Page 35 of Runaways

I scoff, shaking my head. But as much as I want to write it off, it doesn't look like Tate is lying right now. "Whatever, I'm leaving. Have fun."

But when I turn to leave, I run directly into someone else's hard chest.

Silas.

Silas stands in the doorway, blocking my exit.

My lower lip trembles. "Move."

"You're fucking kidding me, right?"

He raises an eyebrow, dissecting me with his gaze. Suddenly, I feel small and helpless between them, exposed, like I may as well be naked.

I watch it register on his face when he notices the fingerprint marks on my arm and the giant bruise on my side from where I was shoved into the countertop earlier. Still, he says nothing.

"Tate, can you get your bodyguard to let me out of here?" I do my best to sound unaffected, but even I don't believe it, so I'm not surprised when they both laugh.

"Hey, Noah? Maybe you should ask Silas nicelyyourselfif he'd be willing to move," Tate says.

"Silas, would—"

Before I can finish the sentence, Tate kicks me in the back of the knee, and I drop onto the hardwood floor, kneeling in front of Silas.

"I think that's much better, don't you?" Tate asks. "Try again."

"Your nipples are hard," Silas says.

"Silas," I start weakly, ignoring his comment while my cheeks flush with embarrassment, "would you please…let me out of the bathroom?"

He shrugs and steps aside. "Yeah, sure, Noah. You don't have to be so fucking dramaticabout it."

They laugh again as I pull myself to my feet and push past him. I storm through the house and then out the side door, determined to get to my car and get the fuck out of here, drunk or not.

But when I get to the car, I find all the tires shredded, and the wordsLYING BITCHcarved into the driver's side in all caps.

I take a few steps back, gritting my teeth. I decide not to confront him and, instead, go to find Leo and ask him to take me home.

But once I take those two steps back, I realize my car isn't the only one sitting on its rims. All five of the vehicles in the driveway were given the same treatment.

Well, without theLYING BITCHspecial. That was just for me.

When I turn back toward the house, Silas stands near the door with his arms crossed in front of his chest, watching me.

"I can't let you leave, Noah," he says. "I'm sorry. He needs this."

He turns, walking back inside the house.

"Silas!" I shout at his back, chasing after him.

Before he reaches the back door, it slides open, and Kendall and Zach step inside.

"Why are you doing this?!" I ask.

He pauses, but not to answer my question. I watch him watch them make their way up the staircase and then disappear down the hallway. He looks out toward the pool, then back toward the stairs.

"Silas!"

"Shut up," he says. "I'm thinking."

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