I looked over my shoulder as we crossed the street to my car. He scowled at me as I coaxed Brea away. It sent a shiver down my spine.
19 Miranda
ON THE DRIVE to my house, Brea chatted nonstop, but nothing she said registered. All I could think about was Alastair, his death grip on my wrist, and the venom emitting from him. How did I miss that side of him before?
“You and Derek… are you serious?”
I heard that question loud and clear. “Um, as friends, yes.”
“Oh, come on. I know he’s fallen for you. Do you like him too?”
I sighed. “I like him, but I’m not looking for—”
“That’s good enough for me.” She bounced in her seat. “Liking a person is the first step in loving a person.” She sighed dreamily. “That’s how it happened for Alastair and me.”
My head whipped in her direction, shocked by her admission.
“Anna, the stop sign!” she screamed.
I gripped the steering wheel tightly and slammed on the break, knocking us both forward as a horn blared.
“Oh my God! I’m… so sorry.” We were halfway in the middle of the intersection. A minivan swerved around us as an angry woman flipped me off. She had two kids in the back.
Tears rolled down my face as my heart slammed against my chest and my hands violently trembled. I almost hit a car—a car with children in it. Tears gushed down my face.
“I could have killed someone.” I sobbed.
“Anna, it’s okay.” Brea patted my hand. “Nobody was hurt.”
I nodded, trying to regain control, but I was frozen in place.
The familiar rumble of a motorcycle grabbed my attention as it got louder. It stopped at my door, and the man knocked on my window.
“You okay? Are you hurt?” he hollered, not bothering to lift the mask of his helmet.
I stared, more in shock than before because I recognized his leather vest and his stature from the diner Brea took me to my first day working at Radiance. A small patch over the right side of his chest saidJagged Lords MC. Was he in a gang?
My throat felt like it was closing. I was going to hyperventilate if I didn’t get control of myself.
The man on the bike tugged on the door handle, but it was locked. “Are you okay?” he yelled.
“She’s fine,” Brea replied. “Just shaken up.” She patted my hand. “Anna, do you want me to drive?”
Cars were going around us in the middle of the intersection. Two more motorcycles appeared like the one by my window. Was I dreaming?
“Anna?”
“I can drive.” Hopefully. I ignored the trio of bikers and continued slowly through the intersection.
My house was only two blocks away. I didn’t say another word, keeping my hands wrapped around the steering wheel and my eyes on the road. I needed to stay vigilant until I got us safely home.
But I was so shaken, what I really wanted to do was fall apart.
I could have killed us, all three of us.
As I pulled up beside Derek’s truck, I turned the car off and pressed my forehead against my hands on the steering wheel. I sent up a silent prayer of thanks for keeping us safe.
Tears fell from my eyes as I put a hand to my stomach. Everything around me faded as I cried in my seat. Images of those sweet kids pummeled my memory. I could have killed us all.