Page 24 of Wicked Sins

I head through the kitchen and stop at the back door.

The alarm panel is lit up like a damn Christmas tree.

Breathe.

I tap out the pin code to deactivate the alarm, expecting a wailing siren to explode into the hush of the sleeping house…but all that happens is that there’s a low beep, and the panel goes dark but for one light.

Thank God.

I pause on the doorstep to put on my sneakers and hurry across the lawn, heading for the gates.

I don’t have a remote control, so I can’t open them, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get around them. Or, in this case, over them. It takes me a few minutes to climb over—I’m moving slowly, so I don’t fall or tear my clothes—and I breathe another heavy sigh of relief when I’m on the other side.

I turn back to Bale Manor, staring at the sophisticatedly illuminated facade. I still remember seeing this mansion for the first time and wondering if I’d hit my head on the way over from the hovel Mom and I had been living in.

Who’d have thought I’d be sneaking out of this palace of a house a few weeks after I’d moved in?

I let out a low laugh as I start down the dark street.

Josiah Bale, that’s who. At least, that’s probably what he likes to think.

Dad assumes we’re psychic.

Bet you didn’t see this coming, asshole.

* * *

Gees,I thought my heart had been beating hard before…now?

“You look nervous,” Sean says, letting out a rough laugh as he takes the corner.

I don’t like the way this guy drives. Josiah might be a first-class douche bag, but I’ve never felt safer with someone in a car. And that was while he was pushing the speed limit trying to get us to school on time. This Sean guy? He drives like he’s got a terminal illness.

Who the hell buys their kid a Camaro anyway? I guess his parents don’t think he has a reason to live either.

“You’re going really fast,” I manage, trying not to sound as if I’m about to wet myself.

“We got the road to ourselves,” he says as if that’s an excuse.

“Are we there yet?”

“Almost,” he says, grinning at me instead of watching the road.

I look away, facing forward and gripping my seat belt like a lifeline. Hell, for all I know, it’ll be the only thing between me and violent death tonight.

You know, I take back what I said. Ihadtrusted Josiah’s driving skills until he’d almost killed me earlier today. Until he’d grabbed my hair and forced me to delete Sean’s number.

Luckily, one of the girls in my English Lit class gave me her number if I needed notes to catch up on the syllabus. And, surprisingly—or, maybe not—she had Sean’s number.

It had been an awkward phone call, butsoworth it.

“You got a headache or something?” Sean asks. I tug away my hand, only now realizing I was rubbing my scalp.

“I’m fine.”

Sean indicates and pulls into a driveway. Several cars line the street outside, with more behind the wrought iron gates barring our way.

I grit my teeth and turn the grimace into a smile when Sean looks my way. Suddenly, I’m not so sure this is worth it.

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