Page 164 of Ominous: Part 1
King. The name sounds a little familiar.
“I’m just curious how no one has snapped your neck yet, or did you just share your sister every time you pissed someone off—”
I step in front of Dom as he lunges, shoving him back, digging my key into his chest as I put myself between him and my brother. He has his fist cocked, his eyes on Seb, who definitely crossed a line.
“Get the fuck out of my way, E.” Dom grabs my upper arm with his free hand, my skin crawling beneath his touch, and he tugs me closer to him, pushing me up against my car with a thud.
Sebastian steps up, standing on his tiptoes to get in Dom’s face. I let my bag slide down my arm, grabbing the strap when I can and hurling it toward Dominic, whacking him in the side to get him away from my brother.
Dominic ignores me, pointing in Seb’s face. “Fuck you, you piece of shit. Don’t ever talk about my sister—”
I hit him again, and this time he grabs my bag, jerking me and it toward him. My boots scuff on the pavement and Sebastian is reaching for Dominic’s throat but he’s too fucking short and—
“Eden?” I hear a feminine voice at my back.
Everyone stills, and I realize the guy in the truck hasn’t moved an inch, but I see something over his shoulder in the dark.
A fucking rifle. These are the people my brother is hanging out with. IncludingDom,apparently.
My stomach flips as I meet Dom’s eye, then turn to see a tall figure striding toward me in the dark.
It takes me a second to realize who it is, but when I do, I feel relief.
“Let go of her,” Janelle says to Dom, a growl in her words. Her dreads are pulled in a high ponytail, and she’s wearing a fitted white shirt with capped sleeves, like for running. Judging by the glow of perspiration on her cheekbones under the lamplight, that’s exactly what she was doing.
She doesn’t touch me as she gets closer, but her eyes search mine, then dart to Seb, and finally, his friend in the truck.
I know she spots the rifle.
I see her freeze.
It’s over in a second, two heartbeats, but it was there. Slowly, she turns back to me, coming between the truck and the car as Dom releases my backpack and I stumble toward her from the force.
She glances at my Sentra. “This yours?” She doesn’t ask a thing about Dom, or Seb, or the gun.
I nod once, keys still in hand as I sling my backpack on my shoulder again, trying to pretend I’m fine.
“Give me a ride?”
I arch a brow, but Janelle turns a knowing look on me. I want to get the hell out of this parking lot and she’s offering me an exit.
I nod once and clear my throat. “Sure.”
Dominic laughs bitterly. “I hope the two of you have a great night.” When I glance over my shoulder, he’s looking at me, then Janelle, and neither of us speak as he spins around, walking off. I wonder for a split second if I should offer him a ride, too. I assume he drove to school, drank after practice. He probably shouldn’t be driving.
Before I can say anything, Seb calls after him. “Sorry to embarrass you, man.”
I roll my eyes at Janelle, not facing my brother. Now’s not the time to discuss it, but I heard Dom’s words.Dope.I feel like I was pushed into ice cold water. I mean, maybe he was referring to weed, but I’m starting to think it’s more than that. More, even, than a few pills on the weekends at parties.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what the fuck to say.
Feeling uneasy, I pull open the back door of my Sentra and toss my bag in, shut the door, and open up the driver’s one.
I nod toward Janelle. “You got anything you need to bring?”
She smiles. “Nope.”
Taking a breath as Janelle walks over to the passenger side, I turn to Sebastian. He’s still glaring in the direction of Dom’s retreating form.
