Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)

“But you don’t,” he finished.

I froze, feeling something behind me. Slowly, I twisted around to see Michael standing there, towering over me.

What? I shot my eyes back to Kai, seeing one corner of his mouth lift in a small smile.

Oh, shit.

My breath caught in my throat as Michael’s red skull stared down at me, and I understood the feeling of walls closing in from before. I looked around. We were out here alone. Them and me.

And what about Will? Was he still out here somewhere, too?

I changed direction, moving left and backing away from both of them now. They stepped slowly toward me, Michael pulling off his mask and then his hoodie and T-shirt, and dropping them to the ground.

My mouth fell open, and heat rushed to my cheeks. His long torso, tan from playing ball out in the sun, stood right in front of me, and I dropped my eyes. I’d seen David and the guys without their shirts plenty of times, but they didn’t look like that.

“She’s pretty,” he told Kai, the two of them walking side by side toward me as I kept backing up. “And she looks easy for us to handle. Together.”

I heard Kai’s quiet laugh, and I took another step back, suddenly hitting a tree. I dug my nails into the bark behind me.

“Don’t be afraid,” Michael told me, and I glanced up just enough to see his boxer briefs sticking out of the top of his jeans. “We’re good. We’re really good.”

We’re good? They weren’t serious?

I fucking bolted. Without turning back, I ran through the forest and toward the music. Get to a phone, get a ride, and get home. For once, the hiding I always had to do sounded pretty damn good right now. My brother was right. Guys were assholes.

I panted, digging in my heels harder and harder to get away. Kai would’ve let that happen? For me to be used like entertainment? There was an air of danger about him at the church today, but he was also gentle.

All of a sudden, Kai was in front of me, cutting me off and bringing me to a halt. “Wait,” he said.

But I didn’t care what he had to say. I shoved him in the chest, pushing past him and

running away. I dug in my heels, racing as fast as I could without even watching where I was going.

Arms wrapped around my waist, and I was lifted off the ground as a husky whisper breathed in my ear, “It’s not what you think,” he told me. “It was a joke.”

Oh, even better. Something for them to get a laugh out of.

“Why did you bring me here?” I cried, trying to wriggle free.

“Shhh.”

He tried to soothe me, but I just shook my head. I just wanted to go home. If I wasn’t seen, I couldn’t be humiliated.

“Get off me!” I thrashed, feeling him stumble as we both fell to the ground.

I landed on him and heard him grunt, but when I tried to sit up and scurry away, he hauled me back to the ground and climbed on top of me. His body nestled between my legs, and he squeezed my wrists, pinning them above my head.

“Let me go,” I said firmly. “Now.”

But he just held himself up, staring down at me. His groin rested on mine, and I tried to ignore the nerves coming to life.

“Say it,” he whispered.

“Say what?”

“That you only want me.”

“I’d rather lick an ice cream cone of razor blades,” I gritted out.