The muscle in his cheek tightens; he doesn’t like where this is going.
Another step back. “Look around you. This is my world, where I’m from. Why do you even bother with me?”
“Jessica.” His voice is a low warning, but I’m done. He needs to leave.
“I get it. You wanna have a good time, and girls like me are fun for a bit. But this stops now, Kane. I’m not your plaything.”
I turn to walk away, but I barely make it two steps before he catches up.
“Did I say you were my plaything? Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Rain barely masks her amusement as I’m dragged back to the car. Summer appears somewhat worried, but she doesn’t step in to help. None of them do.
“What the hell, Kane? Let me go. I’m not coming with you.”
“I wasn’t asking.” He shoves me into the car, straps me in, and slams the door shut.
For a moment, I sit there with my mouth hanging open like I’m trying to catch flies. Did he manhandle me into his vehicle, or did my brain imagine that? And my friends? Did they stand by and watch?
They’re grinning, looking pleased with their meddling. Rain, the troublemaker, is waving.
Have fun,that look says.
This means war. She’d better batten down the hatches, because I’m coming for her. I try the door, but it’s locked.
My hands fumble for the window crank. Then I remember I’m in a brand new car and not a piece of scrap metal that belongs in a junk yard. I smack the window. “Campus creep!”
“Psycho reject,” Rain shouts back.
“Discount Dracula.”
“Knockoff Bond villain.”
“Oh, youbitch?—”
“Is this how you two normally behave?” Kane asks.
I let out a surprised scream, spinning around in my seat. “Jesus Christ. Don’t scare me like that.”
His gaze flicks over me, the faintest trace of humor in his eyes. “Feel free to call me God or Jesus later when you’re coming on my tongue, but just ‘Kane’ will do for now.”
Ignoring him, I flip Rain off as we drive away from the curb. She’s a traitor. At least my sister, despite her faint smile, has the decency to look ashamed.
I’ll deal with her later. She’ll regret ganging up with Rain. I’ll make sure of it.
FOUR
KANE
Ican’t help but notice her, and I don’t know why. But every time she moves, my pulse races.
I grip the steering wheel and steal another look. She’s already watching me, her brows knitted in concentration.
“So…” she begins. “You kidnapped me and now I’m here in your car. What’s next?”
I can’t help the way my mouth curves upward; it just does. There’s something oddly endearing about her snarkiness.
“Now you spend the afternoon with me.”
