“You can just…”—she makes a vague motion—“drive along beside me.”
I shake my head and stride toward her. She doesn’t see me–too focused on Tyler in front of her–and therefore can’t escape when I finally give in to that base instinct and grab her hips. I haul her over my shoulder, her body weight an easy lift, and she screeches like a banshee. The noise cuts off when she folds in half, and her fingers dig into my back.
“I’ve got it,” I tell Tyler.
He snickers. “Good luck.”
She kicks out, and I quickly band my arm across her calves. It puts her feet in close proximity to my groin, but hopefully it won’t come to that. I go to my car on the street and contemplate letting her sit in the front seat.
But that’s a little too generous, seeing as how she’s still struggling like I’m kidnapping her.
Wait. Am I kidnapping her?
I pop the trunk and consider that then smile to myself. Yeah, I suppose I am.
I unceremoniously drop her into the trunk, only pausing to make sure her limbs are all folded inside. She seems shocked, looking up at me with her hair in her face.
That’s the last expression I see when I close the trunk with her in it.
[ 22 ]
SCARLETT
It’s official.
Ihatehim.
The top of my head hits the side of Cross’s trunk for the fifth time, and I’m beginning to think he’s taking these turns sharply on purpose. The sound of tires against asphalt echo around me, blending in with my fast breathing, and I groan again.
Who the hell sticks someone in their trunk, besides a serial killer?
Is Cross a serial killer? Because I’m beginning to think he is!
“Cross!” I shout his name. “Let me out of here, you psycho!”
With my hands pressed flat above my head, I take the heels of my boots and kick the inside of the trunk. I do this over and over again until my muscles burn with agony.
“Cross!” I yell again, my throat scratchy and dry. “If you don’t let me out of here–” My body slams against the hard surface. “Oof.” The cutting motion knocks the wind completely out of me.
I wheeze as my lungs beg for air. I press my hands against my chest, as if I can force the oxygen into them by the simple act.
“Cr–” I inhale sharply. “Cross!”
My eyes spring open at the sound of his door slamming. A bleak darkness surrounds me, and I’m mad with impatience. Ialready have a plan in place. As soon as the trunk opens, I’m going to claw his fucking eyes out.
“I know you’re out there.” I force myself to speak through the sharp pain in my chest. “Open the fucking trunk.”
A knocking noise comes from above.
“Say please.”
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip.Fine.I’ll play his game.
“Please.”
The trunk unlatches, and cool air filters inside the stuffy space. I quickly glance around at my surroundings, having no idea where we are. Tall, looming trees border the desolate road he’s pulled off onto, but none of that matters because I’m wild with anger and pent-up hostility. Even more so when I see Cross’s smug face staring back down at me with a pleased look in his eye.
He may dominate in the cage, where he can use his fists against opponents, but out here, all alone with me? He has another thing coming.
