“You’re an asshole,” I hissed, turning my face to look at his profile.
“That’s one part of you I haven’t yet explored,” he whispered in my ear, low and close enough that Tommy couldn’t hear.
I gulped, closing my eyes and using all of my self-control not to turn around and give him a piece of my mind. I couldn’t react in front of my brother or the other eyes that could possibly be on us.
“What do we have here, ma’am?” James asked, pulling his hand from my pocket and dangling the small bag in front of my face.
“It’s not mine, officer,” I pleaded, shaking my head and playing the part.
“Place your hands behind your back. I’m placing you under arrest,” he said, grabbing my arm, gingerly moving it away from my head and down to the small of my back.
“Must we do this?” I asked, looking toward Tommy.
Tommy winked, not giving any other physical indication that everything was okay.
“We must, doll. Give me your other hand.”
I wrinkled my nose and ground my teeth as I felt the cold steel of the handcuffs slap against my wrist. Great. Not only was I being placed in his custody, I was starting off bound and in his possession without a means of escape. Being with the men of the MC had felt less scary than what I felt about being a captive for James.
“I’ll leave them loose so they won’t pinch, but you can’t get out. Not yet at least,” he said as a low, slow laugh tickled my ear.
I glared at Tommy, not looking at James as he marched me toward the back of the police cruiser. He placed his hand on my head as he helped me into the back seat.
“Stay put,” he ordered as I moved my legs inside.
“Where the fuck am I going, genius?” I blurted out, the anger dripping from my voice. My hands were restrained behind my back and I was about to be locked in the police car.
“You better watch that smart mouth of yours, doll.” He grinned, leaning against the frame of the car.
“Or what? Are you going to rough me up, Jimmy?” I snuggled back into the seat, adjusting my body and trying to find a comfortable position.
“I’d hate to add resisting arrest to your charges.” His grin turned into a smirk as he wiggled his eyebrows and licked his lips.
“Just get this shit over with so we can get the fuck out of here,” I hissed, not finding him charming at all.
“As you wish.” He slammed the car door, leaving me with my thoughts as he approached Tommy and spoke with him.
I watched through the windshield as they exchanged some heated words—or at least they made it seem like they were. A dull ache settled in my chest as I watched them speak. This would be the last time I’d see my brother for some time. The not knowing was the worst part. Tommy looked over at me a couple of times as they finished their conversation. My nose began to tickle as tears threatened to fall.
When James slid into the front seat, he didn’t speak. He turned on the car and started to pull away after Thomas had sped down the road.
“When are you going to let me out of these fucking cuffs?” I asked. My wrists already felt the bite from the metal digging into my skin.
“Tomorrow,” he answered calmly, looking at me in the rearview mirror. His eyes changed from the smile I couldn’t see but knew was there.
“You can’t keep me like this until tomorrow.” Anger built inside me. My body was almost vibrating as I stared at him in the mirror.
I knew I was now a pawn in his game. I’d have to play by his rules. I was pissed at Thomas for leaving me with James, and at asshole Flash for being an idiot and not realizing the amount of shit he was bringing me around this weekend.
James looked at the road, the corner of his eye crinkling as he spoke. “Harder for you to run away like that. Plus, you look fucking sexy when you’re pissed off, Izzy.”
“Jimmy, look, I didn’t mean—“
“James.” His eyes momentarily flashed in the rearview mirror before leaving me again.
“James,” I hissed, holding the end, letting the letter stick between my teeth. “I’m sorry about what happened.” I looked down at my knees, chewing the inside of my lip.
“I’m not,” he said flatly.
“It wasn’t nice of me to leave without saying goodbye. I was a jerk. Can you forgive me?” I wasn’t really sorry for anything, but I wanted the damn cuffs off my wrists.
“It won’t work, Izzy.”
“What?”
“Your fake apology,” he said as he pulled up to the red light and his eyes returned to mine. His face had a red sheen from the traffic light. He looked like the devil I figured he really was. He’d torture me as long as I was in his custody.