Page 96 of Sweet, Sweet Jewel: A Sweet Treats Novel

Finn nodded and disappeared into the night.

31

The car lurched. Jewel dug her fingers into the passenger seat and stared at the gas tank. It was idling on ‘E’. Kross cursed and yanked on the wheel, forcing their vehicle into the grassy embankment.

They’d been driving for what felt like hours but was probably only thirty minutes. She had no idea where they were, but there were no houses around that she could see. Thick woods sprang up on either side of the abandoned highway.

The night was still. Even the moon was hiding from them somewhere behind the stars. Insects chirped from the foliage, their sounds amplified by the eerie silence.

She would prefer not to be out here at all, but at least she wasn’t alone in her unease. Kross seemed as out of his element as her.

“Wait here,” Kross said. He shoved the door open and climbed out.

Jewel eyed the key in the ignition. Her hands were still tied, but she could maneuver around those barriers if she was careful.

Her heart sped up. She glanced outside to where Kross was fiddling with the trunk. Leaning forward, she stretched for the keys.

Jewel could escape.

Just a little further…

The slam of the trunk shattered the night air and caused her to jump. Kross stomped back to the car, dragged the door open and climbed in. The entire vehicle rocked as he slammed his door shut.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. I’m not a mechanic!”

Jewel flinched. “I think we’re out of gas.”

“I didn’t notice.”

Seeing him this unraveled reminded Jewel of the night Kross’s father summoned him.

Kross had been busy with her and two other girls when a bunch of men stormed in and dragged him away, unmindful of the naked women in the room. It was the only time she’d ever seen him lose his cool.

He was about to lose it again. She saw it in the snap of his eyes, the tremble in his fingers.

“We’re stuck here.” Kross slammed his hand against the horn and let loose a flurry of expletives. She winced, waiting for the noise to end.

Her head thudded.

Kross had punched her earlier and she could feel the skin swelling. She’d been determined to fight, but this night was going on forever. At this point, she was just ready for it to end.

“How did they find us?” Kross turned in his seat and glared at her.

“It wasn’t me,” Jewel said tiredly.

“Mr. Robinson is determined. I’ll give him that.”

Jewel stiffened at the mention of Finn’s name.

Kross took note of it and smiled darkly. “Did you find out about the real reason he approached me?”

“If I think about what you did to him, I can understand. You killed his sister.” She shook her head, a new wave of hatred and regret boiling in her chest. “Do you even remember her?”

“Why? Are you jealous?”

She gritted her teeth. “Don’t you feel sorry? You murdered all those women.”

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