Page 58 of Dark Surrender

Iris

With my personal phone connected via Bluetooth in my shiny, new-to-me blacked-out 4Runner, I chat with Cell.

“All the money is handled,” she says, voice echoing.

“Half of it is in Dee’s name?” I verify just for my peace of mind.

“Yep. I’ll mail her the new card once it comes to the PO box. I had someone set up a fake business… You know what, it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to worry about that. It’s hers to access. If she has any issues, just reach out.”

“Thank you.” Switching on my blinker, I turn onto another road in the middle of nowhere.

“It’s no problem. I am really sorry about what happened.”

Coming up to a stop sign, I wait for the cars to pass and ease forward just a bit more before I gun it across the road to continue my journey. “It’s not your fault,” I say and mean it. “Sunshine did what any good father would do.”

Clicking on what must be her computer keys, Cell hums noncommittally. “Maybe you’ll cross paths again someday, and you’ll get to see the side of him the rest of us do.”

No, I’m good.

Not wanting to offend her, I strangle the steering wheel as I fail to put together something to say. “Erm…” I clear my throat. “No thanks. I’m sure he’s great, but I’d much rather leave the past in the past.”

Reading my distress like any good friend would, Cell changes the subject. “Where are you?”

“Just about to King’s Cursed.”

“How’s the new ride?”

“It’s nice.” I smile and look around the front seat. Leather. Cup holders. A radio that works. Even one of those black tree air fresheners hanging from the rearview mirror.

“I bet. Well, if you’re ever in my neck of the woods, we should share a hot chocolate.”

“That sounds great.”

“Keep in touch, Iris. I mean it.”

“I will. Don’t worry about me.”

With a heavy goodbye, the call disconnects just as I’m passing the Welcome to Kings Cursed sign and its ominous threat to make me turn around.

I grin at the warning, excited to see my sister again. Nine days. I was gone for nine whole days. But for some reason, it feels much longer. A month, at least.

Once I pass the strip club and all the old shops, I take the road to my new temporary home.

Mia’s dog runs through front yards, playing fetch. A colorful tennis ball flies into the afternoon sky, and when I focus on the person throwing it, I slam on my brakes. My tires screech as my body slams forward. For half a beat, I fear I broke my new truck. Next, I throw it into park, in the middle of the road, as someone with dark hair, wearing a leather cut, and gray eyes, saunters with the brightest, heart-stopping smile I’ve ever seen.

My stomach somersaults half a billion times as he reaches me, knocks on the driver’s side window, and opens the door.

A rush of fresh air whooshes inside, catching strands of my wig.

Shocked to my core, my eyes widen and widen until they may very well pop out of their sockets, and what does this man do? He continues to batter me with an insane smile and a two-day-old scruff that would make any woman drool. Even one such as myself, who doesn’t even like men. Though it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a fine specimen when I see one.

And this…

Oh. My. Gawd.

He is fine.

But he’s also…