?”

You .

“Nothing. I’m fine,” I manage to say in an even tone. “I like your ideas. We can go with it.”

He gives me a pinched look, as if he is not believing me. He nods, regardless, and continues telling me how we can divide work. He is so nonchalant about it, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

This didn't mean anything. His words from the other morning ring in my ears.

Memories flood my mind, and I have to force them down. I can’t think about this right now, not with him inches away.

We work on the project for a while, and I try my best to keep it together.

By the time Kellen closes his textbook and puts his pen down, it’s nearly dark outside. I gather my things quickly, ready to get away from him.

“How are you getting home?” he asks curiously.

“Walking,” I answer, hoping he will just let me go.

No such luck. “I’ll drive you.”

“I would rather walk,” I say honestly, getting up from my chair.

“I’ll take you,” he argues, standing up as well. “You can walk to my car, or I can carry you.”

Knowing that he is not bluffing, I give in and walk out of the library. Like a lost puppy, I follow him to his car and get into the passenger side. He gets behind the wheel and starts the engine. I buckle up and sink back into the seat with my stomach in knots.

Kellen pulls out of the parking lot and makes his way off campus. But when we get to the main road, he turns left instead of right. My heart sinks.

“Where are you going?” I ask, unsure if I even want to know.

“Just a little pit stop,” is all he reveals.

Frantically, I look around the car for a way out. Of course, there is none. Unless he gets stopped by a traffic light, we are going too fast for me to jump out.

Before I know it, we are driving out of town. My breathing grows erratic, and my pulse races. Where the hell is he taking me? What cruel thing has he planned now?

He pulls onto a dirt road, and I really start panicking.

“Kellen, please let me go,” I beg, not caring how desperate I sound.

“I’ll take you home soon,” he offers, but it doesn't help with my overwhelming fear.

I suddenly can’t breathe. I grab my chest and try to suck in air, but nothing is happening. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to calm myself. The car comes to a halt, but I’m too scared to open my eyes.

“Hey, take a breath before you pass out,” he tells me before cutting the engine.

I open my eyes and suck in a raggedy breath. I take in my surroundings carefully. We are parked at the edge of a tree line, overlooking the city. If I wasn't still on the verge of a panic attack, I might find this view beautiful.

I swallow, waiting for Kellen to say or do something, but he just sits there looking at the city lights.

When I can’t take the eerie silence anymore, I clear my throat. “Why am I here?”

Kellen shrugs. “I come here to think,” he says, as if that’s enough explanation.

The space goes quiet again, leaving my intrusive thoughts to run rampant. I’m out in the middle of nowhere and no one knows where I am. Kellen is unpredictable, and he’s proven that he can do with me whatever he wants.

I’m so lost in my fearful mind, that I barely notice my stomach rumbling loudly.

“Hungry?” Kellen asks, looking over at me.

“I’m fine.”

“That didn’t sound fine,” he counters before reaching over me.

I stiffen, pressing my body away from him as much as I can when I realize he is going for the glove compartment. Grabbing onto the handle, he pulls it open and reaches inside. He pulls out a granola bar and hands it to me.

“Eat,” he orders when I do nothing besides stare at his offering.

With an unsteady hand, I grab the bar from him and unwrap it. I take a tiny bite, chewing slowly. I don’t even taste it before swallowing the gooey mass. It lands heavily on my empty stomach. I repeat the motion until I finish the whole thing.

Awkwardly, I hold on to the empty wrapper, not sure where to put it. Kellen reaches over to me and snatches the trash from my hand before stuffing it in the pocket of his door.

Then we return to sitting in silence. I guess doing nothing is better than getting bullied…or worse.

Just when I thought he might actually leave me be, his deep voice fills the car. “I want you to sit on my lap.”

I swing my head around to look at him, somewhat hoping to find that he is kidding, but his intense stare makes it clear he isn’t.

Of course he didn’t bring me here to look at the city. He wants something from me—he always does—and it never matters if I’m willing to give it.

I want to scream in frustration. Why am I so weak and scared? Why can’t I be someone who is brave and knows how to fight someone off, even though they're three times their size?

When I don’t move fast enough. Kellen reaches out to me. His fingers wrap around my wrist, and he slowly pulls me over to him.

I don’t fight. I climb over the center console and into his lap until my ass is planted against the steering wheel and my legs straddle his powerful thighs.

Wrapping his arm around my back, he slides his hand under my shirt until his large palm is sprawled against my skin.

“You are so tense.” Kellen points out the obvious. “Relax.” His thumb starts to draw circles, only making me more rigid. “Put your head on my shoulder.”

I’m not sure where this is going, but I do what he asks and let my head fall on his shoulder. His next move is even more confusing. He grabs one of my hands and brings it to his chest. Covering his palm with mine, he presses my hand right above his heart.

We kissed before. He has been inside of me, and yet this feels somehow more intimate.

He holds me like this for a while, his warm embrace confusing my body and my mind. I don’t know if it’s the rhythmic caress on my back or the steady drum of his heart beating under my hand, but somehow I’m able to relax a little.

For a moment, I’m almost not scared of him.

My stiff muscles loosen, and I sink deeper into his hold. I let my eyes flutter shut and continue to take slow, deep breaths.

I don’t know what Kellen plans on doing with me, but right now I’d like to pretend this is it, no matter how unlikely that is.

His thumb suddenly stops drawing circles. He pulls his hand from under my shirt and drops his other one from his chest. And just like that, my bubble of momentary safety bursts.

I lift my head from his shoulder and sit up straight, letting my hand fall into my lap.

“It’s time to go,” he announces.

I scramble off his lap and climb back in my seat to buckle up. Kellen turns the key in the ignition, making the car roar to life. He turns around on the narrow dirt road before driving back the way we came from.

We’re almost back into town when Kellen speaks again. “How come you were holding on to your v-card for so long?”

His question takes me off guard, and I really don’t want to talk to him about my virginity, but I answer him regardless. “I’m only nineteen. That’s still a normal age.” I’m not telling him the truth, which is that I was waiting for the right person. Someone worth giving it to.

“I lost mine when I was fourteen,” he explains.

“That’s a bit young,” I say quietly, uncomfortable with this conversation.

“My dad gave me a prostitute as a gift.”

My head snaps up, and I glance over at him in shock. “That’s messed up.”

Kellen just shrugs, seemingly not finding it as shocking as I am. What kind of father gives his teenage son a prostitute?

My mind is still reeling with Kellen’s words when we pull into my neighborhood. I can breathe easier now that I’m certain he is actually taking me home. A few minutes later, we pull up to my house. As soon as the car comes to a full stop, I open my door.

“Can’t wait to get away from me?” Kellen says when I’m halfway out of the vehicle.

I don’t tell him, yes, that’s exactly what's happening. I don’t know what else he is expecting from me?

Should I tell him thanks for basically kidnapping me, or be appreciative that he didn't hurt me today?

I shouldn't have to thank him for anything, but not saying something at all feels weird, too.

“Thanks for the ride,” I manage to say.

“See you around, Dragonfly.”

I shut the door and speedwalk to the house. I still don’t know what kind of game he was playing tonight, but I’m relieved it’s over now.