Sacred Flame: His Enemy, His Mate (BL)-Chapter 97: Ditch the truck

Kain Locke

"What are you doing? Are you seriously out of your damn mind?"

An indistinct male voice stabbed through the haze clouding my mind.

"Not," someone else replied, more quietly.

"You are! I mean, if you aren’t, why the hell did we bring them along? We were just there to collect the report. That was it! Then this? Seriously??" The first guy, he sounded like he was going to blow a fuse.

A low groan escaped my throat. My head was pounding. My throat burned. Everything felt... wrong.

"He was going to kill them, you were there" the second voice shot back. A man? His voice was familiar anyway, but I couldn’t place it. "So don’t pretend you didn’t see it. I know you’re not that blind."

"So? And now I’m supposed to be a deserter just because some people got themselves caught up in a mess?"

"Keep your voice down Audrey!" the calm male voice warned from the front. "You’ll wake them."

Them?

Us... Me. Brian? Was I able to get him?

My eyes fluttered open, only for the ceiling to spin above me. It was metal. Black and it seemed to be moving?

A vehicle. I was in a vehicle. The low rumble under me confirmed it, probably a van. Or a truck.

"And wasn’t the one you left behind one of your allies?" the calm voice added, but it was more steady, and less emotional.

Audrey scoffed. "So? Well, yes, I did run a few errands for him and we exchanged a couple deals, but that doesn’t mean I owe him my life. Come on. You should know me by now. I’m not the kind of idiot who sacrifices himself for someone else’s drama."

There was a pause. Then he added in a mumble, "Besides... isn’t he his father? He might spare him after all, or might even kill him less ’gruesomely’."

My heart dropped.

They were talking about Kael. Well... why should I care now?

I tried to move, but my body felt like dead weight. My arms were sluggish. My breathing is shallow. My skin was clammy and cold. Probably from the tear gas.

"It doesn’t matter," the calm male voice grumbled. "Just focus on the damn road or you will really get us killed."

"As if your impulsive hero act isn’t already doing that," Audrey hissed. "We’re all screwed now. It’s only a matter of time."

"Then let’s make that time count," he snapped.

Silence fell after that. And neither of them seemed to be speaking anytime soon.

I forced my head to turn and finally I saw something that calmed my mind at that moment at least.

Across from me, Brian was curled up beside a worn duffel bag, breathing slow and even. Asleep. Safe. Somehow.

Relief hit me like a wave I didn’t see coming. My chest collapsed inward. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I wanted—

I wanted answers.

I closed my eyes and waited for the strength to ask.

I didn’t know how many hours had passed. Could’ve been one. Could’ve been ten. All I knew was that time had blurred into one endless haze of dull pain and muffled thoughts.

I knew better than to trust anyone right now. Not when everything felt this uncertain. For all I knew, this could be another one of Caspian’s games, one of his twisted, layered plans to... what? Break me again? Get something out of me I didn’t even know I had?

God, this is pathetic.

I felt so damn useless.

My insides throbbed with a dull, burning ache I didn’t want to name. I didn’t want to think about it. Or him. Or them. I..

***

By the time my head finally cleared enough to process what was happening, the truck had come to a full stop. The rumbling underneath us had died, and for a few seconds, everything felt still.

I let out a weak groan as I slowly sat up, scooting over to pull Brian close. He was still breathing... soft and steady. Thank God. The tear gas must’ve gotten into his nose, but he was okay at least.

I glanced around the truck. Nothing nearby looked remotely useful to defend us if things went south. I reached toward the duffel bag, hoping maybe... but the back doors flew open and I turned back, what I first saw was pink hair.

Audrey.

He looked down at me like I was a stray dog that pissed on his shoes. His arms crossed,

"You know you can stay in here for all I care," he said flatly. "But we need to ditch this truck, and fast. Of course... However, if you’d rather get roasted alive, that’s on you. Just toss the little one to me first."

I clenched my jaw, sneering at him as I pulled Brian even closer.

"Tch. Figures," he muttered, clicking his tongue and turning his head aside. "Looks like you’ll be the one getting him out then. My skin’s too delicate to get chewed on by some rabid mutt."

With that, he stepped aside.

And then he came.

Purple hair. The only thing different about him is... he didn’t have that look I knew him for, he was unbelievably calm.

Alec.

Did they... save me?

Or maybe not. Maybe I was just the cargo they didn’t want destroyed.

Still, there was no time to overthink or let my guard down. Wherever we were, I needed to get out, and fast that is.

Alec crouched beside the door, voice low. "Do you think you can walk?"

I bit my lower lip, hard. The pain helped me focus. I didn’t answer... it’s not even like I could.

His gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. "Kain... We need to burn this truck. Right now. If we don’t, they’ll track us, and we can’t afford that. So the truck has to go, but not with you and the kid inside."

He paused, then added, "So... Can you please step out?"

I looked at Brian again, still sleeping, completely unaware.

My legs felt like jelly. My chest was tight. But I nodded, just once before I started to move.

Because no matter how broken I was...

I had to protect him.