Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
“Come down here, Raven.” He leans back against his SUV, folding his arms over his chest. “Or I’ll follow you back inside.”
“Like I care.”
“You will when I tell Maybell I fucked you in her bed Saturday night. You know, when she was out at Bingo.”
My brows crease. So they know Maybell’s schedule, interesting.
He scowls at my curious expression. “Come down here. I even have a party favor.”
He lifts up a decent size joint and leisurely steps into his ride, jerking his head for me to follow.
I frown, contemplating what to do here, but only for a second before my feet decide for me, carrying me closer to the shithead waiting. With a deep sigh, I slide in his front seat, just like he wanted.
He pulls around the house and heads a short way down the dirt road behind the property and parks off to the side. When he steps out, I follow.
He opens the back of the SUV and moves to sit on the ledge, patting the space beside him.
Rolling my eyes, I pull myself up and take the joint after he lights it.
“Thought you didn’t smoke?”
“I don’t,” he snaps with narrowed eyes.
When I laugh, he grins and looks away.
“Gotcha.” I take a hit and hold it in, looking out across the orchard. “Maybell doesn’t let us come back here.”
Royce nods.
“I’ve tried to sneak off this way to smoke a few times and before I can even hit the tree line, there she is, yelling from the back porch for me to head back to the house. She’s got some telepathic shit going on, always popping up the second I make a move she might not like.”
“She’s got that predator intuition,” he agrees, and my eyes widen slightly. Before I can ask any questions, like how he would know, he keeps going. “Surprised you listen.”
“I’m surprised you’re here.”
Royce drops his head to the side to look at me.
“You got something to say, say it.” I pass the joint back to him.
“You need to watch yourself,” he warns, a dull look taking over his eyes.
And I’m out.
I hop down and move toward the house, but Royce snatches me by my arm and yanks me back.
I spin around, my hand held up to slap him, but he catches it.
“Knock your shit off, I’m not trying to be a dick here. Sit the fuck down, finish smoking at least then you can storm off like a fucking child.”
My eyes harden, and I yank myself from his hold. “Fine. And only because it’s a free high.”
He gives me a side glance when I drop back beside him. “For real though, RaeRae. You can’t cause a power struggle at the school.”
“Fuck you and your boys.”
“Everyone already thinks you are,” he throws back at me.
“Yeah, thanks to you guys. Now I’m not only the newest school slut, but I’m the only girl ever known to have a pass to fuck all three of you whenever I want.”
“Yeah,” he winces. “I think that might of backfired on Maddoc a bit.”
“Yeah?” I study him. “And how’s that?”
He shrugs. “What was supposed to cause you problems, gave you power.”
“How do you figure?”
He tosses a perfectly good roach in the dirt. “There’s been plenty of Bray girls, but like you said, you’re the only one to get to fuck all three of us on no timeline ... and we appear to want more. That makes you the dominant female.” He stares at me. “There’s never been one of those before.”
I lick my lips and look off. Fucking great.
So much for laying low.
“Let’s pretend you’ll tell me.” I look back to him. “What happens now?”
“Nice try.”
I pop a shoulder. “Worth a shot.”
“Look, it’s complicated now.” He shifts toward me. “First you pushed us in front of everyone, we had to make sure the lines were clear. We run shit around here because we have to for shit that don’t concern you. Period. Yet you took it in stride. Then you showed up at the party, helped us get the upper hand back over the Graven douchebags. No Brayshaw students should have been there for any fucking reason, but since you were, we have to cover our tracks in case it gets back to the school. Better to pull you in than make us look weak by not being able to control one fucking female. Now, if it comes out that you were at that party, it’ll be because we allowed it, because we brought you along. Not because you went off on your own.”
I scoff, shaking my head and he shrugs unapologetically.
I watch him closely, deciding it’s fine to fish just a little since he came to me and started talking. “You called the cop from the courts a Graven.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but an engine is heard in the orchards behind us and Royce hangs his head instead.