Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

23. Vancouver

Chapter 23

Vancouver

A fter my quick makeover, Kai sprawls out across the back of the car, adjusting himself to fit in the cramped space. His body is half in the trunk and half lying on the lowered back seat.

We should arrive in Vancouver by late afternoon.

As I drive, small towns turn into cityscapes, each mile bringing us closer to Vancouver and further away from safety. My heart pounds in sync with the rhythmic beat of the tires on asphalt.

Usually, I relish quiet moments, but this silence is heavy.

“Where are we going, exactly?”

“Six-thirty-two Bridge Lane in East Vancouver.”

I toss Kai my phone. “Can you please check for a place to host kids’ birthday parties on any street that sounds like Bridge Lane?”

After a few clicks, Kai answers. “There’s a thing called the Fun Zone on Birchland Street. It’s downtown, though.”

“Perfect.”

The traffic grows denser as we approach the outskirts of Vancouver. I adjust my wig self-consciously. Just as I’m about to tell Kai to hide, a musical ringtone erupts from my phone.

Without hesitation, I answered and turned on Bluetooth in my car. “Yes?”

“Privet, Riri. Did you find a lonely fisherman to remove the cobwebs from between your thighs? Or a mountain man? You know, flannel shirts are kinda hype right now.”

Oh, shit. Arietta.

My head loses its tone, and I turn a lovely shade of vermilion. “Hi, Ari. Huh...” And I burst out laughing. “I’m not alone.”

“Don’t put me on Bluetooth.”

“Too late.”

She laughs. “Did you accept Darrell’s invitation?”

“No. I picked up a hitchhiker.”

“Ooh, is he hot?”

“He wouldn’t be your type.”

“Why? He’s got a tiny dick?”

“That’s none of your business, miss; my man has a dick the size of a dinosaur.”

And Arietta does what she always does; she fucking bursts out laughing.

“Ah! You didn’t ride the dragon?” She laughs so hard.

Huh, I kinda did that. I mumble incoherent sounds.

Kai’s rigid posture loosens. He props himself up a bit, his eyes flicking to the phone, then to me.

Her scream echoes through the line. “Wait. What?”

A sound comes from the back of the car—it’s Kai, clearing his throat. A ridiculous giggle escapes my mouth.

“Ooh la la! And is Mr. Hitchhiker planning on being a gentleman or a dirty boy?”

My eyes dart to the rearview mirror. Kai’s smirk is barely discernible but unmistakable. “A bit of both,” he answers.

Holy shit!

My heartbeat quickens, my palms sweating against the steering wheel.

Arietta’s voice continues unabated, her teasing relentless. “Otvali! What did he do to you?” I can almost see her mischievous grin through the phone. “Maybe I should meet him, just to make sure.”

My face flushes anew at the thought of Arietta meeting Kai. An explosive combo. But then, she asks the obvious.

“Opas?”

Which is short for dangerous. While I understand what she wants to ask, I’m not telling her I picked up Hiroshi Kwunaru the Seventh because I’m not in danger, and I don’t want to get out of this situation.

I want all in.

“No. Quite the opposite, Ari.”

“Aw... You’re happy,” she swoons over the line. “Be careful, okay? You always did have a thing for villains, but damn, I’m glad you’re over the shit worm.”

At that, Kai lets out a carefree, loud laugh.

My heart somersaults at Kai’s laughter, rich and genuine, reverberating through the confined space. For a moment, the tension melts away. My laughter mingles with Arietta and Kai’s, creating a strange harmony.

In the back of my brain, a part registers Donovan talking about Eric. But I can’t piece the words together.

Traffic slows to a crawl as we hit the city limits. Vancouver’s skyline looms ahead, a tangled web of steel and glass.

“Arietta, I must go. I’ll call you back soon, okay? Take some pictures for me, please.”

“I’ll be fucking pissed if you don’t call back this week.”

I chuckle. “No problem, Chrenoskovic.”

“Ew… Please.” She scoffs and blows me a kiss through the line. “I’ll let you have your fun then. Love ya.”

I cut the call with a quick goodbye, feeling lighter.

“Does Darrell have a dinosaur-sized dick?” Kai’s voice tingles with amusement.

“You think this is funny?” I ask, brushing off my earlier embarrassment.

“I’m just glad to see you smile.” Kai shrugs, his smirk never leaving his face. “And I’m keeping count of who needs to be taken care of for me to be the only one.”

He’s making a list!

I refuse the blush creeping onto my cheeks. But let’s face it; I’m swooning hard. “Darrell asked me out, and I refused.”

Focus on the road. My fingers drum against the steering wheel.

“It’s all good, cutie pie. The past belongs to the past.”

Says the man who’s making a to-murder list.

“Yeah, I bet lots of women like money and power, so—”

“Wait. You think I’m some kind of manwhore?”

The cityscape unfolds before us, sunlight reflecting off sleek buildings, a far cry from the quiet countryside we left behind.

“I think you’re a crime lord.”

“And that automatically makes me a womanizer?” He sounds hurt. At least, I think it’s hurt; his voice is muffled because Kai stuffed his face in Bonsa?‘s belly.

I hesitate, unsure how to respond. “Okay… When was the last time you were with someone?”

“Thirteen months.”

I hum. The woman he met last year was on vacation. “And before that?”

He deadpans.

A snort escapes me, unexpected and nervous. “What?”

Kai straightens. “Marianne, I’ve been with four women, including you, in the last three years. I understand how it sounds, but I’m not some fuckboy who racks up conquests until it’s a health hazard situation.” He sighs and threads his fingers in his hair. “Most women are scared of who I am, of what I can do.”

His vulnerability pulls at something inside me. And it softens.

“Being a villain is sexier in books,” he says.

Blaspheme!

“If you were in a book, you’d burn the pages to ashes with your ultrasexygerousness,” I argue. “And I would read you until my fingers hurt.”

Shit. Why don’t I scream “I love you” while I’m at it?

“Aren’t you a freaky cutie pie now?” he coos.

Oh, god… “I didn’t mean it like that…” But there’s no words, really. I would read him so hard.

I grip the steering wheel tighter as I make a right turn, my nipples reacting to the simple thought of Kai calling me freaky.

“We’ll explore that later,” he whispers and closes the back seat panel hiding him.

I drive in the city, cursing against red lights and slow cars. It’s normal. I’m not harboring a wanted criminal.

Another right turn on Bridge Lane, and I start scanning the addresses.

Tension in the car builds despite our earlier playful banter.

One-ninety.

Vancouver’s bustling streets whiz by, but they feel distant as if I’m navigating through a dream.

Three-nineteen.

A flash of movement catches my eye. My breath hitches. I slow and respect speed limits, blending in with the urban jungle around us.

Five-twenty-two.

A glint of sunlight catches the rearview mirror, blinding me for a second.

“Oh, the rascal,” I murmur, squinting through the windshield. “You can play, but you can’t hide.”

A light gray SUV is parked in front of six-sixteen. I smirk to myself.

“Did you know police-issued SUVs don’t have top rails?” I ask to the void. “Because I do.”

Thank you, true crime podcasts.

A pedestrian walks out from a somber alley. My pulse quickens. That man doesn’t belong here, but nobody seems to notice.

He has Asian features and moves like liquid danger. A drop of ink fallen into a tranquil glass of water. The man isn’t walking; he’s spreading. Gliding.

An icicle forms in my stomach. His piercing black gaze ignites a bottomless fear in me. Every glance is calculated. Every breath is deliberate.

It’s a Kwunaru member for sure. A bad one. Yuzu?

My heart dashes, every instinct screaming to bolt, but my foot won’t cooperate and crush the accelerator. The man approaches.

He stops a few feet away from the car, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

My pulse thunders in my ears. I hold his gaze.

His smile widens, but it only amplifies the freezing fear in my veins.

Hold it.

My eyes flick onto the door’s lock for a fraction of a second.

Locked.

One blink, he stares at the empty space beside me, the passenger seat where Kai sat for days. Another blink, and the scary dude turns on his heels. And as fast and slick as he appeared, he vanished into the alley.

I breathe out, shoulders slumping in relief. My hand shakes as I lift it to rub my forehead. Sweat beads at my temples. The man’s departure has left a chill that seeps into my bones.

Pull yourself together, Marianne.

Six-twenty.

The engine quiets as I push down the brake pedal to take in the sight before me. Two police officers move on and about—four if I count the ones in the SUV back at 616—and two more in the patrol car with flashing lights.

Bright yellow tape surrounds a white townhouse. The metallic digits, six, three, and two, shine in the sunlight.

“It’s a hive,” I say loud enough for Kai to hear me. “Full of bees.”

Think, Marianne, think!

Keeping my eyes straight ahead, I put on my favorite podcast: Crimes and Punchlines. “Buzz, buzz, bitch.”

My fingers roll on the steering wheel from excitement. “Bonsa?, this is the role of a lifetime. Don’t let me down.”

An officer signals me to stop and roll down my window. Per the law, I don’t have to. But I do.

Please have children, mister. Or a batshit ex.

“Afternoon, Officer. I’m afraid I took a wrong turn,” I tell the middle-aged man, bending into the window.

Asshole. Get away from me.

“I’m looking for the Fun Zone,” I speak over the podcast, announcing the punchline of the day. “Can you tell me where it is, please? My GPS said 610 Bridge Lane, but technology and Mom brain don’t match.” I roll my eyes and suppress a giggle. “I wouldn’t want to be late for Liam’s birthday party. On an ecological point, I should’ve carpooled with the baby daddy, but, you know, there are reasons why we split.” A dry laugh. “Fred’s the one who made the reservation. I swear he wants to make me look bad—”

“…where every murder mystery comes with a twist of humor.”

“Can you lower the volume, miss?”

“Sure.” I twist the volume up, causing the officer to take a step back.

“And he tattooed the code on his back!”

“Sorry!” And I turn it back down. “Hey, what happened here?” I point to the townhouse. “Something gruesome?” My lips stretch despite myself, and I wiggle my eyebrows.

The police officer frowns, but I can’t see his eyes through his shades.

His scrutiny pulls a tentative “sorry” from my lips. Every crease in his face deepens as he inspects me, weighing my story. He glances to the back seat, sees Bonsa? playing his part, and stares back at me.

But then, the radio clipped to his chest crackles to life with a series of numbers.

With all my knowledge, I catch two things.

One: the Vancouver safehouse intruder is an armed and dangerous male.

Two: a police unit is pursuing him.

A burst of static follows.

The distraction works in my favor; the officer hesitates, his focus breaking for a heartbeat.

Come on, man.

“All right, ma’am.” He straightens and points down the street. “Fun Zone is two blocks down and to your left. On Birchland Street. You’ll see the sign.” He finally stands back, letting me pass.

I flash my best innocent smile. “Thank you so much! I’ll tell Liam a cop rescued Mommy.” Releasing the brake, I ease the car forward, my pulse still racing.

The officer watches as I drive away, his gaze weighing on my back.

Don’t look.

My grip tightens on the steering wheel. “We’re going to the Fun Zone,” I say with a chirp. “Mommy’s got some calls to make.”

A cackling snort rings in the back and my mask cracks. I take a deep breath, but my fingers tingle, a sharp pain shooting from my fingertips to my elbows. My sternum dips and won’t expand to allow air into my lungs.

Shit.

My breathing turns into nothing but rapid puffs. The sun bathes everything in a harsh glare, making shadows sharp and the world too vivid. My stomach churns until the taste of bile coats my tongue.

Kai can’t help me now. If he does, we might expose ourselves and get killed. But for the first time in too long, I want to live.

Luminous points dance before my eyes. I let out a painful gasp while I park in a huge parking lot fronting the Fun Zone.

“Kai.”

His name slips from my lips like a lifeline. I twist the key, and the engine dies with a sputter. The following silence is deafening, but I force myself to move, pushing open the door and stepping out into the parking lot.

Come on, Marianne. You’ve handled worse.

“I’m okay.” Leaning on the car’s side, I take the deepest breath I can and concentrate on the jackhammer in the distance, the faint remnants of gasoline that lingers in the air, and the throbbing of my pulse, indicating I’m alive and well. “I can deal with this.” A small smile cracks through the panic. “I’m really okay.” My lively giggle echoes in the parking lot.

I straighten, pull my shoulders back, and tap on the trunk.

After three seconds, Kai pulls out of the car. “Wait thirty seconds and go through the front door. Two minutes maximum, and we’re out,” he says and strides toward the Fun Zone employee’s entrance.

When he disappears out of view, I gather my composure and walk to the main entrance.

My fingers slide on my temple to scratch the edge of the wig because summer heat has my scalp itchy.

Inside the Fun Zone, bright lights flash in dizzying patterns.

Kids create chaos.

The smell of popcorn and hot dogs wafts in the air, mingling with the excited shrieks of children and the mechanical hum of arcade games.

Those noises should grate on my frayed nerves; instead, they root me in the present. A clown looms over a table, creating balloon animals. My skin prickles with unease.

I scan the room for the employees’ space and navigate the vibrant lights. My pulse quickens. I find the restroom sign and push through the door, a blast of cool air hitting my flushed face.

Inside the restroom, I check the stalls, ensuring I’m alone. My heart hammers as I turn to the mirror, pulling at the edges of the wig to let my hair breathe momentarily. Footsteps outside make me snap back into character.

Kai emerges from a door marked “Staff Only.” His expression is all business—sharp and focused. But public bathrooms have a thing for us because the concentration floats off his eyes in small outbursts of sexiness as he smirks at me.

Maybe it’s adrenaline.

My breath catches as he steps closer, the scent of him mixing with the cheap bathroom deodorizer and creating a heady combination that changes my knees to wet paper towels.

“The way you bullshitted that cop… was so unbelievably sexy,” he murmurs, each word vibrating through me.

Pride simmers in my chest. “Thank you.”

He flashes me an unfiltered, wolfish grin that turns my insides into a heated mush.

Oh, I’m in so deep.

“Time’s ticking.” It rolls off my tongue before I do something irrational. “Did you do what you had to do?”

He nods, glancing at the door, then back to me. “He’ll meet us in a day or two at the next step.”

My eyes open wide, my eyebrows shooting up as a creepy smile takes my lips, and I squeal in delight.

Kai’s smirk widens, a satisfied glint in his eye as he steps closer.

But Kai moves past me, opening the door a sliver to peek out. “All clear.”

I swallow hard, the weight of our predicament pressing down on my ribs. Being out in the open with Kai by my side twists my stomach.

Mistakes equals death.

“Five steps behind,” he whispers and lets me lead the walk out.

As I push the front door open to get out, a shadow slips off to the side of the building.

Shit.

Kai’s eyes narrow, and a cold pressure builds in my abdomen. Then, his gaze flicks to the top floor of the exterior parking lot, where my car is waiting for us. In the underground level.

He wants to drag the shadow out in the open.

Okay.

I nod to the side. We need to lose him. I hope this isn’t going to morph into a shootout.

We arrive at the top floor, five stories higher than our escape vehicle. But no shadows can hide here.

Thank you, summer sun.

Kai moves to a random car and dips his chin so that I can go to the stairs. I’m not sure I want to leave him alone. Sure as fuck, I don’t want to be alone against a Kwunaru bounty hunter. But I listen and stride to the stairs.

One step down, and my stomach prepares for a shit storm. Clings and dull footsteps bounce off the concrete walls.

My full cardiac system goes wild when I reach the third floor. An arm wraps around my waist, and a hard hand smacks my mouth shut.

A cedar scent hits my nose in time for me to recognize the black patterns on the man’s arm.

Kai.

He pulls into an alcove just as heavier footsteps resonate above us. My heart pounds louder. Kai halts abruptly, pushing me against the wall and pressing a finger to his lips. His hot and ragged breath fans across my face.

Someone is coming.

The rasp of shoes against cement, slow and menacing, rises from the stairwell above. Kai’s eyes flicker with calculation as he places himself between me and potential danger.

Protective. Deadly.

I grip his arm tighter, seeking reassurance in his solid presence. The footsteps grow louder, each a ticking bomb counting down to our discovery. Every muscle in Kai’s body is coiled and ready to unleash violence.

The rasp stops. Silence is deafening.

Kai inches forward, peering through the gap. His expression shifts from tense focus to something darker, more frightening. I see it in his eyes—a lethal edge that promises retribution.

He pushes me back to the deep end of the alcove. “Stay here,” he whispers.

Before I can respond, he slides out of the alcove, leaving me alone in the dark. My palms are slick with fear as I clutch my bag tightly to my chest, trying to ignore the pounding in my ears.

Minutes tick by like hours. My breath hitches as a dreadful thought crosses my mind— what if Kai doesn’t return?

No. Don’t go there, Marianne.

A muffled thud from above makes me gasp.

I bite back a scream when a shadow falls down the stairs with dull clings. Kai materializes in a blur, leaping from one landing to another until he reaches the floor and barrels into the shadow-man with a force that sends them both barreling on the cold floor.

The shadow struggles and trashes under the pounding of Kai’s fists.

Crack.

Bones snap. The shadow stops moving.

I get out of the alcove, my legs wobbly with adrenaline.

Kai’s hands are coated in blood, his knuckles scratched and bruised, but his eyes shine with sinister satisfaction. “Come on, love. We need to go.”

He’s not even out of breath!

I blink up at Kai. “Who’s this?” is all I dare ask.

“Bounty hunter.” He gives me a wicked smile. “Some entry-level dirtbag.”

Blood pools under the dead man’s head like a macabre halo.

Kind of pretty against the concrete.

I frown at Kai busted left eyebrow. “You okay?”

He strides up to me and presses his forehead to mine, smudging his blood on me. Sweat, cedar, and spice curl up my nostrils, and I shiver.

“Of course. I just lost my focus when he saw you,” he replies.

Aww…

Before I understand, I squint at him and coo. “My hero.”

A wolfish chuckle erupts from his throat, and he kisses my temple. “I’d rather be your villain.”

That’s hot as hell.

His lips linger there, a wet tongue darting out to taste the sweat on my skin, creating a spark we don’t have the time to explore.

If this is a dream, I never, ever, want to wake up. In the distance, an engine vrooms.

A single drop of sweat rolls down his temple, and from this close, I can see the dilatation of his pores. My mouth waters at the thought of licking the salty trail as it glides down his chin and along his jugular, disappearing into the collar of his shirt.

Tires screech.

There’s a vibration inside of me when I look him in the eyes again, and I’m trapped there, my lower lip languishing. Kai’s jaw tenses, teeth tight, his upper lip ticks, and he bends a bit, pulled down by an unknown force until his nose rests above mine.

Oh, dear god. I’ve never wanted to fuck a man this badly.

Our bubble is so thick that we forget the world.

We should move.

Kai pulls away. “Please… Save that feral look for later,” he murmurs, brushing a thumb across my flushed cheek.

Feral? Me? What an unusual thought.

Kai’s fingers linger for another heartbeat before he steps back, wiping his bloody knuckles on his jeans.

The clicks of guns being cocked resound next to us. A red dot appears on Kai’s chest. Then, a low whistle.

And that’s when everything goes black.