We weren’t far from the highway where civilization would finally be visible, but I wanted to make it home in one piece, and if these two started going at it, I wasn’t sure that would be the case. “You guys realize I’m sitting right here.”
“As long as you don’t cross a line. If you do…I think you’ll know what I’ll do to you.” Kreed’s threat hung in the air.
“Kreed,” I said, exasperated.
Carson scoffed under his breath. “Were you really going to kill him?” he asked, eyes flickering to me before returning to the road. We were almost on the highway.
I couldn’t tell if he wanted the truth or if he wanted to keep pretending that I was the naïve girl next door. I went with the truth. I didn’t want our friendship to continue on lies, assuming we could get back there. “Yeah. I was.”
Carson’s brows knitted together.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I shot back. “What did you think I was going to do?”
“I don’t know,” he said, throwing a hand up. “Come to your senses? Let the police handle it? Let yourboyfriendpull the trigger?”
“I would haveifshe hadn’t stolen my gun,” Kreed grumbled from the back.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, flooding my face with warmth. Okay, that part was fair. I scrunched my nose. “Sorry about that.”
Carson’s movements were jerky as he took the ramp onto the highway. “That’s where you got the gun?”
I lifted my chin, unapologetic. “Yes. And it doesn’t matter. I missed. And Donovan shot him.”
“Wait until Kenny hears about this,” Carson grumbled.
Kreed’s hand slid to my shoulder and squeezed gently, the pressure anchoring me. “Look at me,” he murmured.
I did, turning back to meet his gaze.
“Next time you get the urge to run into danger and steal my gun, tell me so we can make sure you don’t miss your shot,” he said, not an ounce of judgment in his features.
“Wonderful. Excellent advice,” Carson snapped sarcastically. “I’d expect nothing less from a criminal.”
Kreed smirked. “It’s better than being an insufferable prick who snitches to get other people to do his dirty work.”
Carson’s nostrils flared, his chest expanding with a deep breath.
This was deteriorating fast.
“Can we not fight?” I cut in. “At least not until we get out of this car. I want to make it home in one piece.”
Kreed didn’t take his eyes off Carson, his gaze burning holes into the back of the driver’s seat. “There’s only one way that’s going to happen.”
“Kreed,” I warned softly, letting his name slip out, thick with the fatigue clinging to me.
A rough breath flared from his nose, and I raised my brows at him, waiting. “Fine. But I need you back here with me.”
I blinked, confusion furrowing my brow. “Why?”
“Because the only way I’m not going to rearrange his face right now is if I’ve got my hands on you,” he said, voice rough. “You’re going to need to crawl back here to keep me from strangling him.”
“Oh my fucking god,” Carson groaned from the front seat
He wasn’t the only one who wanted to be closer. The space between us, however small, was too much.
Our gazes were locked. “Come here, little raven.”
My fingers found my seat belt buckle, pressing the release. It retracted, and I began to crawl between the seats, the space impossibly narrow, my knee catching on the center console.
