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I pulled my hood back and dropped my bat over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “You think he was talking about himself? That’s cute.”

His eyes widened, and I knew when the others recognized me too by the way they went completely silent. One stepped forward, swallowing nervously. “We didn’t know it was you. That’s not your car.”

“Yes, it is. I’ve had that car longer than my Corvette.” I chuckled, holding my bat out to point it at him. “You should do your homework before shooting at people.”

“We were told to stop any of Lavaro’s drug deals!”

I slammed my bat into the side of his leg, sending him sprawling backwards by the flames as he cried out in pain.

“What fucking drugs?” I demanded, smacking him in the ribs with my bat as Zavier kept the others back with his gun. “I was just driving and you attacked me!”

Dad’s McLaren barrelled towards us, slamming on the brakes at the last minute, and I wasn’t surprised when Caden’s Challenger and Slash’s Mustang pulled up beside it. I had no idea who was with them, but I kept my eyes on the asshole on the ground. “You fucked up, idiot.”

The guy snarled at me out of frustration, and Zavier put an arm around me to hold me back, aiming his gun at him with a growl. “Watch it. I’ll put a bullet between your eyes in seconds.”

The sirens got louder, and I was jerked to the side as Slash glared down at me. “Get in the fucking car before the cops get here. We’ll talk at home.” He turned his glare on Zavier next, looking ready to kill him. “You get yourself out of this mess.”

Slash started dragging me towards his Mustang when I suddenly pulled back at his words. “He’s coming with us. He had my back tonight.”

“It’s his fault you're in this mess! I don’t know why you’re even spending time together, but I don’t like it. You two are up to something, and…”

“I’ll get your car home,” Zavier offered, holding out his hand for the keys. He was a good driver, and as much as I didn’t want him driving it, I knew he’d get it home like he said. It was better than leaving it here on the side of the road to get stolen.

I tossed him the keys, pointing my bat at him. “Straight to my place. No joyriding.”

“Promise.” He nodded before diving into the driver’s seat and taking off, knowing all the backroads to get his ass out of here.

“You’re in so much fucking trouble,” Slash hissed as he pulled me towards his car again, and I could see Skeeter’s eyes raking over the rich pricks as they took off. He’d remember all of them and hunt them down later when they least expected it.

His angry green eyes met mine, and I had to admit, he didn't look too impressed. Neither did Caden. I was getting the lecture of the century when we got home.

* * *

The moment we pulled into the driveway, we found Zavier sprawled out on the hood of my Supra with a hint of fear on his face, Beckett standing over him with a gun pressed against his forehead. I bailed from the car, knowing she’d shoot him regardless of their friendship.

Family would always come first, no matter what.

“What dodgy shit did you get her involved in?” she demanded as her jaw clenched, making him swallow nervously.

“Beck! It’s not his fault!” I explained as I reached them, shoving my bat between them as if that would stop her. “If anything, he’s the reason I got out of it.”

She turned to me, tapping the side of my head gently with the barrel. “What dumb shit did he have to get you out of then, hmm? What the fuck were you doing in Crestford?”

“If you don’t get that gun out of my face, I’ll break your kneecaps with my bat,” I warned and watched as her eyes narrowed.

“Answer me then. What the fuck are you involved in?”

Maddox’s car screeched as he sped into the driveway and slammed on the brakes, jumping out without turning the engine off. “Jesus, Beck. Put that away.” She ignored him, and he rolled his eyes, moving behind her to wrap his arms around her to pull her back a step. “I said, put it away.”

She finally dropped it to her side, but her angry eyes remained on mine. “Start fucking talking before I lose my shit, Riley. Why were you there, and why the hell were you with Zav? It’s the middle of the fucking night.”

“I thought someone was following me,” I blurted out, making her snort.

“So you called Zavier instead of me?”

“No. I saw him as I was driving through the Heights and pulled over. I asked him to join me until I got home, but then the other assholes started firing a few shots at us so I didn’t want to bring it back here. Zavier said he recognized them as Crestford rich pricks, so we led them there instead to ruin their own town,” I said easily, Zavier sitting up and nodding, happily playing along with my lie.

“Yeah. I told her to try and lose them in Crestford so we could get back here through Briar Falls.”