Chapter 64
My arms drop to my side as I watch the bus grow smaller and smaller. What the hell?
Didn’t they do a head count before departing? Didn’t Eliza and June tell them I wasn’t on the bus?
พรพ
“I told them not to worry,” a cold voice behind me says, and a chill runs through my body. “That you’d be riding back with me.”
I force myself to turn and not immediately break into a run when I spot Lucas‘ smirk. The pretentious mask he shows the world is off his face, and he’s looking at me in all his sinister glory.
He gestures to his car. “Hop in.”
“I would-” I stop and clear my throat, determined to pass my message on with a steady voice. “I would rather walk.”
His smirk falls, and his eyes darken with that familiar feral anger. “You need to know when to stop playing, April.” He says the words like
a threat.
“You need to realize that I’m not playing any sick game with you.”
Lucas takes a step closer, and I can’t help but retreat as my heart races. I barely take two steps back when my back collides with something warm and solid.
“What’s going on?” That familiar warm voice spreads through my body, banishing the chill, and a hand lays lightly on my hip to steady
- me.
Instantly, Lucas‘ mask slams back on at the sight of his brother.
I turn to Nathan, relief flooding through me. “The bus accidentally left me behind,” I tell him. “Could I possible ride back with you?”
He glances over my shoulder at his brother, and I see a muscle tick in his jaw. Unlike Peter, Nathan knows what Lucas is capable of, and 1 see suspicion dance in his eyes.
“Sure,” he answers, his hand leaving my hip and gripping my arm.
“I already offered her a ride,” Lucas says.
Nathan’s grip on my arm tightens ever so slightly, and his eyes harden as he looks at his brother. “And yet, she’s asking me.” His voice is tight. “So I guess that’s that.”
Without any more preamble, Nathan turns, leading me gently to his car.
He opens the passenger door for me, and I don’t bother turning back before I slide in. Nathan closes the door, and for the couple of seconds it takes him to round the car to the driver’s side, I take a deep, calming breath.
Instantly, Nathan’s intoxicating scent that fills his car wraps me up like a hug, comforting me.
“You’re safe,” I whisper to myself.
1/2
13:05 Fri, Oct 3
Chapter 64
But a thought niggles the back of my mind. How many more near–misses do I get before Lucas gets his way with
1 shake that thought away as Nathan’s door opens, and he slides in.
It’s at that moment that I realize that maybe I’m actually not safe. I traded up being in an enclosed space with Locas Ashford, a tow makes my heart race and my palms sweat with fear, for Nathan Ashford, a man who makes my heart race and palms sweat for a whole
other reason.
Maybe I should have found Peter and ridden back with him. Or walked.
Nathan doesn’t start the engine right away, turning to me instead. “Are you okay?”
I nod a little too enthusiastically. “Yeah…why wouldn’t I be?”
His eyes search my face, and I hold my breath. It’s crazy how they’re exactly like Lucas‘ but completely different.
Finally, Nathan lets out a slow breath. “I don’t want you around Lucas,” he says.
I blink. “Huh?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t want you around Lucas. I don’t like how uncomfortable you always seem around him.”
I face straight ahead, not saying anything. I also don’t want me around Lucas, so no argument here.
Chapter Comments
3
Write Comments
« SHARE
