“Didn’t think she would.” I pushed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “She asked me not to tell anyone.”
“Figures.” He leaned back a little on his seat. “She always did want to handle things on her own. You know I offered to help her get her own place before I moved off the trailer park, but she refused.” He ran his palm over his face, his frustration evident. “She wanted to stay with her druggie mom and look after her. It’s fucked up. She shouldn’t be doing that shit, bro.”
“She shouldn’t,” I agreed, and I was kicking myself for not knocking on her trailer door when I’d taken her car back. If I would have seen her mom high, there was no way I would have left there without her. No way in hell. “Is that why she works for you, then? To help her mom?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled, but it was a sad kind of chuckle. “She needed to make money—good money—and she could dance. You think I like that she takes her clothes off to earn money?” I didn’t get a chance to answer because he continued, “Hell to the no, but she’s independent and a goddamn pain in my ass.”
“I see that,” I commented, because I already felt that way about her. “Where you going?”
“To her trailer,” Jax whipped out.
“Why don’t you wait? Calm down. You’ll see her again for work this week, right?”
Jax narrowed his eyes at me, and I could tell he was trying to work out why I was saying that, but I wouldn’t admit to him that I didn’t want him running to her and demanding answers, telling her he’d heard it from me. I hadn’t broken my promise. I hadn’t told him. Everyone else had.
“You’re right.” He huffed out a breath. “But you hear anything else, or if she comes to you, you fuckin’ call me asap. Got it?”
“Got it.” I clipped my head in a nod as he turned his engine on, and within seconds he was pulling out into the road, leaving the echo of the roar of his bike behind. And he never did tell me why he came here in the first place.
My gaze drifted over to Aleste’s studio, and I could see her teaching some students through the window, but it was the spot where Elodie had been lying on her back while taking hit after hit that I focused on. She’d been helpless, but she’d shown a strength I’d never seen before, and all it wanted to make me do was go to her. Make me want to hold her in my arms.
Fuck.
I yanked my cell out and shot off a message before I chickened out. I couldn’t stand here wondering and waiting for secondhand information from Leo. I had to know for myself, I had to check.
* * *
ELODIE
My cell vibrated in my pocket as I walked out of the school’s main doors. I’d hid in the girls' bathroom once the last bell of the day rang out, hoping not to run into anyone as I left. I’d waited for forty minutes, sure I’d be clear to leave. The entire day had been full of whispers and sneers from every student apart from Leo, but it didn’t bother me. It was the feel of Knox’s stare whenever I saw him that got to me. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t do anything here in front of all the students, but I’d been certain he wouldn’t hurt me in public, and I’d been wrong.
So, I didn’t take any risks. I waited, and now I was only a few feet from my car, also known as the place where I slept.
Asher: Hey. Just checkin’ in to see how you are.
I bit down on my bottom lip, debating whether to reply or not. If I did, I was afraid it would mean something, but if I didn’t, it would be rude. I’d already not answered his first message, so I had to answer this one, right? I was overthinking the entire thing, but it was because he knew everything. He knew I was a high school student who stripped. He knew I’d let my boyfriend hit me. And we’d kissed. Well, he’d kissed Lotus, but I was Lotus.
My fingers drifted to my lips, and I shivered as I remembered the way his lips had felt against mine. Remembered the way his hand had felt as he touched me. He’d seared me with his touch, and since that moment, nothing had been the same. Some invisible source had pushed me to stick up for myself, to own who I was. To not take any more shit.
Asher had done that. He’d unknowingly given me the energy to fight when I’d been down. He’d done that, no one else, so it was only right I replied to his message. Was I really debating whether I would answer him or not? I shook my head and let my thoughts drift away as I wrote him a message.
Elodie: Hey. I’m good. Leaving school now.
Asher: Thought you got let out nearly an hour ago?
My eyes widened at his instant reply, and I made a small yelp. Damn. Had he been watching his cell for my reply? What did that mean? Did he really want to know I was okay? Was it because I was friends with his nephew or because he knew I was close with Jax and Al? Or maybe he only wanted to talk to me.
Elodie: Yeah. I stayed behind until everyone was gone.
I was being honest. Well, as honest as I could be. I knew he’d be able to read between the lines, though. I pressed the side button on my cell to lock it and halted next to my car as I fished my keys out. And just as I’d put the key in the lock, a voice said, “Hiding from me?”
My heart hammered in my chest, and I didn’t think as I ripped my door open, dived inside my car, and locked my door. I stared through the window, seeing Knox standing there with a smirk on his face. He liked that I was scared. He lived for it.
“Leave me alone,” I told him, my voice shaky and hoarse.
“No can do.” He leaned c
loser to the window, his face inches from mine, and only separated by glass. “You can run and hide all you want, babe. But you should know by now I like the chase.” It was a statement, but also a threat. A threat I knew wasn’t empty. A threat he’d collect on. “It turns me on.” He leered at me, his gaze snapping down to my chest as he licked his lips, and I shivered. My skin crawled as he glared at me, and I couldn’t mask how I was feeling—how he made me feel.