book 2 of 4
on the outside, looking in, bianca prescott was back to who everyone knew her as- kook princess, island royalty, who couldn't give less of a fuck about the pogues like they were poo on her jimmy choo's.
but bianca had a hit list. just...
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Gleams of sunlight flickered behind Bianca's eyelids, causing her to stir in her seat. A soft sound of protest emanated from the back of her throat and Rafe glanced over at her from the driver's seat.
The sun peaked over the horizon and splayed across her cheeks. Bianca's eyebrows furrowed, trying to turn away from the rays and Rafe was quick to pull the sun visor down. The action only awoke her further as her eyes fluttered open and struggled to stay that way.
There was a distinct throbbing in her skull that just wouldn't seem to dull, causing her to wince as she slowly came to. Her nose scrunched from the ache and she tried to move, but her body felt too heavy to do so. In fact, it didn't feel as though her limbs were even there. Her gaze flickered down to figure out whether they were still attached to her body, which, to her relief, she realized they were.
Bianca's mind was a haze, walking the tightrope between unconsciousness and confusion. She turned to the window where her surroundings were blurring into a muddle of green trees and shrubbery. When the seat jostled under her, she finally concluded that she was in a moving vehicle.
Bianca glanced up, blinking slowly at Rafe in the driver's seat. For a moment, she wondered where they were going. Why was he here? Had she fallen asleep in the car and he was driving them home? Where were they?
"Morning, sleepy head," Rafe hummed, gazing down at her. He took a hand off the steering wheel and placed it on her thigh, rubbing soothing circles against her skin.
Bianca's eyes drew to the comforting motion, but couldn't fathom why she didn't feel as safe as she should've. Her body reacted before her mind could, trying to force her limbs to move despite that they wouldn't cooperate no matter how hard she tried.
Rafe took notice of her sudden agitation, "Hey, hey, hey," He cooed. "It's okay. I'm right here," His hand that rested against her knee moved to brush her hair behind her ear. "Don't be scared. You're safe."
But some part of Bianca knew she wasn't. It was a primal instinct that made her want to jump out of the truck, but they were moving way too fast and her body refused to coordinate. Bianca felt chills prick the back of her neck at the realization that she wasn't supposed to be there. She didn't want Rafe. She wanted JJ. Where was JJ? She needed him.
Rafe frowned when his hand brushed her cheek and noticed the way her body trembled despite the warm weather outside. Her hands felt cold and clammy and the boy was beginning to believe that maybe he gave her one too many pills of the anti-anxiety medication, especially when Rose told him one would suffice.
"How are you feeling?" Rafe pressed the back of his hand against her forehead, feeling for a temperature. "You're freezing," He muttered in concern.
Rafe switched the air-conditioner off and ran a frazzled hand through his hair. He needed to get the cross and Bianca to the wharf so she could rest the remaining journey on the boat but first, he needed to take care of Renfield's body. The boy glanced into the side mirror, an uneasy feeling settling in his gut but shook it off, trying to convince himself that he was just imagining the feeling of someone watching him.
