Page 62 of Victorious: Part I

So, I do the only thing I can think of right now.

Reaching for the radio, I sync the playlist and wait for the first song to play.

Taylor Swift starts humming over the speakers, and Clover pops her head up, tears streaming down her face, trying to catch her breath while she swipes the snot from under her nose with the sleeve of her hoodie. I try to fight back my smile as she narrows her eyes, a slight smirk crossing her face, her tears instantly stopping when she turns to me. “You really, m-made a play l-list?” her voice cracks through her hiccups.

I quickly glance at her. “Yeah. I told you I would,” I reply, then glance back at the road.

Clover lets out a stifled laugh as the first lyrics begin. “And you t-thought the first song on our r-road trip after us l-leaving our family and f-friends behind to fight a war with the C-Cartel should be “Death By A Thousand Cuts”?”

My eyes widen with horror as I rush for my cell to flip to the next song, but Clover bursts into a fit of hysterics, dropping her legs from the seat. Her hand diving out to grab mine to stop me. The second our fingers touch, a tingle shoots all the way from my hand through my body and straight to my cock. My breath catches as our eyes lock, and I can’t seem to—

HONK.

Jerking my head back to the front, I notice I’m veering into the next lane. I swerve dramatically to correct myself as Clover giggles beside me in her seat. “Fuck!” I mumble, my heart hammering in my chest.

Clover picks up my cell, shaking her head. “That settles it then. I’m in c-charge of music. Because youclearlycan’t do m-music and drive. And we’re l-listening to song one, all the way t-through, and I’m turning it up. Loud!”

Smirking, I side-eye her but tilt my head in response. “All right, you’re the boss.”

Clover bounces happily on her seat, turning the sound up so loud I can barely think. But seeing her finally settle, singing along to whatever the hell this music is, somehow calms the storm inside me too, even if she is singing with her hiccups.

It’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen.

And though it’s a long way to Vegas, somehow, I have a feeling we’re going to have a really good fucking time.

Chapter Sixteen

HAVEN

Drawing in a deep breath as I watch my little sister drive away, Alpha slides his arm around me and leans in so no one but me can hear. “I can see you’re trying to keep strong on the outside, but I know you, Little Lamb. I know you’re hurting.”

Straightening my shoulders, I turn to him and fake a smile. “We don’t have time to hurt right now. Just like you can’t think about Livvy, I can’t think about how that could be the last time I see my sister, who I only just got back into my life.” My stomach clenches as I shake off the tension rippling through me. “We have work to do.”

I go to walk off, but Alpha grips my arm, pulling me back to him. He looks me in the eyes, nothing but love and devotion pouring back at me, and fuck, I nearly break.

Nearly.

A soft smile touches his lips, and he nods once. “Okay, let’s get to work.”

Sadie and Maverick move past us. Sadie is barely holding it together, so I reach out to hold her hand. “They’re gonna be fine. No matter what happens here, Sadie, those two, they’re going to be just fine.”

Sadie lets out a long breath. “I know, that’s why they had to leave,” she whispers, then takes off for the clubhouse.

Maverick grimaces, rubbing the back of his neck, letting out a frustrated groan. “I should have forced her to go with them.”

Snorting out a mocking laugh, I scowl at him. “You idiot. Sadie isnevergoing to leave you behind. For some reason, unbeknown to me, the woman is head over heels for you. Wherever you are, that’s exactly where she will be. Even if it means certain death. Maybe we should get her psych tested now that I think about it?” I tease, and he reaches out, punching my arm playfully. “Ouch, you fucker!”

He chuckles, slumping his shoulders. “You’re right, though. I don’t know what the fuck I did to win her over or why the hell she stays. But the feeling’s mutual. If she walked into flames, I’d fucking follow.”

A genuine smile lights my face as I lean against Alpha, my eyes turning up slightly. “I know the feeling all too well.”

Alpha smirks down at me. “You gettin’ all mushy on me, Little Lamb?”

Rolling my eyes, I shove off him and start walking toward the clubhouse. “Fuck no. If I walked into flames, they’d flurry in the opposite direction and douse themselves out because they knew the ice in my veins would annihilate them anyway.”

Alpha smirks. “That’s my girl.”

Dropping all humor, I shake my head. “Not a girl, Alpha. I’m a fucking bird! We gonna go deal with these Cartel pricks or sit around talking about our feelings all day like some damn pussies?”

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