Page 119

“Stop,” Lennox instructs.

“Oh, thank god,” I huff. Dropping Dylan, I immediately fall back to the ground trying to catch my breath. Nox chuckles beside me, dropping the other body, then extending his hand once again. “Get up, you’re not done yet.”

“Ugh, why are you so mean to me?” I grumble, pushing his hand away, and forcing every one of my muscles to work as I stand unaided.

“We’re almost done, don’t worry.” I flip my head upside down, collecting all my hair, and working it into a tight bun on the top of my head. The cool breeze kisses my damp, hot skin, sending a shiver rippling through my entire body.

“What now?”

“Pick him up, and help me throw him into the ravine.”

I nod, gripping the corpse’s wrists again as Nox grabs the ankles. Together we swing the body back and forth, gaining momentum.

“On three,” Ghost says. “One…”

Could he count any fucking slower?

“Two…”

Fuck, hurry up. My arms are going to rip off from this man’s dead weight.

“Three…” The body swings back toward the forest, then shifts, moving towards the drop. I watch Lennox release his grip, and do the same. Dylan’s body goes careening off the edge, sickeningly hitting and cracking off every sharp rock on the way down before rolling to the river’s edge.

“One more time,” he says, lifting the other man’s ankles. We carry him to the edge, repeating the process. He’s much lighter, and clears most of the rocks before landing half in the water.

“Is it okay to leave them like that?”

“Are you going to climb down there and push them into the water?”

“Well…no.”

“Neither am I, so it will have to be good enough.” He throws his arm over my shoulder, pulling me close, and placing a kiss to my temple. “Ugh, you’re soaked,” he says, infusing fake disgust into his voice as he pushes me away.

“Hey! Rude!” I fling my hand back, hoping to smack him in the chest but he’s not there. Nox is already at least ten paces ahead, sticking his tongue out at me.

“Catch me if you can, slow poke.”Oh, this motherfucker.

I take off in a full sprint towards him, and the arrogant ass doesn’t move. Not until the last second, when he spins away from my hold, racing into the forest.

He’s clearly taking it easy on me, staying close enough for me to follow but not catch. I weave through the trees after him, quickly making it back to the edge of the parking lot. He stops, and I crash into him. “Caught you,” I wheeze.

“Did you? Or did I stop?” He beams that heart-stalling smile at me. Nox’s face is flush with heat from the run, cheeks red from being kissed by the cool air.

“Shut up,” I exhale, putting my hands on top of my head to open my airway, and work through the cramp stabbing me in the side.

“Got both your knives?” I check both pockets in my leggings and nod. “Good, I’ll see you back at home.”

“Wait, where are you going?”

“I couldn’t park in the parking lot if I wanted to be sneaky, could I?”

“I guess not.” He leans down, kisses me breathless, then turns back into the woods, disappearing amongst the shadows.

Hovering just inside the tree line, I wait for the parking lot to clear free of patrons. A black truck accelerates loudly down the highway, honking twice.Hurry up, it says.

Yeah, yeah, Nox, I’m coming.

Chapter Seventy