Page 199 of Falling in Reverse

I’ve gotten Levi out of fuck knows with what they were going to do with him, but I took one of theirs, too. I’m not afraid to be petty and give an eye for an eye but am I too fucking crazy to continue down this path before I can’t change or fix it.

Torin and Cairo turn to find their friend finally breaking off his kiss with the blonde. Reeve’s hand comes around to run his fingers down her face before Torin suddenly hauls her back by her bicep and rips her from Reeve’s safety net.

She stumbles a bit, but catches her footing before she yells Reeve’s name as if suddenly her life is in jeopardy of ending now.

He pivots without a second glance in her direction, disappearing behind the closest SUV while her eyes still follow him.

“I didn’t do it!” she screams, yanking on Torin’s hold to get free. “Reeve, babe, please!”

Cairo is next to rain down his intimidating demeanor as he gets in front of her to speak. And, unfortunately, their voices are still low enough that I can’t catch anything again, but really, I don’t need to.

They believe she’s done something to them and there’s no hope for her now. I think that once they get an idea in their brains, it’s game over. You better start saying your prayers and pray to any form of God that will listen.

The woman slaps Torin across the face, missing Cairo’s in the process as he drags her to where the other man just fell.

I give her credit for sticking up for herself in a grim circumstance, dragging her feet along the gravel, dirt road as Torin continues to bring her closer.

The human in me hollers that I need to save her. I’m not sure what she did, how bad it was, or if she even deserves this punishment but am I really going to sit here behind the safety of bushes and the tree to my left and watch her get tossed to the sea like a piece of trash?

Ice runs through my veins as I quickly evaluate the situation.

I have no weapon besides the knife in my back pocket and my dirt bike. If I get close enough, I’m dead.

If I holler out at them through the safety of my spot, I’m dead. They can easily pepper bullets at me, and I’d rather not dodge them.

I’m already out of options.

None of them end up with me without a hole somewhere in my body and blood everywhere.

And, call me a shitty person, but I’m not looking to put my life on the line for someone else, when I already have bodies that rely on me to keep them fed, clothed, and unharmed.

Torin releases the woman, placing her spine against the peril of the ocean being so high up behind her.

My heart practically stops when he takes a step closer before my hair is suddenly tugged on from behind, and I’m forced to rise to my feet. A large hand shrouds my mouth to keep my surprised yelp in my throat from being liberated as I’m swung around and pinned to the trunk of the tree at my six.

“Bay Bay McQueen,” Reeve coos softly and quietly, the death notes in his tone evident that with one peep from him to his butt buddies and I’m a goner. “What’s a pretty girl like you doing out on a night like this?”

With his palm covering my mouth, I still open it to speak, but he shakes his head, prompting me to stop and not make a sound.

“Don’t answer that,” he says to my forced silence, pressing his chest solidly into mine and driving the scent of the sea salt into my nose. “With no evidence on the answer, I can’t charge you, nor can I turn you in. Unless…” A glint of the moon makes his nose ring blink in my eyes before his hazel eyes bore down on me. “You came to see me.”

My brows knit and he smiles, thrusting my spine deeper into the sharp and jagged surface of the tree. My pulse sprints at the unknown of what he’s going to do and how I’m going to get myself out of this mess.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he tells me like he’s offering out the weather. “And when I remove my hand, you’re not going to scream. You’re not going to make a single sound. That’s my payment for not snitching on you. Because if you do, I can’t save you. Once Cairo or Torin gets their hands on you, you’re fucking dead, baby. You understand me?”

I bob my head because what choice do I have?

“You saw me kissin’ that girl?” I nod once, and he glowers at me as if I made him do it. “She’s a rancid bitch and the only woman who dies tonight under my guys if I can help it. You kiss me back, you live, got it?”

This time, he slowly removes his hand, testing to see if I’m going to be stupid and blow the whistle on myself or listen to what he says.

I follow the latter, of course, which makes Reeve extremely happy because his smile is radiant like he just won the lottery.

That hand that just trapped my lips to remain silent burns at my hip and underneath the waistband of my leggings.

“Reeve—”

“How quick can you come?”

---