Page 79 of Peaches

Before I know it, I’m hurling myself back at him, reaching to cup my hands around his stupid face. Pressing up to my toes and kissing him. Hard.

Warm arms wrap around my middle and clutch me tight. I sink into them, letting him carry some of the weight that’s been crushing me all night. His tongue parts my mouth open as a hand winds its way up my back, tangling into the mess of my hair.

I almost lost him.

I almostlosthim.

“Enough,” Kasey scolds from somewhere behind Rhett. We both turn to find him scowling. “We need to get the hell out of here.”

Rhett nods and herds me toward the open door of the truck, letting me climb into the back first before he gets in behind me. There’s hardly any space, and our knees are shoved together. When our eyes latch together beneath the dome light, I see a question waiting in his. “How did you know where I’d be?” he asks.

“I didn’t.” I shake my head. “I just knew something was wrong—I could hear it in your voice.”

He faces his brothers in front of us who are both getting settled in their own seats. “So, how then?”

Kasey starts the ignition before biting out, “I told you I knew about the game.”

“I didn’t know what else to do,” I say quietly, drawing Rhett’s attention back. “I went looking for your brothers, hoping they’d know where you were.”

“You’re a damn lucky son of a bitch,” Wells mutters from the passenger seat. He doesn’t look as angry as Kasey does, but his face is pale, and I have a feeling he might be in shock.

“What happened in there?” I ask, even though I’m terrified of the answer. I heard what I know were gunshots and saw multiple people run out of that old barn.

“Yeah, Rhett,” Kasey growls, pulling the truck onto the road that brought us here with a speed that has my stomach flipping. “Tell us what happened. And while you’re at it, maybe you could tell us what thefuckyou were thinking.”

Rhett frowns, still looking at me when he answers. “There was a poker game tonight with alotof money, and I thought it was going to be a straight game. I knew it was a risk, but I swear I had no idea what Ellis was planning?—”

“Did you know Maverick would be there?” Kasey demands.

“No.” Rhett’s jaw ticks, finally looking at his older brother. “Colt didn’t know either.”

Colt. “Who are these people?” I ask. “Ellis and Colt. They’re your friends?”

Kasey scoffs.

“They’re brothers. Their family has been friends of ours for a long time, since our dads started shit together back in the day. Including illegal card games,” Rhett says, and then he sighs. “I was pretty involved in them for a while, but I stopped a few years ago.” He glances nervously at me.

“How much?” Wells asks.

Rhett looks at him. “Half-million-dollar bets.”

“Holyshit,” Wells shouts, and I flinch. He whips his head around to look at Rhett. “How much of that cash was legit?”

“Dunno,” Rhett answers. “Ellis was good for it. Maverick had a good amount on him but not enough, which is what got him so pissy. And the other two . . .”

“The cops, you mean?” Kasey bites out.

And my stomach plummets.

“There werecops?” I demand, eyes fixed on Rhett.

This time it’s him who flinches. “Yeah. We didn’t know.”

I twist in my seat to look through the back window, past where Rhett’s bike is strapped in the bed, but I don’t see anyone following us.

Cops.

This is so bad.

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