I’d just hung up on him.

What the hell was I thinking? But I wasn’t thinking, and that was the problem. I hopped on a city bus, my mind as frozen as the weather, and after a couple hours and two transfers, I reached my neighborhood as night descended. This wasn’t how I thought I’d spend my Sunday. Seemed like Rafe had taken me days ago, yet a mere 24 hours had passed since I found him lurking in the shadows just inside my foyer.

As I approached my house on foot, a Ford pickup caught my eye, parked a few houses down by the curb. Instantly, I knew it belonged to Rafe. I’d never seen it on my street, and his presence beyond my door hit me in waves, as if I felt him in there, waiting for me, his anger palpable.

My car sat untouched in the driveway, and I had my keys in my purse. I could climb in and drive away. But then what? Where would I go?

I had nowhere to go. I only had him. I only wanted him.

But did he want me because the thought of being apart made him ill, or was the threat of Zach the reason Rafe had come back into my life after all these months? I couldn’t turn away without knowing, regardless of how much the sane part of me wanted to. Preparing myself for the ultimate showdown, I climbed the icy steps and went inside.

12. Tick Tock - Rafe

12. TICK TOCK - RAFE

I paced Alex’s small kitchen and glared at my cell for the hundredth time. No lie. Since she’d hung up on me, my eyes could have burned a hole through that frustratingly silent phone. I’d called her back too many times to keep track of, and each time I heard her voicemail, I wanted to put my fist through a wall.

She was fucking lucky I hadn’t turned her house upside down. Too much energy flushed my system, so I paced. I waited. I raided her damn fridge, downing two stray beers I suspected Jax had left during one of his check-in visits.

And I imagined all kinds of crazy shit.

Was she with someone else? Some other guy I’d have to kill because the thought of Alex with anyone else made me see red. Or maybe she’d hopped on a bus or train, headed for parts unknown. What was she thinking? I thought she’d make her way back since she lived here…except that wasn’t quite right either. Her home was with me, and mine was with her, wherever we ended up.

But her fucking car was still parked in the driveway. If she were on the run, surely she’d need her damn car.

Tick tock, tick tock, but no Alex. Where was she? When I did get my hands on her…