Page 105 of Beautifully Shattered
“Because you didn’t think I’d tell you,” he finishes for me, and I shrug, staring up into his whiskey eyes, feeling like I might drown in them. “I’m sorry, Angel. I guess I’ve been holding back information too.”
Offering him a small smile, I take his hand as he releases my cheek, linking our fingers.
“I know I’m acting crazy. I know this isn’t…me. But I have to dosomething. I can’t sit around and wait any longer.”
“Okay,” he nods, pulling me to his chest in a Ringo-scented hug. “Let me get a few things sorted, and we’ll take my Landy.”
“Landy?” I pull back, frowning up at him.
“Land Rover.” His lips kick up in a cheeky grin.
“You have a Land Rover? I thought you only had a motorcycle.”
“I also have a 1970s Ford Mustang locked away.” His grin stretches, almost looking smug as he talks about his cars, something else I didn’t know about him.
Before I can do anything else, Ringo’s lips are on mine, stealing my breath as I melt against him out here in the open.
Well, not completely open, but with so many security guys walking around, I feel super exposed.
It’s hard not to get carried away with each swipe of his tongue and the delicious heat of his body pressing me into the trunk of the tree. I could easily forget there might be people watching and let him devour me again right here, but things haven’t settleddown thereyet, and well, if we can’t get lost in sex, we may as well go on a killing spree… right?
When we come up for air, he leads me back to the house, and with a sharp slap on my arse, he strides away to get everything ready.
We hit the road a few hours later. Ringo, me, JD and Jols piled into his Landy, as he likes to call it, and two Marx vehicles with us. One up ahead, and one tailing us.
We drive back to the Timber Valley district. The closer we get, the more anxious I am, my leg bouncing relentlessly until it must start to annoy Ringo, because he presses his hand down on it, his warmth instantly calming the jitter.
We’d discussed strategy on the trip, and even though they had already been to the places marked on the map, there were a couple I wanted to see for myself.
It’s just over an hour later when we’re driving through Fox Pines.
My hometown.
It’s weird being back here, my eyes taking in everything like I’ve been gone for years, when really it’s only been a few months.
Everything looks different now, though. Probably because I see the world differently now. Nothing is the same. Where I used to see vibrant colour, all I see is meek dullness. Like a painting left out in the weather too long, and the colour has washed away.
Ringo seems to know my hometown well, something else I didn’t know about him.
I’d never seen him before the night he stole me from my parents, so I’d just assumed he came to Fox Pines to get me, but I can see now he’s been around these streets enough times to know them by memory.
The closer we get to my house, the more my heart thrashes.
He’d said it had been deserted when they came looking after Ian Allen took me from Ringo’s home. That it looked like my family hadleft in a hurry. Yet still, the idea of walking back into that house has my stomach in knots.
Stay calm, Abbey. You need to do this. For Bobbi. For Tahli. For yourself.
The moment we turn onto my street, I stiffen, my hands clutching the seat as Ringo pulls up outside my neighbour’s house.
“You don’t have to go inside, Angel,” Ringo reminds me, but I know I need to. I need to see it all. So I ready myself, forcing the bravest smile I can muster, and open the car door.
Our Marx escorts drive a bit further up the road, getting out to do a sweep, but I focus on my house as it comes into view with each step closer, the brown brick single-story home looking just the way it did before everything happened.
Ringo moves quickly to my side, with JD and Jols following behind as one of the Marx men, Riggs I think, approaches us.
“We are gonna park just outside each end of the street. Unless we were tailed without knowing it, there’s no reason to expect a visit from the Rebels.”
Ringo nods at the big guy. “Thanks, man. I’ll text when we are coming out.”
