Pure Temptation (Priceless)

He grunts, falling backwards, hitting the hard ground with a thud. I’m sure it knocked the air out of him. I put my foot on his chest to make sure he stays where he is.

“Don’t fucking move.” Carter’s eyes widen as they lock with mine.

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Didn’t say you did.” I remove my foot as I reach down and grab him by his hoodie and haul him to his feet.

“Ben,” I shout as Dad and Jason come around the side of the house.

“I’ve got him.” Ben pops up with Cory cuffed.

“That was too fucking easy. What about the other two?” Jason asks.

“Not our problem,” Dad answers before I can.

Carter is still trying to catch his breath and not make eye contact with Jason.

“Isn’t that—”

“Don’t,” I snap at my brother, cutting him off before he lets Cory know that we know Carter.

“Why the fuck am I in these cuffs?” Cory interrupts. We all ignore him.

“Take him,” I order Ben as I push Carter up against the side of the house and make a show out of putting zip ties on him.

Ben does as I order, and Dad follows with him. Jason lingers with me. I don’t speak until Cory is out of sight.

“Hanging out at a drug house?” Carter’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t deny it. I yank the ties back down his wrists, freeing him. He spins around.

“Am I under arrest or something?” He juts his chin up. He’s a pretty tall kid, but not taller than me. Not many are except Archer, and he only matches my height.

Before I can think better of it, I’ve got my forearm pressed into his neck, pinning him to the side of the fucking house.

“You’ve got some fucking balls, kid.” He reaches up and grabs my arm, trying to tug it away. He’s stronger than he looks. I’ll give him that.

“You’re a fucking cop,” he gets out. His eyes dart to Jason, likely wondering if he’s going to do something to help him.

“Right now, all I am is Addilyn’s man who’s wondering about what kind of bullshit you might be dragging back with you to her home each night when you slip in that fucking door. Hanging out with pieces of shit like Cory Walker.”

A million scenarios of all sorts of fucked-up shit come flooding through my mind of what could happen to my Addilyn because of who her brother is playing with.

“Kane.” Jason’s hand comes down on my shoulder. He doesn't try to pull me back, but his voice yanks me back to reality. Carter’s face turns from red to blue. I let go, stepping back. He doubles over, coughing and trying to catch his breath.

“Give us a moment.” Jason raises his brows. “I’m under control.” He gives me a chin nod before heading back toward the street, leaving us alone.

“The hell you doing, kid?”

“Making money.”

“What are you selling?” He stands up straight, rubbing his throat.

“Only fucking weed.” I grab him by the back of the neck and start heading toward my truck.

“Keys.” He doesn’t fight me. He reaches into his pocket and pulls them out. I toss them to Jason as I walk by. “Drop it at her place?”

“Yeah,” he says, and I know it will be handled.

“Get in the truck,” I order Carter. He does. I pull out my phone and check in with Ben and my dad. They’ve already got their shit handled and are headed to the police station. I hop in my truck and take off with Carter.

“You need to stay away from those people. You do not want a part of what is about to go down with them.”

“It’s just weed.”

“It’s not just fucking weed, you dumbass. They want you selling at the high school, don’t they?” He nods. “They start asking you about the girls that go there?”

Carter turns his head my way. “Some.”

“How did you get mixed up with them?” He doesn’t speak for a long moment. “So help me God, I don’t care if you’re her brother. This is not about drugs. This is about young high school girls and—”

“I know. Who do you think gave the police the tip?” he says, surprising the fucking shit out of me.

“You better start from the top.”

I listen to everything he tells me as I drive, ending back at Addilyn’s place. I don’t know if I want to strangle the kid or not by the time he’s done. I also want to strangle Barns, who I’ll be dealing with next.

“You did the right thing. Except for the weed bullshit.” I’m almost proud of him. Carter is a lot like his sister, it seems. He pays attention to what is going on around him and can read the room. But if these people find out how much he knows, he’s as good as dead.

“It’s weed.”

“Still illegal and look what it got you mixed up with,” I point out.