Page 22 of Behind the Shadows
“I’m there a lot.” He placed his hands on his hips, his intense gaze assessing me as if he could easily put the puzzle pieces of who I was together. “Who is Draco?” he asked again.
I folded my arms over my chest, a clear indication that I wasn’t interested in telling him about the man who had assaulted me minutes ago.
“I want to go home. Thank you for your help. I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be standing in front of you if you hadn’t witnessed Draco coming after me. I can handle the situation from here.”
Draco’s smug face flashed in my mind, and I imagined the satisfying weight of pulling the trigger. I cursed under my breath, knowing that once again he’d escaped justice. A seething rage built inside me, fueled by memories of the pain he’d caused. At that moment, I knew that a bullet to his head would be too quick, too merciful. No, he deserved to suffer just like I did … just like … The thought fueled my determination as I refocused on the rare gift presented to me. How many people had a second chance at life and revenge? This time, I was ready to deal with matters on my terms and make him pay for his sins.
I walked around to the driver’s side of the car and climbed in. The engine purred to life, and I closed the door. Seconds later, Kip joined me and secured the passenger side.
“If you don’t want my help, that’s fine.”
I pressed my lips into a thin line. Typically, men didn’t give up so easily when they felt the need to rescue a woman in distress, but I didn’t need saving.
Kip noticed me looking at him, but instead of the smugness I expected, his features held curiosity. He shifted toward me, resting his arm on the console, close enough that the heat of him bled into my skin. My pulse tripped, my body betraying me as I fought to keep my breath even.
I didn’t want him to know what was happening, the way my heart thudded against my ribs as if it might jump out and fling itself at him. His scent—something clean and biting, like rain on an autumn day—caught me off guard. I’d always considered myself immune to cliché, but here I was, melting for a man I barely knew.
The idea of asking him for help with Draco sent a shiver through me, and I found myself torn between wanting to ask and fearing the answer.
“Take me back to the club. I want to make sure that motherfucker doesn’t take up space at my bar again. Something tells me he’s one to push boundaries when he’s told no.” Kip tilted his head.
“You’re not wrong.” I started the car and shifted into drive. Cautiously, I eased down the alleyway. “He’s mixed up with some bad people and dark shit, but something tells me you know about dark shit.” I glanced at him before I focused on the road again.
He shifted forward, invading my personal space with practiced ease, and I sucked in a sharp breath with his proximity.
“I’ve had my share.”
My brows pinched together as I imagined the possibilities. “I don’t want to know. I deal with enough secrets in my profession.”
He leaned back and rubbed the back of his neck. “And what’s that?”
“I’m a psychiatrist.”
His lips pursed into a thin line, and he remained quiet. “Tell you what, doc. I’ll trade you secrets. You give me one about Draco, and I’ll give you one of my own. If he comes back around, I need to be prepared. Plus, you don’t know it yet, but you’re going to call me if the son of a bitch shows up again.”
As unattractive as it was, I full-on snorted. “I have no intention of calling you. I don’t need your secrets, either.” I wish it were true. There was something different about his energy. His presence was strong and commanding, which made him even more magnetic. But I’d gone down that road before with Coop, and getting involved with anyone even for a one-night stand was dangerous, especially now that Draco was back.
A prickling sensation raised the hair on my neck. Kip didn’t want my secrets; he only thought he did. I was scarred and wounded beyond repair. However, I had a feeling he could be relentless, and the longer he was in the car with me, the more I wanted to know about him.
“I haven’t seen Draco in seventeen years. At one time he was a friend of my family’s, but he betrayed us. I crossed him, and now he’s back for answers … revenge.” I’d left out the detail that Draco had known my real family, but that would fuel too many questions that I didn’t want to answer.
I turned the rental car left toward the club and shot Kip a look, wondering what he was thinking. “It’s your turn.”
My attention bounced between him and the road while he bowed his head and removed one of his contacts before he looked at me. “I have ocular albinism, which reduces the pigmentation in the iris and retina.”
My entire body flinched without my permission before I scolded myself to stay focused on the road. At least I was only driving fifteen miles an hour. Normally I was well versed in hiding my surprise, but when a large man stares at you with a white eye, it’s fucking unnerving.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”
“Most people do. It’s why I wear colored contacts.” I caught his movement from the corner of my eye as he popped the lens back in.
I chanced a sideways look at him. “That must have been difficult growing up. Kids can be mean.”
He chuckled low in his throat. “I was meaner.” He pointed at another back road, then said, “Turn here. I don’t want you at the front of the club in case Draco is waiting for you.”
A hush fell over us as I followed his directions into the parking lot and eased to a stop in front of the employee-only entrance.
Instead of getting out of the car right away, Kip turned to me. “Give me your phone.”
