Page 13 of Menace in Vegas

She pats my shoulder. “You already are, sweetheart.”

I close my eyes.

I’m in hell.

This car.

Allie touching me and calling me sweetheart.

It’s too much.

She hums happily, adjusting the sun visor. “This is fun.”

I give her a look. “Say one more word, and I’m leaving you on the side of the highway.”

Her smirk doesn’t waver. “Wow. Big talk for a guy driving a pink bug named Petal.”

I shove the car into drive, my fingers tightening around the wheel.

The goddamn sun is blazing down, turning the convertible into a fucking oven. I can already feel sweat trickling down my back.

Allie laughs softly beside me, leaning back like she’s on a joyride.

This is going to be the longest fucking drive of my life.

5

CONNOR

Ihate this car.

I hate this day.

But most of all?

I hate that the woman in the passenger seat is laughing her ass off while I suffer.

I grip the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality.

Allie is having the time of her life.

Messing with the radio. Singing along to every damn song. Tapping her nails on the dashboard. Flipping her hair just to fuck with me.

And the worst part?

She smells like vanilla and citrus.

That scent has burrowed into my head like a goddamn parasite. It’s driving me insane.

I shift in my seat, clenching my jaw.

We’ve been on the road for twenty minutes, and I’m already at my limit.

I press my foot on the gas just a little harder. If I can get to Vegas faster, maybe I won’t lose my goddamn mind.

A sound behind me fills me with dread.

Fucking sirens.

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