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I stare down at Alec’s car – a rare candy-apple red 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 in mint condition. He clearly loves the car, because even though I saw it only days ago covered in sand out in the desert and I know my nails scratched paint off the hood, it gleams like new.
I suck in a breath. “It’s criminal what we’re about to do to such a beautiful vehicle.”
“It’s criminal what Alec tried to do to you,” Noah growls.
“Yes, but it’s not her fault.” I rest my hand on the hood. Big mistake. My mind flashes back to the desert, to Alec holding me against the burning metal, leering down at me, his fingers tugging my panties—
I jerk my hand back.
“You chickening out, Mac?” Gabriel reaches for me, but I jerk away.
“Not on your life.” I stride forward, screwdriver in hand. I tug off my sweater and wrap it around my fist, then punch out the back window. Glass shatters on the seat. I reach inside and unlock the driver’s side door.
Gabriel climbs into the passenger seat, watching as I unscrew the casing on the steering column and tug out the ignition wires. “How do you know how to steal a car?”
“Remember our agreement – you don’t ask. I don’t tell.” I strip the insulation from the battery wires and twist them together.
“But that’s about your disappearance, not about car-jacking—”
“Gabriel, shut your beautiful mouth so I can concentrate.”
In a few minutes I have the engine purring. Noah comes around to the driver’s side and motions for me to get out. I shake my head. “I’m driving.”
He looks like he wants to argue, but he obeys. Eli uses my sweater to sweep the glass off the seat, then he and Noah slide in, their legs tangling together in the tiny space. I gun the engine and speed out of the parking lot. We have a specific destination in mind, but I turn onto the highway, picking up speed as I dart between cars.
I’m driving a Shelby Mustang.
This is fucking wild.
I toss my phone to Gabriel. “Take my picture.”
Gabriel leans back and snaps a few shots. I grin. “Text it to Antony. He’s in my contacts. He’s going to be pissed at me.”
“Who’s Antony?” Gabriel asks. I shake my head at him and plant my foot hard against the floor.
I take the off-ramp and tear up Santa Casilda Drive, taking the corners as fast as I damn well please. I laugh as the adrenaline surges in my veins, and Gabriel looks at me like I’m mad and he can’t decide if he’s terrified or turned on by it.
I could drive around in this car all night, but we have a job to do. Reluctantly, I turn around and head back toward the city, toward Stonehurst Prep.
We pull up into the school parking lot. There’s no one around, either. Noah paid off all the school security guards to make themselves scarce for the night. Eli and Noah go to the bushes where we hid the tools we need, and lay them out on the ground in front of the car.
I pick up a wrench and grin at my conspirators. “Let’s get to work.”
By the time I get home and crawl into bed, it’s nearly 3AM. Queen Boudica lifts her head from the pillow and shoots me a ‘what-time-do-you-call-this’ look. I cradle her against my chest and fall asleep listening to her steady purr. It reminds me of the purr of the Mustang’s engine.
When my phone alarm rings, I throw it against the wall. But five minutes later I drag myself awake. No way do I want to miss school today.
I pull on my uniform, cake on makeup to hide the dark circles around my eyes, and pour myself a thermos full of coffee. I walk down to the corner where Eli’s waiting for me in the Porsche. He looks as shit as I feel.
“You brought coffee?” He holds out his hand.
“Get your own.” I sip from the thermos as we cruise around Harrington Hills toward Stonehurst.
Eli stops at a drive-thru and grabs a ridiculous coffee with whipped cream and caramel. It smells a hundred times better than mine. He slurps it happily as we drive into school.
Dick.
George, Gabriel, and Noah are waiting beside Eli’s parking spot. Noah has his hands in his pockets. He looks a little less put-together than usual, his dark hair rumpled, his shirt collar askew. The dark circles under his eyes only make him look more dangerous.
