Page 86 of Savage Scream

I hear the words she rasps quietly in his ear, and Griffin’s eyes dart up to mine as he nods.

“Of course, kid. I’m kinda fond of the bossy arsehole.”

I chuckle at his statement, and Dee grins, turning her back on the local leader of the Marx crew or whatever they call themselves, and we leave the house.

The drive back to Fox Pines is slow, because for some reason I have it in my head that if I take longer, time will slow down and I can have Dee to myself for a little longer.

Every time I think of her leaving, I push the thought aside, not wanting to let myself feel that pain yet. Because fuck, I’ll have plenty of time to feel it once she’s gone.

That’s when I know I’ll die on the inside once and for all.

28

DEE

It’s a little after 2am when Jared pulls up outside my house. When he shuts off the engine, we sit in silence for a beat before I make the first move and get out of the car. Jared follows, and we link fingers again, slowly walking up the front path of the Rogans’, knowing this is the last time we will be doing this together.

Shit.

Don’t think about it.

When we reach the door, I go to grab the handle but notice it’s damaged.

I still, my heart wanting to leap with fear, but my training kicks in, keeping me calm so I can hear properly.

“Dee—”

I hold up my hand, quickly shushing Jared’s words, and that’s when I hear it. A deep voice and a whimper.

I turn to him, gripping his hoodie and tugging him down to me to whisper in his ear.

“The house has been broken into. Someone is inside, and I think they are hurting my foster parents.”

Jared stiffens, standing tall and puffing his chest out in an instant.

I creep away from the front door, tugging Jared with me, and we move to the front window outside Cynthia and Will’s bedroom.

Leaning over the small garden bed, we hear a slap, another whimper, and then a gruff voice.

“Either you tell me which one is her bedroom, or we wake up all of the kids. Don’t make this fucking harder than it needs to be.”

Eyes wide, Jared and I stare at each other, and he leans down to my ear to whisper.

“That’s Adam. Trav’s foster brother.”

Shit.

That’s what I was worried about.

“Contact Griffin,” I whisper close to his ear. “I’m going in through the back.”

I dart off, but his big hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me short. His face is furious when I turn back, and he shakes his head.

“You’re not going in alone,” he whisper-yells. “You were already nearly killed tonight. I’m not sitting out here twiddling my fucking thumbs while you’re in there in danger.”

Normally, I’d roll my eyes, but this time, I lurch forward, wrapping my arms around his neck, and kiss him. He returns the kiss, almost dominating me, showing me that the alpha in him is lurking close to the surface, the one I met before this softer version of Jared came out.

Shit, I think I love both versions.

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