Page 99 of Bad Blood

My ears perk up to the sound of footsteps, and my lungs seize.

The deliberate strides stop.

I crawl to the door.

Try to close it.

Tears sting behind my eyes.

Something’s in the way.

There’s a throaty chuckle.

I rise to my knees, shoving at the door with both hands.

And come eye-to-eye with Kline.

“You. Can’t. Prove. Anything.”

I tumble onto my ass, scrambling to get away. I scoot backward, my feet slipping as I kick against the floor.

His hand wraps around my ankle.

He pulls me to him.

I spin onto my stomach, scraping my fingernails across the linoleum.

He flips me over.

I stare at him.

He works his jaw.

“I have evidence,” I hiss. I kick and thrash in vain.

He leans over me, whispering into my ear. “Use it. I dare you.”

28

Tail Between My Legs

Dax

Friday, June 2 nd

10:20 p.m.

“I have good news and bad. Good—the guys are downstairs at the bar. Bad,” Bree tilts her head toward the sky, “you have to move.”

“From here?” I point at the grass beneath my feet. Did I step in something, or am I about to?

“No, the city.”

I guffaw. “Whatever. You’re so dramatic.”

“I’m being serious. We can’t have you running into Dani anymore. And the solution—you move.”

“I’m not moving. I won’t rearrange my life because she’s a psycho.”