Page 90 of The Sweetest Revenge

"Come on, Zaiden." The morning sun caught his visor, turning it mirror-bright. "Even if I thought EJ might try something, it's not going to be at school." A black truck with windows tinted midnight black crept up beside us, the diesel engine's low growl making my skin prickle. "There are too many people around."

The light flashed green, and Zaiden surged forward, the bike's engine purring beneath us. "Doesn't matter. This is just how—" His voice cut off, head snapping left. "What the?—"

I saw it before he did, the black truck's tires angling toward us.

Time stretched. First came the sound—rubber screaming against asphalt. Then movement—the truck lunging into our lane like a beast claiming territory. The bike bucked beneath us, a wild animal fighting for balance as we veered off road.

My fingers clawed desperately at Zaiden's jacket for one breathless second before the force ripped me away. And then—nothing beneath me. Only my body spinning through empty air.

The world tumbled in fragments: sky, grass, concrete, sky again. The truck's engine roared in triumph as it disappeared, leaving behind only the stench of burnt rubber and diesel.

My body slammed into the ground. The impact rippled through me, each wave bringing fresh pain. My lungs seized, trapped between inhale and exhale. Each heartbeat pulsed against my bruised skin.

"Ariella!" Zaiden's voice cracked through the fog of pain. Gravel crunched under his hands and knees as he crawled to me. I'd never heard that edge of raw panic in his voice before. His fingers fumbled with my helmet clasp, trembling in a way that didn't fit with the Zaiden I knew. The helmet lifted away, and cool air kissed my face, carrying the metallic tang of blood from where I'd bitten my cheek.

"Ari, are you okay?" His hands cupped my face with a gentleness that felt foreign, like being touched by a stranger wearing Zaiden's skin. His palms were warm, but his fingers were ice-cold with fear.

"I'm okay," I managed, my words scratching past my throat like lies usually do.

My chest finally remembered how to expand. Air rushed in too fast, making the world tilt, or maybe that was the aftermath of flight and impact still spinning through my head. The truth was simpler: nothing felt broken, but everything hurt.

"Are you sure?" His eyes met mine before dropping to catalog every scrape, every future bruise, every place my body had met the ground.

The mask of arrogant control had shattered, leaving behind something raw and real that scared me more than our near-death experience. Because Zaiden showing fear meant we were in deeper trouble than I'd imagined. "What hurts?"

"Is everyone okay?" A shadow fell across us, belonging to a man hovering at the edge of the grass.

"We're good." Zaiden's body shifted, angling between me and the stranger.

Pain spiderwebbed through my ribs as I pushed myself up, grass staining my palms.

"Good." The dark-haired man's gaze darted between us, and the skid marks scarring the road. "Because that almost looked intentional." It felt intentional, but at the same time, why would anyone want to hurt Zaiden or me? "Should I call the cops?"

Zaiden's jaw ticked. "No. We're good here. Thank you." Steel wrapped in velvet—a tone that discouraged further questions.

"Okay, if you're sure." The man made his way back to his white car, still running on the road. Thankfully, we'd been moving at a slow speed, and he merged us into grass and not concrete or asphalt.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm a little sore, but I'm okay." My eyes lifted, meeting his. "Are you okay?"

"I'm good."

My back pocket vibrated at the same time Zaiden's phone chimed. He dug into the pocket of his jacket, and I shifted my weight to pull my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans.

"It's Mila," Zaiden said, staring at his phone.

Mila: I need everyone to meet me in the library before class.

My gaze lifted, locking with Zaiden, holding for a long moment. "She must have found something she doesn't want to text," I said, and he nodded.

"Do you trust me enough to get back on my bike?" I wrapped my hand around the opposite arm that was still throbbing.

I swallowed hard as my gaze shifted from Zaiden to the bike still on its side. I was terrified.

"Ariella," he extended his hand. My eyes lifted from his hand to him. "I promise I will get you to school safely, and I'll get my truck after, so no more bike."

"Tell me the truth," I whispered. "Do you think that was an accident?"

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