He wanted to fire an arrow back, something to make her flinch, too. “Why did Ryan Stacey say you were deformed?”

Of course it did make her flinch, but it made him feel like an ass.

She didn’t look at him, but she answered. “Because I have scars all the way up the right side of my body.”

“Yeah? From what?”

“From a house fire,” she said. “My house burned down when I was five.”

Shit.

Now he was the one staring. “Layne,” he ground out. “Layne, I’m—”

“I really don’t like this game.” Her legs swung off the tailgate, and her feet crunched on the rough pavement.

“Stop,” he said. “Layne—”

“See, Gabriel?” she called over her shoulder. “I’m not perfect either, right?”

Then she was running, and the darkness swallowed her up.

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 24

The short skirt made for easy running. The scent of grass and water was in Layne’s nose, and she really had no idea where she was going, except away. The sound of her breath filled her ears, ragged and almost sobbing. Thank god the parking lot was empty, because she couldn’t see a thing except for the industrial plants across the water. Pavement gritted beneath her boots, then grass as she stumbled and almost missed a curb.

She couldn’t believe she’d told Gabriel about the fire.

Really, like it mattered. Her scars would be all over the Internet tomorrow.

She’d kept a secret for ten years, and now everyone knew.

“Layne. Stop.”

Of course he’d follow. He didn’t even sound breathless. “Go away,” she yelled. “I’ll call my dad to come get me. Just—”

The ground went out from under her. She sucked in a breath, flailing for balance. Arms came around her waist from behind, jerking her back, keeping her feet in the air.

She fought, feeling his chest at her back, but he was too strong.

“Damn it,” he said, his voice strained. “Do you want to go in the water?”

That forced her still. Red and white lights still hung in the distance, warring with the stars. Now that she wasn’t running, the sound of waves hitting the rocks was unmistakable.

And right in front of her.

“The water?” she said numbly.

He put her feet on the ground, but he didn’t let her go. “Yeah. Water. Did you miss the part where I said we’re parked on a peninsula?”

“Wow,” she whispered. Talk about a night going from bad to worse.

“If I let you go, are you going to take off again?”

She shook her head. But she didn’t want him to let her go, either.

He did anyway. “You’re lucky you didn’t break an ankle.”

“Thanks.” She still hadn’t turned to face him. “For catching me.” Then she added, “And for punching Ryan. I should have thanked you for that before.”