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My nostrils flare at his insinuation.
“What do you want?” I push through clenched teeth.
I know what they want. Me in a coffin, six feet under. I’m surprised Elliot hasn’t already put a bullet in my skull.
A hand pulls Ethan slightly away from me, and Elliot stands closer too, both of them cornering me. “You’re coming home, baby,” he says, tone softening but still as unnerving. “The list of whatwewant is too long to share. You can deal with Kay first. Then maybe Caden.”
Sometimes in life, you’re forced to assess a situation at the speed of light. Your instinct takes over, and you either follow it, or you die.
The reason I left the North Shore is not something I would ever want to say out loud. People think I did something bad, that I pissed off the wrong guy, but they have no idea just how bad it truly is. They think I ran because Caden King wanted me dead.
I look at Elliot, searching his gaze, the features on his face, the way he’s holding himself. The fact that his gun is not against my forehead. That I’m still standing. Very much alive.
And it’s clear to me…hedoesn’tknow.
He doesn’t fucking know.
In the span of a minute, I’m questioning every single decision I made in the past two years. I ran because I thought he knew the secret I’d been keeping from him. From both the brothers. When it turns out that they don’t know what it is, or I would have taken my last breath a few minutes ago.
They’re just here to…what? Bring me back to Caden? To Kay? He wants me dead. She’s probably incensed because the Kings aren't the kind of crew you justleave.Blood in, blood out kind of thing.
I wonder how long I stay silent, attempting to keep my shock to myself. Still trying to process that Elliot Pearson has no idea about the real reason he should be mad at me.
“If you bring me back to the North Shore”—I swallow thickly—“I’m dead.”
That’s true no matter whether he knows or not.
Elliot lowers himself until he’s facing me, the pretense of pity softening his features. “Don’t worry,” he murmurs. “We won’t let anyone kill you.” He brings a hand to my still wet hair, pushing some messy curls behind my ear. “You’ll be with us now. We’re going to keep you and takesuchgood care of you.”
“Stop,” I say desperately as I shrug his hand away.
It’s dangerous to listen to Elliot. To his enchanting, deep voice, especially when he talks reassuringly. I know it’s all a game to him. He’s a manipulator, and I always promised myself not to fall for it.
My eyes cross with Ethan’s as I try to avoid looking at his brother. “Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted, Jade?” he snarls. “Attention from the both of us?”
I don’t dare deny anything. I dated Ethan, then I fucked Elliot. While the latter didn’t care, the former never forgave me.
They both take a step back, and Ethan pulls out a gun from the back of his jeans.
“Wait…” I panic, putting my hands in front of me again in a useless gesture that would never protect me.
Ethan doesn’t pause. He aims.
And he shoots.
I shriek, jumping to the side and bringing my arms to cover my face. It makes them both laugh. Not theI’m having an amazing time with my friendskind. The subtle, humiliating kind that makes me want to curl up in a ball and die.
When I look up again, I realize he shot the lock, forcing the door to release open.
“Come on,” Elliot tells me brightly. “Let’s get you in the car. It’s a long drive.”
I pinch my lips, trying to calm my raging heart. I’ve been scared in my life. I’ve been through worse situations. Ethan and Elliot are the same boys I’ve always known, and I was never scared of them before. I raise my chin and square my shoulders, finding some of that old strength back. “Can I at least put some clothes on?”
“Come on.” Elliot rolls his eyes. “Do you think we don’t know you? You’re going to run out the back and we’ll never see you again.”
“Come with me to the bedroom, then.”
They eye each other for a second, not needing to talk out loud to communicate.
