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Nick rubbed his palms on his knees and sat forward. “Did I catch a contact, or is she leaving with Chess Club?”

Lindsey moved as quickly as she could in her heels and looped an arm through Kyle’s, damn near taking herself down trying to keep him on his feet.

“Maybe I should join a club,” Nick pondered.

“Worried hockey’s not enough to impress a certain redhead?” Cade joked.

That one had to hit close to home. I laughed under my breath. We all knew who he meant.

“It’s not about her. I’m keeping my options open.”

“That’s smart, because if you’re seriously interested in our redheaded man-eater, her mom is going to sharpen the knife her dad castrates you with.”

He adjusted his hoodie with a cocky smile. “I’m not worried. Parents love Nick Blackwell. How could they not?”

Rook leaned back with an amused smile. “Yeah, you’re the picture of virtue and charm.”

We watched Kyle fumble with his keys, dropping them once, then again, before muttering something and tossing them to DeAndre in frustration. His friend caught them midair and headed to the driver’s side of the Genesis. Kyle and Lindsey piled into the back seat, laughing at something said between them. Not once did they look in our direction.

This was going to be too damn easy.

I started the truck, keeping my eyes trained on the sedan. DeAndre pulled out of the parking lot, and I waited a solid minute before exiting behind him, switching my lights from auto to low.

They had no idea what was coming.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

RYDER

We followed them down the rural road, their taillights casting a red glow ahead of us. This couldn’t have worked out better. There was no traffic, few streetlights, and zero witnesses. It was just them and us. Once the winding asphalt, flanked by dense woods, gave way to wide, open fields, I started moving up.

“Here we go.” I eased down on the gas and surged forward, riding their bumper, flicking the lights. My custom LEDs flooded their car, the beam pouring through their rear window and lighting up the inside. I knew they couldn’t see a damn thing.

The Genesis swerved, and I flashed the high beams twice. DeAndre started slowing, pulling toward the shoulder but not fully stopping. He must have thought I was just some asshole in a truck trying to pass. I laughed and held my position, not speeding up or slowing down. He seemed to get the message I was sending. The smaller car swerved fully over and slowed to a stop. I angled my ride right in front of them so they couldn’t drive off, throwing it in park.

“Let’s go.” I barely finished speaking, and they were out of the truck. I switched my lights to low and stepped out after them.

I walked up to the car and caught Deandre’s eye, wide and panicked as recognition set in. He knew exactly why we followed him down this road. He scrambled to roll the window up. It was nearly shut when Cade moved. Angela sliced through the air with a sharp whiz. The window shattered on impact, glass raining onto the ground and where DeAndre sat.

“What the fuck?” he yelled, covering his face with his hands.

My brother reached in through the jagged opening, his arm snaking toward the dash. The engine died the second he tapped the push-to-start, and then he managed to snag the fob from the cupholders. I stepped up beside him, leaning down just enough to get a better look at DeAndre. His eyes were wider than before, scanning each of us like he was trying to find the safest threat.

Spoiler: there wasn’t one.

In the backseat, Kyle and Lindsey were frozen. She looked out of place in all the best ways. Her arms were trembling, lips slightly parted, whether it was from fear or the chill getting to her, I didn’t care. I shoved my sleeves up, letting my forearms rest on the shattered edge of the window. Glass bit into my skin, sharp and unforgiving.

“Evening,” I greeted casually.

DeAndre darted his eyes to my brother, watching as he passed the keys to Rook.

“Look, Voss,” he began, voice already cracking, “we don’t want any trouble.”

I smiled nice and polite. “We’re not here to start anything. We came for something else.” I tipped my chin toward the backseat, zeroing in on Kyle. “Chess club, right?”

He somewhat jerked like he’d just realized this wasn’t a bad dream. “I don’t know what you—.”

“That was a yes or no question,” my brother cut him off.

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