“I don’t—”
The engine roars into life, vibrating through the seat and into my bones. He tears out of the forecourt, vehicle shimmying on the slick asphalt.
“Where are you taking me?” My knuckles whiten on the dashboard.
“Not far. Just somewhere a bit more private.”
He takes a corner so fast, I’m thrown against the door, and yelp.
“Relax. You’ve been in cars before. I’ve followed you, remember?”
“Yeah, and Bryan understands the speed limit.”
Tyres screech as he stamps on the brakes. The seatbelt scores a line of pain across my chest, air whooshing from my lungs.
Damien grips my jaw, twisting me towards him, shoving his face in mine. “Who thefuckisBryan?”
The answer’s on my tongue, but I bite it back. “None of your business.”
“Tell me.”
Car horns blare around us, but Damien doesn’t flinch. His gaze scorches through my dark lenses.
“Get your hands off me.”
“Or what? You’ll pepper spray me again?” He gestures at the busy road. “With all these witnesses?”
I clamp my jaw shut.
After an eternity, he leans back in his seat, palms up in mock surrender. “If you’re not willing to share with me, I’m just going to add a punishment to today’s activities. Your choice.”
And he would.
Saturday morning’s rage resurfaces, pulsing, hot, but I’ve run out of room to manoeuvre. Until I arrive at a new plan, I’m better off conceding, at least over something so small.
“Bryan is Mum’s ex. I live with him.”
“And you’re her replacement?”
Revulsion twists my face, drawing his relieved laughter.
“Your guardian?”
“Something like that.”
He finally resumes driving. Minutes later, he pulls into the mall’s parking building and winds up the levels until we reach the open-air top. He parks diagonally in a corner, and the highPerspex barriers form a tiny see-through prison on the left side, isolated from the other cars.
The engine’s ticking fills the sudden silence.
“Can I have my medicine back now, please?”
Instead of answering, Damien gets out and circles the vehicle, opening my door and crouching in front of me. His fingers touch my hair, unexpectedly gentle, and I lower my face as a lump swells in my throat.
I bite my cheek until I taste blood.
“We’ll talk about that once I’ve confirmed your intentions. Are you planning to harm someone, my little ghost?”
Of all the nicknames, this one does something curious to my insides. Maybe it’s the possessive that ignites a coil in my belly.
