Page 94 of Fought and Freed

He gave her a weak smile. “I’ll help you find a car, but I wouldn’t feel right saying it’s half mine.”

She nodded. “I understand, but you can borrow it anytime.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek again. “Thanks, Silk.”

“I’m worried about you, Player.” She ran her thumb under his eyes. “You’re not getting enough rest, and you’re running yourself ragged. I don’t like the dark circles under your eyes.”

He smiled at her. “I’ll try to get some extra sleep sometime this week.”

* * *

They didn’t finish the movie. Instead, they spent a couple of hours showing Maddy different kinds of cars.

She liked a couple but fell in love with the Kia Soul, and she made plans with the guys to stop at the dealership after she got her license.

Maddy started school again on Tuesday, and Skylar returned to Longville, though he didn’t want to go.

When they talked about him working with Jace’s dad, they didn’t think how hard it was going to be with him traveling back and forth all the time. It was going to be even more complicated with Amber.

This time, he wouldn’t be coming home at the end of the week because he needed to return early the following week for one of Amber’s doctor’s appointments.

On the days that Maddy had Calculus, Torr picked her up, since they had class together.

As they walked back to the car after class, Maddy shook her head. “I don’t get it.”

Torr had run late that morning, and when they got to campus, the regular parking lot was full, so they’d had to park on a side street.

Torr turned into the alleyway that led to the street they’d parked on. “I think I understand it. I guess I’ll find out when I do the homework.”

They were almost to the side street when Torr’s body was slammed up against the brick building beside them, and a guy pressed his arm across her throat. “Hello, there, lovely.”

“Let her go,” Maddy commanded.

Fear filled Torr’s eyes as she tried to wiggle her way out.

“I have a message for you, princess,” the scumbag sneered at Maddy. “Mikhail doesn’t want you to think he forgot about you.”

What did that asshole say to her? It was like he wanted to see her knees shake.

She wasn’t stupid enough to expect Mike to forget about her, and part of her wanted to be flippant and say no shit. But with his arm across Torr’s throat, she had to play it cool.

“He has big plans for you,” the guy said. “He’s going to rip away everyone you love, just like you did to him.”

Who did she take away from him? Nikki, maybe?

The creep turned his attention back to Torr. “You’re Moretti’s side piece.”

With the guy’s focus on Torr, Maddy slowly reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out her knife, flicking it open and keeping it by her side.

“You’re a scrumptious find.” He licked Torr’s cheek. “I think I’ll take you back with me. I bet I’ll get another bag of Devil’s Dust if I do.”

Great, the asshole was on the Dust. There was no way Maddy would let him go anywhere with her friend. It was now or never.

Darting forward, she stabbed him in the side. “Tell Mike I’m ready for him.”

With a shout of pain, he released Torr.

Maddy pulled her knife out as he stumbled back, holding his side, and blood sprayed over her and Torr.

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