CHAPTER 96 MATT

96

Matt

PETERSON DIDN'T BOTHER WITH the parking lot. He followed the blacktop right to the gym doors and parked in the yellow zone where the visiting school buses usually off-loaded. The truck jerked to a stop, and the engine stuttered out.

Eli jumped over the side, went to the back, and opened the tailgate. "Here's your stop, Loverboy. Time to go."

With one hand on the Colt, Rodney yanked Matt to a sitting position by his collar and forced him to the edge of the tailgate, then gave him another push.

Matt managed to keep his footing and was about to make a play for the Colt when Peterson came around the side, holding Gabby firmly by the arm. "Jesus, Matt, wipe that look off your face. You got no place to go. Stop making things harder on yourself. This is where you're supposed to be."

The crowd around them had gone quiet, their voices nothing but muffled whispers. Several people pointed at Matt; others were focused on the girl as she walked to the back of the truck and jumped down, her dress billowing out around her. She took in all the people for a moment, studying their faces in turn, then circled around the truck to the open doors of the gym and disappeared inside, walking with the confidence of someone who'd been there before and knew where they needed to go.

Against her protests, Eli pulled Addie from the cab of the truck. She tried to twist away from him, but he was far stronger. With one hand lodged on the small of her back, the other gripping her shoulder, he steered her into the building.

Peterson placed two fingers in his mouth and blew out a sharp whistle. "Everyone inside! Let's get this thing started!"

"Move," Rodney muttered, shoving Matt forward.