I lift my hands in surrender, keeping my expression neutral. Calm. This isn’t the first time he’s choked me, and it won’t be the last.
“Just because daddy’s name got you in doesn’t mean you get all the resources.”
“I’ll make it worth your time.”
He studies me for a long moment. Then he releases me, shoving me away.
“Take him. Out. Now!”
I’m used to being thrown around like a punching bag. Used to taking orders. Comes with the territory when your father is who he is.
I walk into the chamber, grab the witness—still tied, still blindfolded—and haul him over my shoulder. Atticus follows without a word, opening the door to the black sedan outside.
We drive in silence through the city, then out into the woods. When we’re deep enough that no one will hear him scream, we stop.
I dump him on the ground. “Count to one hundred. If you move before then, I’ll break your legs.”
He nods frantically, blood still dripping from his face.
We get back in the car and drive.
We’re halfway back to the mansion when I see headlights in the rearview mirror.
Fast. Aggressive. A black Charger coming up behind us like it’s trying to run us off the road.
I turn around in my seat, squinting at the driver.
I tap Atticus on the shoulder. “Slow down.”
He glances in the rearview mirror and eases off the gas.
The Charger’s horn blares—long, obnoxious—then it whips around us. As it passes, the driver sticks her middle finger out the window.
I catch a glimpse of her face.
Lexi.
I have to laugh. “Floor it!”
Atticus doesn’t hesitate. The sedan roars to life, engine growling as we chase her down the two-lane road.
She sees us coming. Speeds up. Swerves between lanes like a maniac.
“Are you up for it?” I ask Atticus, grinning.
“What?”
“Drive off to the side and then stop her in the middle of the road.”
Before I finish the sentence, he’s already doing it.
Atticus is fucking insane. That’s why we’re best friends.
We veer off onto the grass, tires kicking up dirt and gravel. We’re moving faster now, parallel to her, the sedan bouncing over uneven ground.
She looks over at us, confused. Terrified.
Then Atticus launches back onto the road, cutting her off.
