Page 64 of Smoke and Mirrors

Kace made quick work of finding us a new car. Although I wouldn’t call this new vehicle a car as such, I’m pretty sure it’s a painter’s van. Definitely not something I would have picked for a quick getaway. But he seems to think it’s something the Seven wouldn’t expect him to choose either, so they probably won’t know to look for us in this worn-out heap of junk, which makes sense. Keeping off their radar is totally fine by me!

“So, now that I don’t have my cell, and we’re on the move again, it should be harder for them to find us, right?” I ask and his jaw tenses, the vein in his neck protruding.

“Hopefully, but they’ll still be looking and using every piece of surveillance equipment they have available to track us.”

Sighing, I sit back into the seat lined with an old sheepskin seat cover, the fluff only comforting me slightly. “Where are we going now, then?”

He clenches his jaw tighter and shakes his head slightly. “I don’t know. I’m going to keep driving, maybe head to the coast, find somewhere out of the city and away from civilians who could be dragged into this.”

Sinking back further into my seat, I clench my eyes shut thinking of all the people and children that could have been harmed back there in the mall because of me.

This is crazy.

“Kace, this is bad. Are we going to have to run forever? I don’t know if I can do that.”

He turns, looking into my eyes. It worries me briefly that his eyes aren’t focused on the road, but when he looks deep into my soul, the tension leaves me quickly.

“Lily, as soon as I find the answers I need, I’m going to bring down those responsible for this. I don’t know why this is happening, but I’m going to find out. We will be free again, but it might take some time. We just have to keep moving, and I need you on board.” His deep, gravelly voice soothes me instantly as his intense stare sends a shock wave straight to my core. I never knew just looking at someone could make me a little hot under the collar, but looking at Kace right now is making my thighs press together, hoping for a repeat of what happened in the hotel room. Feeling his tongue on me, his lightly spattered beard pressing against my thighs—I want to feel that again. He seems to notice my switch in thoughts as a slight smile touches his lips.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find somewhere nice for us to rest soon. Somewhere remote where no one will be around.” The edge in this voice as he turns back to look at the road makes my breathing hitch. The promise of us being alone again tonight makes my stomach flip with happiness, and even though everything about this situation screams danger and disaster, I can’t help but get caught up in the excitement and lust of it all.

***

The drive was quiet, and we didn’t talk much, but there was a definite sizzle through the air—a tension that crackled and popped with a connection so profound I can’t put my finger on it. Whether it’s from the adrenaline of his team catching and releasing us, or from something more sinful, I’m not sure. But either way, something’s pulsing through us, something exciting, something magical, and I know we both feel it.

The sly glances he sends my way aren’t going unnoticed either, and the way his breathing hitches every time I gently caress his hand. Things are intensifying for us, our relationship is changing and moving at lightning speed, but I like it. I like that even through the fog and haze of this adrenaline- filled chaos, there’s still him and me in our bubble.

The van pulls up a slight hill, the grass so green that even though the sky outside is a dark midnight black, the silver shards of light the moon is sending down on the ground shows how beautiful the foliage is. The slight sound of waves crashing against the shore soothes my tired body and calms my nerves as the van drives up the incline.

Then I see it.

A giant lighthouse pulls into view.

It stands so high, and its pure white façade glows in the night sky. The beacon of light blisters out through the top of the dome shining out to sea, and I smile at the sheer beauty of something so architecturally sound.

“Wow, Kace, this place is beautiful,” I murmur, sitting up taller in my seat as he pulls the van up to the side of the lighthouse.

He turns to me and smiles. “It is, and it will be quiet. No one will find us. They won’t even think to look for us here. Right, let’s get inside before the wind picks up.” He smiles, then ducks out of the van quickly.

Taking a deep breath, I slide out and walk around the back where Kace has the side door open and is rummaging around. He grabs two blankets from inside. They have dried paint splatters all over them, but hey, if they’re going to keep us warm tonight, who cares about some dried-up paint?

“Will there be a lighthouse keeper inside?” I ask.

He smiles at me as he slides the door shut with a bang, and we start to walk the path toward the lighthouse.

“No, most lighthouses aren’t manned anymore. I’m sure the guy who maintains it isn’t far, but mostly they’re run electronically these days.”

Nodding with a slight grin at the confirmation that we will be alone, I chew on my bottom lip as we reach the black door. He grips the handle turning it, but it’s locked. I slump my body, and Kace looks at me raising an eyebrow like he’s disappointed with my reaction.

“We’re getting in, Lily. Don’t worry,” he says, then he looks to the ground, smiles, and reaches down grabbing a small, stiff piece of wire and inserts it into the lock. Reaching down, he grabs another piece that looks the same. He jiggles them both in the lock for no longer than two seconds before it clicks into place. Smiling up at me, he tilts his head toward the door handle, hinting at me to open it. I giggle, shaking my head and turning the handle. The door opens with ease as he puts the wires in his pocket and ushers me inside.

“Have I told you how hot you are when you’re all badass and breaking the law?” I tease, he grins rolling his eyes and looks toward the spiral staircase.

I head for the stairs as he closes the door behind us. My body is sore, and stairs have never been my friend, but to spend the night alone with Kace, I would step up a thousand of them. I start heading up, our footsteps the only sound echoing through the eerie silence. My heart is hammering in my chest as the stairs spiral and continue up and up, so high I’m worried about altitude sickness. Not really, that’s dramatic, but we are going quite high—at least four flights.

Finally, it opens up into a small, round room. In the center is the beacon surrounded by a glass wall where the light is shining, circling in an even tempo.

I smile at the sight. It’s beautiful as I walk around the edge of the circular room. The windows are floor-to-ceiling glass looking out over the sea, and even though the night is dark, the view of the ocean is vast. The horizon is etched in blues and silvers with the small rise and fall of waves. It’s a sight to behold, and I wrap my arms around myself just to feel my own presence and to make sure I’m really here and not dreaming. Everything in my life over the past twenty-four hours has seemed like a weird reality, but this, this seems more like a dream.

---