Excerpt #2

Chapter One

There was that familiar ache that I loved so mucha burn in my chest that spread to the
rest of my body. There was just one other feeling I loved more. Welltwo, if you included
the high of sex.
Numbness.
A constant state of numbness was my euphoria.
You couldnt tell. No one could.
My feet thudded against the pavement. Sweat dripped from my hairline, down my neck,
and onto my bare back. I shut my eyes, urging the numbness to kick in. I wanted to feel it
everywhere. Not just in my body but everywhere. Maybe I should quit basketball and take
up smoking weed as a hobby. I laughed to myselfDad would love that. Another reason to
kick my ass.
I rounded the corner with my eyes still shut. I knew that path in the park better than I knew
my own home. Which is why I was running at two in the morning on a Saturday night.
Sunday morning?
Whatever.
I was five steps past the cornerthe numbness had just started to seep inwhen I bumped
into something. My eyes sprang open, and I found myself staring at someone on the ground.
Fuck, Im sorry, I huffed, trying to level my breathing. I rested my hands on my knees,
waiting for the thumping in my heart to calm itself. My skin stung and my muscles throbbed
from the impact of our bodies. I was six foot three, and my frame matched the constant
training and rigorous workouts it endured. HerI couldnt tell what she looked likebut I
knew this much: if the collision had hurt me, it mustve almost killed her.
She slowly came to a sitting position, resting her ass on her heels. Her head was bent, and
her loose blonde hair formed a curtain around her face. She lifted her hands, palms up, and
examined them. Blood.
Shit! Im so sorry. A wave of panic whooshed through me.
Squatting in front of her, I took her hands to study the damage. She yanked them away and
sniffed, straightening her legs out in front of her. Her short-ass skirt left nothing to the
imagination.

Dammit, she whispered, her head still down.

My gaze moved from the hem of her skirt to her knees. Blood.
Fuck, Im so sorry, I said for the third time.
It was dark, the only light coming from the moon and a lamppost fifteen yards away. I
wanted to see her face, but I sure as hell wasnt going to ask her to look at me. Are you
okay?
Before she could answer, a rustling from the bushes interrupted us.
A guy stepped out, close to my age. He looked rough, rougher than the kids I hung out
withand I use that term loosely. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, then
eyed it. Blood.
His eyes narrowed. Looking down at the girl in front of me, he seethed, You fucking
whore!
Slowly, she stood up.
I swear I could actually hear the clicking of the pieces as it all fell into place in my mind.
Himwith his fat lip, torn shirt, and undone fly.
Hernow fully standing. The top of her tank was ripped, exposing one bra-covered breast.
I watched as her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed to slits, but then fire flamed in them as
she yelled, Fuck you!
He took a step toward her with his hand raised.
Before I knew it, I was between them, gripping his forearm, my other arm behind me,
wrapped around her waist. I could feel her shallow breaths against my back.
Who the fuck are you? he demanded, trying to pull away from my hold.
Blake. Who the fuck are you?
He laughed once, a snarl on his lips and a challenge in his eyes.
What are you, her bodyguard?
I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders. I towered over him, eying him down. I knew I
could take him. Easily. I dont know, dickface. Does she need one?
He tried again to withdraw his arm. I grasped it tighter. Then a cynical laugh escaped him.
Good luck. Shes a fucking tease dresses like a whore but wont even suck dick. He
looked around my shoulder at her. You cock-teasing slut!

Something in me snapped.
Blood rushed to my ears, and the numbness Id hoped for was well and truly gone. My
armthe one previously wrapped around hermoved fast. My fingers had formed a fist
and would have made contact with his face Would haveif not for the tiny blonde girl
standing in front of me. Between my intended target and me. With her entire body weight,
she pulled my arm downwards, her eyes widening. Dont, she said. Its not worth it. Her
voice was quiet, but her expression screamed for me to let it go. I was so surprised by her
actions that I dropped Dickfaces raised arm.
Glaring at the guy behind her, I tried for an even tone as I warned, You got three seconds
to get out of here before I beat your ass.
Her warm hands were now pressed against my chest, their pressure causing me to inhale
sharply. My eyes fell to hers. They were pleading.
I heard fuck this and then heavy footsteps thumping against the pavement, the sound
growing gradually more distant. My eyes, though, they never left hers.
After what felt like forever, she looked away.
I blinked for what seemed like the first time.
She suddenly noticed that her hands were still on my chest.
Shit. Im sorry, she said, pulling them away and hiding them behind her back.
I swallowed. It was thick and embarrassingly loud, louder than the beating of my heart in my
eardrums. Are you okay? I asked her. Bending slightly, I finally relaxed enough to catch my
breath.
Yeah, are you?
Straightening, I studied her warily. She was a mess. Scraped knees. Disheveled hair. Shoe
missing. I looked away when I caught sight of her purple bra, openly exposed from her torn
top.
She cleared her throat.
I returned my gaze to her once shed crossed her arms over her chest, hiding herself. She bit
the corner of her lip, but everything else was still. There was no movement, not until she
slowly raised her hand and wiped her cheek. Thank you, she whispered.
My eyebrows bunched. Itd been a while since Id heard such genuine sincerity. Its no
problem. Really.
She tried to smile and then adjusted her top while taking off her remaining shoe. Then she

just stood there, barefoot and shivering.

One arm at her side, holding her one and only heel, the other covering her breast. Well,
thanks for saving me. She laughed softly, jerking her head toward the path behind us. I
better get going.
I nodded, chewing on my thumb. Then some sense kicked in, and I stepped in front of her,
blocking her from walking away.
You shouldnt be walking anywhere alone, especially I cut myself off. Dressed like that
was definitely the wrong thing to say. Instead, I opted for especially this late at night.
Her smile was tight. Ill be fine, she assured me, looking around at the darkness
surrounding us.
She shivered again.
I pulled out my shirt, which Id tucked into my shorts waistband, and handed it to her. Its
probably wetfrom my sweat and it might smell a little funky, but youll be warmer.
Her face relaxed, and her lips curled up. Thank you, Blake.
Youre welcome, umm . . . ?
She paused, searching my face. Abby.
Abby. I nodded in confirmation. At least let me walk you wherever you need to go.
She seemed to hesitate before nodding slowly. I need to find my purse and my phone. She
studied me for a moment. I dont suppose youre hiding a phone anywhere on you I can
use for light?

I looked down at my running shorts and sneakers. No. But its in my car . . . I pointed in
the direction of the parking lot. We can grab it and come back.
She cursed under her breath. Its okay. I dont think well be able to find our way back here.
Not when its this dark. Ill come back in the morning or something.
I smiled. Knowing that park as well as I did had its perks. I know where we are. Its fine.
Grimacing, she asked, Are you sure? Youre not . . . on your way somewhere?
My laughter echoed through the still air. Yes, Abby, Im sure. Where would I be going
dressed like this?

She smiled then. Amusement danced in her eyes. I dont know. She shrugged. To kill
someone?
What? I asked, surprised at her sharp wit. I turned and began moving toward the lot.
When she caught up to me, she continued. Think about it.
How many times do you hear on the news about dead bodies being found in parks? You
know who always finds them? Joggers.
I turned to her, tilting my head slightly, trying to work out whether she was serious or not.
She tried to hide her smile before adding, It seems a little suspicious to meyou joggers
always being first on the scene and all. My theory is that youre all a bunch of murderers,
and you get away with it, using the jogger clause.
Makes me wonder if you have some underground club where you compare notes and brag
about pulling off these murders.
I threw back my head and laughed. Thats one amazing theory.
Well, she said, nudging my side with her elbow, at least when you murder me, youll
know that I was onto you, buddy.
Yet, here you arewalking with me in pitch-black darkness, at two in the morning, to a
more-than-likely abandoned parking lot, under the impression Im going to get you back to
your necessities. Youre not even slightly afraid of what might happen to you? All joking
aside, she had to be a little worried. Surely.
The air around us turned thick. No, Blake. I know Im safe with you.
She said my name as if it had a different meaning.
We walked the rest of the way to my car in silence.