Page 24 of Too Safe

A small smile teases my lips. “I’m not going anywhere. Especially not with you, Crusade.”

I pull in a big breath, holding it in my diaphragm as I prepare to scream.

But as I open my mouth, he takes another step forward. “Save your breath, Josephine. We know your uncle’s not here.”

A squeak escapes before I can clamp my mouth shut. Outraged and slightly embarrassed, I peer over Decker’s shoulder to look at Locke.

His shoulders are slumped, and his attention is fixed on the floor. Because he’s a spineless, gutless bastard—but he’s not getting off the hook that easily.

“What the fuck, Locke? What is this?”

Pained eyes meet mine, disarming me and almost making me believe he’s upset.Almost.

“I’m sorry, Joey. Just get your things. It’ll be easier if you—”

“No!”

I stomp my foot, but I immediately regret the childish impulse when Decker’s lip twitches. The asshole’s expression has transformed into one of mild amusement.

We stand there, a foot apart, glaring at one another, for several seconds. Eventually, his patience snaps, and he grabs for my upper arm. When his fingertips graze my skin, I duck away from him. Decker has the size advantage here, but he obviously didn’t expect me to see the move coming. And the cocky bastard probably didn’t anticipate that I could slip out of his grasp.

Spinning, I beeline for my bedroom door, not even bothering to look at Locke as I shoulder past him. Once I clear him, I sprint toward the front office, only to make it three strides before smacking into a solid mass.

A solid, warm mass.

One that grips my shoulders and steadies me on my feet.

“Ohio,” Kendrick grunts, the nickname both a jab and a blatant disregard.

Without another word, he turns me around and pushes me toward my room.

I dig my heels in, but my bare feet find no purchase against the linoleum flooring. He’d surely have no problem lifting me and carrying me to the intended destination if he wanted, but he lets me stumble all the way there.

“Handsoff,” I huff out when he stops in front of a glaring Decker.

“You’ve caused enough trouble for one day, Josephine,” Decker says from the doorway of my room. “Get your shit and let’s go.”

I glare back, fuming. There’s no fucking way I’m going anywhere with him. Not now. Not ever.

My resolve must be obvious in my expression or my posture, because before I can make a move, Decker assesses me up and down, then darts a glance at Kendrick. “Grab her.”

I’m hoisted into the air and over his shoulder on my next breath.

By the time I suck in a lungful of air to scream, we’re out the door.

“Put. Me.Down!” I shout, beating on Kendrick’s back with each word. The big lug doesn’t even flinch as I do my worst.

Protest as I might, it’s not good enough. It’s never good enough. But I refuse to give up.

He carries me several feet, then heaves an SUV door open and tosses me into the back seat.

I clamber across the bench seat to the other side, only to be met by Locke, who’s climbing in and sitting down.

“Move!” I demand, scrambling over him. Big hands wrap around my waist and haul me back to the middle.

“Sit down, woman.” Kendrick is already in the car, sandwiching me in place.

Decker climbs into the driver’s seat, and it’s then that I notice the other one—Kylian. He’s slumped over in the passenger seat, focused on the iPad in his lap. Always with that stupid iPad.

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