Page 208 of Forbidden Lessons

I smooth a hand down her cheek, grimacing when I get more paint on my hands. “You’re not dying, you’re just fucked. I’ll take care of you.”

“Yes.” She nods fervently, seizing my hand, wreathing our fingers together. “Yes. Please.” Her jaw clenches, her eyelashes fluttering as a shiver races through her body.

“You need to let go of my hand so I can drive.”

“Okay.” She drops her arm, her fingers still clinging to mine, and turns to stare out the window. “Where are we?”

I grit my teeth, switching on the Tesla’s engine and accelerating down the road. Guess she can keep my hand for now. Not like there’s a gear shift or anything I need it for.

When I leave the country club, I turn to town, aiming for the local hospital. Despite Haven’s misgivings, it’s the best place for her now. They’ll be able to sedate her, keep her calm, and remove that collar.

But that was before she began squirming around in the passenger seat. Arching her back. Pulling her muddy feet under her. Before she rocked forward, bending over my hand and examining it in excruciating detail.

Her touch so delicate.

Her breath so warm on my chilled flesh.

The way she traces the lines over my palm?—

I do a u-turn at the next intersection, the sudden change in direction making her look up at the road. She turns and gives me a wide, heartbreakingly happy smile.

“I can read your future,” she says, openly studying my face.

“Yeah?” I shift in my seat, swallowing as my cock stirs behind my tuxedo pants. “What’s it say, girl?”

“Mmm…” She ducks down over my hand again, tracing one of the lines.

I hear a siren. My heart kicks into overdrive as I glance at the rearview mirror. But it’s an ambulance, not a police car.

Thank fuck.

I veer to the side. The ambulance screams past us, lights flashing and siren wailing.

Haven looks up in panic. “Hospital?”

“No, sweet girl. You’re safe. Tell me about my future.” I push the back of my hand into her lap, trying to distract her. Her trash bag dress rustles and sticks to my skin until she scoops my hand into both of hers so she can study it closer.

“Mmm, yeah. I see it.” She starts tracing my skin again, and I bite the inside of my lip at that soft touch.

It’s almost midnight, Agony Hollow’s roads are deserted. In the far distance, headlamps light up the road, heading back the way we came.

I’m praying they don’t look inside my car.

“Five kids. A nice house. And a beautiful wife.” She rolls that word—beeeooootiful—and then giggles.

“Already got the nice house,” I tell her as we turn onto Earl Avenue and begin ascending into the hills. “But tell me more about this beautiful wife.”

Chapter 61

Kai

There’s blood in my eyes and my mouth. I can taste it and smell it. Feel it coating my face and my hands. Even the downpour isn’t washing it away.

Everyone’s talking at once. Shouting and yelling.

Then Ezra is getting smaller. His limp body dwindling as I’m dragged away, and I kick my feet out, trying to stop, trying to get back to Ezra so I can finish the fucking job, because I don’t think I killed him, and fuck it, I want to.

I need to.

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