Stay(38)

A gunshot rang behind me, echoing throughout the empty parking lot. My heart was like a jackhammer in my chest, beating so fast it was painful.

Holy. Fucking. Shit. Did he really shoot him? My eyes went wide with terror and I was too scared to turn around to see if Zane had killed someone in cold blood. My breath clouded the shiny metal hood.

"Get in the goddamn car!" Zane's voice came from behind me. Fear made me incapable of moving. Zane’s heavy footfalls reverberated off the brick building. “I said get in the motherfucking car!” he yelled. He was right behind me. His hand snapped around my neck, fingers digging into my skin. I cried out in pain and stumbled back. He thrust me forward toward the door. "What part of get in the car don't you understand?"#p#分页标题#e#

I grabbed the handle. “It's locked, Dipshit," I blurted.

I could feel his body tense as he leaned on me. My breath fogged the window. Zane’s rage hummed in the night air. He growled as he exhaled, released me, and dug the keys from his pocket.

He unlocked and opened the door and shoved me in. Unable to keep my balance in the tall heels, my ankle buckled, and I fell. Zane kicked me.

"Get in!" he shouted.

I pulled myself up, my fingernails biting into the black and orange leather seat. I scrambled in, pulling my legs up quickly as Zane slammed the door. He stomped around and heaved into the driver's side and brought the engine to life. He hit the steering wheel three times then laid on the horn before revving the engine. I huddled against the door, terrified of Zane now more than ever.

He spun the car around and tore out of the parking lot, going the opposite direction we had come from.

"Where are we going?" I stammered, assuming he was going to take me back to the farmhouse.

"Shut up, cunt," he retorted.

I turned and faced him, taking in the wild aggression that twisted his face. His eyes darted off the road and at me, noticing my staring.

"What the fuck do you want?" he snarled.

Afraid of him, I bit the inside of my cheek and wrapped my arms around myself. Forgetting that I was wearing pointed acrylic nails, I flinched from the pain of scratching myself.

I moved closer to the window, keeping my face close to the tinted glass in hopes of someone else spotting me. My breath came out in loud whooshes and my teeth chattered together from fear. Zane zoomed down the streets, running more than one red light in his haste to get wherever we were going. Nate's words from months ago haunted me. Was I more trouble than I was worth? What would happen to me if I was?





CHAPTER SIXTEEN





DESPITE MY FEAR, there was something calming about being in the familiar setting of Des Moines. My parent's gallery was on the edge of the town, and our house wasn't too far beyond that. My heart swelled when I thought of my family. I was so close it hurt.

Zane stomped on the gas to plow through a yellow light. His reckless driving was going to get me killed … or save me. My eyes widened with hope. If he got pulled over, it all would end. I peered over at the speedometer; he was going ten over the limit. He glanced at me, following my eyes to the dash. He realized how fast he was going and let off the gas.

The hope in me died. Expecting him to make a wise-ass remark, a threat, or even reach over and hit me, I leaned back in the seat and waited. But he did nothing.

Time passed slowly, but I dreaded our destination. The more I thought about the implications of being recognized, the more I was certain I was going to die. I wondered how he would do it. Would it be fast, like an execution? That didn't seem to be Zane's style. There were so many ways to kill somebody. My gut twisted as I thought of the possibilities.

The Camaro lurched to a stop in a familiar alley. I had been there before, I just couldn't place my exact location in the dark.

"Stay here," he growled and cut the engine. Zane scrambled out of the car, ran around to my side, and yanked open the door. "Open your mouth and I'll break your fingers," he threatened. “One at a time.”

I clenched my jaw and nodded. He took hold of my arm and jerked me forward, feet teetering in the stupid heels. The stench of old food lingered in the air and I held my breath when we passed the dumpster.

Zane fumbled with his keys, trying to separate them with one hand. Giving up, he pushed me forward and picked out the right key. I noticed the writing on the door right as he stuck it into the lock.#p#分页标题#e#

THE DISH was engraved in gold on a small plaque. I froze when I saw it. I had been here before, just last year. The upscale restaurant opened several years ago and my mom was dying to eat there, but we never got around to it until her birthday last winter. When my dad got the bill and realized the cost of our meal could have bought him another piece at the gallery, he swore he would never go back.