Page 16 of Second Chance By Fate

That was really close and really stupid, Violet,I chide myself. I’m not sure if I didn’t already say too much. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

No one speaksto me all the way back to the estate. All three of the brothers deliberately avoid eye contact, and I’m sure they’re talking about me telepathically. Dawn creeps over the horizon by the time we arrive back in Dusty Woods, spraying brilliant sunlight over the charming little town, but there will be no peace for me this morning.

When we arrive, Enzo puts a hand out to stop me from heading upstairs, confirming what I already suspected. They had a full conversation about me in the car. Turning my eyes on them, I wait for the other shoe to drop.

“You’re going back to Sedona.”

My heart sinks, and I look desperately at Jax, who ignores my stare.

“Really?” I spit. “You could have saved me the hassle and left me there in the first place, like I intended.”

No one acknowledges my annoyances.

“You’ll have a team on you at all times,” Enzo intones. “But if I were you, Violet, I’d get out of town.”

Tears of frustration well in my eyes, but I blink them away.

“Fine,” I reply coldly. “It wasn’t my idea to come here in the first place.”

I spin around to head toward the gate, and Jax calls out to me. “Where are you going?”

“To Sedona.”

“We’ll get you a ride!”

“I don’t want one!” I shout back.

“She is such a pain in the ass,” Steele mutters.

Footsteps crunch behind me, and a strong hand curls around my forearm, spinning me around.

Steele’s hard, silver eyes bore into me. “Stop being such a drama queen and get in the car. I’m taking you to the city.”

“No,” I growl. “I don’t want to go with you. You’ll probably end up leaving me in a ditch somewhere.”

He snorts in disbelief. “We’re not the ones who hurt you. Stop making it out like we started this.”

My lips part to argue with him, but Enzo interjects.

“I’ll take her,” he grumbles, seizing my other arm.

They march me back toward the car.

“What about my stuff?” I protest.

“We’ll have it brought to you. Get in.”

Reluctantly, I look at the estate, my heart sinking more. I realize how badly I don’t want to go and almost say as much, but their distrust overrides my desire to stay. Moreover, I can feel this heaviness weighing on the estate, something that hasn’t been there before.

They’re doing me a favor. Why am I kicking and screaming?

I never wanted to be here, anyway,I try to convince myself.

“Get in!” Enzo barks again. “It was a mistake bringing you here.”

Stifling a sigh, I do as I’m told and enter the SUV with Enzo following behind me. On a whim, Steele jumps in, too. I stiffen as Enzo eyes him.

“I told you I’d take her,” he reminds his brother, but he doesn’t order him out of the vehicle.

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