Striker: A Dark Bully Romance (Redwood Rebels Book 1) Rachel Leigh (the reading list book .TXT) 📖

Drawing out a sigh, I can tell he’s thinking about it. When he drops his shoulders, a smile inches up on my face. “Ok. Under one condition,” he says.

“You name it. I can handle a condition.”

He perks up. “You’re coming with me.”

Hooking my arm around his, I agree with a nod. “You don’t even have to ask twice. You know how much of a rush I get by being sneaky.” I waggle my brows and laugh.

“Yes. Yes, I do. And that is exactly why you need me,” he pauses and looks at me with a grin, “to keep your ass out of trouble all the damn time.”

It’s true. Wyatt has saved me from a mountain of regrets. He’s a good friend. Which is exactly why I feel like the worst friend in the world right now for getting him involved.

I just need to protect this phone and make sure Talon doesn’t find it, then hope like hell that I can get out of that house as easy as I did today. No one was even paying attention when I snuck out the back door. Now that my phone is back on and dozens of messages are coming up on my screen, it’s obvious they are well aware of my absence. It makes me smile knowing that they are all panicking and trying to figure out my whereabouts. Almost makes me feel a little special to be this important to them, even if it is because they fear I’ll share their secret.

Pulling down the driveway to my house, my stomach twists into knots when I see Talon’s truck parked out front.

Fuck. I should have known he’d come here looking for me. At least Dad is in Dallas and I don’t have to worry that they may have tried to kill one another. Creeping down the driveway at five miles an hour, I use the time to unzip the bag and grab the phone. Keeping my eyes on Talon to keep suspicion off me, I lean forward and toss it underneath the driver's seat.

When I finally come to a stop, he’s already at my door attempting to pull it open. I try to hit the unlock buttons, but he’s still pulling. “Open the fucking door.” He growls from the other side of the glass.

“Let go of the damn handle and I will,” I shout back. He finally lets go and I toy with him a little bit by hovering my finger over the button.

“Get. Out. Of. The. Car,” he says each word like it’s its own sentence.

Finally, I humor him and unlock it. Before I can even attempt to open the door, he beats me to it and grabs me by the arm. “Can I unbuckle the seatbelt first?” I snarl, as he continues to pull on me like I’m a damn baby doll.

“You think this is some sort of joke?” He slams the door shut then backs me up against it with his fingers still coiled around my bicep. “Gimme my fucking phone, Marni.” His brows lower as he bares his teeth. Having him so close to me and hearing the way my name rolls off his tongue is actually calming my anxieties. It’s replacing them with an overpowering desire to bite into his lower lip and suck his tongue into my mouth. “Did you hear me?” he barks.

Not even realizing that I was watching his lips, my eyes shoot up to his. “Your phone?” I question, playing dumb. “Why the hell would I have your phone?” I attempt to squirm out from beneath him; I am a terrible liar, and he’ll see the truth all over my face. I bite down on my lip to refrain from smiling when he doesn’t even give me an inch. Dad always told me he could tell I was lying because I’d smile.

“I don’t like being lied to and that’s exactly what you’re doing right now. Don’t make me give you a cavity search in your driveway. I’m sure Daddy wouldn’t like seeing that on his cam footage.”

“Seriously, Talon, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Did you lose your—”

The smack of his hand against the car jolts my body into a tense position. My back steels against the door, and my eyes grow wider. “Don’t fuck with me!” He lashes out.

I slap his arm away and duck underneath it when I see an opening. Picking up my pace, I head straight for the house. I have to get him away from this car.

Naturally, he follows me. He doesn’t try to catch up, though. Just slow strides behind me like Michael Meyers does before he takes the chainsaw to his victim’s head.

I attempt to close the door, but he speeds up at the last minute and sticks his arm in. But that doesn’t stop me from trying. “Goddamn you!” He pounds his whole body into it full force, and I stumble backward as the door comes open. Giving it a swift shove, he slams it shut. “You’re gonna pay for that. For all of this.”

Ignoring his threats, I keep walking and end up in the kitchen. Not exactly my plan, but we are away from the car and away from his phone, so I relax a bit.

With my palms pressed against the cold countertop, I swallow hard and remain silent.

Spinning me around, so my back is pressed against the counter, he clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth, a sinister grin replacing his indignant look. “Gimme my phone or I’ll find it myself.”

When I don’t respond, he inches his face closer to mine. “Spread your legs.”

“What?” I huff. “No way!” His hand sweeps from my thigh upward as he pries my legs open. “Is it here?” He cups my crotch.

“Do you really think if I had your phone,” my voice raises a few octaves, “I’d hide it in my fucking vagina?”

“You’re a kinky girl. Wouldn’t put it past you. Maybe you like the vibration when I get