Rocking Kin (Lucy & Harris, #3) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,52

her, flipping my hair into her face as I opened the door with my other hand. Glancing outside, I saw Marcus was already waiting and I reached for my coat in the hall closet.

Georgia didn’t even bother with one as she stepped out of the house ahead of me. Dumbass was going to freeze her tits off. Shaking my head at how stupid the girl really was, I headed toward the idling Range Rover. As I neared, Marcus got out to open the back door for me. The only reaction he had to the sight of Georgia was a slight lifting of his brows.

I blew out a frustrated sigh. “I couldn’t get out of it tonight, big guy. Guess I’m stuck with her.”

He gave a single nod and then offered his hand to assist me into the back of the SUV. I lifted my hand to put in his, but remembered how sore it was and dropped it again. “I got this,” I assured him.

Of course he’d seen my hesitation and his suspicious brain had him reaching for the hand I’d just shied away from offering him. I couldn’t help but grimace a little when his big fingers touched my wrist through my coat and his jaw clenched as he carefully pushed up the sleeve to examine my flesh in the dim lighting of the streetlamps.

“Who?” was all he asked as he lifted my hand just enough to inspect the nail marks that had started to welt.

I shrugged and pulled free. “It doesn’t matter. I’m fine.”

His face turned to stone as he held my door open and waited for me to get in. Once I was settled and had my seatbelt on, he shut the door and got behind the wheel. Georgia, who had been standing on the other side of the SUV waiting for Marcus to open the door for her, glared at the guard before letting out a huff and opening the door herself.

Once she was inside and had her seatbelt on, Marcus finally put the vehicle in drive and pulled out of the driveway. I shot my oldest step-bitch a look at one point during the drive and had to hide a laugh behind a cough. Her hair was touching the roof, pushing her puffy tease down a few inches. Her leather shorts were so tight I wondered if it was cutting off blood flow to her vagina and her top told the world just how chilly it was in SoCal that night by how hard her nipples were.

It was going to be a very interesting night, that was for sure.

The drive wasn’t a peaceful one. Georgia pulled out her cellphone and started calling all her friends. She screamed at least six times—per phone call—which had Marcus on full alert, but she was giggling and laughing like she was having the time of her life. She was giving me a headache, though.

Deciding I needed to at least try to ignore her, I pulled out my own cell. I wasn’t surprised when I saw I had a text from Jace.

Just friends, I tried to remind myself.

Just. Friends.

But I couldn’t help the silly smile that lifted my lips as I pulled up the text.

Will be waiting for you before the show. Won’t have much time. Just want to see you before I go on stage.

I glanced at the clock at the top of my phone’s screen. Should be there in 20.

I wasn’t surprised when he instantly sent a reply. See you then, babe.

Shaking my head, I put the phone away and leaned my head back against the seat, trying not to think about the dull ache in my wrist. I was going to have a bruise and I didn’t bruise easily. My mother and Carter had never touched me with violence in any way, never once spanked me in my life. Never grabbed me in anger. I was unused to that kind of treatment, uncomfortable with it, and—yeah, I’ll admit it—my feelings were more than a little hurt.

But most of all, I was pissed. How dare that bitch touch me like that? How dare she grab me and leave welts on my skin? How dare she hurt me physically?

It wasn’t okay.

My mother and Carter’s voice were no longer floating around in my head telling me to respect my elders. If my mom had been alive she probably would have torn Jillian apart for doing what she had. If Carter was there he would have punched Scott for letting his