Possession(25)

“Don’t you know it?!” Mandy agrees.

I feel Eddie tugging me. “Hey, do you fancy going to the cinema tomorrow? That new Tom Cruise film is out.”

“Ooh! I love Tom Cruise,” Mandy says.

I look up to Eddie’s eyes and smile. I would love to say yes, but a part of me knows that Drake would know about it and straight away put a stop to it. But, in my drunk-filled haze all I can think about is rebelling against him as much as possible. Maybe if I snuck around—wore a hat or something—then I could do it.

“Okay,” I find myself saying without thinking too much. “What time do you want to meet, and where?”

Eddie rewards me with a big, beaming smile. “How about I come pick you up at two?”

Biting my lip, I look across at Mandy. She glares at me, and I know the reason why. I look back to Eddie. “You can’t come to the house.”

He frowns. “Why not?”

“Because my parents don’t like boys calling for me.”

Eddie laughs a little. “But you’re sixteen. You can leave home if you really wanted.”

I sigh. “I know, but until I finish school, that’s the way that it is.” It’s partly true, but only because Drake makes it that way. The only lie is about the school thing. I’m not allowed to date. Period. I should imagine even when I turn eighteen I won’t be dating. Not unless Drake decides to. It makes me wonder if he would ever take me on one if I asked.

I shake my head clear of that errant thought. Why on earth am I thinking about Drake dating me? I’m trying to run away from him—not toward him.

“So, would you prefer that I meet you at the cinema then?”

I nod my head. “That would be better.”

I notice Mandy’s looking at me as if to ask, “How on earth are you going to pull that off?” All I do is smile at her and give her a cheeky wink. She smirks back, shaking her head. “Rather you than me,” she mutters under her breath.

“What’s that?” Roman asks, tugging at Mandy.

“I said … give me some of that brandy.” I start laughing, but hand her the drink.

Afterwards, Eddie pulls me in and snuggles his nose in my hair. “You smell so fucking incredible.” I feel him nibbling on my ear and it starts me off giggling.

“Get a room,” Roman complains.

“You can talk,” Eddie jibes back.

We’re immediately silenced by a set of car lights moving towards us from the park’s entrance. Panicked, Mandy looks at me, and I immediately pull myself away from Eddie. I don’t know who it is that’s coming, but I have a fair idea.

“Do you think it’s the fuzz?”

I see when the tell-tale Rolls Royce grills come into view, and I know for a fact it’s him. “No, that’s not the fuzz. In fact, it’s worse than the fuzz.”

“Who is it then?” Eddie squints his eyes and leans forward to try and get a better view.

“It’s Drake,” Mandy answers.

Eddie looks confused. “Drake? You mean Drake Salvatore? What would he be doing here?”

I already know, but I don’t have time to answer him because the car is right beside us in no time, and the big Drake Salvatore gets out. I can tell already—even in the dark—that he’s unimpressed.

With a stern look, he takes in the scene. We’re sitting on a park bench together. Eddie and I are on one side, and Mandy and Roman are on the other. From anyone on the outside looking in, it would look like two couples hanging out. I doubt very much Drake will think any differently either. A part of me relishes the idea that he’s caught me, but another part is scared of what the consequences might be.

Two of his men get out of the car and just stand by the door, looking menacing. I’m guessing it’s deliberate as Drake has to have a presence no matter what. Looking at him alone is scary enough, but I’m familiar with Drake. Roman and Eddie, on the other hand, aren’t. The same as everyone else, they only hear of the whispered rumours about the great Drake Salvatore. The feared one … the one you don’t cross. Unless of course you don’t value your life.

As he stares across at me, sitting comfortably beside Eddie, his eyes narrow, and I can’t help but feel that heat he always manages to entice out of me. He looks positively sexy in his crisp grey suit and long dark coat. He oozes sex appeal, and I hate him for it.

“What do we have here?” he finally asks.

“We were just hanging out.” I smile at him, but it’s not a nice smile. It’s deliberate. From the way he glares back at me, I can tell he’s not impressed.

“Evelyn, Mandy, get in the car. I want to have a word with these two young lads.”