Page 95 of Fueled Hate

“You’re priceless,” I whisper, kissing her head before I bend down, looping my arm under her knees and lifting her. Walking over to the couch, I drop down, keeping her on my lap as she clings to me. Her arms entwine around my neck, her legs curled to her chest. I don’t know what to do or say, so I sit there. My palm caressing her back while she cries, eventually drifting off to sleep as I hold her.

“I’ll never let you go,” I mutter against her hair as I close my eyes, eventually drifting off to sleep with her still in my arms, right where she should be—with me.

54

Sadie

The soft caress of his hand is what wakes me, but I know it’s a touch that belongs on me. He’s lying on his back on the couch while I’m stretched out on top of him, my face against his chest as his arms surround me. Safe. That’s how I feel. I’m not sure how long it’s been or how we ended up here, but I’m grateful.

Opening my eyes, I look around the hotel room, automatically fixating on the rain falling outside. After a few minutes, I lift my head, resting my chin on his chest as I look up to find his alluring eyes staring down at me.

He lifts his hand to my face, stroking his thumb along my cheek. “Priceless.”

Resting my cheek back against his chest, I watch as the rain falls outside, lightning striking across the sky as thunder rumbles nearby while we lie together in the serene room. “Can we just stay here forever?”

“That’s the plan.”

Exhaling, I close my eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet until the door swings open.

Bryce has one hand over his eyes, his other feeling the way in front of him as he hollers, “Y’all decent up in here?”

“Yes,” I smile.

He peeks through his fingers before completely removing them from his face, sitting on the armchair beside the couch. “Good because I’m starving. Let’s go get some supper.”

“I really should get back to my apartment.” I push up, sitting on the couch as Dylan does the same.

“I’ll come with you,” Dylan volunteers quickly. Thankfully.

“Excellent, I need a ride.”

“How’d you get here this morning?” Dylan asks.

“Mr. George drove me,” I smile at the thought of his warm smile and comforting hug before he left.

“I knew I liked him,” Dylan says.

“Yeah, he’s great. I asked him not to tell my dad though.”

The entire ride back to Sunland, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything my dad has done, everything Levi has done, and the fact that they are both just allowed to do it. It took all the guts I had, but I asked Mr. George to stop off at a restaurant just outside of Staffordsville so I could go in to use the restroom. Only, I asked to borrow their phone instead, calling in an anonymous tip about the drugs and my mom. They’ll know where the tip came from, and I’m okay with it. If they don’t have any consequences, they’ll just keep thinking it’s okay. Then, the next girl who gets drugged or the next life my brother takes will be on me. That’s a consequence, I can’t live with.

Walking out of the hotel, Dylan and I get into his car and Bryce follows behind in his. As we drive to get my Mustang, I think of how much I don’t want anything attached to my mom or dad and make the decision to sell the car immediately. But it makes me think of another car.

“Have you thought about the race? Are you gonna try and get the STI back?” I ask, feeling Dylan tense a bit before his hand relaxes, bringing my wrist to his mouth.

“I’m not racing on that track again.”

“Are you really okay with that after everything?”

“Yeah. I can’t do that to my mom. My head will never be right driving on that track. And I’m happy with how things ended up.” He gives me a sexy smile.

“Me too. I was thinking though, I can get Willow to talk to Parker. Just ask him to tell what happened that night. I might not be the best judge of character, but I know Parker wouldn’t have hurt Noah. There’s just no way.”

“Parker wasn’t there, Sadie.”

“Yes he was. He hasn’t raced since that night.”

Dylan looks to me with a confused expression. “He wasn’t there, Sadie.”