Page 48 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

“Answer me!”

I bit down onto the inside of my cheek to keep myself from lashing out.

Dani, just do ask I’m asking you to do. Stay as far away from this as possible. I’ll come for you. I swear it.

The cop stood up slowly. “Fine. You don’t want to talk to me? I think I’ve got someone who can get you to talk.”

And as the man left the room, my mind fell to Dani. To her peaceful presence and her wondrous laugh and her serene smile. I fell into my happy place as the threats and the yelling and the problems continued. I easily lost myself in the memory of her, just to keep an even temper.

Praying that, one day soon, we’d be reunited.

For good.

16

Dani

I stood there as Hannah squeezed me tightly. I looked over at John and took in his confused stare. I felt Hannah sniffling. Her voice was filled with tears. And as I felt their wetness soaking through my shirt, I wiggled my hands in between us before slowly pushing her away.

“What--what are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

I pointed. “John, our room is down at the end. Last door on the right.”

Hannah paused. “What are you doing? Are you not back?”

I stepped around her. “I have to go.”

She grabbed my hand. “Dani, please.”

I ripped away from her. “Don’t you even start.”

John and I moved down the hallway as quickly as we could with Hannah hot on our heels. I barged into the room and started looking around, and I found that John was right. I had left a great deal behind. I didn’t have my books, or my laptop. I had none of my chargers, and I’d left a few toiletries behind as well. I reached for my swim bag and poured everything out. I shoved all of my wet clothes into a plastic bag to take with me, then wiped down the inside. And as John stood at the window, peering down at our car, Hannah piped up beside me.

“Where are you going again? Who is this guy with you?”

I shoved my things into the bag as John turned around with a kind smile on his face.

“I’m John. Max’s brother.”

Hannah’s voice fell flat. “Oh.”

I sighed. “I have to--”

Hannah gripped my arm. “Dani. Seriously. What in the world is this all about? Did you talk to your parents? They were--”

I slid out of her grasp. “I talked to them. They came to see me in the hospital this morning.”

Her eyes bulged. “Hospital? Why were you in the hospital?”

“I was in the hospital because Max saved my life and took me there. Then, this morning, when it looked like things were going to be okay, my father decided to call the police and have him arrested because all he knows about Max is what you told him. So. Thanks for that.”

Hannah blinked. “Dani. I didn’t know where you were.”

“And you won’t ever again.”

She sighed. “Talk to me. That’s all I’m asking you to do. What happened? What do you mean he saved your life? How much trouble are you in?”

I zipped my bag shut. “I don’t have time to talk about this right now. I have shit to do. John, you ready?”

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