Page 119 of Heartless Stepbrother

But I could learn to be dangerous too.

The road unfurled endlessly in front of us, a dark ribbon lit only by the occasional streetlamp and the glow of distant towns smudged against the horizon. The hum of the tires on thehighway was steady, almost hypnotic, if my nerves weren’t still on high alert.

I kept my gaze forward, jaw set, shoulders squared.

Stronger.

Unflustered.

Untouchable.

I repeated the words silently until they settled like armor over my skin.

After a while, the car slowed. Riley flicked on his blinker and turned off the highway onto a smaller road, the kind bordered by scrubby dunes and patches of tall grass bending in the breeze. A faint, flickering glow appeared ahead, warm, orange, wavering.

And as we drew closer, I realized it wasn’t just a light.

It was fire.

A bonfire.

The flames climbed high against the backdrop of the ocean, throwing sparks toward the sky. Shadows danced across the sand. I could almost hear the waves from inside the car, crashing softly, rhythmically, a constant heartbeat beneath the music drifting through the night.

People were there. Dozens, maybe. Moving shapes. Voices. Laughter.

Riley turned into the sandy parking area, the headlights cutting across surfboards propped against a truck and the silhouettes of kids sitting on hoods of cars with drinks in their hands.

A party.

My stomach sank.

No, my resolve hardened.

Because suddenly it clicked.

They weren’t just strangers.

They werehispeople.

Riley put the car in park. “We’re here.”

The words hit me like a jolt. My heart leapt into my throat.

Of course he’d bring me here. Of course he’d throw me into the deep end without warning. Of course he wouldn’t prepare me or explain anything or give me a chance to brace myself.

Because he wanted to see how I handled it.

Well.

I wouldn’t crumble.

I wouldn’t blush.

I wouldn’t let anyone see me rattled.

I pushed open the door, stepping out as the ocean breeze swept over me, cool, salty, damp, almost grounding. The sound of the waves filled my ears, mixing with the music pulsing from the speakers buried in the sand.

Then someone shouted, “Riley!”