Strong arms wrap around me and pull me back. Only it’s not Talon, it’s Zed this time. Standing there, held securely, we all watch as the car disappears. Three seconds later, there’s a swoosh, and I swear I feel it ripple through my body like an earthquake.
Zed squeezes me tightly. “Yeah, baby.” He laughs. Something I wasn’t sure he was capable of. I can feel my hair part as he draws in a deep breath. One hand smooths over my breast and his thumb begins making circles around my nipple. Apprehension sweeps through me, but before I can react, he releases his hold on me. Scanning my shoes, I realize why Zed said I should have worn different ones. My white Air Force Ones are covered in sandy black dirt.
When I look over at Talon, he doesn't hold the same enthusiasm. Instead, his jaw is locked and his eyes are zeroed in on me like I did something wrong. I’d swear my heart has stopped beating just to prepare itself for my death, because if his looks could kill, I’d already be dead. My shoulders shoot up and I raise a brow. “Did I do something wrong?” I pull the gloves off and tuck them into my back pockets.
In two seconds flat, he’s at my side, grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me away. I look back at the guys who are just standing there, watching him take me back down the trail we came up. I attempt to jerk my arm away once they fade into the distance. “What the hell?”
“Yeah. What the hell is right!” He snaps at me like I did something wrong. “You just let him touch you like that.” It comes out as more of a statement than a question.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I give my arm a swift jerk once more, and this time, it frees. Zed was excited. For the first time ever, I did something good in his eyes, and for some unknown reason, even if it was criminal, I felt proud to be acknowledged by him. “Why are you so mad right now?”
The next thing I know, Talon’s hands wrap around my waist as he pushes me up against a boulder. My head hits the rock and my legs instinctively wrap around him. My mind enters a state of fog from the blow to the back of my head. I’m sure it was unintentional, but Talon is forceful, nonetheless. With my entire body stiff, one of the ridges digs deep into my back as he holds me in place. Something awakens inside of me and I’m not sure if it's a desire to grind myself into him as he’s pressed between my legs or the urge to spit in his face.
“Quit playing dumb with me. And when someone touches you and you don’t want them to, you make them stop. You got it? You fight back. If Zed lays a finger on you, you tell me or you handle it. Do you understand me?” All I can do is nod. Releasing his grip, he lets go, but raises his voice. “You’re lying to me.”
My own hands grip the side of my head, feeling the throbbing as I blink my eyes a few times. I choke out, “I’m not lying. I got it. Ok?” Sliding down the rock, it scrapes against my skin through the fabric of my t-shirt. I keep going until my ass hits the ground. It’s apparent now that my hormones are confused because all I want to do at this moment is slam his head into the rock.
“You’re still lying to me,” he raises his voice, “because if you heard a goddamn word I said then you would have just fought me off. Get your ass up and toughen up, or you’ll never survive this.”
Just as I get to my feet, the guys round the corner. “What the hell is going on over here?” Zed quips.
Talon brushes off my shoulder with a smirk. “Just making sure our girl here is on the same page as us.”
Balling my fists at my side, it’s taking everything inside of me not to punch this fucker square in the face. I’ve fought men over less. “Same page?” I laugh. “We’re not even in the same fucking book.” I walk past him, my shoulder nudging hard against his as I head back down the trail to the parked vehicles.
My heart rises into my throat when I think about this mess I’ve gotten myself into. Now that I’ve helped them dispose of Josh’s car, I’m more than an accomplice. I’m guilty, too.
If they fall, I’m falling with them.
The ride back to the house was quiet. In fact, the entire day was quiet. As soon as we got back, I brought my things inside to the spare bedroom and took a quick shower in the adjoining bathroom. I didn’t bother to unpack because I don’t plan on staying long. Unzipping the small pocket of my black backpack, I stick the gloves inside. It’s time to start thinking ahead. If they turn on me and try to take me down, I’m taking those fuckers with me. These gloves might have my prints on them, but they also have Talon’s. The video of me throwing the phone in the trash might have my face on it, but it also came from Zed’s phone. Two down, two to go.
Shay’s name flashes on the screen of my phone. For a moment, I decide to ignore it. She’ll likely have a dozen questions that I can’t answer. Remembering that I need her to go along with the plan I told Dad, though, I answer her call.
“Hey, Shay.”
“Hey, Shay? That’s all you have to say? How about, I’m sorry I’ve ignored all of your texts and blew you off on Halloween?”
Dropping back on the bed, I stare at the ceiling and sigh. “I’m sorry I’ve ignored all of your texts and blew you off on Halloween.”
“That’s better. Now tell me what the hell is going on and why you haven’t been at your house?”
My entire body shoots up. “Wait. You went to my house?”
Shit.
“Yeah, and Ruby said that you left with the devil and haven’t been home since. Spill. Now.”
There is so much truth to that statement that I don’t even know where to begin. “She’s right.”
“And does this mysterious horned man have anything to do with why you left Talon Porter’s party Saturday night without saying goodbye?”
After my altercation with the guys that night, I booked it to my car and didn’t even tell Shay or Wyatt that I was leaving. In my defense, I had no intention of sticking around. At first, I was just planning to drop them off because they were catching a ride home with some guys. Then, she practically dragged me inside.
“You could say that.” I pause before continuing, “Listen, it’s a long story but the bottom line is, I need you to say that I’m staying with you for a bit if my dad or Axel ask.”
“Ok…” she drags out the word, “Where are you actually staying?”
“Would you believe me if I told you that I’m staying with Talon Porter?”
“What?!” she huffs. “Tell me you’re joking. Why would you ever stay in that house?”
“Like I said, it’s a long story. But they’re not so bad.” I lie.
The sarcasm in her voice is apparent. “No, no, they’re not bad at all. They’re just four of the sexiest and most mysterious men in the school who are also dangerous and probably deadly. Do you remember what they did to Willa Mack?”
I do remember that. Very clearly. Willa is the pastor’s step-daughter and the quietest girl in the senior class. She’s cute and all, but she has zero personality. At least she doesn’t show it if she does have one. At the end of the summer, Lars asked her on a date to Tommy’s birthday party and to say she was elated is an understatement. Needless to say, Lars had his way with her. Though, he claims she consented, and she’s never claimed otherwise. The real kicker, he recorded the entire thing and blasted everyone’s emails the following day with the video footage of her losing her v-card to him.