Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
She leaned slightly into the open window on the passenger side, bracing herself on the frame. “Jesus,” she swore with a scrunched nose, “it stinks like straight skunk in here.”
Rook grinned, lifting the blunt toward her in offering. “You want a hit?”
Zoe gestured to the apron tied around her waist. “I’m working.”
“Even more reason to take one,” Cade prompted.
She waved the smoke away with a small laugh, then leaned in further, taking in each of us. “Why are you guys lurking out here like you’re about to jump someone?”
“We’re sightseeing. Nice necklace, by the way.” Nick gestured.
Zoe glanced down, fingers brushing against the dainty birthstone resting against her chest. “Thanks? Where’s the blonde? Bailey or…?”
“Brooke,” I corrected with a chuckle. “And it’s guys’ night.”
“On a Tuesday? How’s that going for you?”
“It’ll go a lot better if you do me a favor.”
Zoe narrowed her eyes. “What kind of favor?”
“Get Kyle Anderson outside,” I said, watching her reaction closely.
“The chess club kid?” she questioned, her expression caught between confusion and amusement.
“We all call him that?” Rook chuckled.
Zoe looked at each of us again, something sharp behind her curiosity now. I could practically see her weighing up who we were, what this might mean, and how much she cared. She sighed, turning toward the pub. “Alright, I can do that, but you guys owe me.”
Nick grinned. “We got you.”
She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched. “Just don’t do anything stupid. At least not in the parking lot,” she added, already walking away.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Cade called after her. I could hear the laughter in his voice.
We waited, minutes dragging by like hours. Cade went back to flipping through music. Rook was silent as usual, tracking every person who walked past the pub’s entrance.
Nick, of course, kept tossing out random commentary, observations about people’s outfits, or wild speculations about who might be secretly dating whom. When the pub door burst open with a loud slam that echoed across the lot, it summoned all of our attention.
Whatever Zoe had gone inside to do, it worked.
Kyle Anderson was practically thrown out, arms flailing and stumbling like a newborn deer. Behind him, a towering bouncer filled the doorway. An actual bouncer. I didn’t know places like this had those.
Laughter rippled through the truck.
The door opened again, and out came Deandre, followed by none other than Lindsey.
Nick rubbed his palms on his knees and sat forward. “Did I catch a contact, or is she leaving with Chess Club?”
Lindsey moved as quickly as she could in her heels and looped an arm through Kyle’s, damn near taking herself down trying to keep him on his feet.
“Maybe I should join a club,” Nick pondered.
“Worried hockey’s not enough to impress a certain redhead?” Cade joked.
That one had to hit close to home. I laughed under my breath. We all knew who he meant.
“It’s not about her. I’m keeping my options open.”
“That’s smart, because if you’re seriously interested in our redheaded man-eater, her mom is going to sharpen the knife her dad castrates you with.”
He adjusted his hoodie with a cocky smile. “I’m not worried. Parents love Nick Blackwell. How could they not?”
Rook leaned back with an amused smile. “Yeah, you’re the picture of virtue and charm.”
We watched Kyle fumble with his keys, dropping them once, then again, before muttering something and tossing them to DeAndre in frustration. His friend caught them midair and headed to the driver’s side of the Genesis. Kyle and Lindsey piled into the back seat, laughing at something said between them. Not once did they look in our direction.
This was going to be too damn easy.
I started the truck, keeping my eyes trained on the sedan. DeAndre pulled out of the parking lot, and I waited a solid minute before exiting behind him, switching my lights from auto to low.
They had no idea what was coming.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
RYDER
We followed them down the rural road, their taillights casting a red glow ahead of us. This couldn’t have worked out better. There was no traffic, few streetlights, and zero witnesses. It was just them and us. Once the winding asphalt, flanked by dense woods, gave way to wide, open fields, I started moving up.
“Here we go.” I eased down on the gas and surged forward, riding their bumper, flicking the lights. My custom LEDs flooded their car, the beam pouring through their rear window and lighting up the inside. I knew they couldn’t see a damn thing.
The Genesis swerved, and I flashed the high beams twice. DeAndre started slowing, pulling toward the shoulder but not fully stopping. He must have thought I was just some asshole in a truck trying to pass. I laughed and held my position, not speeding up or slowing down. He seemed to get the message I was sending. The smaller car swerved fully over and slowed to a stop. I angled my ride right in front of them so they couldn’t drive off, throwing it in park.