Page 20 of Warmer, Colder

And I do intend to protect her, starting with Nate.

With my switchblade, I get out and go to the passenger’s side, discreetly making my way to his car. I only have to wait a few minutes.

Tracking his steps, I listen as blades of grass cry out beneath his careless gait, his sneakers scuff against the asphalt, and then they stop just feet away from me. After a moment of fumbling with his keys, he gets into the car.

While he’s distracted, I slip into the back seat, lying on the floor.I’m so close.Anticipation thrums through my veins, replacing the nerves and irritation that plagued me on the wayover. It’s time. Even the rain has stopped; a sign.This is the right moment.

Nate messes with the radio and checks his phone, completely oblivious to me lying in wait in the back seat. I close my eyes, count to three, then lunge forward, fisting his hair in my left hand and bringing the blade to his neck with my right.

“Put the phone down and your hands on the dash.”

“Holy shit. What the fuck is going on?” Nate’s hazel eyes go wide with shock as he meets my gaze in the rearview mirror.

I tighten my grip in his hair, arching his neck back. “Here’s the thing, Nathanial. You’ve put your hands on something that belongs to me.” I admire the unsteady movements of his working throat. “And unfortunately for you, I don’t like to share what’s mine.”

“Look bitch,” he laughs but it’s not one of humor or confidence, it’s one of unfamiliar nerves. Nate is a man who doesn’t find himself backed into a corner often. “You’re lucky I’m tired and hungover. I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m giving you thirty seconds to get that goddamned knife away from me and get the fuck out of my car.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Or what?” I press the knife closer and a bead of scarlet drips down his neck.

“Wait!” He squirms in his seat, but his hands remain on the dash. Our eyes meet, his bulging with panic, mine sharpening with challenge. As we size one another up, his gaping mouth shifts into a sinister smile. “Wait…aren’t you that desperate chick who crashed Becca’s party and threw yourself all over her.” His eyes shine with clarity. “Holy shit, guess that kiss really did mean something. Becca’s done a really good job at keeping this dirty little secret.” His laugh gets bolder. “Trust me, she’s not worth doing all this. Let me just show you this video and you’ll see—”

“Don’t move your hands.” The tip of the knife against his chin sobers him a bit. “Shut the fuck up. You don’t talk about her like that.” I yank his head back sharply, nicking him by accident. “She’s worth everything.”

“Are you really going to go to jail over some used-up pussy? Let me just send you the video. You can see for yourself.”

“What part of shut the fuck up don’t you understand?” My heartbeat drums in my ears as I get a better grip on the knife.

Nate just shakes his head at me, mistaking my hesitation for backing down. “My dad’s a fucking lawyer, one of the best. You’re out of your league.” Letting out a long sigh, his tone shifts, a warning undercutting the words. “This was a terrible idea, fucking pathetic really. I’m giving you one more chance. Are you going to get out?”

“Fuck. You.”

In the span of half a second, gone is the cocky and aloof Nate I’ve been speaking with. His eyes are cold and definitive; a dangerous person of a whole other caliber sits in front of me. The realization is too late, punctuated by the sickening snap of my wrist.

“You stupid fucking bitch.” Spit flies into my face with the words as he wraps my long hair around his fist, pulls me forward between the front seats, and slams my head into the dash.

“What did you really think you were doing here? Hmm?” Each splitting hair that tears from my scalp is distinct as he tightens his grip further. I swing to hit him in the dick, but he has me held firm. His free hand doesn’t let go of my wrist as he twists it painfully. “You’re obsessed with her. It’s fucking pathetic. Creepy even. I should warn her about you. Or better yet, I’ll just remove the threat myself.”

Nate makes the mistake of leaning closer to my face and I seize the opportunity, sinking my teeth into his cheek as hard as I can.

“Goddammit.” A shaking hand wraps around my neck, covering the tattoo there. He’s found my greatest weakness and he’s going to use it to destroy me like he knows all about broken pinky promises, years of unrequited love, and the bliss of her lips on mine.

The irony is he thinks we’re the same kind of predator but he’s a poacher hunting for sport and I’m a lioness pursuing prey to feed myself. I need her. I can’t live without her. He’s playing with her, another mount for his wall of ruined lives. Another way for him to prove to others how much of a man he is. But I see him for what he really is: a fucking coward. Determined to see this through, he lets go of my wrist and collars my neck with both hands. It dawns on me that I’m the perfect murder victim. There’s no one to notice that I’m gone. No friends. No family. Not Becca. Even Aphrodite has grown tired of me.

My fists land ineffectively on his arms and legs while he throttles my throat. As I choke and gasp for dwindling oxygen, the hardened features of Nate’s rage soften and blur, and when I squint through the pain, all I see is her.

If this is hell, at least Becca will be there waiting for me.

Chapter 9

Becca

38 Days till Death

Come outside.

I consider ignoring Nate’s text, but I don’t want to give him a reason to come back in here.

What for? It’s freezing.

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