I squint as I drive two miles an hour, not wanting to hit a tree or a person, until I see lights up ahead.
I speed up. As I get closer, I see a metal barn-like structure. The door swings open and out walks Cole followed by four others.
Of course! This night just keeps getting better and better. I gun it, then pull the e-brake, bringing the rear end around to stop in front of them. Dust from the gravel flies and all but Cole lift their hands to wave it away.
I open the door and jump out, slamming it shut behind me. “What in the fuck was that, Cole?” I demand.
He stands there, his blue eyes narrowed on me. His legs wide and hands in the front pockets of his black jeans. He still wears his black hoodie, but the hood is back.
“What the fuck?” I look to my right to see Deke, staring down at me with wide eyes and mouth opened. “You let cemetery girl help you?” he asks in surprise.
The other three look back and forth between Cole and me, trying to figure out what the hell is going on and who the hell I am.
My chest rises and falls fast, my heart racing. “You almost got me arrested,” I snap.
“You should have kept up,” he says.
My eyes bug out. “Kept up? I didn’t know you were going to steal a car,” I snap. He just stares at me. That look of hatred on his face. He should be thanking me for not turning him in. “Take me home,” I demand.
“Deke.” He looks at him. “Give her a ride home.”
What? “No!” I say, taking a step toward Cole. “You take me—”
“Gladly,” Deke says, interrupting me and takes a step toward me. I shut my mouth and take three back. He stares down at me with a smile on his handsome face, but the light shining down on us from the side of the barn makes him look crooked. Or maybe it’s the fact that I know just how truly twisted he is.
“I’ll just take your car,” I say with a smile, and he stops walking away. His back still toward me. Then I look down at it and smile. “I knocked off the mirror.”
“You what?” he snaps, turning to face me.
I give him the biggest fuck you smile I can. “I ran into the cops, and they threw a spike strip out.” His brows rise. “I was able to dodge it but hit the side of the mountain. It knocked off your mirror.”
He fists his hands down by his sides while Deke laughs. The other three still stand around, not knowing what is happening.
“Who is this girl?” I think it’s Kellan who asks softly. I can’t remember who Shelby said was who.
“I’m Austin.” I answer his question when neither Deke nor Cole makes a move to do so. “Austin Lowes.”
All their heads snap to look at Cole. And Deke looks down at his feet, but I don’t miss his jaw hardening. Cole stares at me for a long moment as silence falls around us. And I feel like I’m back in the cemetery with him and Deke. Like he’s trying to think of his next move.
Is he gonna stab me this time? Let Deke shoot me?
Finally, he looks away from me and to Deke. “Take her home,” he orders and then turns, giving us all his back. He walks into the barn, letting the door shut behind him.
“Let’s go home, baby,” Deke says, walking over to me.
“No …”
He grabs my upper arm and squeezes, making me cry out as his fingers dig into my skin. The other guys turn their backs on me and walk into the same door as Cole. Deke drags me across the gravel and over to the side of the building where a black Range Rover sits. He tosses me in the passenger seat and then climbs in. I press my body against the door.
He chuckles. “I’m not the one you should be afraid of, baby.”
“What does that mean?” I demand, pissed off over what Cole put me through tonight.
“It means …” He starts his SUV. “That Cole is the only one who decides if you live or die. Not me.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
COLE
I rip my hoodie off and then my black t-shirt. I toss them both to the floor and raise my fists in front of me. I start bouncing around and hit the punching bag that hangs from the rafter.
I hear the door open and then Kellan’s voice. “Cole, what is going on?” he asks.
“I’m handling it,” I say, hitting the bag again.
“That’s not what it looked like from where we stood,” Shane argues.
I snort.
“She’s Bruce’s daughter—”
“Yes. I know who she is!” I snap, interrupting Kellan. I drop my hands and turn to face them. “I’m well aware of whose daughter she is.”