Page 123 of Liars

Her foot slammed onto the gas, and her car sped off down the road. I glanced over my shoulder, making sure no one followed us.

“I can’t stop shaking.” She held out one of her hands for me to see while keeping the other tight on the wheel. “Fuck, I need a cigarette.” The other one had fallen out of her hand, probably somewhere under her seat.

“Here.” I reached for the pack before she could. “I got it.”

The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, my hands gripping my seat so freaking hard my knuckles ached. Poppy’s breathing was ragged beside me as she inhaled deeply, taking the smoke into her lungs. Her fingers were clutched the steering wheel like she was afraid to let go. “What’s going on? Are you in danger?”

“I’m sorry, Poppy. I never should have asked you to take me tonight. I should have anticipated something like this might happen.”

“It’s not the first time, is it?”

I shook my head. “I wish it was.”

A few miles had passed since my security guard rammed into the other black car, and for a second, I thought we were in the clear. My pulse was just beginning to settle when the familiarity of the northern part of Elmwood washed over me. The newer houses, the shopping plazas, and the brick-patched streets—I’d spent so much of my life here. A sharp pang of longing hit me. I missed this part of town. I missed the way it felt like home, but that moment of nostalgia shattered the second Poppy tensed beside me.

She sat up straighter, her fingers flexing on the wheel. “Holy shit,” she said, her voice tight.

My head whipped toward her. “What?”

Her eyes repeatedly darted to her rearview mirror. “We have company. I think there’s another car following us. Scratch that. Two cars.”

“Are you kidding?” I turned, catching the hard set of her jaw before my gaze flicked over my shoulder, spotting two black cars. Close. Too close.

I twisted in my seat just as the cars rolled up on either side of us, boxing us in.

Shit.

“What are they doing?” Poppy shrilled.

Nothing good. I glanced at Poppy, and my heart hurt. If anything happened to her…I’d never forgive myself. Looking past her, I stared into the car that kept pace with us. I had to cooperate, or they could shoot Poppy just like they did my parents, and I couldn't let another person in my life die.

“Pull over,” I stated.

Poppy flung her cigarette at the car to her left before her eyes whirled on me. “What?”

“Pull over,” I repeated. “This has gone far enough. I won’t let them hurt you. It’s me they want.”

Poppy shook her head fiercely. “No way in hell I’m handing you over to them. Firstly, you’re my friend. And secondly, Kreed would kill me. So, either way, I’m screwed.”

She was right, and I was left with only one choice. I made my decision in a split second.

Reaching over, I gripped the steering wheel and yanked hard.

“Kaylor, what the hell?!” Poppy shrieked as the car swerved toward the ditch.

Tires screeched as she slammed on the brakes, the force throwing us forward. The car jolted violently as we hit the dip, dust and dirt kicking up around us. My heart hammered in my chest, but I was already reaching for the door handle.

“Kaylor, no!” Poppy grabbed my arm, but I pulled free.

I shoved the door open and stumbled out, my hands up in surrender as my entire body trembled, but I forced my voice to be steady. “Don’t hurt her,” I pleaded, stepping forward. “I’ll go with you. Just let her go.”

Two masked men emerged from their vehicles, one of them adjusting the strap of the rifle slung over his shoulder. A silent exchange passed between them before one jerked his head toward the waiting car. “Get in.”

Poppy shouted something behind me, but I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.

Swallowing hard, I climbed into the back seat, praying Poppy would be okay and that I hadn’t made the biggest mistake of my life.

One of the masked men slid in beside me, and before I could so much as take a breath, the tires spun, kicking up dust as the car shot forward, leaving Poppy standing helplessly on the side of the road.

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