When I turn around, my heart stutters in my chest to see Eva is no longer on the dancefloor with Dimitry. I come up blank after a quick sweep. There's no sign of Eva anywhere in the hall. My thoughts race along with my heart pounding at a thousand miles an hour as I return to Archer. "Did you see where they went?"His brow furrows as he turns to me. "Who?""Eva and Dimitry," I growl.Archer shrugs. "How the fuck should I know?" He grabs my wrist as I'm about to walk away. "Are you intending to ruin her family, or do you intend to fucking marry her? As at the moment, you're acting like her crazed lover."I snarl at him in response, and he lets go, reading the warning signs. I have to find Eva, not argue with him.Blaine is talking to a student. I don't want to ask if he saw where they went. He's always more of a drag than Archer, so I know there's no use asking for his help. The students are supposed to remain in the hall during the event, but none of these fucking idiots follow the ru
My heart skips a beat as I stare down at Dimitry, who Oak knocked out with a fierce right hook.Everyone is so drunk and consumed by whatever they're doing that they didn't notice the principal of the school swoop in and save me. His aqua eyes blaze with barely contained rage, which scares me.I reach for him, but he takes a step back. "Not here." He runs a hand through his hair. "Leave this party and meet me in the classroom where we have leadership strategy." He turns around and marches right out of the party, ignoring that students are drinking and doing drugs in his presence.Once Oak is out of sight, I rush in a different direction toward the main school building, leaving Dimitry knocked out on the floor. I swallow hard and glance at Dimitriy, who's still out cold. Hopefully, no one noticed Principal Byrne rush in like my knight in shining armor.My heart hammers so hard it makes me feel sick as I rush down a pathway and take a side door back into the school. A faint sound of mus
Oak groans, adjusting his position between my thighs. The head of his cock rests at my soaking wet entrance.All I can think about is how he raced to my aid in those ruins. My knight in shining armor, despite the danger it posed to him if he were caught."I can never get enough of you," Oak says before thrusting deep inside of me.I claw my fingertips into his back, trying to anchor myself on the edge of the small wooden desk. It's hard to believe that this man wants me.Oak growls ferociously as he increases the tempo. His huge, powerful hands gripping my hips in a way I know will leave bruises. Every time this man takes me, he leaves marks on my skin that linger as a reminder of him, etched into my skin for days."I wish we could remain like this forever," I breathe, as Oak's body rams into mine repeatedly. "I want your cock in me all day, every day."He groans, pressing his forehead to mine. "So do I, baby girl." He digs his fingertips into my hips, spreading a biting pain through
My eyes flicker open, and I find Eva in my arms, sleeping peacefully. I can't help but smile the moment I see her, wishing we could wake together like this every day. A stupid fantasy because Eva and I can't be together.Ever since I've got to know her, it's become clear that she is nothing like her parents, which means I can't consider using her the way I intended.Revenge seems unimportant for the first time in a long time as I stare at Eva. My desire to ruin the people that ruined me, as well as murdered an innocent woman I cared for, was all I had at one point.My phone buzzes, and I grab it off the nightstand, finding a multimedia message from an unknown number. When I open it, my stomach dips.It's a photo of me and Eva, half-naked and tearing at each other's clothes in the classroom last night. "Shit," I mutter.Eva stirs in my arms but doesn't wake. I remove my arm from under her and slip out of bed, pacing quietly out of the bedroom. I don't want to worry her about this, as s
The pancakes are easy to make.Eva watches me, looking exhausted, as if she could spend the rest of the day sleeping. We didn't get anywhere near enough sleep last night.Once the pancakes are ready, I plate them up on two plates along with a good helping of blueberries and maple syrup, passing one plate to Eva."I am so hungry," she says, eagerly trucking in.I smile. "You'll need your strength, as I'm going to make the most of our last few hours together."That makes her smile as she continues to eat. Eva's phone buzzes and she picks it up. "Shit. Natalya is asking where I am.""Tell her you went for a walk in the woods," I suggest.She swallows hard. "I can't be too long, though. She'll wonder why I'm walking alone in the cold." She types her response and sends it to Natalya. "I've finished my pancakes. Shall we get in the shower?"I raise a brow. "I don't know whether to be offended or pleased." I stand and approach Eva, towering over her. "I'm glad you are eager to have me inside
"Where have you been?" Natalya asks the moment I enter the cafeteria that evening.Heat floods my cheeks as I sit in my usual spot. "Studying in the library. I have a lot of work to do."Her brow furrows, but I'm thankful when she doesn't press me any further. "Fair enough."Azira clears her throat. "We were thinking of having a movie night in Adrianna's room since she has a TV. You in?"I nod in reply. "Sounds good." I need to keep my mind off the fact that someone sitting in this cafeteria has images of Oak and me fucking last night."You alright?" Adrianna asks, nudging me."Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"She shrugs. "You look a little vacant."I spoon a fork full of macaroni and cheese into my mouth and ignore her comment. I wish I could discuss the crazy shit that's happened with my friends, but I know I could never tell them about Oak.Once I'm finished eating, Azira heads to the counter to grab some snacks for the movie."What movie are we going to watch?" I ask.Natalya shrugs. "We
I'm thankful that the next five days pass by without incident, even though Oak's contact hasn't been able to unmask the mystery blackmailer. He apparently will need longer to find the culprit since they used a burner phone. It was silly to think they didn't know what they were doing. This school is full of criminals.We've kept our distance from each other, even if it felt impossible at times. As I stand in the school's main hall, waiting to see off my three friends for the winter break, my heart is pounding frantically. Oak and I will be alone here in his cottage for two weeks within hours.Natalya appears and rushes over to me. "I am going to miss you," she says, hugging me tightly.I laugh, shaking my head. "It is only two weeks.""Still, we must text every day," she says, squeezing my hand. "I can't believe you are staying here on your own for Christmas."I shrug. "I've got a lot of studying to catch up on for the SATs next year.""Boring." She rolls her eyes. "If you get bored, g
Eva sits in my living room, her legs curled under her as she reads a book. It's Christmas Eve, and I'm surprised to say that her parents haven't once inquired where she is. She's received no text or phone call from them.My instincts were right from the start. Eva is as much a victim of her parents' cruelty as I was, which is why I can only hope she will understand when I tell her the truth, but that can wait until after Christmas.I swallow hard, realizing that I've never felt so at ease with another person before. With Eva, every interaction is so natural, so effortless.She notices me and places a bookmark in the book she was reading, setting it down on the coffee table and looking at me. "Any news?"I swallow hard, knowing that the mystery of the blackmailer is eating away at her. Unfortunately, whoever sent the message isn't an idiot. They used a burner phone, and Ainsley's contact is still trying to track down the owner. He assures me it's possible but that it'll take a couple o
Archer holds my hand as we pad barefoot through the sand, the sun just setting beyond the horizon and casting a warm, orange glow over the beach.Natalya's wedding was beautiful. And even though I still can't believe she's married the man that tormented her for years, I'm happy that she is happy."It's beautiful, isn't it?" I ask, stopping to watch as the sun dips slowly lower.Archer smiles at me. "Shall we sit down and watch?"I nod in response. "Sounds good." I sit down in the sand and he sits behind me, placing his legs on either side of my thighs and his arms around my waist. "This is nice," he murmurs into my ear.I lean back into him. "It is.""Did you enjoy the wedding?" He asks."It was beautiful, even though I still can't quite believe that Nat ended up with Elias after he was such a bully."Archer moves my hair to the side and skims his lips over the back of my neck. "Is it any different to you being with me after I blackmailed you?"I stiffen at the reminder. "Not sure it'
Motherfucker.I search the closet for something to pick the bedroom lock with. If Archer is facing my father and his goons, then I need to be by his side.Another shot echoes through the air, making me tense. I work even harder to focus on the lock, knowing I need to get out of this room. Finally, the lock clicks and I'm thankful I took the class on safe breaking two years ago when it was being taught.Quickly, I run out of the room and down the corridor, hardly thinking about what I'm doing.My heart skips a beat when I see my father and Archer standing outside of the window, each pointing a gun at one another. "No." I rush out of the cabin without a second thought. "Stop!""Adrianna," my father growls, pointing the gun at me. "What the fuck are you doing?"I freeze at the other end of his gun, knowing that he would without a doubt shoot me dead. "I'm not coming home to Mexico," I say.He growls. "Like hell you aren't.""I don't want to be married off to some mobster.""No, you want
I pull my jeep off the main road in the middle of nowhere, driving down an unmarked track. It may be secluded, but I know the path to this place like the back of my hand. After all, I spent just under two years living up here in my cabin.I notice Adrianna shudder."Are you cold?" I ask.She shakes her head. "No, this place just gives me the creeps.""The creeps?" I never thought of it as creepy."Yeah, like maybe you are actually a serial killer and this was your elaborate plan all along."I laugh, shaking my head. "You have a wild imagination." The woods open up to a clearing where my cabin is, and it's not just any old cabin. It's modern and sophisticated."Wow, do you own this place?" Adrianna asks.I nod. "I bought it when I needed to remain low while my family was looking for me." It was a difficult time in my life. One fraught with loneliness and a little too much alcohol, but this place saved me. "It's actually how I met Oak. He owns a cabin near to here and we met while we we
I approach Adrianna, who is standing with all her friends. My nerves are fried, mainly because I'm practically kidnapping the princess of the Vasquez Cartel. Thankfully, I saw Damien Vasquez leave ten minutes ago in his armored SUV. I'm pretty sure he hardly even said a word to Adrianna after the ceremony.I clear my throat. "Adrianna, can I have a word?""Stil not giving up?" Natalya teases.It's clear no one knows about us among her friends, except for Azira, and that was my fault.She meets my gaze and nods. I can tell from the look on her face that she's just as nervous as me. "Sure."I nod toward the exit of the hall and she follows me out of it."What's up?" she asks, as I lead her into an empty classroom and shut the door."I just wanted to double check you are all set for the plan?"She nods. "Of course. I'm packed, only essentials and no tech.""Good. And your father has gone. I watched him leave."She purses her lips. "I don't even know why he bothered to come. He didn't say
My father is standing at my door half an hour before the ceremony."Hey, Adrianna." He looks at my outfit. "You look well."I swallow hard. "Thanks for coming." I glance down the corridor. "Where is mom?"He shakes his head. "Your mother couldn't make it."It hurts a bit, I must admit. Out of the two of them, I'd expect my mom to be here over my father. She may not have ever been emotionally supportive, but she's always been a little less cold than him."Oh, is she busy?""No, but I don't enjoy traveling with your mother. You know that."I clench my jaw. "I know that." He doesn't like to travel with her because he likes to pay hookers whenever he stays away from home. The man disgusts me, but my mother isn't much better. Their marriage is a sham, and it has been all my life. Exactly what I want to avoid by escaping, as that was my future. My mom was married by arrangement to my father, hence the toxic relationship between them."Shall we get going then?" I say.He nods. "Lead the way.
Adrenaline has been racing through my veins since I woke this morning.It's sickening, but today is the day. Graduation is this afternoon and then all my friends and I will go out to celebrate. My father agreed to my plan and told me he'd booked into a hotel twenty miles away in the nearest city, as he's above the little inn in town and the motel near here. It actually makes the plan easier, as he won't be nearby when I make a run for it.However, after the celebrations are through, Archer and I will disappear. Our friends will know that we've left for good, but not where we are going. No one knows that, not even I do. I've let Archer figure the entire thing out and where I'm going to go.It's been hard trusting him in this way, as I've always relied on myself alone. He can't disappear with me, though. He has a life here at the academy, and so he's going to set me up with my new life and then leave. That's the part I've been trying to avoid thinking about entirely.I'm not sure how I'
I walk up to the door of Archer's apartment, my heart thumping at a hundred miles an hour.Am I crazy for being here?Perhaps. I knock on the door and wait a few moments and then I hear the thud of footsteps descending the stairs. Archer opens it and smiles at me with a smile that could stop most women's hearts. "You are here."I smile back at him. "I didn't get murdered.""I'm glad," he says, stepping aside to allow me in.I pause for a moment, knowing that now I'm coming to him of my free will rather than because he's blackmailing me. I'm not sure how to feel about that. It changes everything.His brow furrows. "Are you going to stay there or come in?"I purse my lips. "Still trying to decide."He laughs and grabs my hand, yanking me into the apartment and against him. "Don't be an idiot.""I'm normally the one saying that to you."He leads me up into his apartment, where he has a table set with candles alight. "I was prepared since I hadn't heard of any murders on campus." There is
My plan to get my revenge on Archer is backfiring.Why the hell do I feel so excited whenever I see him?And when he touched me earlier by the stream, he was trying to comfort me, but his touch ignited butterflies fluttering in my stomach and made my head spin. He keeps talking about feelings and how he wants us to continue after I graduate, which is insane.I can't work out if he's only saying it because I've never admitted I want him. All the while, I've made sure I keep detached and cold, even when he talks about his feelings.As I walk into the academy, I'm ambushed by my father. "Where have you been?"I cross my arms over my chest. "I went for a walk. Is that a crime?"He sighs heavily. "I'm here to take you back home."My brow furrows. "But what about the academy?" I ask, wondering why he didn't come to get me during spring break, especially as he said he had a meeting set out for me the week before.He yanks my wrist and drags me into an empty classroom, slamming the door behin
I sense Adrianna isn't used to relying on anyone for anything."Seriously, Adrianna. Let me help." I need to help her as I need to know her plan. She's so pigheaded. It wouldn't surprise me if she disappeared forever and I couldn't find her. It's the only way to ensure I keep tabs on her."Fine, you can help."I smile, relief coursing through my veins. "Good, as I have quite a few ideas.""Such as?"I pat my lap for her to come and sit on it.Her eyes narrow, but she sits anyway."Your father is coming to graduation, and that's a complication, but not the be all and end all. I mean, you dictated to your father before, so do it again.""What do you mean?""Tell him that you are going to celebrate with your friends. They're all going to be celebrating, right?"She nods. "Yeah.""Then tell him to book a motel and you'll leave with him the next morning."A crease forms in between her brows. "I'm uncertain it will work, but I can ring him beforehand. It's an option, I guess.""Well, tell m