Page 82 of They Break Beauty

He’d sent a dozen of them while I’d been gone, but I hadn’t responded because I couldn’t risk having my focus divided while I’d been dealing with Kyle and obtaining that information I’d needed.

I’d made it back into town ten minutes ago and after visiting campus, my plan had been to head home anyway.

Lev: Just got back, Maverick. On campus. Be home soon. Chill, brother.

Colt: Oh, thank fuck.

Lev: Missed you too, cupcake.

Colt: Well, I always miss you, but this is actually more business related. We have a problem.

Lev: Just take a breath, we’ll see to it. I’ve got you.

Colt: It’s actually about me having your back this time.

I frowned down at his message.

Having my back about what?

Colt had been clingy since I’d returned after being away for a year. He hadn’t wanted me to take off even for a few days, so I’d figured his texts had just been about that, his way of trying to make sure I came home as quickly as possible.

But with that last text, it suggested there was actually something serious going on.

So serious that he hadn’t wanted to tell me via our phones.

Thuds and yells caught my attention and pulled me from my thoughts.

I spun to my right and I was surprised to see Brianna there with her driver’s door open as she was half in and half out of the car, slamming the steering wheel and dash while cursing.

Her silky mane of black hair was wilder than normal and I could see why as she shoved her hand through it in her agitated state. There was less of her bubbly pink going on. In fact, her boot cut pants were plain black, along with a lacy tank, the only signs of her favorite go-to color being on her leather jacket which was predominantly black but with pink stripes adorning it, along with some studs.

What was going on?

I pocketed my phone and strode over there quickly.

“Fucking shitheads!” I heard her seething as I reached her and her Charger.

I leaned down and spoke through the open window of her passenger door, “Hey.”

She started and swung her head my way. “Jeez, maniacal stalker, make a sound, would you?”

“You wouldn’t have heard my approach with all the hitting and cursing anyway.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”

“Just got back into town. I had to drop into the Science and Tech building and as I was leaving I heard this going on.”

She just grunted, then tried to start the engine again.

The failed results of that made it clear to me what was happening.

Or, what wasn’t happening.

“You’re gonna damage the fuel pump,” I warned.

“What?” she snapped.

“You keep trying to start the engine while you’re out of gas and it could fuck up the fuel pump.”

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