AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sure, it isn’t the most practical car, and driving it across the country will be a challenge. But Maeve’s graduation gift, aside from restoring the Viper with me, is to be my co-driver through the journey. Sergei will fly to some cities to meet up with us when he isn’t training. We’re transforming the move to California into a road trip with my kick-ass hot rod. The summer will be legendary.
For now, however, I relish the quiet it offers as I reflect on the memories of the past and the promises for the future.
“Boo!”
I jump in surprise. Philip is leaning on the hood, and I cringe at the thought of his oily fingerprints marring the polish. He must have seen me sneak away.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, irritated.
He’s always a bit of a hanger-on. Lately there’s a desperation about him I don’t like. Some people embrace the freedom of graduating, while others flail when forced outside a daily structure.
“Aren’t you going to invite me into your car?” he drones.
Instead of answering with words, I hop out to stand in front of him. “No. So get out.”
Unlike Shawna, Philip has definitely been drinking. I get a whiff of alcohol along with his usual wheezing. Eyes dilated and hair messed up, he is exceptionally annoying tonight.
“Let’s go. I’ll walk out with you,” I say, hosting duties having been drilled into me since childhood.
When I grab his elbow, however, Philip takes his other arm and flings it around my lower back. I’m pulled into his gin-and-onion breath, his rattling chest, his unwanted arousal. Immediately, I push away but he’s surprisingly strong. The hand behind me is an iron clamp while the other grabs at my breast.
I struggle violently, kicking so hard my feet are off the ground. He’s too close, so I can’t leverage my arms to push him away.
“Such a fucking tease all the time,” he jeers in my face. Nausea makes my eyes water. “You think you’re so perfect, don’t you? Rich little brat who knows it all. Too good for me, huh? I’ll show you.”
“Get off me!” I scream and scream and scream. Even though it’s useless, I’m bellowing like a banshee.
The garage is built to buffer the noise of machines much louder than my desperate cries. I waggle my shoulders so hard, I feel the muscles seize and strain along my upper back.
His mouth brushes my ear and a reservoir of panic fuels my efforts. I turn to headbutt the asshole at the bridge of his pug nose. Philip leaps away immediately.
Then, smack! The back of his hand finds my right cheek and rattles my brain. There’s a split second when I almost give in to the sharp sting behind my eyes.
Hell no.
I push through the tunnel of pain, anger like a shimmering light at the end.
When I screech with fury, I barely recognize my voice. “I’m going to fucking kill you, you goddamn—”
A hot breeze whizzes by me and a blur of black fills my vision. A large, masculine figure grabs Philip by the neck with one hand and pummels his face with another. When Philip slumps, he’s pushed to the hood of my car. Fists keep landing on his face and on my Viper, even as Philip’s snot-infused begging tapers off, like he’s losing consciousness.
“Bryce!” I scream, pulling at the back of his shirt. “Stop! Bryce, stop it!”
He turns to me and is nearly unrecognizable. With a red face and narrowed eyes, he is the picture of righteous fury.
I reach out to touch his jaw. The movement slackens his grip on Philip who slumps onto the ground in a pile of whimpers.
“Get off me so I can kill this piece of shit,” Bryce roars. I’m practically hanging off his bulky arm.
Philip is crab crawling belly up and backward, blood covering the front of his shirt.
“Get out, you idiot!” I scream at Philip while continuing to cling to Bryce.
“Let me go, Ana,” he growls, shaking me off and ready to lunge.
“Bryce, look at me. I’m fine. Look at me, please!” I entreat while my hands clamor for contact.
I scrape, fist, and grope his shirt. The adrenaline of the last few minutes has made me desperate for… I don’t even know. But whatever it is, my body thinks I’ll find what I need buried under this man’s skin.
