Blacklisted by Gena Showalter

me all at once. I truly didn’t understand how he could so coldly involve me, how he could be a drug dealer, and yet, in the end, treat me so sweetly.
    Sometimes good people have to do bad things . God, how many times would that play through my mind? What exactly had he meant by that?
    I must have closed my eyes and drifted to sleep (bad Camille) because the next thing I knew, a cold wet rag was pressed against my cheek. Erik cleaned my face with gentle strokes, wiping away the makeup I’d spent an hour applying. His doctoring hadn’t hurt like he’d said it would. He’d been as tender as a person could be.
    I might never understand him.
    With that thought, my mind faded back to black. I was floating. No, not floating. I was snuggled in Erik’s arms, being carried back to the car. His arms were strong and comforting as the warm night air enveloped me.
    He sighed, and his equally warm breath caressed my cheek. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty,” he said. “Let’s get you home.”

5
    We didn’t make it very far.
    The ride began smoothly enough, and, as promised, my body did catch up with my arm and stopped throbbing completely. I was still weak, but at least I was no longer in such agonizing pain. I didn’t fall back asleep, though. Couldn’t. I hadn’t come up with another place to go, so Erik was taking me home. Fear held me in a firm clasp as I imagined my parents’ reaction when they saw me.
    God, what was I going to tell them? I’d wondered before, but now that I was so close to actually seeing them…
    â€œCan you take me to a motel?” I asked, desperation finally giving me an idea.
    â€œDecided you don’t want Mommy and Daddy to know what you’ve been up to?”
    I didn’t answer. “Would you?”
    â€œDo you have money?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNeither do I. Besides, I wouldn’t feel right leaving you at a motel.”
    He wouldn’t feel right about it? I stiffened, but I didn’t point out all the crappy things he did feel right about.
    Seeing my renewed tension, he asked, “You doing okay?” His gaze brushed over me as surely as a caress.
    I shivered—and the shiver pissed me off. Damn it. I had to stop reacting to him. Bad boys and their lives of crime weren’t for me.
    â€œCamille?”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    He sighed. “No, you’re not. I can hear the anger in your voice. Just tell your parents that you fell at your friend’s house, you decided to come home, and she brought you. Simplicity always works best when you’re lying.”
    Knowing my dad, he might try to sue my made-up friend to pay for damages.
    â€œWhatever you do,” Erik continued, “don’t mention the club. And don’t mention gunfights.”
    â€œI’m not a total idiot.”
    â€œWell…”
    â€œNot all the time,” I snapped.
    He chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”
    Just a few hours ago, that comment would have sent me into a tailspin of euphoria. Now it—sent me into a tailspin of euphoria, I realized. It shouldn’t have, but there it was. I couldn’t hold back a grin.
    The hottest boy at school thought I was cute.
    You are an idiot . “How are you going to get home?” I asked when I found my voice, the dilemma just then occurring to me. “You can’t keep Shanel’s car.”
    â€œI know. Didn’t plan to, since your friend could have already reported it as stolen and I’m eager to get rid of it.”
    Shanel was with Silver. She’d probably forgotten all about the car. Still. Better safe than sorry. I did not need the police looking for me, and I did not need one more supposed crime hanging over my head. “Let’s call her and double check.”
    Without a word, Erik reached in his pocket and withdrew a small, black cell unit. He handed it to me. I dialed Shanel’s number, but