Page 61 of The Eleventh Hour
The drive is one of comfortable silence. Occasionally, Rafael bursts into murmured snatches of song, but otherwise, it’s uneventful.
Rafael turns into the car park, and I make a hissing noise, having zoned out.
“Park somewhere else.”
“Why?”
“Because, at night, this is where the locals set up a tent city. If you park here, it’s a sign of disrespect and marks you as a stranger, they’ll strip your car. Wherever it is in Hurricane.”
Dane sucks in a breath and glares at Rafael. “Rafe, don’t you dare. I love this car, park somewhere else, or I swear, I will wash every single item of clothing you own in pink food dye.”
“I like pink. It goes with my eyes.” Rafe bats his lashes.
“Rafe!” Dane growls. “Itching powder.”
Rafael ponders it but doesn’t move the car.
Dane leans forward, his face triumphant. “I’ll tell Jax your virginity story, your first love, and the proposal story. Every damn humiliating detail. All of it. No editing. Complete disclosure.”
Rafe’s fingers tighten on the steering wheel, and he slowly, painfully, turns his head to glare at Dane. If I thought Dane had a glare, I’m shocked to see it on Rafael. He looks downright deadly.
“Now, I’m curious,” I say from the back.
Rafe puts the car into reverse and maneuvers the car out of the car park and parks on the street.
“Happy?”
“Exceedingly.” Dane nods and hops out the car, whistling a happy tune.
“Are you going to share those stories?”
“Only when I’m really, really drunk.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Rafe shakes his head. “Damn, that was evil. I’m going to need something really good to get him back.”
“Uh…”
“Want to help me?”
The mischievous smile is hard to say no to. I chew my lip and nod. “All right, but if he tries to kill us, I’m throwing you under the bus. Got it?”
“Deal.”
I climb out of the car and bump into Dane. I stumble backwards, but he catches my upper arms and steadies me. He’s haloed by the brilliant blue sky, a rarity here in Hurricane. I think his eyes and the sky might be the same colour.
“What were you two talking about?”
I smile sweetly. “Revenge.”
“Oh? Care to share?”
“Nope.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll get in early.”
Dane steps forward. It’s a liquid, predatory movement that makes my stomach flutter. I back up and bump into the car. He tugs my hair and kisses me hard. He’s there and gone so quickly I might have imagined it, if not for the tingling of my lips.