Chapter 52 SURPRISE
THANE
I had no damn idea where the car was taking me. All I knew was I slammed my foot on the gas and sped down the road, that same heat still burning in my chest. I didn’t bother wiping the sweat trickling from my forehead down the side of my face. My grip tightened around the wheel harder.
Why was I this mad… and this hurt?
It felt like one of them was killing me more than the other, but I couldn’t even tell which. Was it the anger that none of this made sense, or the fact that the pieces were starting to fit together in my head? I was with her that night. Ciara died in my fucking arms. And Pops was out of town when it happened. The only thing that never made sense was how that man wrapped up the whole investigation without even trying to find the bastard who killed his own daughter.
Simon Adams never backed down from a case. But this one? He shut it down without blinking and his damn excuse was because of the scandal.
That morning he said it… it’s still fresh in my head. Just like that night—holding Ciara in my arms while her blood went cold. I still hate him for it. And the worst part? It haunts me every damn night.
The traffic light ahead turned red and I slammed the brakes. The tires screeched as the car jerked to a stop. My head felt like it was about to split open. Too many questions I shouldn’t even be asking myself, but still needed answers to. Even if I was scared of what I’d find.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I dragged my eyes off the road and pulled it out. Rachel's name popped on the screen. I didn’t hesitate. I hit the side button. The ringing stopped. The light turned green and I hit the gas harder again.
The phone rang a second time. I let out a sharp breath, ready to shut it off completely, but when her name flashed again, something in me gave in before I could stop myself.
I picked up her call. “Hey…”
“Don’t say anything yet,” she cut me off quickly. “Just tell me where you are.” Her voice came through soft… definitely too soft for someone who should be pissed at me.
I swallowed hard and turned off the main road, driving into a quieter area.
“Thane?” she called again.
Why now? My head scrambled for something right to say. “I don’t know,” I muttered. “I just kept driving.”
“Alright, fine,” she said calmly. “Tell me what’s around you. I’ll find you.”
A dry, helpless laugh slipped out. “Look, Shorty—”
“I’m driving right now, Thane,” she cut in sharply this time. “You need to answer me fast.”
What? Driving? Why the hell is she so damn stubborn? She was supposed to be at the hospital. Why would she leave? I don’t even want her seeing me like this.
I rubbed my temple, feeling a pounding start to build there wilder. “There’s… a water view near a bridge,” I said, glancing out the window. “You can see the moon setting.”
She sighed. “Okay… what else? Anyone around?”
“Nope,” I mumbled, still rubbing my temple.
“Last sign you passed?”
“I was driving straight, Rachel. I don’t fucking know.” I exhaled sharply, palm landing hard on the wheel. “And please… I’m serious. You need to go back to the hospital.”
“How close are you to the house? I can work with that.”
“Are you even listening to me?” I snapped, frustration climbing back up my chest. “Go back to your mum!”
“Alright,” she said quietly. That one word hit harder than it should have. Guilt twisted in my chest, but it was better this way. Better she stayed away than see me like this… feel this bad energy taking up the whole space.
“Fine,” she shot back, and the line went dead. The car fell silent again.
I leaned my head back against the seat, remembering I still had that flight… even though I’d already missed it hours ago. I bet Pops was probably raging wherever he was. Speaking of the devil, my phone buzzed with a message from him, on my lap. I tapped the screen to read the full.
Pops: You know what happens if you don’t keep your part of the deal… You’ve still got time to get your ass down here, boy. Next flight’s by eight in the morning. Miss it if you want me to back away from my promise. Keep me posted.
As I read it, I wished I could curse him out right there. Instead, I flung my phone onto the passenger seat. Just then, a car rolled to a stop beside mine. The window slid down, and Rachel’s head popped out. “Surprise.” She smirked.
Fuck.
I should’ve known something was off when she agreed without a fight.
Before I could even say a word, she unhooked her seatbelt in one quick move, yanked the door open, and slammed it shut behind her. She walked around the bonnet like she was some kind of hero coming to save the day, heading straight for my side.
My eyes followed her the whole time, confused, until she opened the door and slid into the seat next to me. She shut it louder than necessary, like she was taking her frustration out on it. Only then did she turn to me.
“I’m here now,” she announced, almost proudly.
Great. As if I needed that confirmation. My eyes flicked to hers. “I never said you could come.”
I looked away again, but before I could say anything else, she moved faster than my thoughts. Her hands came up and cupped both sides of my face, squeezing my cheeks together until my lips pushed into a forced pout.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, the words coming out muffled.
She didn’t answer immediately. She just stared at me, really stared, like she was trying to see through everything going on in my head. I tried to pull back, but her grip tightened.
“Stop doing this, Shorty,” I muttered, trying to avoid her eyes. I knew I’d soften if I let her look at me too long.
“I didn’t come here to waste time fighting with you,” she said quietly. Her thumb brushed the side of my face. “I figured you wouldn’t talk to me… so I came to sit with you and watch you do whatever. If that helps.” Her voice softened at the end.
I dropped my head slightly. Why did she have to sound like that? I wanted to push her away. Tell her to go back. But damn… the way her hands felt on my face, it didn’t feel like something I wanted to run from.
Her fingers slid down to my jaw, brushing it gently before tilting my head back up. My eyes met hers again, those dreamy blue eyes… and my breath caught in my throat.
For a second, neither of us moved or said anything. We just stayed there… caught in whatever this intensity was.
Her gaze dropped to my lips. Mine followed without thinking. Her thumb brushed over my lower lip as she leaned in slowly, like she was giving me time to stop her if I wanted to. But I didn’t. Fuck. I couldn’t. My hands stayed still on my lap, like I didn’t even know what I wanted to do with them.
Her lips parted, her face now inches from mine… But just before she reached me, I forced myself to grab her wrists and pull her hands away. I leaned back into the seat quickly. “I have a lot…” I exhaled, staring straight ahead. “A lot to deal with.”
I turned to look at her again. “So we can’t do this. Pretending like nothing happened.” I confessed quietly. “I lost control… back there.” My jaw tightened. “I don’t even deserve as much to look at you right now… or even want you.”
She let out a quiet breath. And then, just like that, she moved. She shifted onto the seat, knees bent on it, then swung one leg over toward my side. Before I could even react, she climbed onto my lap, careful not to let her butt hit the steering wheel.
Her fingers ran through her hair as she pulled it up into a messy unrecognizable knot, then settled herself more comfortably against me. And I just sat there… staring. Too stunned to even speak.
“Do you hate me?” she blurted.
“What?” I choked out, disbelief hitting me instantly.