Runner: A dark enemies to lovers gang romance (Sapphire Duet Book 1)
Runner: Chapter 16

I dropped the stack of papers I’d been reading and picked up my office phone after the fifth ring.

“Hello?”

“Mayor, this is Officer Hill,” the guy said nervously. “I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I have information I thought you’d want to hear.”

“What is it?”

“There’s been talk about how the Riot Crew has had their guys keeping an eye out for a white Corvette, and I know you always want any info on the crew,” Officer Hill rambled.

“I appreciate it,” I said quickly, the paperwork forgotten. “What’s so important about the car?”

“I don’t know, but I’m on patrol right now, and there’s a white Corvette parked. I don’t know if it’s the car they’re looking for, but I wanted to let you know.”

I leaned back in my chair, processing the information. This was why I made friends on the police force. It helped to stay in front of things happening in my city.

“Where is it parked?” I asked.

“In front of the Chinese takeout, a block from your office. Do you want me to follow it?”

“Did you see the driver?”

“I got a glimpse—it’s a young woman.”

I nearly bolted off my chair. “Thank you, Officer. I’ll handle this.”

I hung up and pulled my suit jacket on before rushing out of the office. There was only one woman the crew seemed to be obsessed with, and I’d been looking for her for over a week. Ever since I kissed her, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my damn head.

I pressed the elevator button, willing it to hurry the fuck up. I’d been going to the gym twice a day, hoping to run into her, but she must have found a different place to work out because she hadn’t been there at all. My life had always revolved around my career, and the fact that one woman had been taking over my mind was driving me crazy. Especially one I knew was not good for me.

Even as these thoughts jumbled around in my mind, I still didn’t stop myself from racing outside. I wanted to see if it was Mili. I turned the corner, slowing to a walk when I saw the white Corvette parked on the street. It was a quiet night, and streetlights lit up the sidewalk as I strode toward the car.

I got within a few feet when the door of the Chinese restaurant opened, and someone rushed out. I hesitated, not knowing if it was her. The woman was wearing black sweats and a hoodie that was swallowing her. The hood was up, concealing her face. The night was too warm to be wearing such heavy clothes unless she was trying to hide herself.

“Mili,” I called out, acting like I knew it was her.

She whipped around, clutching her bag of food. Annoyance flared in her eyes as she faced me. My stomach clenched, and I stepped closer, wondering if it was just the shadows or if there was something on her face.

“What are you doing here?” she questioned, fishing her key out of her pocket.

I decided to be honest. “Word on the street is the crew has been looking for a white Corvette. I was curious to see who owned it.”

“How do you know crew business?”

“It helps to have friends in the city,” I said with a shrug. “If I want to stay ahead of crime, I need people who watch for me.”

“What do you want, Rylan?” she asked, sounding exhausted.

She moved under the light, and my heart lurched. She backed away when I reached out toward her face.

“What the hell happened?” I asked, staring at her busted lip with a large bruise forming on her cheek. “Did someone attack you?”

“Nope,” she stated, her face showing no emotion. “I fell.”

I gritted my teeth. “Bullshit.”

“Listen, I’ve had a shit day, and really don’t feel like talking.” She unlocked her car. “Bye, Mayor.”

“Did the crew do this?” I asked, wanting to know who hurt her. Kade and Gray might be dicks, but their long list of crimes never included beating women.

She didn’t answer, rounding her car and jumping into the driver’s seat. Without thinking about it, I opened the passenger door and slid in. She went rigid, slowly turning her head to look at me.

“Get out of my car,” she demanded.

“No. Tell me what happened.”

“You know, I have a pile of problems, and I don’t need to add a stalker to it.” She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want me to make your life difficult, Rylan. Because I promise, I can wipe away your perfect image in a fucking heartbeat.”

Her threat didn’t faze me at all. “If there’s a man in my city going around hitting women, I need to know about it.”

“Lucky for you, it didn’t happen in your city. So it’s none of your concern.”

“That means it was a guy that hurt you?”

She sighed. “What do you want?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered, wondering that myself. “For some reason, I worry about you.”

“I’m a big girl. I don’t need anyone worrying about me.”

“Sounds lonely.”

“What about you?” She looked me up and down. “You don’t have anyone, do you?”

“I have friends.”

“Good. Go worry about them.”

I chuckled. “Let me take you to get your face checked out. That cut looks deep.”

“I’m fine. It looks worse than it is.” She stared at me. “What is it going to take to get you the hell out of my car?”

I thought for a moment. “An honest conversation.”

She frowned before her entire demeanor changed. She grinned wickedly, leaning back in her seat. “I think you want something else. That kiss proved you want to do more than just talk.”

Her words went straight to my dick. “Tell me, what do I want?”

She leaned closer, placing her hand on my jaw. “You want me naked and screaming your name.”

I cleared my throat. “And if I do?”

“Then let’s go.” She put her car in gear and pulled onto the street. “You want to go to a hotel or your place?”

Confusion had me pausing from her sudden change. “Your place isn’t an option?”

“No.”

“I feel like you’re trying to distract me from something,” I mumbled.

“No, I want to distract myself. Sex is an amazing way to do that.”

“Mili—”

“You’re the one stalking me. I’m giving you what you want.”

“I’m not stalking you.”

“Whatever you say, Mayor.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “I’m curious about you.”

“Well, here’s your pass. One night with me.” She looked away from the road and smiled. “But after tonight, I don’t want to see you popping up wherever I am.”

“Do you work with the crew?”

My question made her smile fade. “Why? Worried you’re about to get into bed with someone you should be arresting?”

“That’s a dangerous life, Mili. You don’t want to be mixed up with them.”

She changed the subject. “Your place or a hotel?”

“My house. Take the next right.”

“You live on the north side of town?” she asked in surprise.

“It’s where I grew up. And living there helps me stay closer to the people who voted me into office.”

She nodded. “Hmm. It looks good for the mayor to act like he’s one of the common people. Living in a mansion on the south side would have the opposite effect.”

“Yes,” I grated out. “It helps my image too. But that’s not the only reason I chose to live there.”

“Sure it’s not.”

She turned down an alley, taking a shortcut only to slam on her brakes when a car darted in front of her, making it impossible for her to leave the alley. My stomach clenched, recognizing the black Jaguar.

“Looks like you were right about the crew looking for my car,” she muttered, throwing it into reverse.

Another car stopped behind her, keeping her trapped in the alley. She cursed, glancing at me. After hesitating, she reached over me and grabbed a gun out of the glove box. Fuck. I knew she was into some sketchy shit, but seeing it was different. I did not need people to see me in a showdown with the crew. Rumors that I was in their pocket would make the damn morning papers.

I debated calling the few I trusted at the police station to come and run them off, but that would only create more witnesses. I didn’t want anyone to know if I could help it.

“Stay in the car,” she ordered, tucking her gun behind her shirt.

“Are you kidding?” I snapped.

“They won’t kill me,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Let me see what they want, and then we’ll be on our way.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose as she opened her door and got out. After a few seconds, I opened my door and stepped out. Kade was already out of his car, and surprise covered his features when he saw me. Mili was leaning against the hood of her car, facing Kade. I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Gray getting out of the car behind us.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Kade asked me.

“We were on a date,” Mili answered. “Until you two decided to crash it.”

“A date?” Gray laughed from behind us. “The great mayor doesn’t date. He’s too busy trying to get us behind bars.”

“Is it possible to be in this town without people replaceing me?” Mili asked in a bored voice. “What do you want?”

“If you’re trying to stay under the radar, you should probably keep that car in the garage,” Kade answered, anger returning to his gaze. “Your date’s over. Why don’t you go home, Mayor?”

“I’m not leaving,” I said coldly. “Why don’t you move your car so we can leave? Before I make a call.”

Gray scoffed. “This looks bad for you. Meeting us in an alley so late at night. Looks like something a dirty politician would do. You’re not going to call anyone.”

I didn’t answer, annoyed that he was fucking right. Both Kade and Gray moved closer to Mili, and I rounded the car, stopping beside her. “If you hurt her, I will call someone. I don’t give a shit about what rumors start from it.”

“We just have to ask her something,” Kade said. “It can’t wait.”

“Where were you today?” Gray asked her.

Mili raised her gaze to him. “I’ve been with Rylan all day.”

My heart hammered, wondering what she was hiding. They both turned their attention to me, questions in their eyes.

“She’s been with me,” I said, keeping my voice even.

“Her pussy must taste like heaven if she got you to lie for her.” Kade glared at me.

Anger rushed through my veins, and I took a step forward. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

“What happened to your face?” Gray asked quietly, focusing back on Mili.

“I fell.”

Kade lost his patience, lunging at Mili. I moved to intervene, but Gray stepped between us, pressing a gun to my chest. My eyes widened as I looked from the gun to him. This was the first time they’d physically threatened me.

“Don’t move, Mayor,” Gray said in a low voice. “And you’ll survive this.”

“You must be stupid,” I snapped. “You think I won’t press charges?”

Gray chuckled. “Try it. There are no witnesses here. I can promise if you tell anyone about this, it won’t end well for you.”

“Put the knife down, Kade,” Mili said, not looking the least bit worried. Kade had a blade to her throat as she stayed absolutely still.

“One of our friends called,” Kade said slowly. “Andy was attacked in his own garage. He’s at the hospital. In a coma. You know anything about that?”

“How could I?” she asked. “I’ve been with Rylan all day.”

“Really? Because Andy’s friend said that the paramedic recalled seeing a white Corvette driving away from the garage.” Kade shook his head in warning when Mili shifted.

“I’m not the only one with this car,” she said tightly.

“What’s under the hoodie, Mili?” Kade asked, his eyes dropping to her chest. “Are you still covered in blood? Did Andy do that to your face when you attacked him?”

“I didn’t fucking attack him,” she hissed, her calm act disappearing.

I knew who Andy was, thanks to his affiliation with the crew. But he kept his racing business quiet, making it hard for the law to catch up with him too.

“He’s a friend,” Kade stated. “We’re not going to let you hurt people we care about.”

“Let me?” she laughed coldly. “No one lets me do anything. But I didn’t hurt him.”

“There’s dust all over your car. You were in the desert,” Gray said, his eyes not leaving me.

She stayed silent for a few moments. “I was there. But it wasn’t me who shot him.”

“You’re lying,” Kade accused. “He knows about your past. And you didn’t want anyone replaceing out—”

“He knows nothing about me,” she cut him off. “I went there to buy a motorcycle. Two other guys were already there. They were the ones who hurt Andy. I barely fucking got away.”

Kade shook his head. “We’ve seen you fight. Barely getting away doesn’t sound right.”

“It’s true,” she insisted. “I tried helping Andy. Who do you think called the paramedics? I did. Don’t believe me? Go look at my phone in the glove box.”

Kade and Gray exchanged a look before Gray pulled the gun away from me. He moved to the side of the car, opening the door before leaning inside. He came back out with a phone in his hand that he was already looking at.

“It shows she called,” Gray muttered.

“Put the knife down, Kade,” I told him. “You don’t want to do this.”

“Oh, I think he does,” Mili said with a laugh. “They’re learning that having me in their city is a pain in the ass. But he won’t. Because he knows better. Don’t you, Kade?”

Kade’s jaw clenched, but he lowered the knife from her throat and stepped back. “Who attacked him?”

“I don’t know.” She glanced at me warily. “They weren’t able to answer before I left.”

I stared at her, wondering if she was hinting that she’d killed them. But she was smart enough not to say it out loud if that’s what happened.

“You better hope Andy tells the same story. If he wakes up,” Gray said, still glaring at her with suspicion.

“He will,” she said, pushing off the car now that Kade had given her space.

“Watch yourself with her, Mayor.” Gray looked at me. “You try so hard to stay on the right side of the law—she’ll drag you to hell if you let her. Sex isn’t worth that.”

“You didn’t seem worried about me dragging you to hell when you were fingering me the other night,” she purred, sauntering toward Gray.

He laughed. “Fucking you won’t make me burn. I’m already in hell with you, Rebel.”

I frowned, my pulse spiking uncomfortably as they spoke. How close were they that Gray had a nickname for her? And knowing he had touched her was bothering me in ways I didn’t even want to fucking think about.

“If we replace out you’re hurting people we consider friends, we’re going to have a problem,” Kade warned. “You better not be lying about what happened to Andy.”

She ran her tongue over her busted lip. “And we’re going to have a problem if you keep trying to corner me. I don’t do well with threats.”

“Let’s go,” Gray nodded at Kade. “See you next week, Mili.”

“Oh, that’s right. We had a meeting planned.” She paused. “Cancel it. I need a break from this fucking city. And from all of you.”

“You’re leaving?” I asked.

She ignored me. “Move your car, Kade.”

“We have a deal,” Kade said stiffly. “You can’t just leave.”

“I can do whatever the fuck I want. I’m not backing out.” She opened her car door. “But this conversation is done. Sorry, Rylan, you’ll have to replace your own way home.”

She slammed her door shut, and I heard the distinct sound of her locking the doors. She cracked her window a bit, staring at Kade with impatience.

Kade glanced at me, frowning. “This stays between us. Or I’ll tell every fucking news outlet that you’re on our payroll.”

I scowled. “Even if I don’t say anything about this, I’ll still replace other evidence against you two.”

“Good luck,” Gray taunted, walking back to his car. Kade got into his Jaguar, and the second he pulled away, Mili sped off, disappearing around the corner. Gray left last, leaving me alone in the alley. I began walking the mile to my house, hoping I didn’t run into anyone. I had been right about her. She was as deep in the criminal world as the crew.

Yet that still didn’t stop me from wanting to see her again.