Page 77 of Girl Violence

Vince pulls a face and glances at her again. “No more fighting me. Promise me?”

“But he has friends. What if you get—”

“Promise me, and mean it this time.”

“I...” Josette looks down, but he grabs her chin and runs his thumb over her lips, his eyes pleading with hers. If this makes him trust her again, then she will. “Okay. I promise.”

Jason opens his door behind them, and Vince reaches for his handle. But before he gets out, he says, “You make it hard not to fall for you, too.”

Josette’s heart stops, and she can only stare at him as he gets out of the car and closes the door.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

They’re in the park—a different section Josette has never been to. A place Austin and his group go to do most of their dealings, or so she’s been told. Josette doesn’t know how true that is, but she can see why they’re drawn to this place.

Aside from the few cars parked next to each other, it’s secluded. Surrounded only by trees, the aftermath of frequent parties evident from the beer bottles, broken glass, and other things Josette doesn’t want to look closely at littering the floor. The kind of place that, if you don’t know how to find it, you won’t.

Through the grey haze of the storm getting worse, Josette recognizes the cars parked up, their exhaust pipes leaking smoke into the air around the people who own them. People who sold their souls long ago to whatever addictions they have. The group who sticks to the shadows of their parties.

Josette never talked to any of them; thankfully, they never bothered her. Still, it makes her sick to think they probably left her alone because Ian called dibs.

Alyssa and Tyler are there, and while she’s not surprised to see her wearing hardly anything, even with a storm coming, Tyler being here is. He used to be one of them, and Josette can only imagine that he’s sold his soul too.

Jason’s words are on repeat in her head, the truth of what they really wanted to do to her that night. She doesn’t want to think about it, but it’s hard not letting your imagination go there.

Her eyes skim the crowd, hesitantly searching for the person who has given her nightmares over the past few nights. She spots Austin first, leaning against his car. He looks wrecked. Not drunk, despite the beer in his hand, but exhausted. And like she thought he would be, Ian is beside him, gulping from a bottle of vodka.

Seeing him makes her heart beat out of control. Flashes of what he did to her pound inside her mind. Touching her, kissing her while trying to push him away but being unable to.

Josette was lucky she got away. She was lucky he didn’t take her to that room. But somehow, she doesn’t feel so fortunate. He still got her. He reached inside her head and ruined a part of her that she might never get back. Poignant knowledge that the world she lives in isn’t safe. That people hurt other people.

It’s good that she’s aware of it, but now, she will be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life, hoping to never come across another Ian.

All his friends are here. The ones who could seriously hurt Vince and Jason. Then there’s Austin, who hates them both. He’s not going to let anything happen to Ian. Josette doesn’t know why they’re thinking coming here and facing a den of vipers will change anything.

Vince opens her door, and her body shakes as she pulls the visor down and wipes wet mascara from under her eyes. Sighing, she gives up trying to look anything less like a hot mess and gets out of the car.

“Vince?” Josette somehow manages to say as she grabs his arm. He stops and steps closer, rubbing his thumb against her cheek, his brows pulling together when he feels her body badly shaking. “We don’t have to do this. We could just go. Leave right now. Grab some chips and maybe pretend to watch something really great on the TV while we make out—”

He bends his head and kisses her.

Josette’s heart stops, and all she can do is cling to him helplessly as he moves his lips against hers, deepening a kiss that blurs the world around her and makes it seem a little less dark. That makes her feel warm when she’s cold.

Because he’s her safety. He always has been.

The kiss ends too soon, and Josette’s breathing quivers as he pulls away. “Stay behind me.”

The world comes crashing back in loud and abrupt, the tiny bit of warmth he gave her gone. Josette swallows down a lump, knowing there’s nothing she can do or say to change his mind. Even though she wants him to leave with her and go home.

But she promised not to fight him, reluctantly letting go, his jacket slipping through her fingertips. He turns and walks forward. Her legs are like jelly as she follows, and Jason walks beside her.

A loud wolf whistle erupts across the lot, and as she eyes the group, she sees they’ve all turned their heads in their direction. The whistle came from a group of girls with Alyssa. They giggle behind their hands at the sight of Vince and how he’s dressed. When she thinks this can’t get any worse, she sees Rosie, who isn’t laughing, but glaring at her.

Jason laughs a little. “Looks like Rosie wants to fight you.”

Any reply dies on Josette’s tongue when Ian turns to look at them. His eyes go to Vince first, and then to her. Girl drama seems stupid right now. Especially when a sly smile forms on his mouth and he steps forward, clapping his hands together.

“Wow. You didn’t have to dress like that to beat me up,” Ian says drunkenly, eyes swinging Josette’s way again. Josette nearly vomits when he whistles. “But fuck, you can dress up like that for me anytime, Josie, babe.”

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