Chapter 4

Four

Rook

I didn't actually know where I was taking her, but I assumed she would tell me soon enough. I headed back towards town, making a right towards the rich side rather than a left to go towards our place.

There wasn't a chance in hell she came from my side of town. Not only did she not look or act like it, there wasn't a chance Elliot would be dating anyone who wasn't rich as hell. I'm sure he already had to be digging through her purse and she wouldn't even know it.

It wasn't long before she tapped my shoulder, and I didn't hide my groan. It wasn't like she would hear it. I pulled off one of the most deserted side streets I could find before shutting off the bike.

"Is this where you want dropped off?"

She pulled off the helmet, dark hair cascading down over her shoulders. Her lips were dark red, the lipstick smeared the smallest amount, and I wondered if Elliot had already been making a move for the night. It still didn't explain why he would bring her down the dangerous street, though. There was nothing down there to see, and no reason to bring a beautiful woman down there to risk her life.

"No, but I figured since we were already passing it, you wouldn't mind if we stopped off at this small bakery right around the corner. They are open late and I want cookies."

"You told me to…stop and get you a cookie?"

"No, I want you to stop so I can get myself a cookie."

"Do you think I'm a chauffeur for you? An errand boy? Do you always ask the guys who hold a gun at you to take you out for a snack?"

"The guys I usually ask to take me out for snacks are happy to take me without question."

"I'm sure the guys you ask are willing to do a lot of things to you without question. There's a long list of things I would do to you without question, but stopping for a fucking cookie isn't one of them."

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she got off the bike. "Well, guess what, Rook , we are already here, so I'm going to walk around the corner and get a cookie. You can either sit there and wait like a good little mugger, leave me here, or come with me, but I've had a really shitty night and I want a fucking cookie," she said, nearly in tears.

The outburst probably should have been expected, but she had been so scared before. I really wasn't planning for it now. She already stomped around the corner of the brick building when I realized what she said.

"Hey!" I yelled, catching up to her. She didn't slow down, so I grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. "How the fuck do you know my name?"

She shrugged, trying to look relaxed, but it wasn't working. Half of my life had been spent learning body language. It made intimidating people and getting out of trouble easier when you knew what they were thinking.

And I knew she was currently still terrified.

"Your friend called, and I picked up with the helmet."

"Aiden?"

"Yes."

"I'm going to kill him."

"Why? Don't want the people you were trying to rob to know your name?"

I smirked. "Not particularly, no. What else did he say?"

"That you're in a mood tonight and to keep you out as long as I can because he doesn't want to deal with you."

"So you thought a cookie was a good idea?"

"I wanted one before you robbed me, so it made the most sense."

She spun, pulling open the door to the bakery and heading inside. I hated I followed her in, but I needed to know what else Aiden said, so I knew how much I'd have to beat the shit out of him for telling a stranger anything about me.

She made it to the counter to order, and I stepped up behind her. I still had my mask on, and the girl behind the counter quickly looked back at her to avoid me.

"Double whatever she's getting."

Rebel girl stepped to the side, looking up at me with her shoulders pulled back.

"What? Now you think I'm paying, too?" I asked.

"You tried to rob me at gunpoint! The least you could do is buy me a cookie."

Behind the counter, the girl's eyes went wide and mouth fell open.

"I didn't actually try to rob her," I said, pulling out more than enough cash to cover the cost and handing it all over. "I tried to rob her boyfriend. You can keep all the extra cash if you don't call the police."

Between the story and the way I looked, the girl seemed scared enough and nodded in agreement.

"No problem," she squeaked. "Let me get your stuff."

"Thanks!" the rebel girl yelled, pushing me away. "Don't be rude."

"I'm not the one running around screaming about the crimes I commit."

"Does this mean you've committed more than one crime?"

My eyebrows furrowed. "Today? Yeah. That part wasn't obvious? And if you start telling people my business, I won't be nearly as kind."

"Is that a threat? And this is you being nice ?"

I grabbed the box of cookies, handing it to her as we headed back out.

"Of course it's a threat. And you're not left on the side of the road, so yeah, this is me being nice."

"Threaten me again and I'll go right to the cops to talk about you."

"And I'll break into your house and kidnap you so you never see your family, or the cops, ever again," I said, pulling down my mask enough to take a bite of the first cookie. She hadn't been lying. These were amazing.

I didn't realize she had stopped walking until I turned the corner to the alley where I parked my bike. I stepped back, finding her frozen on the sidewalk.

"Problem?"

"Yes, problem. You threatened to kidnap me!"

"Only if you try to turn me in. Otherwise, I never plan to see you again."

"But you would do it?"

"Of course I would do it," I said. "Are you going to eat your cookies or am I stealing them all?"

She grabbed the box, ripping it out of my hands and pressing it to her chest. "I'm eating mine at home. Which, from here, I can get myself there on my own."

I leaned back on my bike, watching her as I ate the last of the one cookie she apparently planned on giving me.

"Running away?"

"From the guy who has now held me at gunpoint and threatened to kidnap me? Yes, I am."

Her phone rang for what felt like the twentieth time since we had got off the bike, and like the other times, she clicked to silence it.

"Problems?"

"Elliot keeps calling."

"Give me the phone."

"You think I'm going to hand you my phone now? Are you going to ride off with it?"

"Yeah, I'm short on pink cell phones. Come on," I said, reaching my hand out. I grabbed it, leaning back on the bike as I clicked the speakerphone on.

It rang once before Elliot picked up.

"Babe? Oh my god, babe, are you okay?"

"You think the girl you left with someone you owe money to is okay?" I asked, dropping my voice low and threatening.

Her eyes jumped up, her tongue darting out to lick her lips.

"You took her?" he asked, the panic in his voice not nearly convincing enough. He was probably more concerned with a police investigation and less with her safety.

"Of course I fucking took her. You left a hot woman on a dangerous road with a guy who hates your guts and has a gun."

I stayed quiet as Elliot yelled an endless string of empty threats.

"Your fault, asshole. Don't leave prized possessions with people you owe money. Bring the cash to the shop and I'll get her home safe."

As if Elliot wanted me to push his buttons, he yelled something about touching her.

"Worried she'll be disappointed with your performance if I do?"

"Rook!" she yelled, a weak attempt at scolding me.

"Damn. I have to go. She's already screaming my name. The money, Elliot. Don't fucking forget it." I clicked the call off and handed it back to her. "Don't pick up for a while. He deserves to think you're getting the best sex of your life with me after what he did to you."

She didn't move, and it gave me time to really look at her. Full red lips, long dark hair, the arrogance of a rich girl who thought I was worthless, she was beautiful.

There really wasn't anything more satisfying than hooking up with a girl who thought I was the monster, getting her off and having her beg for more, only for her to wake up the next day disgusted with herself for how badly she wanted to do it again.

The pure corruption of making someone like her want me, or anyone like me, felt unmatched.

This month marked six months of not sleeping with anyone, which could be clouding my head with these ideas.

"Come here," I said, and unsurprisingly, she didn't move.

I pushed off the bike, stalking over until she stared up at me, mouth open and eyes wide.

"What are you doing?" she asked, still clutching the box against her chest.

I leaned down until my lips were a breath away from hers. "Seeing if you would kiss me or not if I closed the distance."

She didn't move, didn't breathe, but her eyes met mine.

"I won't."

My hand trailed down her side, over her hip, and to the hem of her skirt. "And why not?"

"Because I think you might kill people, and I don't kiss murderers."

"Of course you don't," I said, my fingers moving along her hip until I was brushing down her thigh. "Do you do anything else with killers?"

"No. I don't think so." Her voice hiccuped at the word, and I continued back up her hip.

"Would you like to keep playing rebel and start?" I leaned down, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her back towards the bike.

"Considering I have to get back on this thing again if I want a ride home, I think I've played rebel enough for one night."

"Are you sure? It's so much fun to push limits. I could push you to a few of yours."

My hand gripped her thigh, and I dropped my head, my lips hovering over her neck but never touching her. Her breath hitched, and I could feel her heartbeat quicken under my lips.

"Just say the word, Rebel, and I'll give you something Elliot would never be able to."