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“I’m not yours,” I growl.

He leans in close and grabs my face. I wince but he keeps holding me tighter. “If I can’t have you, then no one can.”

Jesus, what is he going to do? Kill me? I want to say that he wouldn’t but I really can’t be sure. I have no idea what Ryan is truly capable of. If his delusional idea that he loves me keeps me alive, then I guess I have to roll with it.

“Okay, Ryan. I’m yours.”

“There’s my girl.” He beams, leaning in, and kisses me. I fight my body’s every instinct to retch and instead kiss him back. Pulling away, he wipes his thumb across my cheek and smiles.

“Scoot back so I can close the doors, babe.”

I allow my body to follow his directions. I’m so exhausted and I just want Nix. I don’t have much fight left in me.

He closes the door and goes back to the driver’s side. The van starts up and he curses.

“What?” Evan asks.

“We need gas.”

This time Evan curses. “Man, we can’t hang around here long. Do you want to get caught?”

“We’ll be fine. It’ll take five minutes.”

“We’ve already been here for close to a half an hour!”

“Chill out, Ev!”

My mind spins as Ryan sounds completely aware of what he is doing. He knows this is wrong; he just doesn’t care. I feel better knowing that I’m not the one losing my mind here. The van begins moving, only to stop a short time later, and someone jumps out after it shuts off.

“Man, hurry the fuck up! I’m not going to jail for that cunt!”

“Shut up! Don’t call her that!” Ryan calls back.

“Yeah, yeah, sorry. She’s your girl, I know.”

It grows silent as Ryan puts gas in the van.

“Jesus! How long is this going to take?” Evan barks.

“Dude, it’s got like a thirty-gallon gas tank. It’s gonna take a minute.”

Suddenly, the rumble of motorcycles fill the air and I hold my breath, praying with every ounce of strength I have that it’s Nix’s dad. Police sirens join the roar of the bikes and in that moment, I know I’m saved.

He found me.

I don’t know how but I know without a doubt that Nix found me. Now, all I need is for my babies to be okay.

“Shit!” Ryan yells.

“Motherfucker!” Evan adds. “I told you, Ryan! Damn it! How did they find us?”

“I don’t know!”

“You stupid idiot! Did you turn your phone on?”

“Shit, sorry, dude. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“What’s the point, asshole? They’ll just follow us. We’re screwed!”