Page 105 of Swerve (Boosted Hearts 1)

“Does Valery know . . . that she doesn’t have a buyer for me anymore?”

“We don’t know,” Van said, quiet fury in his voice. “But she will pay for this, for all of it.”

My phone started ringing in my back pocket and everyone froze. My fingers shook as I slid it from my pocket. Neco’s name flashed on the screen.

My eyes shot up to Van. “It’s her.”

He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

I shook my head. “It’s me she wants.”

His jaw got tight, but he dipped his chin.

I felt Jude move up behind me. He didn’t touch me, but he was close enough I could feel the heat rolling off him, silently offering me support.

I hit the call button, putting her on speaker, but stayed silent.

“Ruby?” Valery’s voice echoed down the line, rougher than it used to be. She’d always smoked and obviously hadn’t stopped.

I hadn’t spoken to her since I left home. I didn’t know how I’d feel when I heard her hateful voice again, didn’t know how I’d react. For a split-second, I braced, expecting that fear to creep back, the feeling of worthlessness she’d worked so hard to instill in me—but that didn’t happen.

I hated this woman with everything in me, and that’s all I felt talking to her again.

“If you’ve hurt him, Valery, I will kill you,” I said, my voice filled with ice.

She was quiet a few seconds, then, “Well, look who finally found her voice.” She chuckled. “But, girl, I think you know better than to talk to me like that . . .”

“What do you want?”

“You,” she said, not missing a beat. “You always did have a soft spot for the whore’s son. Do you love him enough to trade your life for his?”

“How do I even know he’s still alive?” I forced my voice to remain strong, hard, as I said those words, refused to show her how goddamn terrified I was.

“You’ll just have to take my word for it now, won’t you?”

“Given you’re a lying, manipulative bitch, I don’t think I can do that.”

She hissed, like a wild cat. “Now listen here, you little . . .”

“You let me talk to him or I hang up and this negotiation ends.” Jude squeezed my shoulder approvingly. I didn’t trust her one bit, but I needed proof that Neco was alive. She wanted me, and if she was willing to go to this extent to get me, I knew she’d do as I asked.

There was a rustle and a growl, then Neco was on the phone. “Don’t do what she wants, baby, promise me . . .”

“Satisfied?” my stepmother said.

“Where are we meeting?”

“So, you’ll do it?”

“Looks that way.”

She laughed, which quickly turned into a dry, hacking smoker’s cough. “You always were gullible and pathetic.”

“Where?” I repeated, not wasting my breath exchanging insults with her.

“I’ll text you later today . . . and Ruby, if you don’t come alone, I will kill him.” Then she disconnected.

Anger burned through me. It was hot and explosive and roared through my ears, making my body shake. If she hurt Neco, I would be the one doing the killing. I’d blow her fucking brains out, then I’d spit on her lifeless corpse. “I’m doing this.”