Page 66 of Die for You

Knox grins at her from the passenger seat. “You said you wanted to be chased. So run, angel. And don’t let your devils catch you.”

“What happens if you do?” She’s doing her best to sound coy, but there’s a hint of nervousness behind those brown eyes.

“Exactly what you want to happen,” Damien rumbles. “We’re going to make you forget everything but our names.”

Her suspicious gaze roves over our suits. “You’re going to chase me in those clothes?”

“Would you rather we chase you naked?” Damien drawls. “That can be arranged.”

Knox grimaces. “Speak for yourself. Sounds painful.”

I hook my finger under her chin and squeeze. She winces, but she doesn’t object or pull away. She loves everything we want to give her. “Welcome to your fantasy, baby.”

A flicker of a smile pulls on her lips.

“Last warning, angel,” Damien calls. “Run.”

Aurora doesn’t hesitate for another second. She shoves the door open and leaps out, sprinting right for the woods. “You’re all crazy!” she shouts without looking back.

Damien chuckles. “We’ll give her a head start. She’s going to need it.”

He’s right. Her hips sway, arms swinging comically, and her hair floats behind her, but she’s not moving fast. She’s a musician, not a runner. She doesn’t have the endurance for this. But she’ll build up an endurance for us.

My mouth salivates. I already can’t wait to get my hands on her. Inside Damien’s SUV and that dark room at the Sigma Chi party were a sampling. Appetizers. I’ve been starving for her ever since.

We meander out of the car, and Damien pops the trunk. “Good thing we’ve got our gym shit back here.”

From our duffle bags, we dig through shorts, trainers, socks, joggers, and compression shirts. I toss my jacket, slacks, and button-up in Damien’s trunk. Aurora might like us dressed up, but every time I put on the stiff, starchy clothes, I want to rip them off. For her, though, I’d wear them every day.

I opt for joggers and trainers, skipping the shirt. She’ll like that.

Damien claps me on the bare shoulder. “You get the license plate number?”

On my phone, I show him the note. The license plate number I jotted down before the Crowders sped off in their Mercedes.

“Atta boy.” Knox grins.

I’ll do what I can to track their movements. Who knows how much of what his mother said to Aurora was bullshit. Moving back home, leaving her alone. Aurora’s confident that he values money more than her, enough to stay away.

I need more convincing. Insurance. This is a start.

Along with their names, addresses, property values, phone numbers, email addresses, business addresses?—

“That whole story about him moving back home with mommy and daddy could all be bullshit.” Knox’s usual grin is replaced with a frown, a line between his brows. “We need to make sure they actually follow through.”

Damien folds his arms as he stares after Aurora, who has finally disappeared into the woods. “I don’t want that asshole within fifty miles of her again.”

I nod. We’ll keep him away from her. No matter what it takes.

Finally, we slide our masks over our faces. Identical gas masks so maybe in the dark, Aurora won’t know which Devil has caught her.

But even in the dark, even beneath a mask, I hope she’ll know it’s me when I get my hands on her. Whisper my name. Tug me closer.

Knox tips his head back and lets out a howl that echoes beneath his mask. Damien barks a laugh, and we take off. Sprinting at full speed for the woods. Each determined to catch her first.

Will she crash through the woods in front of us, leading us right to her? Scream as she hears our footsteps getting closer? Or will she try to hide?

Beneath my mask, I grin. Can’t wait to find out.