Renegade Hearts (Rebels of Sandland 1)

“And we have a winner,” Liv said, pointing ahead where we could just about make out a bonfire in a clearing up ahead. There were a few parked cars and trucks, but nowhere near the number of vehicles that’d been on that field by the disused warehouse last week.

“I’m not sure about this. It doesn’t look like the same type of party we went to on Em’s birthday,” Effy said, peering into the darkness ahead of her. “It looks… Exclusive. There’s not that many people here.”

“More chance for Finn to notice you then. Or is it Zak, still? I can’t keep up,” Liv joked, and I shot her a warning glare.

“The three of us should stick together. Safety in numbers. Let’s let them show their hand first. There’s a reason they invited us here tonight and I want to know what it is.” Effy blew out a low breath and Liv nodded along in agreement.

“Let’s do this, bitches,” Liv said, and opened her door as we rolled to a halt.

We picked our way over the uneven ground. I thanked my lucky stars I was wearing my ripped skinny jeans tonight paired with my trusty converse. I’d brought a pair of heels along too, just in case, but I didn’t think I’d be needing those. They could stay in the car.

There were about a dozen or so people sat around the fire. A few more were up and dancing close to where a truck was blasting out music. I guessed Zak had turned mobile D.J. tonight. He was sitting on the back of a pick-up truck, next to a set of huge speakers, and nodding his head in time with the beat. A girl with long dark hair walked over to him, swaying her hips like crazy to catch his attention, and handed him a beer. He grabbed it and took a long swig, then wiped the back of his hand over his mouth and grinned at her.

I had no idea who she was, but it looked like she’d caught Zak in her net already, hook, line and sinker. I peered across at Effy, but she didn’t seem to care. I don’t think she’d even noticed Zak. She was too busy staring at a particular guy sat huddled on the floor, next to a tree trunk. Finn was carving something into the tree, and the look of concentration he was giving it told me he was oblivious to the party going on around him. All his focus was on the masterpiece he was creating. Effy would need all the luck in the world to crack that one.

I was hoping to make a quiet entrance. Sneak across to the bonfire, grab a beer on the way from the cooler that was sat close by. But subtle entrances, exits, or any kind of grace seemed to elude me just lately. I wasn’t looking where I was going, too busy taking it all in and wondering where the last two demons in the devil’s foursome were, when I got my foot caught in the root of a tree and I stumbled forward onto my hands and knees.

Oh the shame.

I peered up to find every single person here looking straight at me. The girls were grimacing at how uncool and totally unwelcome I was. A few of the guys actually looked concerned, Finn included. But nothing could overshadow the smirks I was getting from Ryan and Brandon as they stood by the bonfire.

“Shit, chick. Are you okay?” Liv whispered, as she pulled me up from the floor. Effy went to grab my other side, but I shooed her away. I already felt like a complete idiot. I didn’t want to prolong the misery. I dusted myself down and winced as I felt the twinge of pain on my left knee. Great. I’d have a scab like a kid for the next few days. That’d be attractive.

“I’m fine, but I need a beer to numb the pain,” I hissed back.

“Are you really hurt?” Effy asked.

“Yeah, my pride is fucking crushed.” I tried not to limp too badly as we headed in the direction of the alcohol.

“Took a nice little trip there, Winters,” Brandon shouted over the bonfire at me. “Always knew you’d fall hard for me.”

“In your dreams, Mathers,” I shouted back as I grabbed a beer and then passed one to Effy and Liv.

“Always in my dreams, Winters. Me and you get up to all sorts of crazy shit in my dreams.” He took a sip of his beer then grabbed his crotch and leered at me like a sicko. Brandon was a shady motherfucker and the thought of being in his dreams, let alone near him now, made me shudder.

“I’d rather suck a rhino’s balls than go anywhere near you.”

He laughed at me and then winked.

“You like balls, don’t you, Winters. First you wanna get near my boy Ryan’s here, and now you’re getting me all hot under the collar thinking about you sucking mine.”

I sneered at him, having absolutely no clue what the fuck he was on about. Was this some sort of fucked-up mating ritual for him?

I glanced at Ryan and couldn’t help but notice how tense he looked. His eyes were boring into Brandon, but Brandon didn’t care. He was on a roll.

“Why don’t you come and sit over by me, Winters? I’ve got a really nice… Big… Lap for you to sit on. And maybe later, you can sit on something else?”

“Fuck off,” Ryan said to him in a low voice.

What the hell was that?

Was Hardy trying to step in for me?

That was fucking rich. The demon overstepping the devil. I didn’t need him doing his knight in shining armour shi

t. Even if it was a crap effort.

“Is the big guy bothering you?” Zak was standing behind us, smirking over at his boys.