Page 48 of A Kiss at Midnight

He doesn’t answer as he continues moving forward. Do I follow or not? Bile rises in my throat. I’m doing all of this for Justin, and because I visited him today, I might’ve just set myself back several steps.

Tears burn my eyes as I desperately try to find an explanation to calm Blake’s temper. But he seems to know when I’m lying. So instead of crying, instead of throwing up, I stand in silence and follow Blake. He presses the button on the elevator, and we ride down and walk into the garage.

When he moves over to a large black pickup truck, I question it. Blake drives expensive sports cars, not trucks that seem more fitting for work. Then I remember he’d been called to work earlier and had most likely been using it on a job.

Still, why is he taking me in it now? Why not just leave the truck here? Maybe because there’s a shovel in the back, and he needs to get rid of the evidence...

As Blake closes the passenger door and enters the truck on the driver’s side, I focus on the windshield and the view straight in front of me, not having a clue where we’re going. It doesn’t matter. If this allows me to get my brother, I don’t care what happens.

A strange sense of peace washes over me, and I turn to look out the side window. This will all be over someday. Soon, no matter what it takes, if I’m alive, I’ll be with my brother, and hopefully then, both of our lives can return to somewhat of a normal existence.

This is the only thing I can hope for. Because the alternative will send me into a downward spiral of depression I’ll never escape. I won’t keep fighting as long as I’m drawing in a breath. To hell with Blake, and to hell with a system that dares to take a child from a loving sister who wants nothing more than to care for him.

I clench my fists and try to decide what’s coming next. Whatever it is, I won’t go down without a fight.

Chapter Review

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Blake

Frustration rolls throughme in never-ending waves. The feigned innocence I keep seeing in Jewel’s eyes can’t conceal the lies she’s speaking. Ineedto get the truth, and I want it tonight. If she thinks I easily give up, she has a lot to learn about the real world... and about me.

I’m well aware I’m made of ice. How many people have said this? I don’t care. Even a man as cold as I am can eventually melt, can feel real emotion. I’m feeling a hell of a lot right now.

Only my brothers have ever been allowed in, and only because of the horror the three of us share. It’s us against the world. So why am I letting this woman, this insignificant woman, affect my moods?

As I point my truck away from the city, I stealthily watch Jewel. Absurdly enough, I want to reach across the seat and haul her to my side. Her tantalizing scent surrounds me and muddies my thoughts. In a very short time she’s changed me in ways I don’t understand.

What I should do is take her back to the apartment, drop her off, and never look back. That isn’t going to happen... not yet. I need to drive, think before I let her go. I need to make her talk.

When I start down a road with no streetlights as the sun sinks, she turns toward me. Her face is barely visible in the insignificant light from the dash, but I have no doubt she’s worried. Good. Let her worry. She’s caused me an unbearable rush of emotion today. She can deal with some of her own.

About ten miles out in the middle of nowhere, she finally speaks. “Where are we going?”

“I don’t know.” My tone is curt. I can’t seem to stop it.

“Blake—”

She breaks off, leaving me with no idea of what she was going to say, because we suddenly hear a loud thumping noise followed by the sound of my tire shredding.

“Dammit!” I yank my foot off the gas and ease the truck to the side of the road. We’re miles from town, in the middle of mint fields without a house in sight. I’m irritated for a few more seconds, then I take a deep breath and realize this isn’t so bad. I need to feel something other than anger and irritation, and I know exactly what will ease my frustration.

“Come here, Jewel.” The dash lights are the only illumination, but I see a shiver race through her body at my words.

I’m waiting for her to climb over to me, and instead, she throws open the passenger door and bolts from the truck. I sit dumbfounded for a full minute, then finally rush out. Both of the truck doors are left wide open, and the light glowing from the truck offers me some assistance in my chase, and yet her shadow is barely visible as she sprints away.

“What the hell, Jewel?” I thunder, then silently rebuke myself. The tone of my voice isn’t going to reassure her, and certainly won’t persuade her to stop, and if she doesn’t, I’ll lose her in the dark.

Throwing off my custom jacket, not caring where it lands, I run after her. She doesn’t stand a chance. She doesn’t make it far when I catch up to her, and scoop her off her feet. Her scream floats into the night.

“Stop!” I shout as I turn and return to the truck with her struggling in my arms.

“Don’t do this, Blake. I’m sorry. I wasn’t doing anything that will dishonor you, I swear.”

“I don’t care anymore,” I say in a steady voice as we reach the truck.

“What are you going to do?”

---