Conner: I need you at Hayden’s now.
The dread that was already sitting in the pit of my stomach from first reading his message inside Remi’s house doesn’t lessen any as I scan it again and plug Hayden’s address into my GPS.
I have no idea what I’m about to walk into, but my money is on it involving Cole.
And I’m proved right when I storm through the house in the direction of the girls’ screams. Entering the kitchen, I find Hayden pinned up against his own kitchen wall by none other than my brother.
“Is it not enough you take my position on the team, you want my fucking girl too?” Hayden snarls, only feeding my brother’s fury.
By the looks of Hayden’s nose, it seems Cole has already had a pop.
“Cole, let him go.”
He turns his cold, drugged out eyes on me. “This doesn’t concern you, brother.” His voice is emotionless. Dead. A shudder runs down my spine.
I need to get him away from Hayden—and fucking fast, before he does something I can’t save him from.
He turns his stare back to Hayden, who mostly seems oblivious to the serious threat in front of him. “She’s not yours. She said no, motherfucker.”
Cole slams his head into Hayden’s nose. Blood sprays both of them but thankfully, in Cole’s daze, I’m able to pull him from Hayden and throw him into the corner of the kitchen.
I stand over him, waiting for him to come back to himself as Conner comes to stand beside me.
“He’s on something.”
“I can fucking see that. His eyes are blown.”
“I tried to stop him.” Conner sounds pissed. “Told him that he’d lose his place on the team, his future, but he wouldn’t fucking listen.”
“Just get him the fuck out of here,” I bark at him.
“You’re not coming?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there. I just need to deal with something.”
Conner rolls his eyes at me but leans down to pull Cole from the floor. He tries to fight, but Conner gets the better of him as he drags him from the floor and toward the front door.
“You good?” I ask Hayden who now has a swarm of girls around him, trying to tend to him.
“Yeah, man. I’ve been worse.”
I roll my eyes, leaving him to be molested by horny girls. Stalking from the room, I go in search of another member of the team. It’s time Bexley and I had a little chat, especially now I need him on my side to keep my brother on the fucking team. One word to Coach from their captain about whatever Cole has taken tonight, and I’ve no doubt he’ll be benched.
I don’t find the motherfucker anywhere, however someone else who’s on my hit list finds me.
“Hey, baby. I’m so glad you came. This party is dull as fuck without you.” Michaela’s arms run up my back, and I tense before I can cover it.
Turning, I find myself trapped in her arms. Exactly where I don’t want to be, but exactly where I need to be.
There are a few other kids from school in the room, so I continue forward until we’re alone. Much to her delight.
“Is that right? None of these guys do it for you?”
“Sterling Prep guys?” She balks. “Hell, no. They’re all flashy, rich douchebags who have no idea how to handle a real woman.”
I want to laugh at the seriousness in her tone. I glance over her overly highlighted hair, her fake lashes, dark liner and filled lips. She’s a senior, for fuck’s sake; she doesn’t need lip filler. My gaze drops to her breasts that are popping out of her cheer top. I assume they’re real. Surely her parents have more sense than to have allowed her to have had them done already?
“And you think I can?”
“I know you can, Ace. I also know that your skills are wasted on the likes of Remi. You not bored of her yet?” The words go against everything I feel, everything I want to say, but I need to ruin this bitch once and for all.
I lean in so I’m whispering in her ear. “What do you think?”
“I think she’s a frigid bitch who probably fucks like a dead fish. I, on the other hand, am pure class.”
I bite down on my bottom lip as if I’m tempted by her offer. I take a step toward her, closing the space between us. Having her body pressed up against me does nothing for me, but the little gasp that escapes her lips clearly tells me that she’s not having the same issue.
Finding the bare skin of her thigh, I run my hand upward. Her eyes widen at my move and her lips part when it disappears under her skirt to cup her ass cheek. I squeeze hard and she lets out a little squeal of delight.
“Oh Ace, we’re going to have so much fun.”
I run my nose up the line of her jaw until my lips brush her ear. “Do you like it rough, Michaela?”
She shudders in my hold. “As rough as you got, baby.”
A wicked smile curls at my lips. “And the team can’t deliver?”
“Can they fuck? They’re a bunch of pussies who think they’re God’s gift to women.”
“So how come you hang around with them?”
“Because it gets me what I want.”
“I thought you wanted me?” I ask, pulling back to look at her.
“Of course. But there are other things.”
“Like?”
“Spend some more time with me and I might tell you.”
She lifts one of her blue painted talons and runs it over my bottom lip. I suck it into my mouth and watch as her pupils dilate.
Putty in my fucking hands.
“We’ll set a date. I think I’m ready for a taste of what you’ve got to offer.”
Her lips curve into an arrogant smile. “What about Remi?”
My fists curl, my nails digging into my palms, but I can’t back out now. “What about her?”
Delight and achievement ooze from her. “Exactly, what about her? She’s nothing, Ace. A girl like Remi isn’t worth your time. I, however, can make you feel so fucking good.” She wraps her hand around the back of my neck as if she’s going to kiss me, and I stand taller.
“Have you seen Bexley?”
“Um… no, he disappeared a while ago actually. But why do you need him when you have me?”
“Just a little business to take care of.” I unwrap her arms from my neck. “I’ll be in touch. Be ready.”
“I’m ready, Ace. Ready and waiting.” She winks and sucks her bottom lip into her mouth. If it’s possible, the move turns me off even more.
It’s not until I’m back in my pool house, Cole passed out in bed in the main house, when it really dawns on me what a dangerous game I’m playing with Michaela. But I don’t know how else to hit her where it hurts without actually hitting her.
Grabbing my cell from the side, I shoot Remi a message.
Ace: I’ve got a plan for M. But you have to trust me. NO MATTER WHAT.
I don’t get a reply. I’m not really expecting one this late, so I scroll through social media for a bit before I attempt to get some sleep myself.
My bed feels cold and empty, and I hate it. I’m tempted to get on my bike and go to Remi so I can fall asleep wrapped around her, but I don’t.
Not this time.
After spending longer than necessary convincing Cole that he was not to turn up to school today seeing as he still had something pumping around his system, Conner and I head out.
I take him up on his offer of picking up Remi. If I want Michaela to believe that I’ve really got eyes for her, then I don’t need to turn up to school with my girlfriend wrapped around me like a snake.
Girlfriend. That word still feels weird. I’ve never made anything a permanent feature in my life before, but I can’t deny that knowing she’s stuck with me makes me feel all kinds of fucking awesome.
The second I’m at school, I make myself scarce. Although, I do manage to stumble across Michaela a lot. She thinks it’s fate. I know I’m playing her.
“Ace, everyone is going to start to think you’re stalking me,” she purrs when she just so happens to find me walking past the girls’ locker room after school.
“Not at all. It’s good to see you though. You still up for some fun?”
“Yes,” she answers eagerly, too eagerly.
“Later. Keep your cell close.”
“Oh, I will,” she purrs. “I can’t wait.”
“Me either.”
I make a show of checking her out as I back away. “Wear that. I’ve got a thing about cheerleaders.” I grab my junk over my pants as if the idea is arousing me. It’s really fucking not.
“Sure thing, baby. I might not wear anything underneath.” She lifts the hem of her skirt to show me more skin. It’s really not necessary; I already see way too much on a daily basis.
Smiling, I slip around the corner, ready to find my bike and get to work.
My cell’s been going off all day, and I know it’s Remi and that she’s freaking out. Pulling it from my pocket, I find message after message from her.
Remi: Of course I trust you, but I’d rather know what you’re doing.
Remi: Ace, stop avoiding me.
Remi: This isn’t funny. Stop avoiding me.
Remi: I’m going to start removing sexual favors if you don’t fucking reply.
Remi: Ace. This isn’t a fucking joke. REPLY!!
The stream goes on and on.
Ace: I’m sorry, baby. Everything is fine. Busy day. I’m just heading to work. Can I see you later?
Remi: No. I’m mad at you.
Ace: I love you too. Leave your window open.
As I walk toward the pool house after work, the last thing I want to do is put my plan into action, but I’ve set the wheels in motion now. I need to see it through. If it turns out the way I hope, then it will be so worth it. Just the look on her face will be everything, and the exact justice Remi deserves for all the bullshit she’s had to endure because of her bitch of a stepsister over the years.
It shocks the hell out of me that once upon a time they were best friends. Remi might look hot as fuck in a cheer uniform, but I can’t imagine her following Michaela around like a lost little puppy like the rest of the squad do. She’s just not got it in her.
As I walk up to the door, I shoot her a message.
Ace: My pool house. Twenty minutes. You know what to wear.
It only takes me a few minutes to set everything up—thank fuck, because the bitch is early.
Double checking that I’ve covered my tracks, I walk to the door to let her in. As instructed, Michaela is in her uniform, and I highly suspect that she’s bare beneath, just like she promised.
“Hey,” I say. “You want a drink?”
“Um… sure.”
I knock the top off two beers and pass one over. I don’t want to get drunk. I need to be fully aware of everything that happens in here in the next hour, but I’m not against taking the edge off. It might help me forget after the event.
I keep my eyes trained on her body. “You’re looking good tonight, Michaela.”
“Yeah?” she asks, sauntering over to me. “You always look good. I can’t get enough of the ink. Show me more.” Her eyes burn into my shirt as if it’s going to evaporate at her wish.
“How about we take this into the bedroom. Relax. Get to know each other a little better.” Any girl with an ounce of self-respect would say no right now, but as I expected, that’s not the kind of girl I’m dealing with.
“Sure, that sounds perfect.”
I left my bed covered in clothes, so her only real option is to sit in the chair. And, exactly as I hoped, she goes for it.
“So?” she asks, nodding at my shirt.
“Oh yeah. Whoops, I forgot.” Reaching back, I pull it over my head and add it to the pile on the bed.
“Wow, you are fine.” If I care what this bitch thought about my body, it might stroke my ego, but in reality, it does nothing. She’s not even in touching distance, yet my skin is crawling with disgust.
“You got what you wanted. Now it’s time for me to have some fun.” I take a step forward and she rubs her thighs together. “You wet for me, Michaela?”
“Yes,” she breathes.
“Good, because we’re going to have so much fun. I guarantee that you’re going to remember this night for the rest of your life.”
“Big promises there, Ace.”
“Oh, Michaela. I always deliver on my promises. Always.”
As I get closer, hunger explodes within me. But it’s very different to the kind she’s feeling right now.
I’m fucking ravenous, and she’s about to give me exactly what I need.
Revenge.
