Page 185 of Devil's Bargain

“Are we ready?” Ben asks, walking over to the door, but my mom knocks before he gets there.

She steps inside, sweeping her eyes over the group of people in my room.

“They know, Mom.”

She swallows. “We have to be rational about this. You can’t just drive over there and barge inside. We don’t know what frame of mind he’s in or if he’s alone. We should phone the police.”

I close my eyes as Ben pushes past us, his usual hot-tempered self. “Fuck!” I growl, tearing after him. “What are you going to do? My mom has a point!”

He whirls on me, forcing me back against the wall. “Your father is one of the most powerful men in town. Do you think the police are going to do shit? April is my friend, and I’m getting her out of there! I’m not waiting a minute longer! Are you helping or not?”

I push him off. “I’m helping!”

My mom follows behind, trying to talk sense into us all as we descend the staircase. “This is dangerous! You don’t know what to expect! Think about this!”

“If you want to help, then let us go!” I push open the front door and jog over to my car. I’m surprised when Ben gets in too.

“You know where the property is, so the others will follow behind.”

My mom bangs on the window, her eyes desperate.

I slide it down. “Phone the police, Mom. Do whatever you want, but we’re leaving.”

Tears stream down her cheeks. She swipes at them and steps back. “Fine. Go!”

I step on the gas.

When we hit the main road, Ben looks at me. “You treat her well?”

I wring the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. “I try to, but she won’t let me.”

Ben chuckles. “She’s feisty!”

I check my mirrors. Two sets of headlights tail behind us. “Say that again!”

“She’s not a cheerleader.”

“I noticed.”

Laughter rumbles inside his chest as he leans his head against the window and side-eyes me. “We’re never going to like each other.”

I snort, a smile playing on my lips. “That’s for damn sure. But you look great in my clothes!”

Ben laughs this time as the light from the streetlights comes in soft waves.

We fall silent.

The rain is showing no signs of easing up. The wipers fly across the glass but not fast enough. My view of the road is still obscured.

“What will happen after this?” he asks.

I sigh tiredly and flip the blinker so the guys behind know we’re about to turn left. “She fucked my dad!” I look at him. His face is shrouded in shadows. “How am I supposed to move past that?”

Another streetlight lights up the interior and illuminates his face. His dark eyes burn into me before he sighs and lowers his gaze. “I don’t know, man.”

I focus back on the road, watching the wipers swish back and forth.

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