Page 5 of Redeeming the Villain
The room and setup they provided is perfect, and I couldn’t extend enough gratitude when I moved in. Although I’m not sure if their generosity is because of Sunny and their excitement for my attendance or because of my dad’s position.
After using the bathroom and washing my hands, I smile politely at a few girls who walk past me before heading back to my room.
Turning the corner, I bump into a tall, hot guy with wandering eyes, dark hair, and a cute smirk.
“Shit, sorry about that,” he grumbles, his voice low.
“No problem.” I smile politely.
He spins, walking backward as he strolls away from me, biting down on his bottom lip. “See you around, pretty girl.”
My heart flips in my chest, and I giggle lightly, feeling my cheeks warm. I know it’s ridiculous how good his compliment made me feel.
But most of the ones I’ve gotten were in proximity with my dad, and it was hard to tell if they were genuine or just coming from people trying to gain his favor. Which has happened more times than I’d like to admit.
Besides, I’m not on the hunt for a guy. I’m focused on my music and Sunny. There’s no time for unnecessary distractions.
Without a word, I continue to my door, unlocking it with the fob and stepping inside, inhaling the sweet cinnamon-and-apple air freshener. The door starts to swing shut behind me, and I yawn as I kick my slippers off, ready to crawl into bed with my girl and watch a movie.
Footsteps race down the hallway toward my door, and I instinctually spin around, just in time to see it fly open with force as someone deeply calls out, “Coming in!”
Voices echo down the hallway behind him, laughter and anger intertwining into a slew of curse words and shouts.
He quickly ducks behind my door and slams it shut with his back to me as he tries to catch his breath and look out of the peephole for whoever is chasing after him.
A cold, spine-chilling snake slithers up my back and wraps around my throat, constricting tightly as that familiar, unsettling voice registers in my brain.
My gaze travels from his black hair to his bare strong arms, every other inch of the taut skin scattered with black-and-white tattoos. His fitted T-shirt outlines his strength and impressive physique, and my breath gets caught in my throat from fear.
Sunny brushes against my leg, standing guard at my feet, more so out of curiosity than anything. She isn’t trained to be protective, but maybe she can sense the enemy in the room.
His shoulders rise and fall rapidly as images of our past start to flash in my mind. I’m frozen in place, unable to move a finger as shock rocks through me to my core.
“You fucker! Where’d you go?” someone yells in the hallway.
It’s not him. There’s no way it could be him.Right?
The six-foot-three monster, with ruffled black hair and haunting purple eyes, turns around, his gaze locking with mine. And as much as I try to fight it, I can’t ignore the truth any longer. Standing in my room is the cruel and menacing man I hoped to never see again …Malik Ravenwell.
My eyes travel from the familiar, stark blue eyes to the parted rosy lips, and all air expels from my lungs as my words fill the silence between us. “Nofuckingway.”
My body warms, and my palms sweat as I realize that I’m not hallucinating, that this is real and she’s actually standing right in front of me.
Alora Briarwood.
I never thought she would step foot in the same town as me again. Not after she ran to the other side of the fucking world to escape me. But it doesn’t matter how far she runs; my claws will always be sunk into her.
She stays silent as we study each other, both of us in a frozen stupor at the fact that we’re mere feet away from one another again. My gaze wanders over her flowing blonde hair and down her body before meeting her confused and angry gaze.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a dog by her legs, and I’m not surprised. Of course, the prissy princess would have her dog here with her. I’m sure her daddy even paid extra to make sure it was allowed. I see the greed of the Briarwood family hasn’t lessened in our time apart.
The innocence in her eyes is the same as I remember, but as she blinks away her daze, I notice something new in her stare. A confidence that certainly wasn’t there before. Including how she carries herself. She isn’t cowering down in my presence like I’m used to. She’s standing tall and facing me head-on.
She must have forgotten who I was during our time apart. But that’s okay; I won’t hesitate to remind her and refresh her memory on exactly how unimportant she is.
Her mouth shakily closes before parting once more. “Get thefuckout of my room.” Her voice isn’t meek or shy; instead, it’s proud and demanding.
I think it’s the first time I’ve ever heard her swear, and I can’t help but chuckle at the sound of her innocent mouth cursing.
