Page 70 of Dare You to Run
“Hendrix! Wait!” I look over my shoulder and see Dagen break free from her father’s arms and come sprinting towards me.
Fuck it. If he’s going to hate me, a ready jet seems like the best getaway option.
I drop my bag and turn to her just as she launches into my arms. With my hand on her head and her legs around my waist, I kiss her incredibly inappropriately in front of her dad. I hold her tight to me and her hands bracket my face, pulling me to her like I might fade away if she doesn’t.
When we separate, our foreheads press together and we breathe each other in.
“Your dad is going to murder me, little mouse.”
“I won’t let him,” she whispers then drops her legs. “Travel safely, Mr. Wolf.”
A small tear rests on the corner of her eye and I swipe it away. “I’ll call you tonight?” She nods and I give her one last kiss. “Be good, little mouse.”
I reach down and pick up my bag and take a glance at Vaughan who stands there with his hands balled into fists and his face red with anger. I hurry up the stairs and see him arguing with Dagen, his hands shaking and his words coming fast, just before the door closes.
I wonder if Mr. Mafia will let me take his jet for a second ride to save my little mouse if she needs rescuing.
“Thanks for picking me up,” I tell Danté, as I drop inside his car.
He was my third option since Mal has parent-teacher conferences this evening, and Kins had a lot of work to make up for after missing so much to be Dagen’s personal tour guide. As much as I didn’t want to, Danté was my last choice with Miss Shirley running the shop.
“Yeah,” he grunts and speeds away. “So you drove all the way to Texas just to see your houseguest home, then get flown backin a private jet. Quite a perk. I wish I had known about that. I would’ve tried harder.”
“Don’t fucking start, D. What the hell is your problem? Are you seriously that pissed off, because she chose me and not you? Grow the fuck up man.”
His tires squeal as he pulls on the expressway and slams down on the gas. “You think I’m pissed because your little rich girl decided to fuck you and not me?”
“Watch your goddamn mouth when you speak of her.” My blood boils and if we weren’t going eighty on the freeway, I haul off and ring his bell.
“Oh-ho. Did someone get attached? What an interesting development.”
“I am sick of your attitude, bro. You’ve been acting like a little bitch, all because you got turned down. Setting up that shit with Soria. Fuck you, Danté. You’re supposed to be my brother, but you’ve done nothing, but stab me in the back.”
“Oh yeah,brother. You weren’t acting like one, ditching your family for fresh pussy.”
“Get off the fucking freeway. Now!” I’m going to beat his ass on the side of the goddamn road and not feel any type of way about it.
He cuts across all the lanes of traffic, practically hitting cars along the way, and speeds down the exit ramp. He screeches to a stop in the parking lot of a convenience store, and I jump out of the car, rushing over to his side.
“I told you to watch your goddamn mouth,” I growl.
“You gonna fucking hit me? You really want to fight your brother? The only one who’s been there for you. Long before some bitch.”
Sirens blare in my head and my vision blurs. Rage courses through my veins and the adrenaline surges. I cock my arm back and throw a hard punch straight to his face.
His head flies back and he stumbles. I get my hands up, because I know he’s mad as a bull and will fight right back. He gathers himself then comes right at me.
I match him punch for punch, throwing an elbow when he comes at me from behind, and kneeing him in his ribs when he folds over. He charges for me, ramming his shoulder straight into my gut and we both fall to the ground. We start grappling, cuts piling on top of cuts, and skin getting scraped by the rough gravel.
I don’t know how long our fight lasts, but I know it’s long enough for a crowd to gather and for the cops to pull up. This time there are real sirens blaring and it takes several of them to pull us apart.
I spit at Danté when they yank the two of us away. Blood drips into my eyes and I see a large cut on his cheekbone.
“Calm down. Now. Do not resist.” The officer holding me yells and slams me onto one of their cars.
My arms are twisted painfully behind my back and I feel handcuffs slap on my wrists.
“Fuck you, D. You’re not my brother. Stay the fuck away from me.”
