Carter Reed 2 (Carter Reed #2)(48)

A fierce determination flashed over his face. “She won’t. I promise, Alley Cat. Come on.”

I crawled up and held my arms out. AJ scooped me up, jumped down from the tree, and ran away. I wrapped my little arms around his neck and looked back. The light in my room turned on, and then I heard her screech, “Ally!”

I closed my eyes and pressed into AJ’s neck. I burrowed against him, trying to be as small as I could.

Right now the little girl in me wanted to hide. I shoved that person aside and crawled over my sister. I reached for the other door. The gun would be there. I knew it. But as I pulled on the handle, something wrenched me backward.

I found myself in the front seat, and a body clambered over me, pushing me down to the floor. I scratched and clawed at the person on top of me until I realized it was Thomas.

It was Thomas.

He shielded me as he shot at the person trying to come into the car.

Bang! Bang!

Two shots rang out. Then there was silence.

Thomas’ body went limp. His arms fell back onto the seat beside us.

Emma, flatten yourself.

It was like Carter was there. I could hear him telling me what to do.

Make yourself as little as possible. They’re coming in. Thomas is lying over you. They might not think you’re there. You need to be still.

I started trembling and closed my eyes. I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight back. I wanted to run away. I wanted to find a gun and start shooting. But I didn’t. I listened to what I know Carter would’ve told me.

I needed to be calm. I needed to be rational.

I closed my eyes and lay there. Then I escaped. My mind left my body, that car, and whatever was going to happen. I remembered Carter. I remembered AJ. I remembered a good memory from when we were kids.

“Come on, Emma,” AJ called from the living room. “Movie night, and you’re on popcorn duty.”

A normal teenager would’ve grumbled. Not me. Movie night meant a full night with my brother and his best friend in the house. All night. They weren’t out doing whatever they did. They were safe. Carter was safe.

My body warmed. I was going to see Carter for the next few hours. A surge of adrenaline had me buzzing as I got off the bed, put my book away, and walked down the hall. I could hear them talking. They were laughing about something, some guy named Dunvan. AJ called him an idiot. Carter laughed, but not as much as my brother.

My knees were a little unsteady. I was always like this. AJ said it was puberty. It was because of Carter, though. Then I stood in the doorway to the kitchen. AJ had his arm up, making waving motions in the air. “I don’t need to worry about him. Dude, I’m primed for a win. Seriously. We should pool our money together. Dunvan’s all talk. He won’t do shit. You know that. He’s been threatening the same crap for years now.”

As my brother talked, Carter leaned against the counter. His eyes slid past AJ to me, and he grew somber.

I usually looked away. That’s what I did. Everyone liked Carter at school. All the girls talked about him, and when he looked at me, sometimes it was too much. I was no one. But that night, feeling brave for some reason, I stared back at him.

There was a bruise on the side of his jaw. He’d been hit at the corner of his eye too. My eyes fell to his hands, and I didn’t know if I should be relieved or not, but I was. His knuckles were swollen and red. He’d fought back. Whoever had hit him, Carter had stood up for himself.

Good.

He smiled, still holding my gaze, as my brother began talking about something else.

I wasn’t listening. I don’t think Carter was either.

I could hear what was happening around me now, but I stayed in my memory. I was happy there. I was safe.

They were in the car.

Two men were saying my name and cursing because I was unconscious. But I wasn’t. I was hiding. I was pretending.

A seatbelt unclicked, and I heard a thud. Then they were gone.

I could hear them running away.

There were more shouts.

More gunshots.

I could hear the cars careening away.

Then more shouts.

More people running.

And someone was back in the car. He yelled, “In here!”

“Come on, Carter.” AJ laughed. “You can’t tell me you’re not interested in Molly Hobalt. That girl is hot, man.”

Thomas’ body was lifted. I sucked in my breath. I was exposed.

Carter stared at me as he responded. “You’re right, AJ. She’s very beautiful.”

I knew he wasn’t talking about Molly Hobalt. I blushed and looked away, but I still felt the weight of his gaze.

“Oh my god,” a man exclaimed above me.

Carter watched me the rest of the night, instead of the movie. I had never felt more beautiful.

I opened my eyes. The man was pale as he stared at me, his mouth hanging open. Then he snapped to attention and yelled again, “In here! Now! Cole!”

Cole…

A second later, Carter’s friend popped his head around the door, and relief flooded over his face. “Holy shit. Emma.”

I looked for my sister, but she was gone.

It was time.

My insides were stretched thin. My fury billowed inside me. It had become my friend again. As I moved, it went with me. It filled me up and it remained just under my surface. For now.

As soon as I stepped off the elevator, I saw her on the floor. A pillow had been stuffed under her head and a blanket covered her. Cole had sent me directions to an abandoned building, but no one knew I was there. I could hear their voices in a back room, but for that moment, it was only her and me. I couldn’t look away.