Page 243 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
Frantic, she looked around, searching into the shadows.
Finally, ten minutes later, a darkened figure came slinking out from the hedge of evergreens that lined the yard, his head ducked down as he hurried for the passenger side.
He whipped open the door, jumped in, and shouted, “Drive,” as he slammed the door shut.
“What?” she wheezed.
“Drive the fuckin’ car, Piper.”
Quaking with uncertainty, she put the car into gear and pulled out, the tires squealing as she fled.
She wanted to get out of there as quickly as she could.
Put this summer behind her.
End what she never should have started.
Reckless.
So foolish and reckless.
But now she knew. She’d learned a lesson. It didn’t matter Justin was the type of guy she was attracted to. From now on, she was only going for safe, smart, kind men.
Because what she thought was only a vibe had turned out not to be fake.
She didn’t slow until they were out on the street and sitting at a red light three blocks down.
Her heart pounded out of control. Fear slicked her flesh in a sheen of sweat.
She didn’t want to look, but she felt compelled, and her head slowly swiveled to look at Justin.
The oxygen heaved from her lungs when she saw him.
The gloves he wore that were covered in blood.
The duffel he had on his lap.
The horrible, malicious satisfaction curled on his face.
“What did you do?” she wheezed in horror.
He only grinned. “We make a great team, don’t we?”
Sickness roiled in her stomach.
“We’re not a team,” she choked.
Leaning over the console, he pressed his nose into her jaw, and he slipped his hand that was covered in blood to her other cheek. “Ah, but we are. Such a sweet, unknowing accomplice, and a good fuck, too. I couldn’t have chosen better.”
No.
No, no, no.
Tears blurred her eyes, alarm wrapping her in chains and taking her hostage.
He sat back as if nothing had happened. “Think we’ve had enough partying tonight, don’t you? Take me back to my place.”
Numbly, she drove there. To the apartment where she’d spent too many nights with him.
