Tainted Forever (Tainted Knights 5)

But as I breathed in the scent deeper, I realized it really was Jace’s scent. His body wash and cologne clung to the pillow itself. Tears instantly stung my eyes, and I pulled the pillow to my chest as a sob tried to break free from my throat.

No.

I couldn’t think about him, not now. Back at the cabin, I was getting better, able to function without crying or wanting to blow up the entire world with my anger. I put all my rage and pain into the many, many songs I wrote. It was cathartic but left me raw. Still, I thought I was ready to face the real world again.

And yet, with the scent of him on my pillow reminding me of the last night we spent together, I was shattered all over again.

Chapter 8

Jace

I was downtown at Emmie’s office before the sun even came up.

Kin was back, and from what I overheard Santana telling my sister the night before, she was going to be in the studio working on a demo all morning.

Realizing she was within touching distance after four of the worst months of my damn life, I ached to go to her apartment. But that wasn’t possible. I didn’t even know where she was staying.

Angie had moved out of their old place, something I found out the hard way because I finally broke down the damn door when she refused to answer it, only to discover the apartment was completely empty.

I knew Kin wasn’t staying with Lucy, because I’d gone over there after overhearing Santana and Kassa talking. As always, Lucy didn’t divulge any details about her friend’s whereabouts or well-being, other than to tell me she looked good. I still searched the entire house before leaving, needing to make sure Kin wasn’t there.

Instead of going home, I stayed out, contemplating where Kin could possibly be. A hotel? A friend’s house? I called Jenna to see if maybe Kin was there, but other than to tell me she wasn’t, Jenna didn’t tell me much else.

I drove to Emmie’s office building in the early hours of the morning, dozed in my car when I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, and waited.

Pulling on a baseball cap and tucking it low, I walked into the building when the first guard arrived to take over for the night shift. The guy knew me, even though I couldn’t remember his name, and I told him I had a meeting with Emmie I didn’t want to be late for. Grinning, the guy let me through, but instead of getting on the elevator, I waited just out of sight.

Fuck, I felt like a damn stalker, but Kin left me no choice.

She’d blocked my number, making it impossible for me to call or text her. I sent email after email, pleading with her to just talk to me, but they got kicked back. I even snatched my sister’s phone once and tried to call Kin, but the call went unanswered. Kassa busted my balls when she realized I’d taken her phone, not that I cared.

I didn’t care about anything these days but finding Kin.

Unable to talk to her, not knowing where she was or how she was doing, I lost my mind quickly.

Now she was back, and I was acting like some psycho, waiting to pounce on her the second I set eyes on her.

Soon the building began to come alive. People were arriving to work, but no one paid me much attention as I waited. Emmie would be arriving soon, and she would probably verbally beat my ass—again—but I could withstand her bitching at me if it meant I got the chance to see Kin.

Shane Stevenson walked past me with his son. When his eyes landed on me, they narrowed. “You look like some serial killer waiting there, man,” he told me with a shake of his head. “What are you doing?”

“Waiting on Kin.”

“Well, come wait with us in the studio. Emmie finds you down here looking all stalker-like, she’s gonna eat you for breakfast.”

“I’m good here.”

His blue-gray eyes darkened. “Wasn’t asking, Jace. Get your ass on the elevator.”

Mason looked up at me with eyes identical to his father’s. “Better listen. When Daddy uses that voice with me, it means I’m about to get grounded.”

I ruffled the kid’s hair as I stepped onto the elevator with him and his father. If given the choice between having to deal with Shane or Emmie, the rocker would be my pick every time, hands down. He was producing the demo for Kin, so that meant he would be seeing her soon anyway. Which meant I would get to see her soon. “What are you doing here, little dude? Don’t you have school or something?”

“No school today. I came to work with Daddy, and Violet went with Mom.”

Shane hit the button for the recording studio and leaned back against the wall. “When’s the last time you slept? You look like a walking corpse.”

I shrugged. “I got a little last night.”