Fallen Crest Alternative Version (Fallen Crest High #2.1)(62)

“Sam, come on.” Jeff stood close on the side. His hand had a cement hold on his hair. He kept glancing from the crowd to me. “Be real here. You can’t help. It’s a dude fight. You’d get slaughtered.”

Adam added, “And they’d know who you are. They don’t know about you. That’s key.”

Emily had come up to us. With a worried look on her face, she frowned at me. “Sam, give it up. These guys are scary. If he wanted you out there, he would’ve taken you with. Mason and Logan are smarter than that. They’re looking out for you. Come to the back with us.”

A police siren screeched through the air. The crowd went silent for a second. There was still pushing somewhere ahead, but then another siren went off and the crowd turned into a mob. Instead of fighting to get away, I tried to push myself farther up in Adam’s arms. I scanned the crowd. “Where’s Becky?”

“She went with the stoners. They’re in the back.”

Adam scooped an arm around my waist and he hauled backwards. The rest of the group ran with him. As he carried me through the crowd, Mark and Peter took each side. Jeff jogged behind us. Emily was behind him and then they tried to clear a path the rest of the way. I tried to climb up, but Adam grunted in protest. It didn’t matter. I climbed onto his back and scanned through the crowd.

Everyone scattered in all directions.

Mark and Peter were trying to help our group run past a few houses before we started to circle back around.

After a while, as the crowd had thinned around us and the Elite group was alone, Adam allowed me back to the ground. As soon my feet touched the ground, I whipped past them and took off in a sprint.

“Sam!”

Jeff groaned. “Let her go. She runs for crazy.”

Someone took pursuit.

“Seriously, Quinn! Let her go. You’re not going to catch her. You’re too winded, she’ll outgo you.”

And I did. It wasn’t long before I stopped hearing his footsteps, but a thrill rushed through me. I went faster and I darted from house to house. As I went, I tried to gauge where Ethan’s house was, and then I circled around from the right.

I kept running.

From the black and orange jerseys, I saw some Roussou people up ahead. I flashed past their cars. A few got out and watched, but no one chased me. I kept going. Then I was closer to the house. Three more cop cars had arrived, one that had two guys cuffed in the backseat. As I neared the house, they put another two in the squad cars.

Then a cop reached out and caught me around the waist. “Whoa, girl.”

I panted up at him. “Sorry. I like to run.”

He eyed me up and down, but lingered on my eyes. “I can see that. You on anything?”

I opened my mouth, but he had a flashlight on before I could respond. He flashed it on my eyes and bent closer. I felt his breath against my skin before he moved back. “Guess you really do like to run.”

I flashed him a grin, slightly silly from the adrenalin that pumped in my body. Then I rasped out, “Where are the Kades?”

He gestured to the house. “They’re being questioned in the kitchen. You should head home, kid.”

“I can’t. They’re my ride.”

He gave me an odd look, but I jogged up the hill and headed inside. A bunch of guys sat in the living room, on the couches, as five police officers stood in front of them. They had notebooks out and pens at the ready. When I headed for the kitchen, Mason and Logan were both at the table. Two cops stood in front of them in plain clothes. Their badges hung from around the necks and their eyes snapped to me when I entered.

Mason groaned.

Logan shook his head before his forehead slumped to the table.

The female cop asked, “Who is this?”

Mason answered for me, “She’s no one. Send her home.”

I couldn’t look away from him and I ignored the anger in his eyes. He looked fine, irritated, but fine. A knot loosened in my gut and my chest lifted with more ease. I could breathe again. Then I blinked back some tears. I knew they would come from the relief, but I turned and wiped them away. A scowl came over my face. What the hell? I was crying, now?

I heard Logan giggle and whipped around. “Shut up. I was worried.”

His shoulders shook, and he doubled over. Then Mason shared in his grin.

The female cop cleared her throat. “Wanna fill us in?”

Mason fixed me with a stare after he stopped his laughter. “Go home, Sam.”

I swallowed thickly.

He gentled his voice. “We’ll talk later.”

It was all I needed. I needed to know he was safe, they were both safe.

As I made my way back outside, exhaustion had settled in. Everything in me wanted to fall to the ground. I wanted to curl in a fetal position, have Mason carry me home, and tuck us both into bed. But when I saw Ethan by his garage, I figured he’d do. He stood with a group of guys, but all of them moved away when I approached.

“No cops?” I glanced around.

Ethan’s frowned as he took in my sweaty state. “No,” he clipped out. “The main attraction is inside. I just own the property.”

I was a bit more wary now. “Could you give me a ride home? Mason—”

He lifted a hand. “No need. I’ll give you a ride.” Then he gestured for his buddies to leave and they did. One of them tossed a pair of keys to him and he caught it in a swift motion. He nodded towards the red Ferrari behind us, and I slid into the front seat with even more relief.