The Pact: Rebels of Ridgecrest High (Book 1)

They kept me locked up for hours, beating the shit out of me until I passed out. Over and over, they told me I failed them, as if I didn’t already know that. They’re out fifty grand because of my stunt last night.

They touched Mila, and I lost control. I had to put on a good show, so no one would think I threw the fight. But when they touched her, something came over me. I couldn’t see anything but her being touched by them, and I wanted them dead. The assholes dumped me at the cemetery.

To “show me where I will be buried with my girl.”

Mila’s on their radar now. They said if I don’t give them fifty grand, they’ll kill her. Everything’s fucked. I fucked up. But Mom has the money. She has it there, stored away safely. It’s not fifty grand, but I can ask Hunter or Jace for a loan. I have to keep Mila safe. If anything happens to her, I will never forgive myself.

I drag my broken body down to Mom.

I let out a strangled sob when I see her name and reach out to trace it, leaving a smear of blood where the gold of the J once was.

“Mom, god. I need you.” I lay my head down on the grass. I need to close my eyes, just for a moment.

“Whenever you need me, I will be right here. Watching, looking down from heaven. I will give you a sign. Look for them.” I choke back a sob. Mom is so frail, her face is so thin I can see all the bones. It scares me.

“I don’t have anyone to love me when you go.” The tears stream down my face now.

“You have Mila. She’s a good friend and I know you’ll grow up to be a strong, brave man.”

“I’m gonna marry her mom.” I try to smile, I don’t want her to see me sad.

“Make sure you protect her, she might seem strong and brave all the time. But she’s human just like you and me.” Mom’s hand is cold as she touches my cheek.

“I promise Mom, I will take care of Mila. She can count on me to keep her safe.”

The breeze picks up, and it feels good on my hot body. Something lands on my face, and I brush it away. When the breeze picks up again, it happens for a second time. This time, I pick it off my face and pull it back to see with my eye, the one not swollen shut.

A daisy? Where did that come from? I look beside me and see another, the first one that fell on me. I push myself up and look at Mom. Is she sending me daisies? Is this a sign?

But then I see three more perched on the top of the headstone. I reach out and take one. These have been freshly picked and placed here only recently.

I hear the crunch of metal, and a scream rips through the air. My stomach drops. I look to the road before turning back to the daisies as they all fall to the ground and scatter in the breeze.

Oh god. Mila.

With every ounce of energy I have left, I run to her.

“Mila?” I call out, stumbling.

My ribs are broken, and every breath I take makes my body scream in pain. I need to get to her, so I press on as fast as I can, the white spots dancing in my vision with every breath I take.

My throat is hoarse and doesn’t carry far. “Mila?” I call again once I make it to the narrow street in front of the cemetery.

“Mila?” My throat feels like it’s closing as my vision swims.

Lying on the road is a small figure and a mangled pink bike.

Oh, god, Mila.

My feet stumble, one after the other, trying to get to her. But I feel like I’m wading through water, my body going backward. This is a nightmare; one I can’t escape.

“Mila?” God, answer me, tell me you’re alive.

“Roman?” her small voice carries to me.

I stumble and land beside her head, my hands hovering over her body. Blood pours from a gash on her head, her blonde hair now as red as the jersey I wear every Friday night. I don’t know where to touch her, where to begin to help.

“Help,” I cry out. “Somebody help?”

I don’t have my phone, so I can’t call nine-one-one.

“Roman, you’re safe. I found you.” She chokes out a sob, her big blue eyes peering up at me. I brush her hair away from her eyes, so she can see me better.

“I’m safe. You found me,” I whisper to her. She’s going to be okay. She’s strong, my beautiful Mila.

She coughs and groans. Oh, god. Blood trickles from her mouth, and I wipe it away with my thumb, as if that small act will make it all go away. As if she doesn’t have internal bleeding.

I cradle her head in my hands. “Keep looking at me. Don’t close your eyes.”

A woman calls out, and I turn to her. She yells to me that she’s got help on the way.

I turn back to Mila. “Hear that? Help’s on the way. They will come fix you up. You just gotta keep breathing. You have to stay with me, Mila.”

“I’m cold.”

Her body is trembling, and I don’t have anything to cover her with. I have nothing but the shorts I wore for the fight last night.

“I got you. I’ll keep you warm.” She closes her eyes and my heart drops. “Mila, come on. Mila, open your eyes.”

More blood trickles from her mouth, and I let out a cry, trying to wipe it away, but it’s not stopping. I clean her face as best I can while I call her name, over and over again.

“Wake up,” I cry out, and I’m rewarded with two blue eyes…and a small smile. I release a ragged breath.

“Don’t do that to me, sweet girl. You scared me. I need to see your beautiful eyes. I need you here with me.”

She tries to reach out to me, and I grab her hand and hold it. She’s so cold. Fuck, this is really bad.

“I see you, Roman.”

“Good, just stay with me. Help is on the way.” I can hear sirens coming closer. They’ll save her.

“Kiss me,” she whispers.

“Just keep breathing. I will kiss you when you’re safe.”

“No, I need you to kiss me, Roman.”

“Why?”

“Because you were my first. I want you to be my last.”

I press my lips to hers, and she lets out a small sigh. I promise this won’t be her last kiss. She’s gonna be fine.

I pull back from her just as the red and blue lights start to dance across her face.

Her eyes flutter closed, and her body goes limp in my arms.

Fuck, no.

Mila.