Ace stares down at me, making my heart thump violently in my chest. My body is hot and restless beneath him, but it’s only anger.
That’s all it can be.
“Get the hell off me.” I buck against him, but he holds my wrists firmly in his grasp.
“Say the magic word, Princess,” Ace taunts. Blood coats his knuckles and splatters his wife-beater. I can’t believe he just did that. Bexley’s nose is broken for sure, I heard the crunch.
“Tell me you’re not with that preppy fucker?”
“Jealous?” My lip curls. I don’t know why I omit the truth, why I even consider sparring with him, but he brings out something buried deep inside me.
“Oh you’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
Something sparks in his eyes, flecks of silver streaking across his soulless blue gaze.
“Shit, Ace,” a voice calls, but neither of us move, locked in this strange standoff. “What are… whoa, is that the princess?” It’s Conner. Ace glances over his shoulder and I use his distraction to my advantage. Shoving my fists into his shoulders, I dig my foot into the ground and slam my body upwards.
“Motherfucker,” Ace grunts, rolling off to the side. I sit up, barely able to contain my laughter. I didn’t mean to catch him in his balls, but I can’t deny it gives me a strange sense of satisfaction.
Conner moves closer, offering me his hand. I take it, letting him pull me up. “You might want to put some ice on that,” I say to Ace, who looks ready to kill me with his bare hands. Once he can stand again, anyway.
I snicker again, and Conner explodes with laughter. “Shit, Princess, we sure underestimated you.”
“Tell your brother to stay the hell away from me.” I don’t stick around to hear either of their replies as I march across the beach toward the path leading over the sandbanks to my house.
Some party.
I didn’t want to come tonight, but Mom ran into Bexley earlier and he mentioned it, and Mom being Mom hounded me until I finally gave in. Besides, I knew Hadley would be here, and she’s about the only girl left at Sterling Prep that I can stand to be around.
“Remi, wait up,” her familiar voice drifts over to me, and I stop. She reaches me, a little breathless as if she ran over here.
“You should go back to the dorms, Hads,” I say.
“What the hell was that? Bexley is—“
“Bexley had it coming,” I grumble.
She smothers a snort. “Yeah, he did. God, he’s such a self-involved, righteous asshole.”
And this is why I like Hadley Rexford. Despite being on the cheer team, she doesn’t buy into the whole school hierarchy bullshit.
“So that’s Ace Jagger, huh?” There’s a lilt in her voice that has me frowning. “Oh, come on. We’ve all heard the news by now. The Jagger brothers have moved into town. Did you meet them already?”
“Something like that,” I murmur.
“And you and Ace are what, exactly?”
“Nothing,” I deadpan. “We’re nothing. I barely know him. Besides, have you seen the guy?”
“Oh, we all saw him.” Her brow quirks up. “He’s really something.”
I glance back to where I left him sprawled out on the sand, clutching his junk. But there’s no sign of Ace or Conner.
“It’s late,” I say, desperate to get off this beach.
“I’ll walk with you, if that’s okay?”
“Sure, why not.” The two of us walk side by side, the soft sand giving way under our feet.
“Bexley will be out for blood once school starts up,” she says.
“Something tells me Ace isn’t going to worry about a guy like Bexley.”
“I still can’t believe he did that. And did you see some of his friends?”
We’d all seen them. Tatted, pierced guys who looked like they belonged in some motorcycle club, not at a bonfire party in the Bay.
“What’s their story, anyway?”
“You care?” I throw back at her.
Hadley isn’t a gossip. She doesn’t live for school cliques and classroom politics. She mostly keeps herself to herself. If it wasn’t for her being in the cheer team, she’d be invisible.
“No, I don’t care,” she chuckles, “but you’ve got to admit, it’s the most exciting thing to happen in the Bay since Krystal Gavin had an affair with the vice principal.”
“Scandalous,” I mock.
Krystal is a girl a couple years older than us. She and the vice principal back then got caught exchanging dirty texts. He was fired, and she was shipped off to her grandparents in Pasadena to finish out senior year there.
“You know, senior year is going to be a hell of a lot more interesting with the Jagger brothers around.”
“Don’t remind me.” I press my lips together.
We hit the path leading away from the beach. There’s a row of beach houses lining a quieter section of the Bay. Mom and I live in the end house. It’s by far the smallest, but it’s ours, and it has the best views of the ocean.
“Well, this is me,” I say as we reach the spot where the path splits.
“See you at school Monday?” There’s a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Like me, Hadley doesn’t fit in. But unlike me, she never has. And I’m not sure which one of us has the better deal.
“I can hardly wait.” Sarcasm drips from my words, but it doesn’t faze her.
“It’s senior year, Remi.” She gives me a weak smile. “Who knows, maybe things will be different this year.”
I want to believe her, but I learned to stop wishing for things a long time ago.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” Mom greets me with a mug of coffee as I pad into the kitchen. “How was the party?”
“You should probably ask Bexley.”
“And what is that supposed to mean, young lady?”
“He and Ace got into it.” There’s no use in lying to her, she’ll find out soon enough. The Danforths are one of the most well-known families in Sterling. They live behind us in one of the houses lining what we locals call ‘Palm Tree Avenue.’ Technically we’re not neighbors anymore, but we were for my entire childhood. When my mom and dad separated, Mr and Mrs Danforth insisted on helping us. I think they secretly hoped that, one day, me and Bexley would fall hopelessly in love and ride off into the sunset together. But that was before.
Now the Danforths don’t look at me and see their future daughter-in-law. They look at me and see a charity case.
And I fucking hate it.
“They were fighting? I find that hard to believe,” she scoffs. “Bexley is such a good boy.”
“Bexley got his ass handed to him.”
“Oh my… well, boys will be boys, I suppose. There’s going to be an adjustment period for everyone.”
“Adjustment period… sure thing, Mom,” I grumble beneath my breath as I slide onto the wooden bench and watch the waves roll in from the window.
“So, would now be a good time to tell you I invited them over for breakfast?”
“You did what?” I gawk at her, sure I misheard, because there’s no way, no fucking way, she invited Ace Jagger and his brothers to breakfast.
At. Our. House.
Guilt fills her expression. “With James away for the weekend, I wanted them to feel at home, you know?”
“Mom, really?” I let out a heavy sigh. “This is our house. After… I just thought you’d be more careful.”
“Sweetheart.” Mom gives me a sad smile. “I know they’re a little rough around the edges, but they haven’t had it easy…” She hesitates, staring out at the ocean.
“What happened to them, Mom?” I find myself asking. Because no way can someone be as angry and sadistic as Ace without some kind of deep childhood trauma.
I should know.
“I don’t know the whole story, baby. James seemed very distressed when he told me he was taking them in. But I do know that Ace… he found her.”
My breath catches. “H-he found her?”
Mom nods. “Overdose. Apparently Maria never really recovered after their dad died. She turned to drugs and alcohol and Ace was forced to grow up overnight to care for his brothers.”
“Wow, I didn’t know…” My voice trails off. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for them. It’s no wonder he seems so… damaged.
“So now you know why I want to make them feel as welcome as possible. Sterling Bay is like shark-infested waters.” Mom’s lips thin. “They’re already going to be swimming in uncharted territory without us making it more difficult on them.”
“Nice visuals, Mom,” I chuckle.
“I’m just saying, it wouldn’t hurt for you to try to be nice to them.”
She begins plating up a stack of pancakes just as Ace appears at the French doors.
Crap.
I’m still in my oversized holey Rolling Stones t-shirt with untamed bed hair. But before I can make a run for it, Mom has opened the door and invited him in. “Ace, we’re so happy you could join us.”
“Conner didn’t give me much choice.”
Just then, Cole and Conner enter our small kitchen.
“Something smells good,” Conner rubs his stomach, wearing that easy smile of his.
“Yeah, it does.” Ace’s eyes darken on me. I grab the glass of orange juice Mom poured me earlier and drink it down.
“How’s the hand?” I raise a brow, and he smirks.
“It was worth it.”
Asshole.
“Remi told me you were fighting.” Mom cuts Ace with her best stare. “That’s not going to win you any popularity contests.”
“I’m not looking to make friends, Mrs—“
“Sarah. You can call me Sarah. Now come on, make yourselves at home. I made pancakes and bacon, and there’s fresh fruit.”
“This looks great, Sarah.” Conner wastes no time sitting at the table and helping himself to four pancakes. I push the syrup toward him. “Thanks,” he replies.
“Nice place.” Ace doesn’t sit. Instead, he takes an apple and hovers by the door.
“Oh, it isn’t much, but it’s ours, and the view is worth its weight in gold.” Mom makes sure they all have a drink and some food before she finally sits down and loads her own plate.
“Does James go out of town a lot?”
“Your uncle works very hard.” Pride glitters in her eyes. “A lot of his clients are based out of Silicon Valley so he has to take the occasional trip here and there.”
I glance over at Ace and his eyes immediately snap to mine.
“Remi, sweetheart?” Mom’s voice pulls me back to the moment, and I blink over at her.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you could pass me the syrup.”
“Oh, sure thing.”
“Can I use your bathroom, please?” Ace asks.
“Of course. It’s up the stairs, last door on the left.”
“Did you take a breath?” I ask Conner, who already has a clean plate.
He grins at me. “I was hungry.”
“I can make another batch of pancakes.” Mom gets up.
“Mom, you don’t have to do—“
“Nonsense.” She waves me off. “The boys are our guests. I can’t have them leaving here still hungry, Ellen would never let me live it down.”
Conner leans back in his chair, throwing an arm behind his head. “What did you think of the party last night?” His lips curve.
“I think you and your brothers need to do a better job at blending in.”
“Not likely.” He chuckles. Cole sits quietly beside him. He’s eaten his food, but he hasn’t said a single word.
It’s unnerving, but in a totally different way to Ace.
With Ace, what you get is what you see. He’s bold and gives zero fucks. He’d eat you alive if you let him get too close. But Cole is a silent threat. Quiet and calculating. He’s the kind of predator you would never see coming.
“I’m sure you’ll find your feet. Sterling Prep is a good school.” Mom catches my eye, and I narrow my gaze at her. She lets out a small sigh. “Okay, so some of the kids can be…”
“Total assholes?”
Conner snickers while Mom stares at me in disappointment. “Remi, that isn’t fair.”
“Really? You really want to do this now?” I glance at our guests.
“I’m just saying you need to give people a chance, sweetheart. They used to be your friends.”
I shoot up and edge toward the door. “I’m going to take a shower.”
“I’m sorry,” Mom calls after me, but I don’t look back. I’ve already heard enough.
Climbing the stairs two at a time, I reach my bedroom door only to find it ajar, which is weird because I always keep it closed. Old habits die hard.
“Hello?” I say, grabbing the handle and pushing it open.
“Busted.” Ace smirks at me. He’s sitting on my bed, scoping out the place like he plans to come back tonight and steal all my worldly goods.
“Get. Out.” I don’t even bother with pleasantries. Ace has a serious issue with boundaries, that much is apparent, and I’m not in the mood to play games.
Of course he completely ignores me.
Standing up, taking the air with him, Ace stalks toward me. Only this time, I stand firm.
Amusement flashes in his frosty stare.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
“Because mommy dearest invited us over. Dumb move, by the way.” He drags his bottom lip between his teeth, releasing a small breath. He smells like cigarette smoke, stale liquor, and bad choices.
“She’s just being nice.”
“More like stupid. She just handed me the keys to your kingdom, and I can’t wait to watch you fall.”
“Really?” I scoff. “You get girls with those cheap lines?” I edge back, but Ace grabs my arm, anchoring me in place.
“Word of warning: I always get what I want, Princess.” His eyes burn into mine, scorching me to the bone.
“I know you’re hurting, and I know you probably don’t want to be here,” I say, “but that doesn’t mean you can lash out at everyone around you.”
He jerks back as if my words physically slap him. “What did you say?”
“I said, I know you’re hurting—“
One second he’s standing in front of me, the next he’s right in my space, his nose almost touching mine.
He’s so overwhelming, I can hardly breathe. But I can’t back down.
I won’t.
I made a promise to myself a long time ago never to be weak again.
Even if I am in way over my head.
“You don’t know the first fucking thing about my life,” he grits out, his anger poisoning the air around us.
I don’t reply. I can’t. Tears burn the backs of my eyes, but I won’t cry. Biting the inside of my cheek, I hold his murderous gaze. It’s a war of wills, a battle neither of us wants to surrender.
He cracks first though, the corner of his mouth tilting slightly. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy this.”
My brows pinch with confusion, but I smash my lips together, refusing to ask what he means.
Ace moves around me to the door, and before I can stop myself, I glance over my shoulder.
He’s still there, watching me.
A predator stalking its prey.
“See you soon, Princess.” His smile grows.
Wicked.
Arrogant.
Dangerous with a capital D.
And I know senior year just got a hell of a lot more difficult.
