Page 9 of Anathema Codex

With a sigh, he tosses his phone into the backseat, opens the window on his side of the car, and retrieves a pack of smokes from the inside of his jacket pocket, lighting up, then turning his attention to the bright, flashing lights of the trucks blocking traffic in the middle and right lanes.

He’s done now and until he feels like speaking again, this is going to be a longer ride than I thought.

Especially if he thinks I’m going to let him get away with doing what he just did without asking me first.

SIX

Breath Play

DEXTER

I waited until the car started moving to push Aftyn and Willa’s bags off my head. It’s not easy hiding in the back of her damn car, and while I’m uncomfortable, I know I have to do my best to stay quiet while they bicker and diddle each other.

The latter made me feel a little sick, though. I never knew those two were fucking each other. I had a feeling, I just thought she had more class than that, and that he had better taste.

Which is probably why neither of them ever want to be around me,I think miserably as I turn my head slightly. There’s enough air under the heavy blanket she keeps in the back for me to keep breathing, but I’m pretty sure that I won’t last much longer like this.

The incessant stop and go of traffic is making it worse. I never knew I was prone to car sickness until I put myself in this damn situation.

A soundsmackgreets my ears and I have to do my best not to laugh out loud. Maybe Willa has more class than I thought, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t going to earn her any favors with Aftyn.

“If youeverdo that again, I’ll break your goddamn hand,” he barks at her.

She giggles and in an even tone responds to his threat, “Likewise, Meyer.”

“Are you serious?”

His tone is riddled with disbelief and contempt at her rejection of whatever the fuck he just did to her, but Willa doesn’t back down.

“You already know that I don’t like you that way. It’s one thing when we’re high or drunk, but sober? I don’t want your grody hands on me.”

“Bitch,” he grumbles in defeat.

I shift slightly under the blanket as a grin settles over my face. While they seem to hate each other, I know they’re the best of friends, and if I’m being honest, I like them best when they’re barking at each other.

Aftyn’s eyes become wide and dangerous when he gets angry, while Willa’s take on a bored and superior look.

I wish I could see them now.

One of them lets out a sigh and the cool, night air comes breezing into the car followed immediately by the smell of tobacco.

“This is going to be much longer than it needs to be if you’re going to be a precious bitch about things,” Aftyn tells her curtly.

“So what? You’re a precious bitch about everything when you don’t get what you want.”

Silence.

Stony and harsh.

That’s what follows next, then the sound of a car door opening, and footsteps walking away from the vehicle.

“Fucking crybaby,” Willa mumbles as she pulls over on the side of the highway and the blinkers start to tick.

Another car door opens, closes, then footsteps running on the gravel.

An act of bravery descends on me as I push everything off my body, then sit up. Since the windows are tinted, I know they won’t be able to see me right away and I’ll have enough time to hide again before they do.

I push my hair out of my eyes as I sit up and press my nose against the window. They’re not too far away from Willa’s truck, and she seems to be trying to calm him down. He’s looking down at her with that look he sometimes gets once something no longer holds his interest, and her hands are on his forearms while she talks. I can’t hear a goddamn thing they’re saying, but when one of the construction guys goes over and attempts to intervene, Aftyn takes one more drag from his smoke before he flicks it over the side of the highway.

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