Chapter 3

THREE

T he hum of the car's engine filled the night as Raelee Arison sped down the empty streets, her knuckles white against the steering wheel. Streetlights blurred past, casting fleeting shadows across her face. Her heart raced, a mixture of fear and exhilaration coursing through her veins.

"You've really done it now, Rae," she muttered, checking the rearview mirror for the hundredth time. No sign of pursuit yet, but she couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on her back.

The weight of her decision pressed down on her chest. She'd left everything behind—her family, her duty, her entire life. For what? Freedom? Adventure? Or simply the chance to make her own choices for once?

A flickering neon sign caught her attention, drawing her eyes to a small diner on the outskirts of town. Perfect. Inconspicuous, probably filled with truckers and night owls who wouldn't look twice at a girl trying to disappear.

Raelee pulled into the gravel parking lot, choosing a spot away from the entrance. She killed the engine and sat for a moment, collecting herself. The quiet felt oppressive after the constant hum of the road.

"Okay, game face on," she whispered, pulling up her hoodie and stepping out of the car.

The bell above the door jingled as she entered, the sound jarringly cheerful in the somber atmosphere. A handful of patrons were scattered around the diner, most hunched over steaming mugs of coffee. Raelee scanned the room, looking for an empty booth where she could hunker down and?—

Her breath caught in her throat.

In the far corner sat a man who seemed to command the entire room without even trying. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a serious expression that spoke of authority and purpose. He was dressed simply in dark clothes, but something about the way he held himself screamed ‘military' to Raelee's trained eye.

Their gazes met, and Raelee felt a jolt of... something. Attraction? Danger? Both? She couldn't tell, but it was enough to make her pause mid-step.

The man's deep voice cut through her thoughts. "Need a seat? There's plenty of room here."

Raelee hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her to politely decline and find a quiet corner. But something about this stranger pulled at her, a gravitational force she couldn't explain.

"I... sure, thanks," she found herself saying, sliding into the booth across the table from him.

Up close, the man was even more impressive. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to look right through her. Raelee fought the urge to squirm under his gaze.

"I'm Vex," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine.

"Emily," Raelee lied smoothly, the fake name rolling off her tongue with practiced ease. "Nice to meet you."

An awkward silence fell between them. Raelee fidgeted with the menu, hyper-aware of Vex's presence across the table. Was he Secret Service? Someone sent to take her back? She studied him from the corner of her eye, trying to gauge his intentions.

Vex broke the silence. "So, Emily, what brings you to this fine establishment at this hour?"

Raelee's guard went up instantly. "Oh, you know, just passing through. Late-night road trip and all that. You?"

"Same," Vex replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Though I have to say, the company's better than I expected."

Despite herself, Raelee smiled. "Flirting already? We've barely met."

"Who said anything about flirting?" Vex's expression remained serious, but there was a glint in his eye that made Raelee's heart skip a beat. "I was talking about the lovely waitress over there."

A surprised laugh escaped Raelee before she could stop it. "Well, aren't you full of surprises?"

The tension between them eased slightly, and Raelee found herself relaxing into the conversation. They chatted about inconsequential things—the quality of diner coffee, the eclectic decor on the walls, the merits of late-night drives.

Then Vex mentioned skydiving, and Raelee's interest was piqued.

"Wait, you're into extreme sports?" she asked, leaning forward.

Vex nodded, a rare smile crossing his face. "There's nothing quite like the rush of a free fall. You ever tried it?"

"Are you kidding? I live for that stuff," Raelee grinned, her enthusiasm breaking through her cautious facade. "Skydiving, bungee jumping, race car driving—if it gets the adrenaline pumping, I'm there."

For the next hour, they swapped stories of their wildest adventures. Raelee found herself gesticulating wildly as she recounted a particularly harrowing cliff dive while Vex listened with rapt attention. His own tales of daring escapades matched hers beat for beat, and Raelee couldn't help but be impressed.

As they talked, Raelee noticed herself inching closer across the table. Her hand rested mere inches from Vex's, and she was very aware of every small movement he made. Their eyes locked during moments of shared laughter, and Raelee felt a warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the mediocre coffee.

"The past few days have been so shitty, and I can't believe I'm saying this," Raelee said, shaking her head with a rueful smile, "but I'm actually glad I stopped here tonight."

"You look like there's something weighing on your mind."

She gave a dry laugh. "Can I tell you a secret?"

He leaned in and gave a serious nod. "Yes."

"I'm supposed to get married in a week to a guy I've never met."

He raised his brows. "So is this you having a last taste of freedom?"

She shook her head, a frown marring her brow. "This is me putting it off as long as possible. It's an arranged marriage. I'm supposed to marry some important…guy. Create some special link between my family and his." She shrugged. "Basically, I have no choice. So meeting you tonight… it's been... nice, talking to someone who gets it."

Vex's expression softened, and for a moment, Raelee glimpsed something vulnerable beneath his stoic exterior. "I know what you mean. It's not often you meet someone who?—"

He broke off suddenly, his gaze sharpening as he looked over Raelee's shoulder. Raelee tensed, the easy atmosphere evaporating in an instant.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice low and urgent.

"Don't turn around," Vex murmured, "but there are three men in suits who just walked in. They seem to be looking for someone."

Raelee's blood ran cold. She didn't need to look to know who they were searching for. Her mind raced, calculating escape routes and potential distractions.

"I need to go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Now."

"Wait." Vex studied her face for a long moment, then nodded. "I'll help you. Follow my lead."

They rose from the booth, moving with forced nonchalance. Raelee could feel the weight of the agents' gazes sweeping the diner. She resisted the urge to look back, instead focusing on Vex's broad back as he led the way toward the exit.

Suddenly, one of the agents turned, his focus locking onto Raelee. His eyes narrowed and he started moving toward them with purpose.

Panic surged through Raelee. Without thinking, she grabbed Vex's arm, spinning him around to face her. "Kiss me," she hissed urgently.

Confusion flickered in Vex's eyes for a split second before understanding dawned. In one fluid motion, he pulled her close, one hand cupping her face while the other wrapped around her waist.

Their lips met, and Raelee's world narrowed to a singularity. The kiss was electric, sending shockwaves through her body. It was meant to be a distraction, a way to hide her face, but the moment their lips touched, it became something else entirely.

Vex's lips were surprisingly soft, contrasting with the firmness of his body pressed against hers. Raelee found herself melting into the kiss, her hands clutching at his shirt as if he were an anchor in a storm. The warmth of his breath, the subtle scent of his skin—everything about him overwhelmed her senses.

For a moment, Raelee forgot about the agents, about her escape, about everything except the feel of Vex's lips on hers and the safety of his arms around her. A small, traitorous part of her mind whispered that this felt right, felt like coming home.

The sound of footsteps passing close by snapped Raelee back to reality. She broke the kiss, her breath coming in short gasps as she peered over Vex's shoulder.