Page 51 of Too Safe

Decker holds up a hand.

My traitorous mouth snaps closed in obedience.

“And take Kendrick with you.”

“Seriously?” Kendrick grunts, pushing off the wall and pulling his hoodie up over his head.

I try to hide my smirk. Now I’m not the only one protesting.

“We had a game yesterday,” Decker offers, leveling Kendrick with a pointed look. “He’s only got a few spoons.” He points to Locke, who looks more beaten down and weary the longer I look at him. “And something tells me Kylian didn’t get a full night’s sleep last night thanks to an unexpected guest.”

An indignant huff escapes me. How the hell does he know that? I wait a breath for Kylian to deny what Decker is implying, but he remains silent.

I glance over to where Kylian still sits beside me. He’s been solely focused on his breakfast throughout the entire exchange. His placid expression proves that we aren’t anywhere near on the same page. We may not even be in the same character series or fictional universe. It’s as if he doesn’t notice any of the tension swirling around us.

“I can be ready to go in twenty,” he finally says. But his words aren’t aimed at me. They’re for Kendrick.

With a pissed-off grunt and an even deeper scowl, Kendrick storms out of the room.

These men and their mood swings. But at least I’m getting off the isle.

Chapter 21

Josephine

Kendrick’sdriving.Kylian’sridingshotgun. And I’m sitting in the back of a spacious Suburban, begrudgingly appreciating the soft leather while trying to peer out the windows that are tinted so dark they have to be illegal.

I guess illegal window tint isn’t a big deal to the guy whose dad is the sheriff.

“Are you purposely taking the scenic route?” I snap.

It feels like we’ve been driving forever. Between this and the leisurely boat ride to the marina, we’ve eaten up an hour of our alleged two hours.

I’m not driving, so theoretically, I can’t take the heat if we’re late according to Decker’s arbitrary time limit. Although I’m sure he’d spin it and assign the blame to me anyway.

Kendrick’s eyes flit to the rearview mirror and meet mine.

“It’s Sunday morning in Lake Chapel, North Carolina. That mean anything to you, Ohio?”

I shrug, clueless.

“Jesus doesn’t care about your agenda on Sundays in the south. I’ve had to avoid seven churches, and we’ve been rerouted twice since your uncle’s junkyard isn’t exactly on the same side of the lake. I’m doing my best to get you where you need to go.”

Oh.

Shit.

So he has been taking the scenic route, but in an attempt to get us there faster.

Still.

I doubt Crusade will make religious exemptions for lateness.

As we pull into the gravel driveway and dust clouds my view, a thought occurs to me.

“What, exactly, am I supposed to tell my uncle about where I’ve been when he gets back?” I’ve resigned myself to my new living arrangement, but that doesn’t mean the way it came to be doesn’t still boil my blood.

I lock away my rage for later. It’ll keep. I just hope I have the opportunity to make use of it if and when the time comes to put Decker Crusade in his place.

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