Page 36 of SNOB

"Emmy?"

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

Without another word, I grab the nearest jacket, Jake’s old faded denim from the beat-up sofa.

“Emmy!” Jake calls.

Opening the door, I push my feet into my shoes. It's still damp and it brings me back to last night as I march towards that car.

“Mac! Watch out!”

My ears ring, the world flipping around me like it did when I was in the backseat of Beau’s rover.

I’m halfway to the car before my legs turn to jelly.

My knees scratch against the concrete when I fall as my nest of curls roll over my head.

We’re in this together, Butterfly.

I’ll keep you safe.

That hurling feeling comes back with intensity.

Hooooonk!

Lifting my head, my curls blur my vision as a truck bears down the road. Trying to push myself up is hard, the honks blending with Beau’s cries in my head. Mac’s voice. That splash. I give in to the pain. I should let it hit me. If last night happened, I’m as good as dead.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Butterfly.” My knees lift off the ground as Mac’s voice comes to my head. “I’m not letting you go that easy.”

We move out of the way just as a truck passes by. A gust of cold wind comes with it but it's no match to the warmth against my body. Mac stands me up on the side of the road before he releases me. A shiver runs through me when I look at him. My brows knit as confusion stirs the heat inside me. Then my hands come against his hard chest, pushing him away. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Keeping my word.” Moving to his car, he looks around, his sleek collared shirt and slacks wrinkled. His hair is messier than usual, dark circles under his eyes.

“Did you sleep here?”

“You should really pay more attention to what happens outside your house.” He looks past me at our home. “If you call it that.”

Pulling Jake’s jacket around me, I glance back at our trailer. Jake’s in the window and I can see how low his brows are from here. “You need to leave, Mac.”

“Not without you, Everett.” Mac opens the passenger door before it swings into the air like the wings of a butterfly. “Get in. If I stay here a minute longer, we won’t have a ride.”

“You’re lucky Angelo and his boys didn’t get their hands on it. Or you.”

“Who the fuck is Angelo?” Mac’s nostrils flare. “Does he make you moan like I do?”

My cheeks heat before my hands come to his chest again, but it's so rock solid my palms bounce right off. “Fuck you.”

“If you’re lucky. Get in, Ember.” I hate how he says my name, disdain dripping off his tongue as that knot in my stomach twists again.

“The fuck is it this time, Mac?” My nails dig into the skin in my fist. “The guillotines? A torture chamber? You gonna tie me up in my bathroom again? Or are you gonna get to the chase and murder me like you did Beau?”

Slam!

It makes me jump when the car door shuts. Nothing makes me jump in The Valley.

He stalks up to me, closing the distance between us. “Watch your tone, Everett,” he growls. “Unless you want Uncle Jake to get another injury.”

“Want another of your own?” I smirk.

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