Staying Dirty
simple fact that it’d be easier.
    “Fine,” I say. I pivot on my heel and head to my car. She hurries to the passenger side, jerking the handle as I unlock my door and fall into my seat. I put the key in the ignition, starting the engine, and Rocky wiggles the handle once again.
    If I didn’t care about her, now would be the moment I’d lean over and pop the lock on her door.
    I look into her eyes with no apology in mine.
    Her brows crinkle, and I see the moment it finally sinks in. That exact second she realizes I have no intention of giving into her ridiculous demands. She glares at me through the window, her hand clapping against glass.
    I return her earlier smirk and pull away.
     

Two
    Rocky
     
    That son of a bitch left me .
    I stand here in his empty parking space for several seconds, stunned and fuming. I’m so pissed off all I can do is watch as his car turns the corner.
    He fucking left me .
    I glance over my shoulder at Lea. She’s in the doorway looking on as Link disappears.
    “Where’s your car?” I call.
    She steps into the lot and nods toward a little silver Volkswagen. The car is brand new. Sleek and pretty. It fits her way too well.
    “Hurry up,” I huff, waving her forward. “I don’t want to lose him.”
    Lea raises a groomed brow. “I’m not involved in this—and I don’t want to be.” She fixes her purse strap over her shoulder and clicks her heels on the pavement as she stalks briskly to the driver’s side. “You don’t know me—what I’ve already lived through. There’s been too much violence in my life. I’m not chasing after a murderer. Not even for Link.”
    I’m not about to let her leave me behind too. I rip the door open and slip inside next to her.
    “Follow him,” I demand. “Once we get where he’s going, you can leave, but I need to stay with him. I need to make sure he’s okay.” I shake my head, looking out the window as if he’ll suddenly reappear. “He barely survived these guys last time.”
    I can feel the weight of Lea’s gaze. I turn to meet her stare. She watches me with her large green eyes, doing nothing, and it only adds to my anger. I yank the keys out of her hand and place them in the ignition, starting it myself. If Link caught the light, we can probably catch up with him. I can’t waste anymore time.
    “If I have to kick you out of your own car, I will,” I say through my teeth.
    “You care about him,” she murmurs as she puts the car into drive and rolls out onto the street.
    I shrug absent-mindedly, searching for any signs of Link. How I feel doesn’t matter right now. And in all honesty, it’s none of her goddamn business.
    I bite at my nail, my body full of nervous energy. My knee is bouncing, my heart pounding. I still can’t believe he left me like that. He’s always so big on being smart, not putting yourself into dangerous situations, protecting everyone else. But apparently none of that is supposed to apply to him. What makes him above his own rules? Two is better than one— his words . I should be with him.
    When I find him—after I make sure he’s okay—I’m going to beat the shit out of him. What did he think I would do? Just sit inside the gym like a good little girl and wait for him to get himself killed?
    I can’t stand by quietly and knowingly allow him to do this alone. I just…
    I can’t .
    The thought of a world without Link makes my heart ache. It’s hard enough to live this life. I don’t think I can keep doing it without him in it.
    “Is that him?” Lea asks. I sit forward, resting my hand on the dashboard as I follow her gaze. My eyes trail over every vehicle. Finally, a block up, I see Link’s car take a right turn.
    “Yes. Hurry. Get up there before we lose him again.”
    “I can’t go faster than the car in front of me,” she states flatly. “Get my cell phone out of my purse and call 911.”
    As tempting as that is, I learned a long time ago cops aren’t always able to help. “Link’s

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