NERO: Chapter 11

I can feel King’s gaze on the side of my face when I tell him to take a right at the next light.

He knows this isn’t the way back to my car. I know this isn’t the way back to my car. But it’s been over two weeks since I’ve seen her. And I need to see her.

King takes the turn at a snail’s pace. He’s fucking with me, and I decide to not give him the satisfaction of reacting.

We drive the next few blocks in silence, and when I open my mouth to tell him where to go next, he flips the blinker, indicating a left turn.

This time, I glance at him. And I instantly want to punch the look off his face.

Without me saying another word, he takes all the correct turns, finally slowing to a stop against the curb, across the street from a little café that’s getting ready to open.

King shifts the vehicle into park before slowly shifting to face me. “This is where you wanted to go, right?”

My teeth grind.

Even though this piece of shit is my best friend, I’m not in the mood to be fucked with. Which is why I tracked his ass down in the first place. Taking a few hours to skin a man who was trying to sell human fucking beings in my city is one thing, but having to ride in a car with my men when they’re all keyed up after a fresh kill––now that’s torture.

“Have you been here before?” My voice is level, but I’m not fooling him with my placid tone.

He holds his hand up. “I swear on your grave, I haven’t been here before.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re such a prick.”

King shrugs a massive shoulder. “Says the stalker to the madman.”

“I’m not her fucking stalker.”

“No? My bad then. I just figured since I picked you up near her apartment, in the middle of the night. And you had me do a background check, run her financials, and track down her surviving family members…” he trails off, then tips his head toward Twin’s Café. “And now you have me stopping here”—he glances at the clock—“one minute before her shift starts.”

His eyes move back to meet mine, but I hold his gaze. “I’m not stalking her.”

“Alright, cool.” We both look toward the movement behind the front door of the café, as an older woman walks up and unlocks the door. King unbuckles his seat belt. “Then you won’t mind me grabbing a coffee.”

“What?” My brain is distracted because I finally catch sight of her. It’s just the back of her head, but it’s her. I know it is.

The sound of King’s door opening jerks my attention back. “The fuck are you doing?” I lunge across the center counsel to grab him, but he slides out of my reach.

King arches his back in a stretch. “You want something?”

“I want you to get your stupid ass back in the fucking car,” I growl.

Making a tsking sound, King shakes his head. “So much anger for so early in the morning.”

“I swear to god––” My threat is cut off when King grins and slams his door shut.

My fingers twitch at my side, unsure if I want to grab my own door handle and follow him, or grab my gun to shoot him in the back of the head. I don’t do either of those things because I can’t let her see me. And I can’t kill King. So, I stay exactly where I am as King enters the café.

The second Payton turns, and I finally get to see her face again, my hand closes around the door handle.

I’m too far away to see the details of her face, but I can picture the blue of those big innocent eyes, as she looks up to see who entered. Her bangs are brushing low over her brows, and I pretend I can see her dark lashes fluttering under the veil.

My fingers tighten their grip.

I want to see her.

Stay put, idiot. It’s bad enough that King is in there.

Then she smiles at King, I shove my door open.

Those smiles are mine.

I have one leg out of the vehicle before I stop myself.

Get your shit together, man!

Cursing aloud, I pull my leg back and shut the door.