Page 89 of One of Six

What the hellam I doing?

Sweat runs down my back as I wipe it from my forehead. Those bastards have my little brother. Not that I'd ever call him that to his face. I mean, my brother has been having more sex than me lately. And all thanks to his girlfriend's underage best friend who has me tangled in knots. I don’t want anyone else. Did I want to fall in love with an innocent? Hell, no!

Shaking off these thoughts, I quickly take cover in the trees. This is the place my brothers came to with the feds. It's the only place I can think of where they have Essex. The feds can't come in without a search warrant. I don't need one.

What I do need is a plan, something I should have thought about before I snuck into this dead zone.

I quickly scurry around a tree when I hear a rustling behind me. Their footsteps grow closer even though they're trying to move quietly.

Out of the corner of my eye I catch a movement and jump to defend myself. It's only at the last second that I realize who it is, and I avoid wrestling her to the ground.

I wrap my arms around her in a tight embrace and cover her mouth with a hand. Her frightened eyes catch mine and she collapses against my chest, her heart racing as fast as mine.

"Jailbait," I hiss. "How are you here?" I slowly remove my hand from over her mouth.

"Bea sent me a note about Essex. She thought they might come for me too. I thought I'd be safer with everyone in Den Hollows."

"This isn't Den Hollows. You have to leave."

"I'm not leaving you." She stomps a foot, her arms crossed in front of her as one hip juts out.

I grin. "Babe, I don't have time for your sexy attitude."

"You think I'm sexy!"

I roll my eyes and take her hand, pulling her along with me, "You are going to be the death of me."

"I thought about stabbing you in your sleep when you called me byhername."

That stops me in my tracks as the pain I hear in her voice hits me in the chest. "I knew exactly who climbed into my bed, Violet. You scared the hell out of me, and I had to get you out of my bed before I did what I desperately wanted to do, which was take you. You were warm and naked in my bed, just like I dream about all the time." I sigh. "I knew it was you from the moment you walked into my room. I'm sorry I let you think otherwise."

"Oh!” Pause. “So, um, you do like me, right?"

I squeeze her hand, knowing it's a bad idea to continue this conversation; not only that, but it's too dangerous for her to be here with me. I don't answer and say, "Essex is here and I need a plan.”

"I could knock on the door and say I'm lost. Act stupid."

"One, we don't know what's behind those trees, and two, you're not going to face those assholes. No way."

"But..."

I stop and pull her close, holding her face in my hands. "Bea warned you that they could come after you. I'm not turning you over to those assholes. In fact, you need to leave. Now."

"No one's leaving," a voice says.

I push Violet behind me, only to have someone grab her. She kicks and screams as I lunge for her. Two thugs hold me back. "Get your hands off her!"

"She's a bitch," the guy hisses.

Violet kicks him in the shins, causing a string of curses to come out of his mouth.

"Don’t hurt the girl," Richard says, suddenly appearing. "Take her to Essex."

As soon aswe're pushed into a dark room, I reach for Violet and hold her close. I drop my face into her neck and inhale the apple scent coming from her hair.

I look up and meet my brother's gaze. He comes closer and puts a hand on my shoulder. I can't bring myself to let go of Violet, who is shaking.

"You came to save me, didn't you?" Essex says.

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