Run From Me (Barbed Wire Hearts #2)

15. Xander

FIFTEEN

xander

I opened my mouth to speak, but Rylee had a knack of figuring out when to appear and make sure I couldn’t say my piece.

What did Cali mean when she said “I realized I didn’t need her”? I was here, wasn’t I?

“Okay. Well, I’ve only seen this done on TikTok, but it looked easy enough. I could only find this towel. You don’t need it do you?”

The towel Rylee held up was stained with what I’d guess was hair dye. That or Cali had murdered a clown.

I watched emotions play on Cali’s face like this was something valuable. I was about to offer to buy her a new one, but my hesitation was about leaving these two nut jobs. They needed to move forward with whatever harebrained idea Rylee had plotting in that head of hers, and I, well, I needed to make sure Cali came out alive. Or, rather, I needed to feel her close to me like some damn addict. I’d starved myself of her for two days and now I couldn’t seem to walk away.

“No. It’s fine. He needs a bath. But why are you…” Cali asked and then stopped. Rylee was pulling open drawer after drawer.

“Where are your scissors? Here they are,” Rylee said, and I watched her hold the scissors up to the towel.

“What are you doing?” Cali asked.

Rylee measured the towel by folding it in half.

“Well, I think if we stick his legs through some holes, we can make him into a cat purse. What do you think?”

The cat in question growled.

“I don’t think he likes that idea. Why don’t we just wrap him up in the towel so he can’t sink his claws in me?” Cali winced as she said the words.

I looked over her shoulder, and fuck. I really needed to get those scratches cleaned up. I grabbed for the cat, O as she was calling it.

Rylee shrugged and put the scissors down.

“Okay. Sure. Can you detach him?” Rylee was looking at me.

It took a few minutes, some swear words, and more scratches that would probably need to be disinfected before he was tied up like a burrito. Cali poured the soap all over him and was working it into the towel. For her sake, I hoped it worked.

“I have never strangled a cat before. If you two don’t hurry up, that might be happening,” I said. I suddenly understood the concept of herding cats. The damn cat had me breaking out in a sweat with the effort it took to keep him from biting me. I was barely able to control this one, and I had his head in my hands. I was sort of keeping his head from getting wet and sort of keeping him from hurting Cali more.

“I knew those muscles were good for something,” Cali said as she rubbed soap into the cat. “I just never guessed it was for taming pussy. Oh, wait. I’m sure you have no issues in that department. Being that you somehow lose a girl’s number the next day.”

Rylee snorted but kept scrubbing the cat as Cali turned away and grabbed the cup that was proving more successful than the faucet when it came to rinsing him and keeping him sort of calm. That being said, when she got back and sidled in between Rylee and myself? I took advantage and leaned over, keeping my voice just above a whisper.

“That isn’t what happened. You’re the one that threw yourself at me.”

Perhaps I was being petty, but I didn’t like what she implied. Not that I didn’t have a bit of a past, but I had all the reasons in the world.

“Oof,” was all I got out when she elbowed me.

“Ouch, what the fuck is in there?” she asked.

I smirked as she rubbed her elbow, spreading soapy water everywhere.

“I thought abs of steel was just some stupid saying. Fucking hell.” Cali glared at me.

“Maybe be nicer to me and I’ll let you inspect me for a bruise later.”

Her jaw dropped and Rylee giggled as she coughed and looked away. Her phone rang and she stepped away to answer, leaving me with Cali and one pissed off cat.

“I think O is clean, don’t you?” I asked. He’d at least stopped screeching somewhere between getting scrubbed and rinsed.

“Yeah, sure. I only have one other towel, but I guess it’s better than him being wet. I’ll be right back.”

Cali left me alone with the little monster, and I had to process what the hell she meant by one other towel. This place really was a shit hole. It wasn’t really Viper territory which told me they weren’t the ones paying for it. But where was all her money going? I tried to think back to our conversations and struggled to figure out all the pieces. Why was she branded and broke?

“Here it is. Can you untie that one so I can grab him before he runs through my apartment like a cat possessed?”

I eyed the beast.

“Please behave for her. She needs a damn friend.”

She needed something. This place screamed lonely. Her actions? I’d been more than willing, but this was a woman with literally nothing to lose. Something tightened inside my chest. I had nothing to lose. Except Cas and Zeid.

I watched Cali reach for the furry demon as I released him from the towel.

“Come here, O. You smell a million times better. Maybe like a body that’s fresh from the dumpster rather than rotting in a river with bloat.”

The visual wasn’t pretty, but the sentiment?

“Well that certainly puts into perspective how bad he was before we got here. I’m still pissed that you opened the fucking door. I didn’t bring in state-of-the-art security for you to die at the claws of a cat.”

She snuggled the cat that looked more like a drown rat, but somehow, watching her now? Even with that thing in her arms she looked like a damn angel.

“Oh, would you tell Xander thanks for caring, but he has what he needed, so it wasn’t a big risk.”

She still wasn’t looking at me, and now she was talking to me through the cat. My knuckles cracked before I realized I was squeezing them tight, ready for a fight that wasn’t going to happen. I needed a session with Cas or Zeid soon. The anger needed to spill out somewhere and the ring was the best choice. Not here.

Anger maybe wasn’t the right word either. I swore I was confused as hell most of the time with this woman. I’d been doing what you’re supposed to. I’d fucking respected her, and by staying away from her I kept her safe.

Anger was burning a fuse far too short. Why couldn’t she see that me not being here was what kept bad things from coming to knock?

I paused at a knock at the door and the security alarm ding that there was motion.

“Xander?”

Rylee’s fingers tapped my shoulder, and I tried to rein in the anger in front of her. For Cas.

“Cas should be up here any minute. He was coming to get me, and I texted him about the cat. He has some cat supplies. But I don’t think…”

I heard the words from Rylee, but the red clouding my vision kept me from seeing anything but the woman in front of me who seemed to have no idea how many fucking buttons she’d pushed. The woman had a death wish. I couldn’t look away from her as she snuggled that fucking cat.

“Did I mention Ripple’s been stopping by?”

Fucking hell. The monitor next to the door was alive and the anger inside me seemed to find the outlet it needed.

“No, Sparky. You didn’t. Thanks.”

We hadn’t locked the door as securely as we should have because she wasn’t alone. There was one deadbolt between me and a punching bag.

I yanked on the door and missed whatever it was that Rylee and Cali had said behind me.

“Ripple, my man. Long time no see.”

I’d give the man credit. His eyes were the only things that showed me he was surprised. That, and the shake of his hand when he pulled a gun and pointed it at me.

“Aww. What, your knife skills suck so you are trying your hand at this now? Didn’t anyone tell you guns aren’t toys, sweet cheeks?”

His face was turning a pretty little shade of red, and he said something I couldn’t hear.

“What was that? I’m sorry, it’s a bit hard to hear you.”

The pain in his face was evident as he swallowed and tried to repeat himself at something just above a whisper.

“She’s ours, Spector. You have no business here. You got your revenge on Little T. Now go.”

He waved the gun toward the steps.

A dainty hand caught my attention as Cali came up behind me.

“Xander, just close the door.”

“Cali? You bitch. Come out here,” Ripple rasped out and then winced.

“I like the shade of purple around your neck. How does one get a necklace like that?” I smirked and watched his every move, hoping I was pushing his buttons.

“Fuck you. Just give me the bitch, and I’ll be on my way,” Ripple said as he tried to reach for her behind me.

I shifted my body to block the small space between me and the apartment. I already towered over him, making this an easy thing.

“How about you stop calling her a bitch?”

Something inside me felt a huge sigh of relief as he smiled at me and seemed to forget who was the crazier one in the hall.

“Now why would I stop calling her what she is? She’s nothing but a whore. A stupid bitch that’s supposed to be mine.”

I let him finish his sentence and that seemed rather big of me. But the second that last word finished, I reached for his neck, and in one quick motion felt snaps, cracks, and pops that meant he wasn’t going to be waking up, ever.

“What did you do? Did you just…?” Cali was trying to push past me, and I refused to move while I reached for my phone and texted for a cleanup.

“I did. Now go back in there while we wait for Cas and all the shit you need for that cat of yours.”

The heat of her body was still pressed against my back as she tried to get around me, but I simply took a few steps backward, forcing her into the apartment.

“You can’t just leave him out there,” she said.

I slammed the door and turned around to find Rylee cleaning up the water by the sink.

“Cali, he’ll be gone in a second. Trust me. It’s almost impressive what they can do to make a body disappear.”

I nodded to Rylee and smiled.

“Calliope? Why didn’t you tell me he’s been stopping by?”

She shrugged.

“I assumed you had some direct line to that camera system and already knew and didn’t fucking care.”

With that, she turned on her heel and walked back over to Rylee.

What the fuck? I wasn’t telling her I did get notifications, but I’d apparently been neglectful while trying to sort out this whole poison thing.

“This is the kind of shit you text me. Not just asking if I died from an infection.”

She shrugged. “Oh, I’m sorry. No one told me the rules on when to contact a prick,” she said.

I took a deep breath like that was going to help.

Did she really think she could use me and then ignore me? No, wait. Did she really think that I had used her?

“What the fuck are you talking about, Calliope?”

I took a step toward her, and then the chime for the security camera went off, and Cali turned away from me without ever looking up.

I didn’t bother looking behind me because Rylee was already running for the door. She at least had the sense to not open a door unless it was Cas.

“Hey, babe,” said Rylee. I could hear her talking to him as she let him in, but I still wasn’t looking their way. I was too busy trying to rein in my demons.

Why was this the woman getting under my skin?

Why is it that this woman couldn’t seem to be okay with me doing something right, for once. Fuck me. She wasn’t like any of the women I’d met before. Something about her got under my skin while still making me want to… to what?

“Hey, Xander.” Cas’s hand was on my shoulder, his finger biting into the pressure point as he leaned closer to talk to me in a whisper no one else would hear.

“Rylee said you seem on edge. Maybe it’s time you leave?”

Fuck. The more I tried to focus on what he was saying, the more I realized that my chest was heaving like I’d just fought ten straight matches in a row.

“No. I’m fine.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“Right. Fine. Is that why our boys are cleaning up a dead Viper off the floor?” Cas asked and stepped away.

I needed to get my shit together. Needed to get my head on straight before I ended up hurting someone or, worse, ended up hurting her.

“I’m fine,” I repeated.

Cas stepped an arm’s length away while he studied me.

“Okay. Well let’s go. We’ve got things to do. Here’s the stuff for the cat. Cali, you let us know if you need anything else. Rylee seems to have a soft spot for rescues. Probably because she can’t even keep an electronic pet alive—” Cas was cut off when Rylee slapped his shoulder.

“I could keep it alive if I tried harder. Anyway, Cali, I guess I’ll see you soon. There’s another show coming up. Or maybe you want to come with me when the boys fight?”

I stepped away from everyone, finally getting my temper under control. It had been years since I’d lost control. Years since I’d nearly drowned in the darkness, but Cas and Zeid made sure I never went there again. The thing was, this woman was digging up something, and I didn’t know what to do.

I watched Cas eye me again. I should leave. I should walk away and let her be. The two days of not calling her had been eating at me, but it was a great skill to have. If I could watch her through the cameras and know she was okay, it seemed like it would all be okay. Except I’d missed Ripple. How in the hell had I missed him?

It was best she hated me.

“I’ll head out in a minute, promise.”

Cas nodded and took Rylee by the hand.

“If I don’t hear from you in thirty, Zeid will be here knocking down this fucking door,” Cas said and stopped at the door. “Cali, you reach out to Rylee if this asshole does anything stupid.”

I watched Cali as she finally looked away from the cat to glance at me. I didn’t like the way her sweet little mouth turned up into a devious smirk.

“I guess I’ll just start dialing the second you leave then.”

Rylee let out a laugh, and I fucking glared at her.

“Really? You think I’ll do something stupid? Who sold their soul to the Vipers?”

Rylee and Cas shut the door, and I wasn’t entirely sure if it was because they hadn’t heard me or just because they didn’t want to be here. They had each other. And me?

I had my fucking kryptonite standing right here.