I look around at the dead men, including one I sometimes called Uncle—the fucking piece of filth who got way too much time on this earth. I kneel and take his cigarettes, his money, and his patch that says he was a founding member. No way will he take this to his grave.
Ryder talks on his phone, discussing the best way to get rid of the bodies. “Hold on a second.” He turns his sharp gaze on me. “You okay, Poet?”
I don’t answer. He has other things that need to happen.
“Goddammit, David,” he yells at me. “Stop for one fucking second and look at yourself.”
That makes me look down at my bloody hands, and I turn to face him. “I don’t need to look at myself to know what’s going to happen. You help Blade take those fucks down. I’m going to take a walk. I’ll be back later with my head on straight.”
“What about Charlie?”
“Charlie.” I look up at the sky that has graced us with an incredible orange and red sunset. “Charlie, Charlie… Charlie.” She’s got a piece of me. Unfortunately the rest is not anything that works. I look at him. “One day, maybe in another life, brother.”
“Dude… Terrier, let me call you back,” Ryder snarls into his burner phone. As he follows me, I straddle my bike.
“Don’t do this, man. I have a bad feeling. You know about my feelings.” He’s being sincere. I reach for his hand as he grips mine.
“I’ve got to be me, and you need to go do your job. Mine’s done.”
I break away and start up my bike, squeezing the throttle so I can’t hear him anymore, only the deep rumble of my bike.
I know where I’m going. She’s calling to me. My dark mistress. As I release the clutch, I close my eyes. I’m in darkness and when I open them all my light, what little I had saved from her, is gone.CHARLIEThe back seat of the SUV is comfortable enough, but that’s about all that’s comfortable. In a matter of twenty minutes, I’ve bitten my nails down to the core and ripped a hangnail off, which is now bleeding. Tucking my hands under my legs, I briefly contemplate the condition of my poor wet dress. It started off like my day—promising, bright, and new. Now it looks haggard and wrong.
We dropped Cindy off at her apartment a little while ago. Reed could not have been more of a gentleman as he went in and checked that everything was in order.
Out of my element, I squirm and cross my legs as I sit next to Reed. This lavish vehicle, his watch, and the way he moves make him stand out. Not only does his dark hair have the right amount of curl to make him special, but Jesus, his eyes almost come close to being as spectacular as David’s. Almost.
I take a deep breath and ask him the question I need to know. “What’s happening? Is… everything okay?” My face burns. Of course, everything is not okay. I’m sitting next to Reed Saddington instead of David McCormick.
He looks out the window at Ventura Boulevard. “David is David.”
“What?” I croak and clear my throat. “That sounds… I don’t understand what’s happening.”
He turns his green eyes on me. “You do. You know exactly what’s happening. I can’t tell you what you want to hear, because that’s not fair to either one of you.”
My eyes swim with tears. “Thank you for taking me home and not lying.”
“David insisted on it.” He rubs his forehead, which makes me swallow down the bile that keeps threatening to come up. The vehicle glides rather than drives into my apartment building’s parking area.
“Charlie, let me give you my phone number. If you need anything, or if David does, please call anytime.” He holds out his hand for my phone. “And good luck. You don’t have to do this alone. Trust me, I know how to handle him if he goes off.” He hands me back my phone, his name and address programmed in. I look over at the driver then back at Reed.
“I feel like I’m in some sort of nightmare. I’m… not right. Does that make sense?”
He runs his hands through his dark curls. “Get some rest. He’ll be back.”
I nod and bite my lip to keep from crying. “I want that. I felt like we were just starting, not ending.” This time my voice croaks, and I hop out before I completely humiliate myself in front of Reed Saddington.
“When the dust settles, you and David need to come over to our house in Malibu. Something tells me you and Tess will be great friends. She needs a girlfriend too.” The last part is dry as if I should understand.
“Don’t forget to call if you need anything.”