Page 100 of Break

“Is everything okay? You look upset all of a sudden.” I love that Mina is getting more vocal, but I wish she wouldn’t have noticed the change in him so quickly.

I cringe at Ethan’s forced smile, but honestly, I don’t blame him.

“I’m alright. Just a work thing that I wasn’t expecting.” Glancing at me once more, he collects himself, then grabs her hand. “I’m not quite ready to go home yet and end our day. Do you have a problem if Max drives around for a bit? I was thinking we could take the long way home around the lake.”

There’s hesitation in her voice, like she’s unsure if she should believe him or not, but she concedes. “I’d love that, if Max doesn’t mind?” She directs her question to me, always thinking of everyone else.

Shrugging, I give her a wink in the mirror. “I’ve got nothing else going on tonight. A drive sounds nice.”

Smiling, she relaxes into the seat. “Don’t judge me if I fall asleep, though. Car rides have always knocked me right out.”

Chuckling softly, Ethan stretches his arm over her shoulders and pulls her into him and lays his cheek against her head. “I have no problem with you falling asleep on me, darlin’.”

Giggling, she sighs and then looks out the window, watching the scenery as I take the next exit to find the frontage road that circles the lake. This is the moment where we’ll know for sure if that sedan is following us. The exit I’m taking isn’t one that’s popular since there are mainly only seasonal cabins and tourists staying out here.

Sure enough, the moment I slow down to exit, I see the car weave to the side again, only to turn on the turn signal to follow us. By the time we begin the winding trek around the lake, he’s a decent distance behind us, no longer needing to stay close since the van continued on the highway.

What a fucking idiot.

I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but he’s obvious as fuck and should know that this is what we do for a living.

Easing off the gas, I slow down to see if he’ll get closer and I can get a clearer view of him in the car. It was the wrong move because the moment he creeps closer, he slams on his brakes and jerks his car to the shoulder, only to pop a U-turn and race off in the opposite direction.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I should have waited and done nothing to give the cops a chance to catch up to us.

“Oh,wow!That cabin ishuge!” Mina says, leaning toward her window to catch sight of one of the high-end cabins in the area. I’m so fucking thankful that she isn’t aware of what’s going on right now. My adrenaline is pounding through my veins with the need to whip our car around and chase Danny down, but I know I can’t do it. Not with her in the car.

“I think one of the state senators owns that one,” Ethan shares with her as he rapidly texts what just happened to whomever he contacted.

The rest of the drive is uneventful, but my fury at Danny hasn’t abated. Currently, I have no way to expel the energy coursing through my body. Ethan and I both do our best to stay engaged while Mina makes comments about the houses and the lake. I know we’ve failed as she eventually falls silent for the remaining fifteen minutes of the drive.

Pulling into the driveway, I shut the car off and squeeze my fingers around the steering wheel. I’m fucking livid that Danny somehow followed one of us to the park and most likely watched Ethan and Mina.

How the fuck did we miss him?

I stay seated in the car while Ethan helps her out but jerk in my seat when immediately after the door shuts, there’s a small tap at my window. Opening my door, I step out, forcing her to take a few steps back.

Ethan’s retreating back slips into the house, leaving me alone with an obviously confused Mina.

“Max, what happened? It’s like a switch flipped and you disappeared.” Her concern over me has my chest clenching. I don’t want to lie to her. Iwon’tlie to her, but I also don’t want to take away from her day.

My throat bobs as I fight against my emotions. “Can I tell you tomorrow? I promise I’ll fill you in tomorrow. I just…” I trail off and take a deep breath. “I don’t want to tonight.”

Her lips tilt up slightly, giving me my out. “Of course. Is there anything I can do to help? Anything I can do for you?”

Looking skyward, I rein myself in, then focus back on her. Her eyes are on my neck, then trail up to my lips once more, before focusing back on my stare. “I really didn’t want to step on Ethan’s toes, but fucking hell Mina, I need to feel you.”

She seems surprised by my honesty but doesn’t shy away. Without hesitation, she steps into me, slipping her arms around my waist, and then settles her head against my chest. “Like this?” Her innocent question unravels me.

There’s no stopping my arms from reaching her and gripping her hips, squeezing tightly and pressing her against me more firmly. I lean down and run my nose along her cheek, smiling when I feel her shudder, then over to her ear, where I whisper, “Almost.”

Spinning us around, I don’t release her hips when I use my body to press her against the car. Mina’s legs instantly widen to allow my body room, and I hoist her up to her toes so I can slide my knee between her legs to press against the frame.

Once I’ve got her balanced on my thigh, my hands roam up her sides until they’re settled on both sides of her neck. Her head falls back to gaze up at me, and my heart is thundering against my ribcage. “I want to kiss you so goddamn bad right now; I’m fucking aching. Will you let me take you to my bed? Nothing has to happen that you don’t want, but I need you like I need my next breath.”

Her eyes bounce back and forth between mine, knowing that if she says yes, there’s no going back. We’re in this.All of us.

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