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Pride shoots through me as I watch him crumble, doubling over in pain. I’ve never been able to get the drop on Carver. Maybe things really are starting to look up for me.
His pained groans sound through Karleigh’s front yard, but I’m not about to hang back and check that he’s alright. I need to get the fuck out of here.
I throw my leg over the bike and all but slam the key into the ignition before twisting it as fast as I can, only nothing happens. The bike just dies.
I try again and again, my desperation quickly catching up to me as I spy Carver out of the corner of my eye getting back to his feet. “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to let you get away twice?” he grumbles, the pain still clear in his tone, though I’m not surprised. His balls are probably up in his throat right about now.
Seeing no other options, I throw myself off the bike and go to run but his thick fingers curl around my wrist like a vice. “Sorry, baby. You’re not going anywhere.”
I pull against him, tugging as hard as I can, but he’s too strong, even with his injury slowing him down. “FUCK. LET ME GO, ASSHOLE.”
Carver yanks hard on my wrist and I fall back into him. He catches me around my waist and holds tight, keeping my back pressed up against his strong chest. “Would you stop fucking pushing me away. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you,” I spit, ignoring that familiar, manly scent that wraps around me and breaks my heart all at the same time. “After all, you and your asshole friends tried to blow me up two nights ago.”
“If you stopped fucking squirming and give me a second, I could explain it to you.”
I laugh, clawing at his arm around my waist. “Right. Like any bullshit excuse you throw at me is supposed to make any of this okay. I don’t fucking trust you, Carver. I’ll never trust you again. Any of you.”
“Stop Winter. You’re drawing attention,” he growls in my ear.
“What’s the matter?” I spit. “Scared your little plan is going to shit itself?”
I slam my ass back into his groin and he crumbles again, the low groan in his throat almost enticing me to forgive him and jump his fucking bones. He doesn’t dare release his hold on me, and if anything, it gets impossibly tighter.
“FUCK,” he roars. “I get it, okay. I fucking get it. I deserve it. I know that, but seriously? Why the fucking balls? Anything but the balls. I swear, once I get you home, I’ll let you do whatever the fuck you want to me, but LEAVE MY FUCKING BALLS OUT OF IT.”
I try to fight out of his hold, doing anything and everything I can possibly think of, but he’s too fucking strong. “You’re stupider than I thought if you think I’m about to go anywhere with you. YOU TRIED TO BLOW ME UP.”
“Would you just … FUCK. STOP. I know it’s hard for you to see around your own big fucking head, but this is bigger than you. I’ve already told you that, I need a second to explain why we did what we did, so either peacefully get your ass inside the car, or I’ll fucking make you. What’s it going to be?”
“Neither, asshole. I’m your fucking leader and I’m demanding that you let me go.”
Carver laughs. “Seriously? You think that bullshit is going to work on me? I’m not one of those family heads who’s going to drop to my knees at your feet. You know that. You’re being a fucking brat. Get in the car.”
I let out a breath, trying to calm myself before I take another cheap shot at his balls. “You tried to blow me up,” I say, lowering my tone. “I can’t forgive that. I won’t. The four of you broke my trust. You betrayed me. You told me that you would always keep me safe, always protect me. It was all lies.”
“I swear to you,” he murmurs, his face lowering beside mine until his lips are right beside my ear. His hold loosens around my waist until it’s more like a caress rather than a steel vice. “I fucking love you, Winter. I would never have done that unless I had to. Please, just let me get you out of here and we can go somewhere to talk. There’s more going on than you know.”
I turn in his arms, letting him see the clear betrayal in my eyes, but more so I can see what’s reflected in his. “I don’t trust you. Any of you.”
He nods, not removing his arm from around my waist. “I know and I’ll do anything it takes to earn that trust back, but right now, I’m your only shot at staying alive. So, whether you trust me or not, you’re coming with me.”
