Page 10 of King of Pain

I blow out a long breath, reading the next sign.

I don’t recognize any of the names.

I’m new to the Las Vegas area, came for an internship with a renowned surgeon for the summer. Not only is the opportunity unparalleled, it’s paid. I beat out thousands of candidates and the money will go a long way in helping me live for the next year. But it means I have no sense of the Las Vegas area. No idea where we are or which direction we’re going.

Glancing at the clock, I note that it’s nearly three-thirty in the morning. I’m used to late nights but my eyes still close for a second as I rest them. “How long until sunrise?”

“Hour and a half maybe?”

I lick my lips, trying to make a decent plan. “Okay. So we can see where the sun comes up and at least know if we’re headed toward California or Mississippi.”

He rumbles a laugh, and I smile too. “Might be making a trip to Mexico.”

“Or Canada. Cooler temps would be nice. I’m not used to the heat.”

He chuckles again. “Until then, we keep driving in the same direction? Just put distance between us and them?”

I nod. “I’ll keep watching the signs. Maybe I can figure something out. I wish I knew the area better.”

“You’ll still do better than me. I’m navigationally challenged.”

I glance over at him. I like that he told me something he isn’t good at. Somehow it makes him seem even stronger that he’s not afraid to tell me one thing he doesn’t do well. Is that crazy?

I don’t know, but I rest my head back, watching the desert slip by. I draw in a breath, the purr of the engine soft and gentle.

“You have a last name, Luke?”

“Kincaid,” he answers. Like I said, I haven’t been in Las Vegas long but the name rings with a familiarity that I can’t put my finger on right now.

“Why did my date shoot you?”

That gets a rumble out of him. “Besides the fact that he’s a walking dick?”

I smile at that. Luke isn’t wrong. “Besides that.”

“We’re rivals,” he shrugs like that explains everything. “And I’m winning.”

“Oh,” I reply, because that actually makes sense. Vincent does seem like the type of guy who’d get really aggressive if he were losing. I nearly ask him what they’re rivals in, but then I catch myself. Might be better if I don’t know.

Like I said, I know I’m with a criminal and my date probably murdered a guy and shot another.

“Who was the man you were with?” I ask. “I know there were two of you.”

Luke’s face goes deadly serious. “His name is Roman. He’s my cousin, but he’s the closest thing to a brother I’ve got.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

He smiles again but this one isn’t genuine, doesn’t touch his eyes. “Roman is way smarter than me. He’s fine. I’m sure of it.” But he can’t even fake a smile now and I know he’s worried.

“Me too,” I whisper and then I do what I know I shouldn’t, and I reach out and touch his arm again, running my fingertips over the cotton of his shirt.

He looks down at my fingers, his jaw clenching, his eyes following the path I just traced before he looks back at the road.

We drive in silence, none of the town signs or minor roads giving me any idea where we are or where we’re headed.

Finally, the sun begins to rise and it’s right in front of us. No mistaking our direction now, we’re headed east.

And whichever direction Las Vegas was from where we were when we started, we’re far away from the city now.

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