Page 68 of Cruel Revenge

With a sigh, I get in the back of the van.

Joshua follows, though anger is radiating off him in waves.

The last thing I need right now is for the two of them to start fighting.

Joshua takes the gun from his waistband and sets it in his lap, a subtle warning that doesn’t go unnoticed by Aiden when he looks in the mirror before pulling out into traffic.

He drums his fingers on the wheel to the soft music playing in the background, but his jaw is clenched, and the corners of his eyes are crinkled.

Aiden turns down one street and then another, leaving the heart of New York.

He has to know what I did. He’s going to take us out.

Joshua reaches over and puts his hand on my thigh. He gives it a squeeze when I look at him before slipping me the gun while Aiden isn’t looking.

I arch an eyebrow, but he shakes his head.

A few minutes later, Aiden pulls the van into an alley and cuts the engine. “I was wondering when the two of you agreed that dates were going to be part of your relationship.”

“That’s none of your business.” I shift in the seat, twisting to lean back against the door. “Now, why don’t you tell me why the hell you decided to kidnap us?”

“You’re not a kid.” Aiden smirks and takes off his sunglasses, setting them on the dash.

“Aiden, I swear to fuck?—”

Joshua snorts from beside me, looking out the window like he isn’t fully paying attention to what’s happening right now. His body language is tense, though, everything about him stiff like a snake coiled and ready to strike.

“Either of you want to tell me what you know about Zoe Esposito and what she’s doing right now?” Aiden seems calm, but there’s a red flush climbing to the tips of his ears.

I stare right back at him, not cowed in the slightest. “Why would either of us know anything about her? Try asking Royce or Gia. Hell, I bet even Bianca will take her thumb out of her mouth long enough to tell you that none of us have anything to do with that bitch.”

Aiden gives me a smile that looks more like he’s baring his teeth. “You’re always such a delight to deal with.”

“And you’re a royal pain in my ass.”

“Children, behave.” Joshua looks between the two of us like we’re about to start fist fighting for the last sippy cup at daycare.

Maybe we are.

Bashing Aiden’s head into the steering wheel was fun back when we were teenagers. It might be fun again now.

“We are behaving,dear. But if he wants to come here and accuse the two of us of turning against the family and colluding with the uber bitch, then we’re going to have a problem.”

Aiden rolls his eyes before crossing his arms. “Oh, because I have no reason to be suspicious of you? Really, Skyla?”

I kick his seat hard, smirking when he turns to try to lunge.

Joshua gets in the way, shoving Aiden back into his seat. “You’re not going to put a fucking hand on my wife, no matter how annoying she is.”

His protectiveness of me makes my chest warm inside.

I know it will change when he finds out the truth about me, but it is so good that just for this little while I’m not facing the world alone.

Aiden glowers at him, his hand hovering near the gun at his hip. “Stay out of this. You’re not even married to her.”

“Thank fuck for that.”

The pang to the chest comes out of nowhere.

---