Page 62 of Tag

Nick went around to the other side of the car, his grin visible even in the dim light. He tapped on the passenger window, and Deandre flinched.

“Don’t you want to talk out here in the fresh air?”

DeAndre hesitated and looked at his friends, both hands gripping the steering wheel. I wondered how long it would take him to understand Nick wasn’t asking. It turned out, not long at all. His shoulders sagged, and he reached for the door handle. Cade and I stepped back to give him space, watching his everymove. With no prompt, Kyle tumbled out next, nearly tripping over himself. Lindsey followed, tugging down her dress. They stood shoulder to shoulder with fear rolling off them in waves.

It had been far too long since I’d taken a hit of that.

“You picked an interesting crowd to hang with,” Rook commented, looking directly at Lindsey.

She didn’t respond aside from clenching her jaw in some show of defiance. Cade stepped closer, eyes fixed on her. “So, tell me something,” he said, tone almost playful. “You really sleeping with the chess god over here?”

Lindsey’s head snapped toward him. “What’s it to you?”

My brows shot up.

Nick laughed, coming around to join us. “Never mind. It makes sense now.”

She sounded like fucking Minnie Mouse. I had forgotten that detail about her. She was easily forgettable altogether. If she hadn’t joined the wrong side of things, I wouldn’t have remembered she existed at all. Knowing we couldn’t stand here all night, I took a step closer and let all civility slip away.

“Which one of you wants to explain why you thought it was a good idea to come after my girl with this piece of shit car?”

Kyle and DeAndre exchanged a look that was pure panic.

Lindsey’s brows furrowed, confusion slipping into the mix that was as fake as her eyelashes. “No one went after Brooke.”

Nick shook his head at her. “Playing dumb isn’t going to do you any favors, baby girl.”

Kyle swallowed hard enough that I heard it. “We’re allowed to Hunt whoever we win a bid on. That’s how it—.”

“Shh.” I pressed a finger lightly to his lips. “If you could Hunt whoever you wanted, would we be standing here right now?”

He stiffened.

DeAndre’s dreads bounced around as he shook his head, smart enough not to open his mouth. Cade grinned like he was genuinely proud. Knowing my brother, he probably was.

“See that?” He pointed the end of his bat at DeAndre. “Not playing dumb. That just earned you a head start.”He let the words hang, then added, “Not yet, though. You have to wait until we say when.”

Kyle looked seconds away from passing out or throwing up.

“It isn’t just us, you know?” Lindsey snapped, eyes cutting toward me. “Your whole little group was Marked. Your girl isn’t anything special. She’s as—.”

Angela lifted in a blur, the rounded head of the bat slamming under her chin with enough force to make her teeth clack together. She let out a strangled noise, blood blooming along her lip.

“No one here asked you for a fucking heroic monologue,” Cade said calmly, voice cold. “And you don’t talk shit about my sister in front of me. You should know better.”

I cocked my head at her. “Do you think that half a speech helped your situation or made it worse? You don’t have to think she’s special. I know she’s incredible. Wanna know what else I know? She’s going to wake up tomorrow.” I leaned in just enough to make her flinch. “Are you?”

She didn’t answer--couldn’t.

Nick clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “I thought I got it, but I don’t. Not only does she have a voice that would make me fuck a cheese grater before I had to hear her speak again, she’s stupid.” He turned to Kyle. “This is the best you could do, bro?”

Kyle remained stiff as a board, sweat sliding down the side of his neck in rivulets.

Rook finally spoke from where he stood, leaning against my truck bed. “Her face is pretty, but she’s nothing special.”

Cade grinned. “Funny how that works.”

We let the tension thicken and simmer before the four of us shared a look. One of those quiet, practiced exchanges that said everything without a word.

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