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He forces a smile as he reaches for the handle. “I love you more than anything else in the entire fucking world,” he says, his eyes locked on mine. “Nothing will ever change that.”
I reach for him again but he forces my hand away from him. “Please, Grayson…,” I beg one last time.
He doesn’t listen.
The sky rumbles as Grayson gets out. Shane walks around the back of his truck and to his Mustang as another truck pulls in behind him.
“What are ya’ll doin’ down here?” Shane asks, leaning against the hood of his Mustang, relaxed.
“Just a detour,” Grayson mumbles, his body tense, the muscles in his back flexing as he leans into the tailgate of his truck.
Shane knows what we were doing. He’s not stupid. “I took a few detours with her too. Ask her about the time I came on her face.”
I can only see Grayson’s back from where I’m at, but I notice the way he tenses. No reply is given.
Without thinking, I open the door and slide out of the truck, fat drops of water hitting my face, and it’s warm against my already hot cheeks. “Shane, stop! You’re violating the protection order. You shouldn’t even be near us.”
Shane’s eyes snap to mine for the first time. His eyes drag down my body, and then to my face, hatred so deep bleeding from him it knocks the wind out of me. “You know, that’s funny. I’m not here for you, and it said nothing abouthim.” He gestures with a nod toward Grayson. “And you can shove that protection order up your fucking cunt. It doesn’t mean shit to me.”
“Get back in the goddamn truck, Evie!” Grayson yells at me, rain pummeling down on us. And when I don’t, his anger takes over, his eyes glazed in hatred, not for me, but for this situation. “Get in the FUCKING TRUCK!” he roars, punching the quarter panel.
I flinch at the sound of his voice, my tears stinging the back of my throat.
Shane laughs, his weight shifting as he stands up straighter. “I don’t know why you’d think she’d listen. She never does what she’s told.” He locks his eyes on Grayson. “I warned you. I told you that your time was coming, Grayson. And I keep my fucking promises.”
Grayson doesn’t say anything as five guys flank Shane’s side, all ready for a fight they were promised.
I dart my eyes back to Shane when Lance hands him something. “I’ve got something for you,” Shane says, smiling at Grayson.
Nausea rolls through me like a tidal wave. In his left hand is Grayson’s bat.
“Grayson!” I gasp, my hand over my mouth.
It’s feels like slow motion when Grayson twists toward me. The devastation, the panic, it’s drowning him, shaking the words “RUN, Evie!”
But I can’t. I’m frozen in time.
I can’t run. I can’t even move, locked in place with fear. The next few seconds are indescribable. I try to twist around toward the overgrown grass fields, but I’m grabbed from behind by two men. Grayson lunges for one, knocking him away only to be surrounded by three more.
You know in the movies where one guy takes down ten full-grown men?
That’s not accurate at all. I don’t care how strong you are. If you’re outnumbered, you’re fucking outnumbered.
I think they knew none of them would stand a chance if Grayson got a hold of any of them. Six guys against one. Six fucking people against one man, who I can’t save. He would get one away, only to be hit by another one, as Shane sits back andwatches, smiling at me. Lance holds me against the side of Grayson’s truck, his hands on my throat, forcing me to watch.
Shane bides his time, waits for them to hold Grayson down in the dirt before he lifts the bat in his hand and slaps the barrel to his palm. It doesn’t matter how strong Grayson is. He can’t stand against a bat. A sensation of desolation sweeps over me, rooting in my veins.
“You remember this bat, Grayson?” Shane holds it up.
Grayson glares, his eyes so cold, so detached I don’t know them. He’s miles away again. No life left in him. “Fuck. You.” He spits blood at Shane. He’s been kicked in the face.
“You should remember it. It’s yours.” Shane shrugs. “You’d be surprised how easy it was to get.” He takes a step toward Grayson and my mind goes blank, my knees give out, the shock of defeat taking over.
The first swing, Shane misses. Grayson twists away from him, but he’s caught by Colt, a taller guy who holds his hands.
I want to look away, but I can’t. Lance holds my face still. “Fucking watch,” he breathes in my ear.
Anger rips through me and I struggle against his hold, but it’s useless. I’m not getting away. He’s twice my size.