“Let go of me.” I demand, once again aiming to free myself. He waits until I stop fighting him, then slowly unwraps his arms and puts me back on my feet. I step back and face him head on. “Why are you here, Wesley?”
He gives me a languorous smile. “Looking for you. Ava texted Zander that you freaked out and ran out of the room, scared you’d get yourself into trouble.” He glances over my body, quickly assessing me, and when he seems to be appeased that I’m not harmed, he says, “looks like she may have been right.” His eyes dart to the building behind me before focusing on my face again.
“I needed some air.”
His smile widens and his face lights up in amusement. “I heard. Guess her royal highness never thought she’d be slumming it with us lowlifes. Lucky for you, I showed up.”
NINE
WESLEY
She glares at me and shakes her head. She’s cute when she’s angry. I’m going to have fun with her. I was outside by the fire when she left last night, but Julien told me about his tryst. Well, kind of. He told me she was snooping in his room and he taught her a lesson. He probably enjoyed that lesson just as much as she did because he’s still pissy. I talked with Zander after I put our minions to work cleaning up from the party. I don’t know what it is about Riley, but Julien is not himself with her. Even after talking with Zander, I know I’m missing something. I’m not sure I understand what’s going on with Zander, either. He gave me an update, sure, but he wasn’t…there. His mind was elsewhere, which is unlike him.
“Leave me alone, Wesley. You’re the last person I wanna see.” She bites her lip and gets a far off look in her eyes before focusing on me again.I wonder where her mind jumped to.“What is this place?” she jerks her thumb over her shoulder.
“I thought I was the last person you wanted to see?” I tease. The decrepit-looking building stands behind her and I look at it before looking back into her bright eyes. For someone who seems to be afraid of the type of people we are, she sure is nosey. Curiosity killed the cat and all that shit. Time to fuck around. “Idon’t know what itusedto be used for.” I wink playfully at her as she rolls her eyes. “I know what we use it for now.”
“And I suppose you’re not gonna tell me, right?”
With a self-satisfied smirk plastered on my face, I shrug and shake my head. She flushes, and I’m not sure if it’s from the walk or from speaking with me; but she gives a humph in annoyance that’s so damn cute. After a few moments of silence, she throws her hands up in defeat and turns, but I’m faster. I wrap my fingers around her wrist and drag her back to me with enough force she has to put her hands on my pecs to stop from bouncing off me. It’s like she’s branded me in the very spot she touches. My skin burns under her small hands, and it feels so damn good. I groan as she digs her fingers into my muscles and squeaks.
“We’re not done here. You need to learn a few,” I pause, thinking of the best word, “house rules. And trust me when I say I’m the best person to teach you.” Julien would scare her. Although, she’s been giving him a run for his money and I know defiance pisses him off. Zander is emotionally detached from people; a wall seems to exist between him and others. It makes sense with all the shit he’s gone through. I don’t think he would get her to listen. She needs someone who can sympathize with what she’s dealing with. Pointebreak is a new world she doesn’t know how to navigate—but I do. I know what it’s like to have everything stacked against you.
I’ve known my entire life about the family I was born into. What my family expects of me. I know the role I am supposed to step into after I leave here. Riley was thrown into the lion's den without a weapon and told to survive. What kind of sick father does that? What game is Michael Whittier playing? There’s so much more to this than we even realize. There has to be. But everything Julien has said about this strong-willed girl in front of me iswrong. He said she was weak. But that’s not true. I know it deep down in my gut.. She’s not a prissy princess who needs tobe used as a pawn in our sick game, despite what Julien thinks. She’ll need to become a warrior and fight to survive.
Survival.
Pointebreak is going to be her worst nightmare. As soon as the students learn she has no clue what she’s stepped into, they’re going to fuck with her just because they can. And I know a few people here would do it to get to her father. Blackmail isn’t an uncommon tactic in our world. I won’t let that happen—can’t let it happen. We are the only ones who can mess with her. If the wrong person pushes her, she may break. She’s vital to get what we need. Sometimes plans change, and we’re going with the flow.
Whatever she’s thinking of makes her breathing erratic. Her eyes have glossed over with a sheen of wetness. “Breathe, you’re turning blue.” I rub my fingers over her cheek, and she swats me away. I smile wide again, happiness bubbling inside me. What the hell is up with that?
“Alright, Hellcat, have it your way.” I step back, giving her the space she seems to need.
“My name’s Riley. It’s five letters. Is it really that hard to remember?” The muscles in her jaw clench and she takes a deep breath through her nose.
I laugh and she narrows her eyes, clearly not as amused. “You're putting up one heck of a fight. Thought it was a suitable name.” I collar the back of her neck and pull her flush to me, then dip down my face directly in front of hers. Her pulse thrums steadily along the delicate line of her neck as her lips part into an “O” shape. Images of shoving my dick between her lips and having her swallow me play like rapid fire through my mind. How’s her head game? I’m sure I could teach her a few tricks. My cock grows and presses behind the zipper of my shorts as I inhale her scent. Vanilla and cherries. My own personal cherrypie is just waiting to be eaten. “You’re not what I expected, Riley,” I whisper.
She licks her lips and pulls the bottom one between her teeth, holding tight to it. Her breathing has picked up. She swallows hard and clears her throat. “What did you expect?” Her voice is low, sultry.
I shake my head. “Not you.” I release her, pushing her away from me and take a step back, needing to distance myself from the siren in front of me.
She clears her throat and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then looks at her feet.
“What?” I ask. I can see the wheels in her head spinning. She really needs to work on that poker face of hers. She probably thinks she’s good at it, but I can see through her bullshit.
“How many students here are…criminals?”
She cringes as I chuckle at her awkward question. “None.” Her shoulders drop in relief and she sighs. “Just their parents. Or bosses.” I shrug. “Depends on who you’re talkin’ to.” She flops her mouth open in surprise. Is she really that surprised, though? Pointebreak is very selective about who they accept. Not everyone makes the cut. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Hellcat. You’re not as innocent as you think you are.” I rest both hands on the top of my head, stretching my back with the groan, waiting for some sort of snarky reply that I’m sure is on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes travel to the bit of my stomach showing and I can’t help the bit of warmth that spreads through me. I don’t hate it. Not one bit. I resist the urge to pull my shirt up higher, giving her a better view. I know what I look like. And I know I look damn good.
“I don’t get in trouble.” She grits out, anger radiating off her as she clenches her fist by her side. I’m not sure if it’s my words that have caused the volatile reaction or if she’s pissed becauseshe’s checking me out. Let’s go with the latter because I really like her sizing me up.
It’s so easy to get under her skin. I rub my jaw, thinking. “No. My guess is you keep your nose squeaky clean.” I tap the tip of her nose and smile as she swats my hand away in frustration. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not guilty byassociation.”
“I’m not my father. Anything he’s done isn’t a reflection of me.”
I shake my head, my mouth turning down into a frown. “That’s not how it works. We pay for the sins of our families.”I know I sure as hell have.“Ava’s a good girl. She’ll help you navigate Pointebreak. You may not know the students here, but that doesn’t mean they don’t already know you.” Especially after last night. There are eyes and ears everywhere.
Riley shakes her head, and I watch her struggle to swallow past the lump forming in her throat. Her eyes are glassy as tears fill, threatening to spill. Then she sniffs and whispers, “I don’t want to be here. I don’t want any part of this life…you…these people…” An errant tear falls down her cheek, but she wipes it away quickly in anger.
