I’m back to squirming beneath his violent grip and I want to spit at everything Malcolm tried to say. There is nothing good about Emmett. He’s no different from the rest of them.
Unless…he’s worried about me? Upset that he didn’t know where I was? But if that was the case, he wouldn’t have needed to drag Trey and Vincent along with him.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” I quip defiantly, staring straight into his eyes from an angle that was becoming all too familiar.
“Oh, did you miss this?” he growls, his eyes taking me in with hunger. “Is that why you misbehaved? Just to get me here?”
“You wish,” I roll my eyes, sparking a new rage behind his stare.
His hand jerks to the top of my head, gripping a fistful of what’s hanging loose from my ponytail and pulling it back to raise my chin to him. The sting of it causes my eyes to water, and I have to blink away tears.
He pants over me, half with sexual desire, half with pure anger. I don’t know whether to expect him to hit me or kiss me. All of my conflicted feelings are back in full force in only a matter of seconds of being in his presence.
“Let’s see if you really know what it means to be a good little girl,” he groans. “You broke the rules, so now you know we have to punish you.”
Before I can even begin to guess what he’s planning to do, he whips me around toward the door. I am shocked as he leads me out into the hall, Trey and Vincent following behind.
“I told you my parents are downstairs,” I remind him, thinking surely he won’t be so bold as to march me right out in front of them.
“Good,” he retorts, unfazed. “I would like to meet your mom. I’ve already met your dad of course. Your real dad.”
“Well, that makes one of us,” I muster through a gulp as he practically pushes me down the stairs. I pray my mom comes around the corner and catches the way he’s handling me, but he’s too smart for that. He’d never let himself get caught.
“Ophelia!” she cries in innocent excitement as we round the corner of the kitchen. “I didn’t even know you were home! Much less that you had company!”
Emmett’s fingers pinch into my spine, just out of her sight. His fingernails sting the thin skin against my bone, causing me to wince. I am tempted to show how much it hurts. To jerk away from him and see what my mom actually does.
“Oh yeah,” I play along, deciding to keep them out of this. If the Elites can take down millionaires and convince major universities to deny a potential student, it would be nothing for them to ruin everything my mom and Brendan have worked so hard for. I can’t be the reason that happens. “I went out for a run. I just got back.”
Her eyes look to the three guys expectantly, causing Emmett’s fingers to twist even harder into my back.
“These are my friends!” I shout quickly, hoping he’ll ease his pinch. “I ran into them while I was out.”
“I remember you from the hospital,” she shakes her head, looking like she feels foolish for not remembering sooner. “Emmett, right?”
I see Brendan’s ears perk up from the kitchen at the mention of his name.
“And of course I know you two,” she nods politely to Trey and Vincent, making my stomach turn.
“How are you, Mrs. Lopez?” they chime in almost comedic unison.
“Wonderful! How are you? And how is your mother!?”
My mom’s small talk with them fades into the background as I look up to Emmett, searching his face for any clue of what’s supposed to happen next. But he just smiles and plays along.
“It’s kind of late for houseguests,” Brendan finally jumps in, taking an authoritative stance behind my mom. His eyes are glued to Emmett. He still doesn’t trust him after the accident.
“Yes, of course,” Emmett agrees politely. “We were actually hoping we could take Ophelia out to a movie. If that would be alright with you?”
“Are you driving?” Brendan quips back, not missing a beat.
I smile up at Emmett in anticipation of his temper emerging, blowing their whole cover. But he’s too smooth for that.
“Actually, no,” he laughs. “Vincent is this time. I promise we’ll take good care of her. And we’ll have her home as soon as the movie is over.”
“What are you going to see?” my mother asks sweetly, causing my heart to drop as I realize they’re actually going to let them get away with this.
“There are a few things starting soon,” Trey explains. “We were gonna decide when we get there.”