Page 89 of A Voice In Chains
Despite my pounding heartbeat, I roll my eyes as Ryan drags me out of the room. “I didn’t think we’d do our own hazing.”
“Just go along with it, Beckett.”
“Is this what it’s going to be like every time I don’t want to come along for a takeaway or a party?”
The cool air surrounds us as we exit the house. I stumble down the drive, dragged forward by Ryan on one side and Harrison on the other.
“Pretty much,” Ryan says, opening the car door. “No more moping around, Beckett. You’re coming with us, and that’s that.”
“Bossy fucker,” I mutter as he deposits me in the backseat. “Why don’t you go ahead and put me in the boot while you’re at it?”
“Don’t tempt me.” He straps me in, then shuts the car door.
Seconds later, they slide into the front seats.
The engine growls to life, and the car rocks as the person behind the wheel reverses out of the driveway.
“Seriously, there’s no need for all this. I’m in the car. Pull over and untie me. It’s not like I’m going to run away.”
“Fuck that. I don’t remember the last time I had this much fun,” Ryan says around a chuckle. “You should see how funny you look.” The soft rustling of him shifting reaches my ears. “Smile for the camera.”
“He’ll kill you,” Harrison informs him. “You know that, right.”
“He can always try. Besides, what other choice did we have, hmm? He refused to come with us.”
“Not kidnap me,” I interject. “If I knew my own friends were going to put a sack over my head and tie me up on our first day of living together, I would have paid extra for the dorm room.”
“See,” Ryan says to Harrison. “He’s completely unreasonable.”
Harrison’s quiet laughter reaches me in the back. “You have to admit, Zach, it’s kind of funny.”
“U-huh, sure. Super funny. I’m laughing my fucking nuts off. Next time it’ll be you we kidnap.”
Their boisterous laughter fills the car, and I hear them smack hands. “Operation kidnap Zach is complete,” Ryan says, his words followed by a tinny voice. I guess he’s on the phone with someone. “We tried, but he refused to come with us. I had no other choice, or he would have stayed behind to do a pedicure. Desperate times require desperate measures, pet. You know how it is.”
More of the tinny voice. Whoever it is sounds upset.
“We’re about half an hour out. The key is beneath the plant pot.” He laughs at something the other person says, then hangs up.
“What are you up to?” I ask, my voice laced with suspicion.
Ryan ignores me as he addresses Harrison. “We should have put him in the boot. He asks too many questions.”
“Mate, this isn’t a spy mission.”
“How you get laid is beyond me. You’re so fucking boring sometimes.”
“Guys,” I snap. “Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?”
“Okay, maybe we should have put him in the boot,” Harrison agrees. “It’s not too late.”
“Want me to keep an eye out for a service station where we can pull over?”
“Preferably one with a Greggs. I’m dying for a sausage roll right about now.”
Groaning, I drop my head back against the headrest. What the fuck are they up to? When they finally free me, I’m going toknock them both the fuck out. “So much for the roadside diner, eh? Why don’t you tell me what’s actually going on?”
Harrison snorts “Our friend is asking too many questions—that’s what’s going on.”
