Page 14 of Better Hide

I shrug. “Okay, grumpy. We can revisit this argument after you’ve had some sleep.” I wink at her. “But I know it’s me.”

Jo shakes her head, and I put the milkshake within her reach. I don’t really care who she’d pick. She doesn’t have a choice to pick anyone but the two of us. But still, I like getting a rise out of both of them.

Leaning back into the trunk, I rustle through my bag. When I find what I’m looking for, I turn back around. “Close your eyes and open your mouth.”

Jo snorts. “Fuck no.”

I chuckle. “While I’d highly recommend younotdo that if Jayden asks you to, you’re safe with me.”

Jayden shoots me a dangerous look.

Jo’s gaze bounces between my eyes. “What is it?”

“It’s a treat. You’ll like it.”

For the longest time, I don’t think she’ll trust me, and my heart squeezes. She doesn’t trust me.

I try to reason with myself. Try to talk back the murderous anger that fills me. Just as I’m about to force her jaw open, Jo relents, looking exhausted. She closes her eyes and opens her mouth.

Fucking hell. If that isn’t the prettiest sight. I drop the treat in. Instantly, Jo opens her eyes again, sucking on it. “What…it’s…a lemon drop?”

I wink at her. The tiniest crack of a smile reaches Jo’s eyes before she covers it again. She’s well-fed and tired. I’m feeling it myself, too.

“Come here.” I reach for Jo, pulling her into me so she can rest on me and sleep.

As I expected, she tries to pull away.

“Shhh,” I stroke her arm, keeping her pinned to my side. “Rest.”

Jo continues trying to fight for a bit, but I don’t let her get anywhere. Finally, she huffs and relaxes against me.

She won’t submit to me willingly. Right now. But I’m a patient man.

I’ll break her down.

She should probably keep trying to hide from me. Because once I have her heart, I’ll never give it back.

Even if she begs.

8

COLE

Jo passes out,and Jayden finds a suitable plate. He makes the swap smoothly, and we leave right after. The driver with the stolen plates probably won’t even know the difference. If the cops run our plates now, the car won’t come back stolen, and it’ll match our car type close enough not to raise red flags.

After we hit the road again, Jayden says, “You need sleep.”

The peaceful hum of the tires fills the car, and I continue stroking Jo’s hair. “So do you.”

Jayden grunts. “I’ll be fine.”

I glare at him. He always tries to pull this shit. The tough, big brother I-don’t-need-anything shit. “No, you won’t. Pull over somewhere, and we’ll sleep.”

Jayden’s eyes are heavy with sleep and worry. I’m also feeling the adrenaline crash after finding Jo and having to run from the cops. Fuck. I knew this would happen eventually, but I didn’t want it to happen now.

Jayden looks in the mirror. “You nap, then we’ll switch out.”

“Fine,” I mutter. Jo’s warm body on mine and the rumble of the engine lulled me quicker than I thought. At some point, I pass out.

---