SWNOVELS Bad Intentions: Chapter 20
The next night, I took the first step in fighting back against Cayden. I couldn’t think about the hours we’d spent in my bed the night before, when he’d edged me to the point of near insanity. When he’d finally let me come, the pleasure had been so great, I’d been struck dumb for ten whole minutes. During that time, he’d jerked himself off over my bare back, and rubbed his cum into my skin like moisturizer, then left me tucked up tightly. I’d never felt more depraved. I’d never felt freer. Still, it only confirmed that Cayden West was a menace to my sanity, and I needed to even the playing field.
“Tuesday night, Midnight Falls. What will the evening bring us?” Eve spoke in a grandiose tone.
“Hopefully something we can use to put Cayden West back on his leash,” I muttered, linking arms with her as we left the bus station downtown.
It was only late afternoon, but there was already an ominous feeling as we headed down Main Street. You could see how run-down the town was, especially compared to Hade Harbor. Trash littered the streets, and a lot of the windows on the main shopping drag were boarded up and covered in graffiti. More than a fair share of shifty looking people loitered on street corners, and every now and again a police cruiser moved slowly along, eyeing the tweakers and dealers but not stopping.
“Well, this is just as nice as local gossip would have us believe,” Eve murmured, casting a worried look around. “Thank God I didn’t tell Ash I was coming here. He never would have let me.”
“Yeah, well, I promise we won’t stay here longer than necessary. Let’s just get some dirt and go. Where should we start?”
Eve stopped in the street, tapping her lip as she thought about it. I became aware of how many eyes were on us. Eve wasn’t an inconspicuous person to walk around with. She was so stunning, she drew attention everywhere she went, and I was starting to think that was a dangerous thing to do in Midnight Falls.
“School’s over, but hockey practice might not be. Let’s head there first. Cayden played for the team, right?”
“Yeah, he did. Let’s head over there.”
We set off toward the local high school. It wasn’t too far, thankfully, and before long we were heading through the glass doors of the rink.
Cayden’s old team was just finishing up. A few girls sat watching the practice. The coach was nowhere in sight. The rink was run-down and depressing. It had that faded feeling of a place that had given up. I could see why Cayden wanted out of here. Not that I’m sympathizing with him, I reminded myself sternly.
“Look, let’s ask the girls. We’re here for a reason,” Eve muttered, proving herself to be so much braver than me by approaching the small group of onlookers.
A guy on the ice whistled our way, probably eyeing up my friend. He moved with casual confidence on the ice, and every head turned his way as he skated toward us. He stopped himself by hanging over the boards, then beckoned me closer.
“You go, I’ll try these guys,” Eve said, a woman on a mission.
I started down the stairs toward the player. He was hot, the kind of hot that spelled trouble, just like Cayden.
“Hello, Red. I guess you’re here for me?” He grinned at me as I awkwardly shifted my backpack on my shoulders.
“Why would you guess that?”
“Because I’m the only interesting guy in a fifty-mile radius,” he said with perfect confidence. “I’m Chase, and you are?”
“Lily. I’m actually looking for someone else. Cayden West,” I said. I decided that revealing my intention to dig for dirt might be too upfront, especially if this was Cayden’s friend.
Chase sighed. “That asshole isn’t even around anymore, and he’s still got interested chicks.”
“I’m not interested like that,” I blurted out so quickly it made Chase narrow his eyes at me. “I mean, it’s not romantic or anything.”
Chased laughed. “Well, that’s good news for you, because I doubt that fucker has a romantic bone in his body. I pity the girl who ends up chained to that lunatic.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked too quickly.
Chased seemed amused. “Are you sure you’re not his girlfriend?”
I snorted and indicated myself with a sweeping gesture. “Do I look like someone he would date?”
Chase shook his head. “You should ask if you seem like someone who would lower herself to date him, and the answer is no…you look too smart for that.”
I flushed. “Well, thanks.”
“What do you want with Cayden?”
“I just wanted to talk to him,” I lied, hoping that Chase would give me some information.
He studied me a little longer and then sighed. “I don’t think I should be telling you anything about Cayden.”
“Why not? Are you his friend?”
Chase laughed. “Fuck no, he doesn’t have any friends. What he has are enemies and people who are scared of him, that’s it.”
“People who are scared of him? Why?” My voice was fading the longer this conversation went on.
There was a small voice inside me that whispered at me to turn back. Cayden was mad enough about me seeing him showering and whatever the hell that was on his back. How would he feel if he found out that I’d really dug into his past? What if I found out something I couldn’t forget?
All the more reason to find out. If he’s really dangerous, I have to get him out of my house.
“Because of his past, his reputation, his foster father…his rap sheet. all of it. Take my advice, cutie, and stay far away from him. Guys like Cayden break their toys—they don’t know any other way to be.”
I blinked at Chase. He was solemn now.
I swallowed hard. “I can’t afford to leave it. He’s – he’s living with my family,” I admitted in a rush. It might be a terrible idea to trust this stranger, but I didn’t trust Cayden, and it seemed we were on the same page.
Chase whistled. “Now, that is bad luck. In that case, I’d say you need to know who you’re dealing with. Go and see Uncle Jack at Black Lake trailer park, on the outskirts of town. You’ll find out more than you want to know there…enough to change your living situation, if that’s what you want.”
“Thank you. You’ve been really helpful and kind to a stranger.” I summoned a smile for Chase.
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me one way or another., As long as he doesn’t come back here, I’m happy,” Chase said, hitting the ice again and skating away. “Take care at the trailer park, Red; it’s not a place for girls like you. Leave before dark.”
With that ominous warning ringing in my ear, I turned and went to grab Eve.
Before dark? That gave us a couple of hours. It would just have to be enough.