Page 146 of Brutal Little Secrets

Perfect.

It’s dark. It’s one of those nights the moon plays hide and seek in the clouds. Our bikes are hidden, and Nina drove her car out to meet us. We recorded her voice and told her to wait with our bikes. Once he’s in, she can head out.

We have on black clothes and masks with voice modulators. Nina’s been working on him for a week, telling him her deepest, darkest desires. He’s taken the bait.

We find our places. Hawk goes to the right, and Cam goes to the left. I have my phone ready to press play.

It’s five to eight when Chase’s truck pulls into the parking lot. The same one he left Evan at two weeks ago. He parks next to Nina’s car.

When he climbs out, he runs his hand through his hair and looks into the car.

“Nina?”

I hit play. “Come and find me.”

“Fuck.” The word is soft and carries on the wind. He takes a breath and moves into the woods. He has his phone light on as he walks slowly.

“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. We should just fuck in my truck.” Chase shifts to the left. “It’d be more comfortable.”

“I want you to chase me.” She ended that take with a little giggle.

He moves farther into the woods, until he passes where Hawk and Cam are. They step out like shadows and move to follow him.

The car engine roars to life, and Chase looks behind him.

“What the fuck?” He swings his phone toward the road and catches the two figures in black, their masks lighting up in the flashlight beam. “What the fuck?”

He turns and runs deeper into the woods. The others follow after him while I track him, waiting for the right moment. I step out and he skids to a halt.

“I have money. You can take my truck.” Chase holds his hands up in the air. The smell of urine fills the air.

“You wanted her enough to come into the woods.” Hawk’s modulated voice breaks the growing silence.

“Yeah, man. She’s hot.” Chase turns to look at the other two, his hands still raised. “I swear my dad will pay you a lot of money if you just leave now. No one has to get hurt.”

“That’s not what you promised her.” Cam’s voice is low with reverb. “You wanted to fuck her.”

“She texted me,” he almost screeches. I always knew he was a coward.

“Not Nina.” I let that wash over him.

“This is about EvanAnn?” Chase straightens. “Damon?”

A fourth person steps out from behind a tree and then a fifth.

Chase’s eyes widen. “I don’t know what you want from me, but I’m willing to pay.”

“You will pay, Chase. On your knees.”

He starts to cry as he falls to his knees. “I didn’t mean it. I wouldn’t have hurt her.”

“You wanted to hurt her. You left her out here for hours.” Hawk’s modulated voice is loud over Chase’s sniveling.

“I would have come back. I did. She was gone when I got back.” Chase’s head swivels to watch all of us surrounding him.

I snatch his phone out of his hand and open the timer app. I set the time to the exact amount of time Evan sat out here alone.

“When this timer goes off, you can come and get it at your truck. If you come out before, we’ll teach you another lesson in obedience.”