“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear you say that. Because if Ididhear you say it, I’d have to cut your pretty little tongue out.” Roman’s voice is flat and humorless.
“What are you guys mixed up in? Whatever it is, I swear I’m not a part of it. I’m literally just trying to get my uncle’s estate ready to sell, that’s it.” I’m not sure how much me rambling will help my case, but I have to try, don’t I?
He glances over his shoulder to gauge how far back the other guys are before he sets his attention on my pissed-off expression. “I know you are a part of it. You were practically delivered to me tied in pretty bows, Squirt. You really fucked up with Grahm, by the way.”
“Delivered to you?” I deadpan. “Don’t fucking call me Squirt.” I push against his chest, but he doesn’t even seem to notice.I can’t handle his fucking arrogance.
He studies every reaction I give. “?Hmm. You really had no idea.” His statement is more of a mumbling to himself than it is for me. He blatantly ignores my comment too.
“No idea of what?” I wriggle in his arms, and he’s forced to stop and let me down. I stumble a little but am able to remain standing this time. “Grahm is the ranch hand that helped my uncle. I kind of need him for his work around the farm. I can’t get all the repairs done myself, and I don’t have the money to hire anyone. It’s not like I know Grahm personally.”
He looks at me like he’s trying to decide if I’m telling the truth or not. We walk slowly, and I can hear someone catching up to us from behind.
Our bickering falls silent until the person passes and heads toward their vehicle in the parking lot up ahead.
The quiet tension between me and Roman is worse than the bickering, so I stir the pot. “Your last name is Syxx?”
He side-eyes me. “Something like that.”
My sarcastic side wins over my sensible one. Probably because I’m concussed. “Roman Syxx sounds like a super made-up name. I mean you literally have a Romannumeralsix on your face.”
We step into the parking area, where it’s much brighter with the bonfire in view now and the solar tea lights throughout the tree boughs.
Roman ignores me, but I don’t miss the way that his hands curl tightly at his sides like he’s about to burst. It’s good to know that I at least get on his nerves without him losing control. Maybe he’s more level-headed than I pinned him for. It’s his eyes that give away his calm yet pissed?-off mood. Callum’s eyes were void of anything human the night he buried me. You can tell a lot through someone’s eyes.
We stop in front of a motorcycle, a crotch rocket, to be specific. I give Roman a contorted expression. HalfWhat the fuck?andI’m not getting on that.
“You’ll be fine. Just hold on to me.”
“Can’t you just drive us back in the Mercedes?” I’d hate to get back into that car, but it beats this death trap a million to one.
He shakes his head. “No can do. I lost it in the race thanks to you.”
I glower. “What?”
His expression doesn’t lift in the slightest. “Those are the rules. Don’t worry though, I’ll steal it back. Here, put this on,” he says so nonchalantly as he hands me a helmet.
“Oh, so therewasa second helmet,” I say scathingly. “How often do you lose? And for the record, I’m really not surprised you’re into grand theft auto.”
“I can toss the helmet in the woods if you want to keep complaining about it.” He mounts the bike and starts the engine. “This would be a first, again, thanks to you.”
I hesitate to put the helmet on, worried that it will put pressure on my throbbing temple. I gently brush my fingertips over the side of my head to test how tender it is and wince at the pain. Roman glances over and notices my pause.
He lets out a big sigh and throws his head back, turning off the bike. “If we get caught and I have to beat some dude up, it’s your fault.” He takes the helmet from my hands and sets it back on his bike along with his.
This night has been such crap that I don’t even care what he’s doing, I just want to be back at the farm and in bed.
Roman selects an SUV and tries the door. Of course, small-town folk always leave their doors unlocked, so it opens.Now he’s making me participate in auto theft too?I cross my arms and shiver as a cold breeze moves through me. He finds keys under the visor and starts up the car.
He motions for me to get in.
“You’re so corrupt,” I mumble as I climb in, wincing at the pain that jolts across my head.
“And don’t forget it.”
He drives in silence, and after the first few minutes I quickly start dozing off only to have someone shake me awake roughly by my shoulder.
“You can’t sleep, Briar.” His voice is sharp but somehow fuzzy. I groan and hold my head. It’s hard to keep my eyes open, but after Roman gets tired of shaking me every few minutes, he just turns the radio up really loud.
