If I’d Known (Cursed 1)

"Where are the cigarettes you bought, Vic?" Tori demands, tossing a suspicious look my way before sharing a silent exchange with Lincoln.

"They didn't have my brand," Vic grumbles, his attention directed out the window.

I clench my fists, fighting the urge to scream. This asshat is about to ruin my life, and I need him gone. Now.

"We need to ditch him at the party," I tell Joey, only because his ear is right next to my mouth and Tori's too far away.

"Why?" Joey asks.

I can only shake my head, afraid to say too much and have Vic overhear. As much as I'm not afraid of the douche, he does have a gun. And he's obviously stupid enough to hold up a convenience store with it. He's probably dumb enough to use it too. As much as my life blows, I'm not looking to die tonight.

Everyone knows something's up. The tension in the car is as thick as Gary's neck ... which is a tree trunk. Tori keeps staring at the back of Vic's head like she's waiting for him to make a move. Nina starts messing with the music. She may act unfazed, but she'd willingly push him out of the moving car if it came to it.

Lincoln's fighting to remain calm with his hands pressed against his thighs. But the tendons straining in his neck give away just how close he is to losing it.

The only one who seems oddly relaxed is Joey, whose hand has found the skin along my waistband again. Obviously something very wrong is going on, and he hasn't reacted even a little. He's either oblivious or he's brilliant at the whole calm-under-pressure thing.

I'm stiff against him, his touch unable to soothe the tension.

"Can I have the bottle?" I ask Nina.

She slides around and hands me a different bottle of something darker, passing it off with a wink. She's trying to keep me relaxed too. Except I'm not. When I reach for the bottle, my hand is shaking. I resist the urge to crash it over Vic's asinine head.

I swallow down the cinnamon-flavored whiskey until it sends me into a coughing fit. Then I pass the bottle back.

"Someone needs to tell me what the fuck is going on right now, or I'm pulling over and dumping your asses on the side of the road!" Gary bellows over the music, making me flinch.

Joey's grip tightens on my waist.

"No you're not." Vic's voice is low and threatening, like an approaching storm. "Keep driving."

"What did you just say, you little fuck?" Gary's face is redder than raw hamburger, and his skin doesn't look much better.

"Easy, baby," Nina murmurs seductively in his ear.

I shudder when she soothingly runs her hand along the stubble coating the folds of his triple chin.

Joey pulls me back against him. "Don't worry about them." His voice melts me against his hard chest.

I nuzzle into his neck so it looks like I'm kissing him. "How well do you know Vic?"

Joey turns toward me, brushing his fingers along my cheek, our mouths almost touching. His breath tickles as he says, "We're not exactly friends. I told my dad I'd take him out, as a favor."

He pauses and smooths a thumb over my lower lip. Despite this crazy-ass situation, I'm actually getting turned on right now. What is wrong with me?!

"It's ... complicated. Why? Did he do something?"

I breathe out slowly, unable to respond.

"Forget about him." He leans in until our lips brush, and I quiver.

"You're fogging up the car," Tori stretches over and says so close, she could join us.

Joey pulls away.

"Tori!" I exclaim, glaring at her.

Tori smirks and sits back again.