Page 150

“I don’t say things I don’t mean. I always take care of my things. You are no exception.”

I smiled at Brody and put a hand on his crotch. His cock jerked under my palm.

“Call me your possession one more time, and I’ll cut your balls off while you sleep,” I said sweetly.

He laughed and pressed a kiss to my temple. “And that’s what I fucking love about you, heathen. Now, off you go.”

He leaned over and pushed my door open, and I stared at him open-mouthed. He’d just come dangerously close to saying something incredibly intimate and personal. I had no idea what to make of that. The wordlovebeing thrown around freaked me out completely.

I got out of the car awkwardly, and Brody pinched my ass as I went. It broke my inertia, and I turned around and slammed the door, giving him the finger.

He laughed.

I turned away from the car and set off. He was a block away from the diner, so it wouldn’t look like he’d dropped me off if Preston was watching.

I felt eyes on me and knew it was Cal. He had parked closer to the diner, so he could would wait for me to leave and take me home. At that point, Brody would take over, and we’d have all the evidence we needed.

Did our plan have more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese? Maybe, but unlike last time, I wasn’t keeping my secrets and letting people who wanted to hurt me use my silence as a weapon. If it hadn’t been for Winter, Asher, Marcus, and the Harbor Hounds MC, I didn’t know what would have happened to me the year before.

This time, I wasn’t going in alone.

The diner came into sight. It had always been a popular hangout spot when we were in high school, and there was still a fun nostalgia to going there, especially during summer. Now, Iwalked up to the entrance feeling like I was going to my own execution. I was so nervous. My palms were sweaty, and I felt like my makeup had slid off. My tummy squirmed, and there was a slight chance that a panic attack could descend on me out of nowhere, triggered by something Officer Preston said, but it was a chance I had to take.

Brody and Cal were trying to make sure that the video didn’t come out. They were planning on getting Officer Preston in trouble for what he’d already done, and whatever he planned to threaten me with tonight. If the plan went well, then this sudden threat to my fresh start in life would be gone.

If not… I’d have to cross that bridge when I came to it.

I pushed open the diner’s heavy front door and stepped inside. The place was bustling, like always. They had a popular menu, and the prices had barely changed in ten years, hence why it was such a hot spot.

I glanced around at the booths and immediately homed in on the back of Preston’s head. He twisted to look at the door, no doubt wondering where the fuck I was. His eyes met mine, and he smirked. It made my skin crawl and fury pour through me simultaneously.

I felt powerless and murderous all at once. It was disorienting, but then, I’d started to get used to the duality that existed inside me.

Since the attack, I was a victim, but I was also a survivor. I was damaged goods, but I was grateful to be alive. I was afraid, and I was furious.

Of course, those same two sides had existed long before the attack as well. I was a mean girl but desperate to be liked. I was a queen bee but lonely.

“You see him, cheer captain?”Brody’s voice spoke in my ear, through the smallest, most discreet earpiece I’d ever seen.

It was what the big bucks bought you. He was listening, and everything was being recorded. He was with me, inside my head. I put my shoulders back and approached Preston’s table, and he half stood awkwardly.

“Don’t bother getting up. This isn’t a date.” I slid into the booth across from him.

He stared at me, his eyes narrowing, before he chuckled.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m just not sure how I should be treating you, considering how all of this is starting.”

“First time blackmailing and extorting someone? I’m honored I get to pop your cherry.”

“Heathen, sheathe your claws. You don’t want to scare the poor guy before he drops himself in it.”

Preston shook his head. “You’re not like I thought you’d be about this.”

“Aren’t I? I guess I’m not a first-timer, like you. Don’t worry.” I leaned forward. “I’ll be gentle.”

Brody chuckled in my ear.

Preston looked me up and down and licked his lips, an involuntary movement that twisted my stomach.Gross.My banter had turned him on. I resolved to be boring as hell going forward.