They nodded and stood up as we slid out of the booth.
“What do I owe you?” Dane asked, gesturing to the table as he pulled out his wallet.
“It’s on the house. Just do me a favor and be careful on the road. Take plenty of breaks especially if you’re driving at night. I don’t think your family wants to lose anyone else.” Paul told us, his smile kind.
“Thank you.” Dane replied and I echoed the sentiment.
“It was nice to meet you and I hope you stop by if you make it back out this way.”
“We will.” Dane promised and I glanced back at them as we stepped out of the diner. They both stood there watching us, but it wasn’t creepy, more like they were concerned for us. I waved, trying to reassure them and Lionel waved back. Dane opened the truck door and boosted me inside.
“Buckle up, buttercup. We’re going home.”
Six hours later and night had fallen. The road was a long stretch of nothing with the occasional headlight in the distance. Dane was alert, having told me it wasn’t unusual for deer or wild animals to dart across the road. I’d seen plenty of signs warning about the danger and he said they could easily total a vehicle. His mom had called back seven more times and texted at least that many.
I’d asked him how long he planned to ignore her and he’d shrugged.
“We know why she’s calling. Your parents are dead and you’re missing. She’s trying to let me know, but telling her you’re with me and trying to have that conversation?” He shook his head adamantly. “Not what I want to do. She’ll have a ton of questions we don’t have an answer to. Better to show up and let her see for herself.”
“You don’t think maybe it’d be a good idea to give them a heads up? They can look things up or something. Maybe they already know what I am.”
He gave me disgruntled look and shook his head.
“I promise you there’s no way they know what you are. You defy explanation, darling. I’ve always told you that.” I flipped back in the seat with a groan.
“I didn’t think you were talking about magical powers when you said that.”
He chuckled. “I wasn’t at the time, but I was on to something. I think I’ve always known you were more than ordinary.” He paused and said the next part so quietly I almost didn’t catch it. “We were more than ordinary.”
After that I stopped trying to persuade him to answer his mom’s calls. I did get him to agree to reply to her text so she wouldn’t think he was dead.
“What does the text say?” I asked curiously.
“Call me. Call me. It’s urgent. Call me back right now. Answer the damn phone, son. Should I keep going? They’re all on the same vein.” I rolled my eyes at him.
“At least text her and tell her you’re driving or something. Maybe then she’ll back off.”
“Fine.” He tossed his phone to me. “You do it.”
So I did, only typing what I told him - he was driving and couldn’t talk then. The calls and texts stopped after that, and I clutched the phone wanting to dial her number and hear her voice. She’d been like a second mother to me and I desperately wanted to hear her say she loved me and forgave me for the way I’d acted after Dane and I broke up.
“She loves you.” Dane answered me, leaning over to cover my hand with his. My mouth quirked up in a half smile. He was reading my mind again without even realizing it. I probably should have been upset, considered it invasive, intrusive, something, but it seemed like such a natural progression of our relationship it was difficult to be upset. If anything, his ability to read my mind seemed like the most normal thing to have happened out of all of this. “There’s nothing to forgive. We both made mistakes, said things we shouldn’t have. You can’t blame yourself. Out of everyone, you had the most right to be angry.”
“You’re reading my mind again.” I teased him, stroking my thumb over his knuckles. His glance darted over to me and back to the road.
“Maybe I just know you that well.”
“Possibly. It’s more than that though. You know it.”
“I need more time.” He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Right now, I’m just grateful you’re here and safe. The rest will have to be sorted out when we get home.” The low fuel light came on then and he released my hand with a sigh. “Right now, I need to find a gas station.”
Half an hour later that was easier said than done. There’d been no breaks along the stretch of road we were on and both of us were getting nervous. We didn’t want to spend the night on the side of the road in the wilderness. Cell signal was poor to nonexistent so searching for the nearest gas station was useless. Finally, a faint glow ahead indicated the possibility of life.
We rolled into an old rundown gas station with barely a mile’s worth of gas left in the truck. I let out a relieved sigh as I took a look around.
“Do you think they’re open?” Most everything was dark, not really unexpected since small towns tended to shut down after dark. Beer signs glowed in the distance, indicating a bar and possibly the only establishment still open.
“Let’s see if I can get gas. The pumps might still be available even if the shop is closed.”
I groaned, hoping the station would be open too. He gave me a questioning look.
“I’m hungry.” I admitted sheepishly. He just grinned and tossed me his wallet.
“Go see if the door is open. It seems like there’s a light on in the back. Maybe they’re still here.” I nodded and hopped out as he went around to the pump. He gave me a thumbs up as it let him get gas so I wandered to the station. The door opened easily enough when I tried it. I perused the aisles looking for snacks. It didn’t take me long to fill my arms and wander to the cash register where a bored old man tottered on a stool, half-asleep. He perked up as he rang up my purchases.
“Made it in the nick of time. I was just about to close up. Haven’t seen a soul in hours. Wife tells me I shouldn’t bother to stay open so late.” A glimpse at the clock revealed it was just now eight o’clock, but I didn’t mention it. Probably was late for this old guy. “But I told her, we’re the only gas station in a hundred miles either way. There’s always someone that needs to fill up.” He gave me a pointed look and I smiled, keeping silent. The door popped open and Dane came in. A quick nod reassured him everything was fine and he gave the old man a nod.
“Any chance you have a restroom I can use?”
The old man creaked as he eased off the stool and reached for a key behind the counter.
“Yep. Gotta keep it locked.” He shrugged. “Not really for the people but to keep the wildlife out, you know.” I didn’t know and didn’t want to think about wildlife busting into the bathroom with me either.
“Yes, sir.” Dane accepted the key from him, and looked down at me. “I’m going to go. You good?” I nodded, having went a couple hours before and any need to go now lost with the idea of wildlife joining me. “Alright, wait for me in the truck, okay?” He handed me the truck keys, obviously trusting I wouldn’t drive off without him. He went back out and I paid for the snacks, shoving the wallet and keys into my pocket and looping the bag over my arm.
He’d pulled the truck around the side of the building after he’d gotten gas. He always did that so he wouldn’t be in someone else’s way if they needed to get gas after him. I didn’t think that was really an issue out here in the boondocks, but whatever. This side of the building was much darker, not that there were a whole of lights around here anyway, but I shivered as a crawling sensation went over my skin. I rounded the side of the building and stopped short as a man stepped in front of me. Instantly, I knew he was up to no good. I didn’t need the smirk on his face or the slimy look of him to tell me as the heat suddenly radiating from my skin was enough. This man meant to do me harm.
“Dane!” I shouted before he slammed his hand across my mouth and grabbed my arm, swinging me against the wall.
“Now, why you going and doing something like that? Hmmm?” His fetid breath
blew across my face triggering my gag reflex. The burning of my skin wherever he touched me didn’t help either. I struggled against him, but even his smaller stature was more than a match for my light weight. “We’ll have us a little fun and the boyfriend won’t be none the wiser.”
My eyes widened as his hand reached for his pant zipper and I struggled harder, panicked at what he intended. Dane had just went to the bathroom, I thought. He’d be out in a second. The guy seemed to read my thoughts as I glanced frantically toward the back of the building and leaned closer to whisper, “He might be awhile.” He shrugged lightly, his hand still shoved against my mouth, the burning sensation reaching a new level. “I might have blocked the door.”
My eyes widened in horror as I thought of what this man would do to me with Dane just out of reach, of what Dane would be going through not able to get to me. I wanted to hurt the man who held me, but more than that I wanted to be with Dane. My would be rapist had gotten his pants undone and had his hand up my shirt, his fingers sending a scalding heat over my skin and causing tears to form in my eyes.
I won’t let you, I screamed inside, unable to articulate the rage thrumming through me. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway, not with his hand over my mouth. A second later, he removed his hand with a chuckle.
“Maybe you should scream. I’m sure he’d enjoy hearing how much fun you’re having with me.” He didn’t even seem to notice the burned imprint of his hand where he’d held it over my mouth, more interested in shoving his hand down the loose pants I wore. I clenched my thighs together and begged magic to work. It had saved me last time and I prayed it would save me again. Maybe praying wasn’t the right term, I thought desperately, maybe I needed a spell. Dane said they used spells, but I didn’t know any. Just that I needed Dane.
I almost didn’t recognize the tingling since my body was drawn so tight against the evasive touch of my captor, but as the pins and needles raced over my skin, my eyes popped open in time to see a blue light emanating from me. It was enough for the guy holding me to stop in fear, but by then I was gone.
Chapter Six
I wasn’t surprised to see Dane, but his eyes widened in shock when I appeared over his shoulder in the mirror. Again, I threw myself at him, my arms coming around him from the back as I choked back sobs. He touched my arms wrapped across his middle as I buried my face in his back. His hands were wet from washing and I realized he didn’t even know he was locked inside the bathroom.
He tugged me loose, spinning around to see my face. It only took him a second to recognize the burned hand print over my mouth and he shook me.
“Where?” The question was low and vicious and I pointed to the door.
“Outside. Guy…” I trailed off as he went to the door, rattling the lock. “He blocked it.” I told him, backing to the wall. He slammed his boot through the door a second later and shouted at me to stay there. I knew what he planned and had no intention of moving until he came back for me. I heard him go around the building and stayed huddled on the ground, keeping my eyes on the broken door. I knew full well what Dane could do to someone when he was pissed off and had reason. Seconds later I heard a yelp and then a thud as someone hit the ground. Fists pounded against flesh, a wet sound that seemed to go on forever until finally there was silence.
A few minutes later, Dane peeked around the shattered door. He had blood splattered across his face and shirt, and his knuckles were dripping blood, but I ran to him anyway. He brought his arms up around me, hugging me tightly. His breath shuddered against me, deep and slow as he calmed himself.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” He whispered against my ear, and I laughed, only semi-hysterical from a second attack in two days. My fingernails dug into the thick muscles of his back, pulling him tighter. I wasn’t ready to leave the safety of his arms. He understood, tightening his own embrace until my body stopped shaking. “We should go.”
I nodded my head jerkily against his chest. He was right but my arms didn’t want to release him. He walked forward with me still clinging to him and lifted me on to the edge of the sink. A second later he had the water running, steam gushing up, as he scrubbed the blood from his hands and arms. I soaked a paper towel and attacked the flecks of blood covering his face.
“He was just a regular human.” I didn’t comment on his use of past tense, no longer concerned by the man’s fate. I hadn’t thought he was a witch. He hadn’t acted like the other guy, like I was something special. “Fucking asshole rapist who just happened to be around when we come by the gas station.” He chuckled mirthlessly, his eyes blank as he stared in the mirror. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him like this as he sorted out the necessity of what he’d done with the morality of it. He’d do it again in a second, but it didn’t make the action any easier.
“If he wasn’t a witch, why did his touch burn me?” I asked in an attempt to distract him from his thoughts.
“Not sure. Maybe it’s not magic that’s the trigger, but intent. He meant you harm and your body was trying to warn you.” Dane answered slowly, the words dragging out of him. His eyes focused on my mouth and I knew without having to look, it was bad. He closed his eyes, exhaling forcefully, as he turned toward the door. He wanted to beat that guy again, but there was nothing left. I gripped his arm, my fingers not making it half way around his bulging bicep.
“It’s okay. You can heal me. He’s not going to touch me or any other woman ever again.” I tore a few more paper towels off, grateful the bathroom was actually stocked and clean and feeling bad about the busted door. I gently dried his hands and arms, dabbing at the still oozing cuts along his knuckles. “You’re supposed to avoid bone, remember?” I chided him, countless recollections of him going over proper technique when hitting someone running through my brain. “That’s how you break your hand.”
His chuckle sounded a little more normal as he said, “So you were listening.”
“I always listened.” I said, attempting to sound affronted by his implication. “I just don’t always obey.”
“Now, that’s the truth.” His finger glided along the mark on my face, and when his eyes met mine they burned. “Let’s hope you were right about my ability to heal you.” I caught his wrist, kissing an uninjured knuckle.
“I’m always right. You should know that by now.” I held onto his wrist, tugging him from the bathroom. “But I don’t want to stay here. In fact, I want to get as far away from this place as I can.” Dane situated himself on my left, using his body to block my view of the man on the ground. When we came to the passenger side of the door, I remembered the keys stuffed into my pocket. I drew them out and he loaded me up, giving a last glance at the front of the gas station. He shook his head and went around to the driver’s side, sliding in and starting the truck.
“You gonna be okay a little bit longer?” I nodded, and realized the bag of snacks was still hanging on my arm. I set it on the floorboard, no longer hungry. Dane opened his mouth, but snapped it shut again and peeled out of the parking lot. For the first time in our relationship, he drove, I couldn’t say recklessly, because it wasn’t. He was in complete control, but that control thrummed with the need to do violence, to destroy and damage, to hurt. The odometer inched up continuously as we drove down the silent highway, and the truck felt like it was floating, the wheels never touching the ground. It wasn’t until we saw lights in the distance that he slowed at all. By the time we arrived in the small town he was going the speed limit again. A good thing as we passed a patrol car situated on the outskirts of town.
He swung the truck into the parking lot of a hotel, a recent addition from how new it looked.
“I’ll be right back.” He muttered, stopping the truck under the overhang. He was back within minutes, tossing me a key card and parking the truck. “Keep your head down.”
I nodded, knowing he didn’t want anyone to see the burn on my face and start asking questions we couldn’t answer. The lobby was empty that time of night, eve
n the desk clerk didn’t look up as we went to the elevator. There hadn’t been many cars in the parking lot, the town not having much use for a hotel.
When we stepped into the room, I headed straight for the bathroom.
“Quinn.” The quiet way he said my name stopped me in my tracks and I turned to look at him. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I asked, confused. He brushed his thumb against my lips but it was his eyes which told me the truth. He felt guilty for my burns, for the man attacking me, for not knowing. I shook my head. “You couldn’t have known. Don’t blame yourself, Dane. It could have happened anywhere, anytime. You are not responsible.”
He looked like he wanted to argue so I pressed my finger to his lips.
“I need a shower and then you will heal my burns.” I forced a smile as I said, “And new clothes because everything I’m wearing is going straight to the trash.”
He nodded, his gaze following me as I went to the bathroom. I stepped inside and pushed on the door leaving it slightly ajar. I couldn’t close myself off from him completely. The memory of my earlier desperation to get to him was still fresh.
I turned the water to scalding, wanting to burn the feel of the man’s touch from my skin, but the second the hot water hit my burns I lowered it to lukewarm. I used the bar of soap instead, lathering my skin over and over to erase every trace. It was easy to see where he’d touched me, red marks and burns highlighted the path. I shuddered as I traced them with the bar of soap, trying to push the memory back. I stood under the water, letting it wash over me, cleansing me mentally as well as physically.
The bathroom door widened as Dane slipped in, placing clothes on the counter. He didn’t look toward the shower, but saw my reflection through the mirror. The shower had a glass door and he could see me clearly. I didn’t consider it until he spun around and slammed the shower door open so hard it shimmed on its tracks.
The Trinity Sisters Page 37
