Page 31 of Run Little Killer

RHETT

T he reflective green sign on the side of the highway comes up fast on my right, indicating that we’re ten miles from Englewood, and I gnash my molars at the sight.

This is Lennon’s stop– the place we’re supposed to drop her off and part ways.

It was inevitable that we’d get here at some point, but that doesn’t make me any more prepared for it.

A foreign sense of hurt fissures through me and I'd be a damn liar if I said anything about letting her go felt right. She’s mine– ours .

It's only been a few days, but in my forty years, I've never felt more sure of anything in my life.

She belongs with us. And to just let her hop off and walk out of our lives?

Fuck that shit. I know not everything feral can be tamed, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to let her go, either.

I downshift at the exit ramp, my gut churning as I drop my foot.

The sole of my boot drags across the asphalt as I slow to a stop.

I wait for Lennon to point out which way to take, knowing full well I could turn the opposite and steal her away, but I don't. Instead, I follow her directions, turning left, then right, then right again.

Light glows from behind drawn blinds as we roll up to a quaint little house and Lennon signals for us to stop. Killing our engines, Nix and I knock down our kickstands, handlebars twisting to the side as we reach our final destination with our girl.

I'd say it's bittersweet, but I'm nothing but bitter as she lets go of my waist and climbs down from the back of my bike. I climb off, too, opening the saddlebag to pull out the duffle I packed her and handing it over.

"You sure you're gonna be okay, darlin'?" I ask, swallowing past the lump in my throat.

"Yeah," she says, swinging the bag against her thigh as she darts a glance between Nix and I. "Thank you– both of you– for everything. I don't know if I'd have made it here without you."

"Yup," Nix bites out, voice sharp like a razor’s edge as he sits with his arms crossed tightly against his chest.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," I answer for both of us, opening my arms for a hug.

She steps forward, wrapping herself around me and murmuring, "I'll miss you, daddy ."

I chuckle, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before breaking our connection. "Nothin's gonna stop you from being a brat, is it?"

"Not a goddamn thing," she sasses, grey eyes twinkling as a smile splits her face.

"Good," I say, jerking a nod. My pulse thrums loudly, heart seizing as I swing a leg over the seat and mount my bike again. "Be careful out there, no more taking rides from strangers," I chide .

She flips me the bird and laughs, the warm and sweet sound of it making my throat tighten.

"So, uhm," she stammers, glancing toward Nix's pouting form and then back to me. "Goodbye, I guess."

With a small wave, she pivots around, taking two strides toward the house before Nix barks out her name. Her body tenses before slowly swiveling around, brows furrowed together as she looks at him.

He lifts his chin, beckoning her over.

Her steps are almost hesitant as she starts in his direction, like she’s not sure she trusts him enough to be near him. Hell, maybe she doesn't trust herself right now.

Nix yanks his snapback off his head, placing it on hers with a satisfied nod. "Thatta girl."

Her eyes go glossy, bottom lip starting to tremble as he turns the key. His engine roars to life as he turns away from Lennon, pointing a deadpan stare at me.

He may be acting like a total dick right now, but it’s because this is gutting him alive. Nix doesn't process emotions well. I already can tell he's gonna need to go a couple rounds at the club's gym to start working through this hurt, and I’ll be right there with him.

"See ya later, darlin," I say with a wink, bike rumbling between my thighs as I crank my own key.

We watch Lennon walk out of our lives and up the front steps, knuckles rapping against the glass as she knocks on the door. A petite brunette answers, face lighting up with recognition before she lunges toward Lennon and throws her arms around her neck.

I look back at Nix, signaling that we can go now, and he twists the throttle, pulling back onto the street. I take off behind him, rushing past and weaving back towards the highway. Wind whips by as I white knuckle the grips, speedometer climbing.

Eight-five… ninety… ninety-five... one hundred…

The leather of my kutte slaps against my back as I hit triple digits. Adrenaline and anger pummel my insides as I push my bike harder, needle tipping into the redline, trying to feel anything but hollow as we blow past the city limits.

Fuck this shit.

I'm not losing someone I love a second time.

I hit the brakes and my front tire locks, the ass end of my bike sliding as I turn. Nix’s headlights blind me as his own ties screech to a stop.

"What the fuck!" he shouts, engine idling beside me.

"We're not leaving her," I snarl. "Even if it means we take her kicking and screaming, let's go get our girl."

Nix’s face lights up. "Oh, hell yeah," he drawls, revving his engine.

We peel out, smoke rolling off the pavement behind us as we race back into Englewood.

Lennon

"Oh my god, Lennon!" Holly says with a shriek, arms winding around my neck in a hug as she pulls me into her house. "I didn't know if I'd ever see you again!"

"Samesies," I laugh, the sound of his hollow as I step over the threshold into her cozy living room.

"How are you? Where have you been?" she babbles, leading me over to a cream colored sofa and tugging me down to sit beside her. "I heard you were in some," her eyes dart from side to side before she leans in and whispers, " insane asylum. "

My jaw tenses. I don't exactly know what all is public knowledge about me here– after I went into custody and was deemed mentally unstable, I was prohibited from seeing what the news had to say about me. The doctors said it would do me more harm than good to be privy to the court of public opinion.

"Uhm, I was in a treatment center," I admit, stretching the truth. "But I'm out now, good behavior and all," I say with a dismissive wave of my hand.

"Yes, oh my god, I love that," she gushes, pulling out her phone and swiping a finger across the screen to unlock it. "Kevin's on his way home, I'm gonna have him stop and pick up another pack of seltzers and then we’re going to climb into the hot tub and spend the night catching up, okay?"

"Kevin?" I question, furrowing my brow.

"Yeah, he moved in like six months ago,” she replies, a blush rising to her cheeks. “He's even talking about rings– rings , Lennon! Can you believe it?"

"No," I state dryly, unease rolling through me.

She keeps jabbering excitedly, and while I try to focus on what she's saying, my mind keeps wandering off.

Holly is super sweet– a little naive, sure, but super sweet nonetheless.

That's why I decided she was the best person to turn to when I arrived back in town. I’m aiming to lay low and keep a low profile.

Not that I've ever had a problem with Kevin, but outside of Easy Jay's, our circles didn't overlap much. I’m not sure I can trust him to be as cool about me showing up out of the blue as his girlfriend’s being.

I don’t have any choice in the matter, because less than ten minutes later, the front door swings open with his arrival. "Booze is here," Kevin announces, holding up a case of White Claw as he kicks the door shut behind him and strides inside.

"Ohhh, yes," Holly squeaks, springing up from her seat and rushing towards him to pluck the drinks from his hand.

"Thanks babe!" she coos as she hugs the seltzers to her chest, turning to face me.

"My suits in the bathroom, why don't you go into my room and borrow one for yourself? Top drawer on the left."

"Thanks," I say, flashing her a smile that doesn’t quite meet my eyes.

It's not that I don't want this. Back at Briarwood, I’d long for nights spent sitting in Holly’s hot tub, sipping drinks I knew weren’t tampered with and just talking about anything.

But that was before I escaped and started carving out a new life for myself, and now…

I’m realizing, I’ve been mourning for a life I don’t even want anymore.

Kevin eyes me suspiciously as I start for Holly’s bedroom, the weight of his stare lingering as I turn down the hall and disappear from sight.

I enter her room to find that it looks exactly the same as it did before, creams and pale pinks with hints of gold.

Going right for her dresser, I slide open the drawer and rifle through her swimsuits, pulling out the one with the least amount of pink.

Then I pivot around and go to shut the door, but Kevin darts out a hand to stop it from closing.

"What's the hurry?" he asks, raising a brow. "Briarwood got a curfew you'll be late for?"

Air whooshes from my lungs, his words making my blood run cold. He knows. Bile rushes up my throat and I start to wretch– it happens before I can stop it, vomit spilling from my mouth and splashing against the wood floor.

"Fucking gross," Kevin grimaces, jumping back.

My vision swims, everything suddenly off-kilter as I swipe the back of my hand across my mouth.

"What's going on–," Holly starts, pausing in the doorway when she sees the pile of puke at my feet. "Oh Lennon!" she exclaims, clapping a hand over her mouth. "Are you okay?"

"She isn't feeling good," Kevin answers for me, giving me a pointed look that says to shut the fuck up and play along. "She asked if I could give her a lift to where she's staying."

"Oh," Holly breathes, disappointment heavy in her tone as her shoulders droop. "Probably for the best, I don't want you to overdo it."

"Yeah," I say, voice cracking. "I think I should go. I'll come back another night."

"Promise?" she asks innocently.

"Of course," I lie, the words bitter on my tongue as a pang of guilt settles in my gut.

"Better get going then, huh Lennon?" Kevin asks, motioning towards the hall.

I nod solemnly, abandoning the blue tie-dye swimsuit on Holly’s duvet and wrapping my arms around her. "Take care, babes," I say, sidestepping Kevin to leave her room.

My pulse ratchets higher, the itch to run stirring beneath my skin as I reach the front door of the house.

As if he knows I’m considering making a break for it, Kevin slaps a hand down on my shoulder as we step out beneath the flickering porch light.

"Gonna turn you into my ticket out of this shit town," he murmurs as he forcefully guides me towards his beat-up Toyota Tundra .

"What are you gonna tell Holly?" I ask, glancing back at him.

"Nothing at all,” he scoffs. “With the reward money I'll get from you, I won't need her anymore."

My jaw drops at the goddamn audacity of this man, the thought of adding him to my list niggling in the back of my mind.

With one arm braced against the truck, he yanks the passenger door open, caging me in with his body and giving me no choice but to climb in.

As soon as I do, he slams the door shut with a loud thud, and as he rounds the hood to take the drivers seat, I think about running.

But then I see Holly standing on the front porch, brow creased with concern as she tosses me another wave, and I decide against it.

I don't want her to see me run, to see Kevin chase me, or worse, have the cops swarming her house.

Fuck, I never should’ve brought her into this.

The bill of Nix's hat hits the headrest as I lean back, exhaling a slow breath. Dammit, I wouldn't be in this position if I'd just stayed with them.

Kevin reverses down the driveway, pulling out onto the street and turning left at the stop sign. Numbness creeps in as he drives past the side streets, the stoplight at the main junction going straight from green to red.

"Fuck," he shouts, the seat belt digging into my hips as we jerk to a stop. I unfasten it, letting it fully retract before attempting to rebuckle, and once again, I consider running.

That's when the heavy rumbles of not one, but two motorcycles rattle around us as a pair of masked bikers come to a stop across the intersection. Black bandanas are wrapped around their faces, but I’d know those eyes anywhere.

Like a strike of lightning, adrenaline crackles through me, fingers scrabbling to grip the door handle and fling it open.

"Lennon!" Kevin shouts as I stumble out of the truck, ripping open his own door.

The soles of my sneakers slap against the pavement as I take off like a shot, and for once in my life, I feel like I'm running towards something instead of away from it.