AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I froze, waiting until the sound of heavy boots disappeared into the house, chasing the last tipsy stragglers.
Move.
Now.
Move!
Stabbing the knife back into the waistband of my jeans and yanking down my black t-shirt to cover it, I ducked and grabbed Ethan’s shirt. With a grunt, I wrenched him off the ground, shoved him against the fence, then slung his arm around my shoulders.
I slapped his cheek. Hard. “Wake up. Cops are here. I’m getting you out before they arrest you.”
He groaned and blinked. “Ow...fuck...” He struggled, but I kept my arm around his waist.
“Walk with me, and I’ll get you away from here.”
“Who-who are you, man?” His head tipped forward as he lurched with wobbly legs. He winced as he touched the back of his skull where I’d hit him. He slurred, “What the fuck schhappened?”
“Doesn’t matter. Trust me and I’ll take you back to your friend.”
“Ah...that’s nice—” He hiccupped and passed out again. His knees buckled.
Kafami sikeyim.
Why had I hit him so hard?
Why did the police have to fucking show up?
Couldn’t they have waited ten more minutes?
“Whherre’s Coop?” His eyes feathered open.
Coop?
My skin crawled from touching him. “I’m taking you to Coop.”
“Okay, sweet...” His eyes closed again.
“Don’t pass out. One foot in front of the other.” I jiggled him and slapped his cheek again. He inhaled and shook his head as if trying to shake away the fuzz in his brain.
Keeping my hand locked around his waistband, I used all my strength to keep him standing as he faded in and out of consciousness.
Closing my eyes briefly, I begged the stars that’d witnessed my attack to help me get him out of there without being arrested.
Gritting my teeth, I opened the side gate and marched across the front lawn, dragging Ethan with me.
Two police officers had detained a small group of teenagers, scribbling down notes and glowering at them. The lawn looked as if it’d been trampled by a herd of deer, the grass pockmarked with a few shoes scattered and forgotten.
Not making eye contact with anyone, I walked as fast as I could with Ethan tripping and lurching beside me. The Jeep was right there. Parked innocently on the street, just waiting for me to drive away.
Just a few more metres...
Come on.
Hurry—
“Hold up.”
My heart flew into my throat; I jerked to a stop.
Shit. Shit!
“Where do you think you’re going?” A male cop stepped into my path, blocking the Jeep and my escape. His dark eyes narrowed on Ethan muttering nonsense in my arms. “He have a lot to drink?”
“Yeah. I’m taking him home.” My mind raced with lies. “I’m sober. He’s my younger brother. And—”
“Brother?” The cop raised his eyebrows, looking at my darker complexion and the blond bastard beside me.
Fuck.
I grinned with gritted teeth. “Adopted. Obviously.”
“Obviously.” The cop frowned. “What’s your name? Have you been drinking tonight?” Ripping out his offending notebook, he yanked a pen free from his breast pocket. His uniform glittered with buttons and buckles, weapons and authority. “Name?”
My face stayed smooth and calm as I said, “Riley Cooper.”
“And his name?”
“Ethan Cooper.”
“And where do you live?”
“Nautilus Street.”
The cop looked up. “That’s just a street over.”
“Yep. Our parents made me come get him when he called saying he’d had too many. I’ve been studying all night. I haven’t been drinking.”
“Studying?” the cop asked, his tone more curious than accusing. “What are you studying?”
“Marine biology.”
“Oh yeah?” He gave me half a smile. “Like with whales and stuff?”
I nodded. At least this lie I would be fluent in. He could ask me absolutely anything about that profession, and I’d be able to answer every single one.
Holding my stare, he sighed and put away his notebook. “Count to ten for me and rouse your brother to confirm what you said, and I’ll let you drive him home. Only home, mind you. It’s late.”
Smiling with as much innocence as I could, I reeled off the numbers he wanted then jiggled Ethan and pinched him in the side. “Wake up, brother. This nice cop wants to talk to you.”
“Wha—why?” His eyes cracked open and true fear flashed over his face. Fear from raping Neri? Fear that he’d been caught?
What a shame he didn’t know that being caught by the police would end far better for him than with me. He hung in the arms of his murderer, and he didn’t even know it.
“Officer...” He smacked his lips and stood a little taller, giving me a break from his weight. “What...?”
“What’s your name?”
“Ethan.”
“Are you feeling okay, Ethan?”
“Yeah...drank too—too much.”
“Do you just need to sleep it off or do you need a hospital?”
Ethan recoiled and shook his head. “Nah, no hospital. Just bed, mate.”
The officer watched him for a moment then nodded and stepped out of my way. “Have a good night, gentlemen.” He marched away without another word.
Relief almost buckled my legs.
