Page 35 of Hate Game

As I turn my body, a popping noise cuts into the silence. Holding onto Rue, I duck and hit the ground. She lands on top of me, straddling my thighs.

Oh, fuck no, will I let any harm come to her. I bring her down to me with my hand on the back of her head. A large shadow looms over us. I don’t have my shotgun. I should have thought better than to leave the house without one after Rue’s talk of someone out to get me and my parents.

“Bruh, what are you doing with my girl?”

Rue’s hair on my face obstructs my view of my prick of a cousin. I swipe the strands aside. “Whatcha doing here, Red?”

“I came to give my girl a ride. She’s wanting to go to the Eastside and said you refused.”

“Damn right I did.” Using the ab muscles that I worked hard to get nice and tight, I rise to a sitting position. “Are you okay?” I run my palms over her body. “You didn’t get hurt when I hit the ground, did you?”

“No. Are you hurt?”

“Nah. I’m good. It’ll take much more than Red’s mufflers to hurt me.”

She glances over her shoulder. “You didn’t bring the Escalade?”

“And risk getting jacked?”

“Good point. You won’t wait for me, right?” She gets off my lap.

“Hold up.” I settle my hands on her waist, keeping her where she belongs—anchored to my body. “He better wait around until he sees the whites of your eyes. There are mother-effers in that part of town who won’t bat an eye at the chance to hurt you.”

“I’ll be okay. They won’t hurt me.” Nonchalant. Couldn’t give a shit.

“You know this how?” I grind out between my teeth. Rue needs to think about the consequences of her actions rather than continuing to believe she is invincible and safe from harm.

“I did their leader a huge favor, and he owes me.”

Theirleader? Like the leader of a gang? I should question her further, except my mind is hung up on the words “he owes me.”

“You better not be asking him for a kiss, Rue.”

“Wait a minute, did you two swap spit? You fucked with my girl, Malice?”

Rue isn’t denying she’s his, and I’m not denying the kiss. That kiss was unforgettable.

Rue gets on her feet and swats Red on the shoulder. “Stop with the possessiveness. It’s getting old. Come on.” She grabs ahold of his hand, and I see red.

Tamping down my temper, I push off the dirt, stand, and follow them to Red’s beater Chevy.

“How long are you gonna be gone?”

“Don’t wait up for me. I’ll have my friend drop me off.”

“So he can bring his buddies over and rob me?”

Rue rolls her eyes. “Not everyone who lives in the Eastside are gangbangers, druggies, and criminals, Malice.”

Yet she used the words “their leader.” Huh.

“Either way, you make sure and drop hints that I will shoot anyone that steps onto my property. They’ll get one warning shot. One, Rue.”

“I don’t like shotguns. They do serious damage.”

“What would you prefer I use?”

“A Taser?”

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