Nightfall (Devil's Night #4) - Penelope Douglas Page 0,169

out Damon’s black one and handing it to him, and leaving Michael’s red one in the bag as I pulled my white one with a red stripe on.

The brake lights in the distance lit up, and we watched as he turned into the warehouse. I didn’t think there was anything going on there tonight. Why the hell was he taking the kid there?

Hanging back, Damon pulled the SUV onto the side of the road and shut off the engine as we all hopped out and pulled up the hoods of our black hoodies. It was too fucking hot for sweatshirts, but that was the routine.

The hoods and masks kept us covered—and hopefully—unrecognizable in video footage. Everyone knew who was who behind the masks, but they couldn’t prove it.

Jogging into the brush and through the trees, we headed toward the warehouse we’d been to a hundred times, knowing the road in didn’t go any farther than the old, abandoned factory.

Sweat already covered my back, and I couldn’t see anything else outside of this moment.

It was his fault. It was all his fault, because even if it wasn’t, it felt good to finally have someone to blame and give me hope that it wasn’t me. That she ended it before it even began because of him and not because she didn’t love me.

In any case, he’d fucking hurt her, and now that she was out from under him, I was let off my leash.

At the very least, after tonight, he’d never touch her again.

Stopping at the tree line and looking over the gravel parking lot to the old shoe factory with the ruins of its dark and dilapidated walls looming beyond, we watched as he turned off the car and remained in his seat with her in the back.

He moved his head, nodding here and there or cocking it as he talked, but she didn’t move an inch.

Finally, he opened the door to his cruiser and walked to the back door, opening it and climbing in beside her.

My lungs emptied.

And I almost smiled, any doubt or guilt I might’ve felt now long gone.

His face was going to be worse than ground beef by the time we were done with him.

“He doesn’t have Emmy to push around anymore,” Kai said, and I could hear the anger growing in his voice as he pulled on his mask.

I nodded, glad he was now on board. I did need him.

“Wanna bet my father is protecting him, too?” Damon told us, pulling on his. “So much in fucking common.”

“Let’s change his life forever.” I started off, charging for the car and curling my fists as the guys flanked me.

I wished Michael were here—we were better as a unit—but we’d just have to fill him in when he got back from his basketball clinic in Atlanta.

“Don’t let them hear your voices,” I said, taking out my knife. “Whisper.”

I tossed it to Kai who quickly unsheathed it, stabbed a tire, the air pouring out, and Damon and I ripped open each of the back doors.

River screamed as he grabbed her out of the car, and I shot out my fist, growling as I popped that scumbag in the fucking face.

I pulled him out of the car as he coughed and sputtered, the blood pouring into his mouth from his nose.

“Get home,” Damon ordered her.

Her worried gaze darted between us, her face already wet with tears from whatever Scott was trying to do to her in there.

But I could guess. You’re a minor. I’ll take you home where you belong, but on second thought, I won’t bring you in or call your parents about the drugs and alcohol I found in your car if you just come here next to me for a minute and don’t tell anyone.

Jesus Christ.

Diving down, I hit him again.

And again and again before rising up and kicking him in the back of the head.

Motherfucker. That motherfucker.

He wanted to hurt River like he hurt his sister—rough her up, make her cry…

Or worse.

And God help me, if he did anything like that to Emmy, I wouldn’t hesitate. He’d be dead.

River ran off, back toward the highway, as Kai rounded the car, stabbing the rest of the tires. I whipped open the front door, kicking the radio and ripping it off its wires, while Damon tore off the dash cam, dropping it to the ground and stomping it with his foot.

Chances were the cop already turned that shit off when he parked with the girl here, but I