Rowdy Boy

My pupils dilate. They’re gonna keep me as a prisoner?

“You can’t be serious,” I say, my voice sounding more strangled by the second.

“I don’t think you’ve met my boy then,” Michael says. “He’s dead serious.”

I gulp as Cole refuses to budge. I glance over my shoulder at Michael, who’s stepping closer and closer. Fuck.

“Come on now. You didn’t think you’d be off the hook that easily?”

“What do you want, Cole?” I ask, trying to ignore the looming threat in my back. “Tell me, because I’m curious. I thought you were better than this.”

His face scrunches up as he clenches his teeth and looks up at Michael then back at me.

“What? Cat got your tongue?” I ask. “I didn’t think this was your ammo, trapping girls in cabins, doing illegal shit.”

“You don’t know us,” Michael says. “And I’m not in the mood to play games with silly fangirls.”

“I’m not a fucking fan girl,” I retort at him while looking over my shoulder. He’s closer than ever, trying to intimidate me. But it won’t work on me … not unless his name is Cole Travis.

“And you …” I point at Cole’s chest, trying to stay strong. “You’ve already treated me like shit. What else do you want to do? Huh? Think you can break me?”

Michael approaches from behind like some wolf stalking its prey, and I don’t like it one bit.

“I’m not against showing someone what to do and what not to do … there should be a punishment for eavesdropping, right?” Michael muses, and I can hear his belt buckle ring.

My eyes widen, and a single tear rolls down my cheek as I realize what’s about to go down.

Fuck. No fucking way.

Suddenly, Cole grabs my waist in a sudden bout of rage and spins me on my heels. He pulls me close, my back against his thick chest, his arm across my body, head leaning against my shoulder. I gasp in complete shock, my heart pounding in my chest.

“She’s mine.” His familiar husky voice makes me gasp for air.

He and Michael glare at each other in some kind of epic stare down until Michael finally throws in the towel. “Fine. Whatever.” He tilts his head and points at me. “But I want you to make sure she doesn’t get away with this. She can’t walk out of here if she’s gonna spill the beans.”

“I won’t,” I say. “I don’t have a reason to—”

“Oh, believe me, people have plenty of reasons to take us down. I’m not about to let it happen,” Michael says, biting his bottom lip. “And I don’t trust your word.”

“Then what do you want me to say?” I ask. “You want me to beg? Jesus.”

“Maybe.” Michael shrugs, licking his lips at the prospect. “But I’ll let Cole take care of you.” Michael glares at him again. “Seeing as he was so eager. Right, Cole?”

Cole doesn’t budge. If anything, his muscles only grow tighter around my chest, and heat comes off his body, forcing me to remember just how close he is.

If his eyes had lasers, he would probably burn a hole through Michael right about now.

“I’ll be outside then, waiting,” he tells Cole. “You know what you have to do.”

Right as he passes us, Cole grabs Michael’s shirt with a fist and stops him in his tracks. “Don’t ever tell me what to do.” Michael gulps in response, and Cole releases him from his grip. “You owe me.”

Michael doesn’t respond, but judging from the look in his eyes, I’m sure he got the message.

Then he leaves, but not before throwing me a final look.

I can’t hear him go down the steps, though, which means he’s right behind the door, waiting for us to come outside. But after what? What is Cole supposed to do?

When I lean away to look at Cole, he doesn’t seem his usual self. The smug smile that’s usually on his face is gone, replaced by a scornful scowl.

“You have no idea what you’ve done,” he growls, looking at me from underneath his eyelashes.

I take a step back away from his hot, muscular body, but he grabs my wrist and stops me from moving away farther.

“What’s going on? Why was he doing drugs?”

“Did you hear everything we said?” he asks, completely ignoring my question.

I nod slowly.

“Pity.” He lowers his eyes.

“But I swear, I won’t tell anyone. I just …”

“You couldn’t control yourself.” He scoffs and then snorts. “Where have I heard that before?”

“I was telling the truth, Cole. I did hear a noise and thought someone needed help,” I say. “But that’s obviously not necessary.”

I try to pass him, but he still blocks the door.

“You think I can let you go now?” He cocks his head, strands of black, tousled hair tumbling over his eyes, the look on his face dead serious, scary even. “I told you your friends were right about me. They didn’t even know the half of it.” His tongue quickly darts out to wet his lips. “You’re the one that’s going to need help when I’m done with you.”