Max Dread
She left me no choice.
It didn’t have to be like this. I didn’t want this.
But she wouldn’t listen.
She refused to see that she didn’t belong here.
So, instead of the easy way, we’d do this the hard way.
“Max, please. Whatever you think you need to do, we can figure out another way.”
I grunted. “I said I’m done playing this game, Quinn. The time for figuring it out is long past, and now, I’m doing what I need to do.”
“What do you need to do?”
She kept her voice strong, but she couldn’t hide the tremor of fear from me. Her doubt grew with each mile I put between us and Camelot Court. Anxiety bled from her body as she bounced her leg and fidgeted in her seat. Fear licked the corners of her mind, leaving drops of sweat at her temples.
Good.
It was about time.
The damn girl shielded herself from fear by charging forward, avoiding reality like she’d studied the subject since grade school.
But now? She let in the appropriate amount of fear.
Eyes darting around the car, she tried the door first. She yanked on the handle.
As if I hadn’t expected that and put the child lock in place.
She wasn’t thinking.
She was being rash.
Reckless.
Like a silly girl who couldn’t see what was happening all around her, she was focused on what she thought was her prize.
“Max, please.” Her breathing grew shallow as her panic crept in slowly. “Please, stop the car. I—”
“Can’t do that.”
I took a sharp turn.
Her eyes flew wide, and hands braced on the dashboard. “Max, please!”
And I felt for her, honestly.
These winding roads at such a fast speed would scare anyone. Given her trauma, that fear was bound to be intense. Triggering, even.
Did I enjoy taking it this far? No.
It didn’t have to be like this. I didn’t want this.
And she’d left me no choice.
So, would I do it anyway?
If it was the only way she’d listen…
So be it.