Page 65 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

The corners of his lips quirk as he slides me a glance. “If I answered yes, then I couldn’t remain a closet artist, could I?”

“Well, that’s no fun at all.” I rest my arms on the console and look back at River. “What about you?”

“What about me?” he replies questioningly with his gaze trained on the window.

“Are you a closet anything?” I ask, causing him to give me a what-the-hell look. I open my mouth to elaborate, but River abruptly goes rigid as he straightens in the seat.

“What the hell?” he mutters under his breath.

When I peer over my shoulder, a chill glazes through my veins.

Because Drew is climbing out of the older car parked beside us. He has on a black hoodie, holey jeans, and the hood is pulled over his head. I recognize his face, though, very clearly.

He also has a knife in his hand as he strides toward Finn’s car, puddles splashing under his worn boots.

“What the hell is this dumbass doing?” Finn asks as he cranks down the music.

“He’s here for me.” My stomach clenches as I utter the words.

Drew raps on the window. “Maddy, get out of the car. Now.”

Two more guys climb out of the car, both with their hoodies drawn over their heads. I can’t distinguish their faces, but they’re both tall and bulky. They don’t appear to be carrying a weapon, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have any with them.

“Shit.” I loathe how my fingers tremble as I reach for the door handle to get out of the car.

“What the hell are you doing?” River reaches between the seat and the door and grabs my hand right before I pull on the door handle.

“I’m getting out.” I glance at Finn, who’s gaping at me. “Don’t worry. They won’t bother you if I get out. I promise.” I rotate toward the door and slip my hand out from River’s.

“Maddy, stop.” Finn quickly leans over me and captures my hand before I can pull the handle again. “I’m not about to let you get out and go with a group of guys carrying a weapon.”

My attention snaps to him. “If I don’t get out, this will become your problem—they’ll make sure of that. And trust me; you don’t want that.”

“Let us decide that, okay?” Finn laces our fingers together as he sits back in the seat.

“They’ll follow us if you try to drive away,” I stress, my stomach spinning with nausea.

Still holding my hand, Finn casts a glance at River. “You up for navigating?”

“Sure, but I’ll need your phone,” River replies, scooting forward in the seat.

Finn picks up his phone from a tray under the stereo and tosses it to River.

River catches it then reclines in the seat again.

“Guys,” I say, moving to unfasten my seat belt. “It’s better if I get out. That car looks old and everything, but it’s a modified Subaru WRX, so it’s a lot faster than it looks.”

“I know what kind of car it is.” Finn wraps his fingers around the shifter as Drew slams his palm against the window again. “But it’s not faster than mine. And besides, I’m a way better driver than that dumbass.” Then, smirking at Drew through the window, Finn waggles his fingers at him while revving the engine.

I recall how River told me that him and Finn were arrested for illegal car racing, so he can obviously drive. That doesn’t make me any less nervous, though. I’m bursting with nerves to the point that I feel as though I’ve had like three cups of coffee.

“If you go back to the academy, they’ll just follow and grab me, anyway,” I explain. “It’s better if I just get out.”

“We’re not going straight back to the academy.” Finn continues to smirk at Drew.

In response, Drew begins banging on the window hard enough to make the glass rattle.

“You rich piece of shit,” he yells, his face bright red. “Get out of the car and smirk at me like that. I dare you.”

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