Page 9 of Dravin

“There’s no such term and I did not. They’re decent men and you’re just going to have to trust me on that. You can get your shit together and play a part and we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way.”

“Outline the latter, please. You’re going to what? Tie me up? Force me? Beat me? Drug me? Torture me? How would that be looking after me?”

As soon as we reach a red light, he whips around and shoots me a look that nearly stops my heart from beating.

And also simultaneously ratchets my pulse straight through the roof of this SUV in sweaty, sticky, uncomfortable ways that I can’t even deal with right now. My hormones are apparently going for an uncontrolled walk. I need to reign it back in. Immediately.

“God, you’re creepy,” I mutter, hating that he made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end because I’m fucked up and find the weirdest things attractive.

It’s not my fault that my dark little heart is pleased by what it’s pleased by.

My brain also spirals back to our first meeting. Not only do I remember every word he delivered, one blow after another until I blacked out to escape, but I remember exactly what it felt like when I came to. His arms were wrapped around me. He held me so carefully. I stared into his soft brown eyes and saw his own pain.

“You’re not just creepy. You’re a real predator,” I press maliciously.

“Stop talking,” he barks. “I’m fixing this mess you’ve made. End of story.”

“Don’t pass yourself off as a nice guy.” Iknowthat Dravin would die first before he harmed me in any way.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he mutters.

“Dream of me smothering you with a pillow one night,brotherdearest.”

“Go right ahead and try,sistermine. It will be rather hard given that we won’t be living together. I’ve taken the liberty of getting you your own house, but if you’d rather share accommodation, I could have it arranged.”

My body is immediately bathed in a wave of heat and immediately after, a scalding wash of self-loathing. “No thanks. I don’t like the smell of old socks and sweaty boxers.”

“Believe it or not, that’s one of the kindest things anyone has ever said to me.”

I leave it alone for a few minutes, but then I just can’t help myself. “So these people you’re going to be working for? What kind are they exactly?” If he won’t tell me where we’re going, I needsomething.

“They approved of the way I handled their job and would like me to prospect. I agreed.”

That wipes the smirk off my face faster than if he’d slammed on the brakes and I shot face first into the seat in front of me. Without thinking, I launch my boot straight into the windshield. It’s soft and bounces off fairly harmlessly.

Dravin doesn’t even react.

“Prospect? You are not joining some motorcycle club!” I scream. “My brotherdiedbecause he got involved in that shit. One day, he was prospecting, the next he was leading the whole sordid operation. He took responsibility for what happened because that’s the kind of man he was, but that club was the reason he died.”

I did what I couldn’t do for Marcus when he was alive. I forgave him. I found the good in him. I claimed my brother back. I’ll never grantmyselfany kind of reprieve for being so closed-minded and shallow. For being the worst kind of human being, for judging, for closing my heart off to him until it was too late.

His dying wish was forme.

I was the only family he had left. The one who should have loved him above all else, but rejected him.

“There’s no way in fuck I’m going with you.”

He turns around, mouth set in a grim line, face just as stony as his will. “I’m afraid you are. Don’t test me on this. If you try and bail out of this car or try to assault me in any way, I will pull over and tie you up. If that’s insufficient, I’m not above sedating you.”

Powerlessness cloaks me, helplessness weighing me down into the leather seat.

He’s right.

I can do nothing. Not one fucking thing.

But the longer the silence stretches and the more miles we cover, the harder my own resolve grows. I might be powerless at this moment, he might take me to whatever stupid place he’s arranged, and he can join some godforsaken club, but I don’t have to stay.

Iwon’tstay.

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