Chapter 26
Weekend - Dxvn
Sitting at the island in the kitchen, my eyes are glued to the counter on the other side as I relive the night before in my head. Sipping the coffee Sayshen made me before his shower, I still feel in awe of the entire experience. Talon rounds the corner in a pair of basketball shorts and no shirt, with a greasy white rag draped over his shoulder.
His eyes find mine, and he smirks before coming up behind me. He wraps an arm around my stomach, pulling my back into his chest before pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. Smiling, I look up at him, offering him a sip of my coffee.
"Ew, what the hell is that?" he spits with disgust as he wipes his mouth on his arm. "Fucking nasty. How do you drink that?"
A laugh erupts through me. "Easy, it tastes great," I retort, placing the mug down on the counter next to my sketch pad. It's been a few weeks since I spent time on my designs, and today felt like the perfect day to jump back into it. Looking down at the design I started this morning, something in me feels different. I love all my designs, and though they're all unique, each one is special in its own way. Each one symbolizes the emotions I felt when I created it, and today's is no exception.
It's stunning.
"Well, what is this?" Talon adds, peering over my shoulder. Panicked, I slam the book shut, hiding my current work in progress from his prying eyes. "Hey!" he shouts playfully as he pokes at my sides.
"It's not done yet," I giggle.
Cocking his brow, he crosses his arms over his chest in question, "So?"
"So it's not ready to be seen—not yet anyway," I explain in a soft tone.
Pulling the rag off his shoulder, he whips me gently with it, "Fine, but I get to see it before my brother. I call dibs."
"Dibs?" I laugh, "What are we, nine?"
"No, but dibs is dibs, and I called it," he replies as he makes his way around the island and opens the door to the large fridge. He pulls out a bottle of water and chugs half the bottle down before turning his eyes back to mine. "I have to head back to the track tomorrow. It's the last race weekend of the season, meaning I won't be able to head back and check on things until Sunday night. Will you be okay here with Sayshen? I don't really want to leave him alone. I don't really know how he's going to handle not being able to race."
"Of course, I'll be fine," I reply. Sayshen seems fine with not being able to race, but truthfully, none of us believe it. The doctors have cleared him to race, but we all thought it best if he sat it out, especially with Christian on the track. It's his first race back since Cruz's death, and none of us know what to expect from him.
"You should get out tonight, go spend some time with Cece or something, do something fun for you. Before being cooped up in here all weekend with this idiot," he adds, tilting his chin to Sayshen as he enters the kitchen behind me.
"This idiot is fine with not racing," Sayshen replies. Reaching me, he wraps his arms around my waist from behind and kisses my neck. "Especially because while you're at the track, I'll be here, finding all the ways to make our girl scream."
"Fuck you," Talon spits playfully as he points his finger toward Sayshen.
"He's right, though," Sayshen adds. "Give Cece a shout, see what she's up to. Go have some girl time, I'm sure you could use a break from both of us."
Not that I agree with them, but I have to admit having some girl time with my best friend does sound rather enticing. It's been way too long, and now that Chrisitan isn't in the picture, I don't have to walk on eggshells when it comes to hanging out with her. I'm free to do whatever, whenever.
"Okay, I will," I smile, pulling out my cell. Sayshen and Talon get to talking about their bikes, and track stuff while I fire off a text to Cece.
Plans tonight? I could use a girls' night.
Rising from the chair, I round the island, placing my mug in the sink. Talon's ass in his shorts is goddamn mouth-watering, and I can't help myself.
SLAP!
My hand smacks down on it hard. He jumps, startled by the contact. Quickly he spins around, and his lips pull into a coy grin.
"Hey, what the shit, where"s mine?" Sayshen shouts playfully. "You can't leave me feeling jealous all day," He adds, pointing his round ass toward me. Rolling my eyes, I cross the small space between us, and pat him on the ass.
"There you go, Baby Shaw," I reply with a playful and mocking tone.
My phone vibrates in my hand. Looking at my screen, I see a message from Cece.
Of course, Puta. Sounds great. Mom is making Tamales for dinner; she'll be so happy to see you! Besides, you owe me a shit ton of deets on these boys…
Wrapping his arms around my waist, Sayshen pulls me into him, "Oh fuck no. You don't get to call me that, ever," he retorts with a smile. "It's Daddy to you," he winks.
"Ew," I cringe, placing my hand flat on his chest as I push him back to get by him. "I will never," I laugh as I head down the hall. I text out a quick reply to Cece.
Girl, you wait. The tea is going to blow your mind.
"Aww, where are you going? You can't just hit and quit it, babe," he shouts after me. The sound of Talon's laugh follows me upstairs, echoing down the hall until I close the bathroom door and start to fill up the bath. I dump in the rest of my bubble bath, making a mental note to stop by the pharmacy on the way home tonight and pick up some more.
Tonight will be a great night. I can feel it.
"You dirty, Puta!" Cece laughs loudly with the news of how I spent last night. She's the one person I know will never judge me. She never has. When I made the choice to leave home, with no money and no support, and pursue my dream of being in Fashion, she supported me. Despite everything that could've gone wrong or how silly it might've seemed to her or anyone else, she knew it made me happy, and that was good enough for her.
"Cecilia!" Mrs Mendez scowls from the kitchen, where she's washing up the dinner dishes. We offered to help her, but she refused to let us, saying we hadn't gotten together in so long that we should spend the time catching up. When I left my family, she became a second mother to me, and it's something I was always thankful for. Christian was quite to cut off anyone he could from my life, and though I didn't see it then, I see it now. That's why, as I sit here, laughing with my best friend, I feel so thankful to Talon and Sayshen for recommending that I drive Talon's truck into the city to do this tonight.
It's just what I needed.
Checking the time on my phone, I clear my throat, "I should be getting home, it's getting late."
"Mhmm," Cece smirks. "It has nothing to do with you being in a rush to go home and get fucked by both brothers again!" Her comment makes me smile as I fidget with the white denim fabric of the skirt I wore tonight.
"Oh, stop," I laugh. "Trust me, after last night, my body needs the break tonight. Besides, the guys aren't even home. They went riding with the team. I do, however, have to make a pit stop on the way home for a couple of things."
"Alright then," she sighs, rising from the chair. Cece walks me to the door, and Mrs Mendez hugs me goodbye before I head out to the driveway where Talon's truck is parked. Climbing in, I start up the engine and wave goodbye to my best friend and her mom as they watch me back out of the driveway and take off down the quiet suburban street toward the highway.
Thankfully, my late-night trip to Farm Stores is uneventful. Besides myself and the two cashiers, I don't see a single person in here, making shopping quick and easy. After cashing out, I grab the brown paper bag with my stuff tightly in my arms and make my way out to the truck. It's a humid night. The thick and hot air causes each breath to leave my lungs feeling half-filled.
Something about the short walk to the truck is eerie. The hair on the back of my neck is standing up, and I can't shake this feeling of being watched. I pull the keyfob out of my pocket and unlock the doors, but when I'm just a few feet away, I notice the tires have been slashed. All four.
What the actual fuck?
Before I can even investigate the damage done to the truck, someone's hands grab the back of my head roughly from behind. I scream as the paperback slips from my arms, and I reach behind me in a panic. Another hand crashes down over my mouth, muffling my screams before the force drags me backward and down a dark alleyway. My heart races as my widened eyes scan the area around us in search of someone. Anyone, who can help me.
But there's no one.
Not a single fucking person.
The sound of the heels of my checkered Vans being dragged along the pavement echoes around the empty parking lot and down the alley. So many thoughts play out in my head, and I wonder if this is it. Is this when I die? Will this be how I leave this world? In some dark alleyway in downtown Tampa. The victim of a random late-night attack.
Fashion College student found dead in an alleyway.
That's what my headline will say.
Suddenly, the person dragging me stops, and I'm slammed up against the wall of a small red brick walk-up apartment. The hand covering my mouth quickly moves to my throat, wrapping around it as it holds me where he wants me.
My head smashes against the brick, sending a stabbing pain across the back of my skull. Holding me against the wall, I can feel the weight of his hate-filled gaze as he looks down on me.
Lifting my eyes, it becomes clear that my attacker is hidden by the shadows in the alley. With his hood up, it's impossible to make out what he looks like.
The pain along the back of my head increases, "Who are you?" I force out through tightly clenched teeth. "What do you want?"
A dark and devious laugh builds in his chest, "Stupid bitch. Don't act like you don't know who the fuck I am."
I freeze in place the moment the words slip from his lips. Knowing full well who that voice belongs to.
Christian.
"C─Christian…" I stutter with trembling lips.
"Thought you could disrespect me and just walk away unscathed, did you?" he laughs. "You never were very smart, Bex, but fuck, I thought even you knew better than that," he spits as his hold on my throat tightens. "Did you learn nothing from all the lessons I taught you? Fucking slut."
"Fuck you!" I spit, doing my best to fight him off.
"Oh, baby," he replies, lowering his lips to ghost over mine. "I don't normally fuck whores, but for you, I'll make an exception," he snickers with warm whiskey-scented breath. He reaches for something on his belt as he runs his tongue along the side of my face, leaving a trail of his disgusting saliva in its wake. I try to turn my face away from him as tonight's dinner threatens to make a reappearance, but his hold on me is too tight.
Slowly, he pulls out a gun and presses it against my cheek. My eyes widen with fear, "Christian─" I stammer, "What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious, bitch. I can see the fear in your eyes, Bex. You're scared, and you should be," he whispers. His cock is hard as a rock, and he presses it against my upper thigh as he leans in closer to me, "I"m going to fucking ruin you." Slowly, he trails the barrel of the gun across my skin, moving it down my body before gliding it across my pelvis. "Tell me, how does it feel to be so close to death? To know that I hold your life in my fucking hands? Hmm?" he adds.
Without thinking, I lift my knee, hitting him right in the balls. Catching him off guard, the gun slips from his hand, and he releases his hold on me. I don't waste a single second. I take off running down the alley, back toward Talon's truck, only to remember the tires have been slashed.
Shit, I forgot.
"Help!" I shout. My voice echoes off the buildings around me. "Someone, please!"
Pulling out my cell, I dial Sayshen's number, but it doesn't go through. I find no service bars at the top of my phone screen.
Fuck.
Looking back at the shop, the windows are all dark. The neon open sign in the window turned off. They're closed.
I have no other option.
I type out a quick message to Sayshen and hit send.
"You fucking bitch! You're fucking dead," Christian shouts from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I find him catching up. So I take off running again, heading down Main Street, toward where I told Sayshen to meet me.
Hopefully, my text will go through.
It's the perfect night for a ride, and I have to admit, being on the bike again after my crash feels fucking fantastic. One of the perks to racing professionally, is having the best repair team in the country at my beck and call. Didn't take them long to get my R1 back up and running, and fuck am I thankful for it.
I can't stand going too long without riding. It feels unnatural to me. Pulled over on the side of the road in the middle of fucking nowhere so Thorne can take a piss, I decide to check in with Bex seeing as I haven't heard from her for a few hours.
I miss her, what can I say.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I unlock it and find a text from her.
I NEED YOUR HELP. MEET ME AT CORSA. IT"S CHRISTIAN.
Fuck.
"Yo, we need to go. Now!" I shout over my shoulder to the guys.
"Bruv, just let me finish," Thorne adds with annoyance. Sensing something in my tone, Talon eyes me.
"What's going on?"
Sliding my phone back in my jacket, I kick up the kickstand on my bike. "He found her. We need to go, now."