Renegade Hearts (Rebels of Sandland 1)

ooked around the clearing, but I couldn’t see him. Had he left already? Did I still want to be here? This party wasn’t what I’d thought it’d be, especially since Chase showed up.

“I’m just trying to be a friend. We could all use one of those, right?” Zak gave me a sympathetic smile and I shrugged back.

“I’ve got enough friends.”

“Then keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” he said, then bowed down and walked away, leaving us to mull over that little nugget of wisdom.

I’d drunk way too much, and the party was starting to blur into a hot mess of people dancing, falling about, and making out. I hadn’t seen Brandon or Ryan since we left the bonfire area. Chase had kept a pretty respectful distance too, just giving me the occasional nod or smile from where he stood. I glanced over to where Effy had been chatting to Finn, asking him about his carvings and trying to get blood from a stone in response. Funnily enough, they weren’t there. I looked around, but I couldn’t see them anywhere. Interesting.

I could see Liv as clear as day though, glued to the front of Zak Atwood with her tongue stuck down his throat. Seems like both of my girls had gotten lucky tonight. I suddenly felt self-conscious and lonely and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was drunk and not thinking straight, clearly, since I decided that a walk around the woods to straighten my head out was a good idea.

Why did alcohol force you to make the most ridiculous choices in the heat of the moment? And yet, I didn’t question myself once when I thought a breath of fresh air, away from the rest of them, was just what I needed. Just tattoo dumbass on my forehead now.

I wandered to the left of me, into the thick darkness of the trees, taking small steady steps so I wouldn’t fall. I felt that awkwardness slide off me the further into the woods I went. My shoulders eased back slightly, and I felt less tense. There was no one here, in amongst the trees, to witness how awful I was at fitting in. That group back there wasn’t my group of people. I think I preferred my own company, really. Apart from a few select friends growing up, I’d always kept myself to myself.

I took a few deep breaths, enjoying the cold bite of the air as it entered my lungs. The laughter and music had died down to a distant hum. Then realisation hit me like a smack in the face. I hadn’t realised I’d come out this far. Shit.

Did I know the way back?

I spun around, looking at the trees surrounding me, suddenly feeling dizzy and unsure of which way I’d actually come. I started to walk ahead, using my ears to try and find the direction of the party. That’s when I heard the snap of a twig not far behind me.

There was someone else here.

Someone was following me.

My heart started to beat out of my chest, but I slowed my breathing right down, so I could focus on listening. I put one foot slowly forward, trying not to draw attention to myself.

Maybe it was an animal? I was in the middle of a forest at night, there were bound to be all sorts of sounds I wasn’t familiar with.

I heard another crack behind me and suddenly my whole world spun on its axis.

I was yanked backwards into a hard chest. One strong arm wrapped tightly around my waist and another jammed in front of my face, the hand clamping over my mouth so I couldn’t scream. Then, as quick as a flash, before I could even register what was happening, I was pulled down to the ground and dragged behind a bush, well-hidden from sight. I tried to wriggle, tried to free myself from his grasp, but it was pointless. I was powerless in this man’s arms.

“Shush!” A familiar deep voice tried to soothe me. “I’m not gonna hurt you. Just stay quiet.”

Ryan Hardy had me pinned to his front and was shushing me like this was all for my own good. He kept his hand over my mouth and didn’t loosen his grip in the slightest when I made every effort to escape.

What the fuck was his deal?

I clawed at his arm, using my nails to scratch him and possibly get some kind of upper-hand so I could escape. My legs kicked out, but they didn’t connect with anything other than the woodland floor. My heart was beating like a bass drum in my ears and the adrenaline pumping through my veins was electric.

“Quit wriggling and wait. Trust me,” Ryan whispered into my ear, and at that moment, I noticed movement in amongst the trees where I’d just been standing.

I panted hard through my nose and tried to shake my head free, but when I saw Chase Lockwood walk out in front of us, I stopped. We both lay behind the bush, me being constrained, and him barely breathing, but tense as hell. His face was right next to my ear and the warmth of his breath as he hushed me one last time made my skin prickle. My drunken brain was now as sharp as a tack.

Chase stood still and looked around him. Had he come to find me? Make sure I was okay? I was about to give him a muffled cry from behind Ryan’s hand, when Chase’s mobile phone lit up without making a sound and he answered it.

“Mate, I lost her,” he said sounding disappointed and then he laughed. The guy actually laughed. “Looks like I’m gonna have to get my dick wet somewhere else tonight.”

My stomach turned over, hearing him talk like that, and I stopped fighting against Ryan’s hold on me, and felt him tighten his grip, pulling me further into him.

“Yeah, I swear her tight little pussy better be worth it. I’ve waited long enough.” He chuckled at something being said to him and smirked. “Oh, I know, mate. Virgin pussy is always the sweetest and Emily’s will be the ultimate.”

I felt sick.

I watched as Chase started walking back the way he came, muttering disgusting filth down his phone and laughing. So, nerdy boy was a prick just like the rest of them.

I hadn’t noticed Ryan had moved his hand away from my mouth until he whispered into my ear, “You’re welcome.”