“Can I go grab a water while you put that in the car?” I asked, rushed, sounding slightly panicked.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Not like I can run off.” I jerked my chin to the ankle bracelet.
He shrugged and gave me a warning look. “Take the card from my pocket.” He pushed his hip toward me, and I stuffed my hand inside. “Are you feeling me up?” he murmured huskily.
I snorted, found the card, and brandished it with a flourish. “I’ll be back.” I turned on my heels, my sandals slapping with exaggeration. I should have put the tennis shoes on.
I grabbed a water from beside the cash register and placed it on the counter, and scanned for a lighter. Only Langley Mall lighters. Merch for a mall was crazy.
“And some cigarettes.” I motioned to the box I wanted. The teenage pimple-faced Alpha grunted and rang everything up.
The pay screen prompted me to pay. I tapped the card on the top.
“Receipt?”
I shook my head, grabbed my things, and walked to the exit. I slowed and peered out, then down at my items. None of them was going to let me smoke, so it was best to hide it. I pocketed the card, put the bottle of water between my legs to free my hands, and worked on shoving the box of cigs into my bra with the lighter.
The door dinged with my exit. Sinclair was at the car, about thirty feet away.
A bus slowed up to a curb.
I made a split-second decision and took off at a sprint.
“Briar,” he roared. Sounding much too close for my peace of mind. My breath exploded from my lungs, and I was dragged against a hard chest.
“Unbelievable, Briar, I thought we were trusting each other here,” he murmured in his silky, threatening voice. I shivered from the caress of his breath against my ear.
“You don’t understand.”
“You thinkIhaven’t been on house arrest?” His smirk widened. “You compliment me.”
That wasn’t what I was talking about. He was being purposefully obtuse.
“Let me go,” I grumbled, kicking my foot back. My sandal wouldn’t do any harm.
“Stop it, or I won’t be able to do anything if the cops show up.” I jerked my elbow back. “Please, sweets.”
I stopped writhing, and he slowly lowered me, focused on the people watching.
“Go to the car,” he whispered. “They already called.”
My thrumming pulse eased, and I did as he ordered.
At least I’d managed to snag the cigarettes. Hopefully, he wouldn’t look for them. He settled into the driver’s side and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Another huff left his mouth, and he shook his head, pulling the vehicle out of the lot. His silence was putting me off. As was his speeding.
I was counting down the seconds to get to the main road, leading to their home . . . but it was once we reached the trees framing the road that he lurched to a stop, shoving the car into park. Everything went by so fast, my mind scrambled. I grabbed the handle, and it was pulled out of my hands as it was pulled open.
Sinclair grabbed the back of my neck and yanked me out. Did he figure out what I was doing? Fuck, fuck, fuck.
With a slight push, he had my back against the closed passenger side of the car.
“You fucking ran?” he growled, his teeth flashing with his sneer. I pressed my hand on his chest between the lighter and the box of cigarettes, so he couldn’t feel them through my shirt.
“So, you are mad,” I mumbled.
“Mad?” His head tilted back, and he burst into a roaring laugh. “I’m bloodylivid.” His teeth bared, and he crowded even closer. “Why can’t you understand. You,you! Aremine.” He suddenly crouched and brought my leggings and panties down, baring me to the chilly air. Energy rippled under his muscles, and he set my leg over his shoulder, forcing me to lean back against the still-running car.
