Her eyes narrow on me. “You’re right. It was more like an understanding. You took the fall for me, making me owe you. And then, one day, you came to collect.”
Four months ago
I sit in my father’s darkly lit game room on the chaise lounge. Deke, Bennett, and Shane are all over by the pool table. Each with a girl under their arm. Kellan sits over on the couch watching the basketball game playing on the big screen, but there’s no sound. Instead, “Devilish” by Chase Atlantic plays through the speakers.
Looking down at my phone, I go to my contacts. I sent Austin a text, giving her my address, but I did it from Deke’s phone instead of mine. I wanted to remind her she was outnumbered. And alone.
Celeste is forcing my hand. Not that I didn’t wanna play with the feisty brunette with striking green eyes, but I wanted to do it my way. Now I need reinforcements. Of the female kind. I don’t have any friends who are girls. Hell, I barely have any guy friends. If they’re not a shark, I don’t pay them any mind. And even the women I fuck, I stay clear of. No need for conversation afterward.
Scrolling through the contacts on my phone, I go to the one name I know who owes me a favor. I just didn’t think I’d get to cash in this soon.
Becky Holt—the girl that my best friend Deke is in love with—just happens to owe me a lot. We never speak. Never hang out. Not anymore. We keep our distance and for a good reason. One of the last times I saw her, she had tears running down her face, smearing her flawless makeup. Her shirt was torn, and she had blood on her hands. I told her to run. And she did just that.
I quickly send her a text, knowing she’s here tonight. I saw her downstairs earlier. And that’s why Deke has decided to fuck Sara Logan tonight—to try and make Becky jealous.
Me: Ready?
It shows read immediately. I see the three dots bounce around and then disappear. My smile widens.
They bounce around again before my phone vibrates in my hands.
B: ?
Me: A friend of mine is coming tonight. You would make a great friend for her too.
Her response is immediately.
B: You don’t have any girls who are friends.
Touché.
Me: Her name is Austin. Brunette. Green eyes. Probably wearing something red. Text me when she gets here.
B: And why do you want to know that?
Me: It’s time to pay up! Then I send the devil emoji.
I lay my phone on my leg. I told my new toy ten, and it’s thirty minutes past that now. Kids actually started arriving at nine, but I wanted to make sure the house was full of people before she showed. I knew she’d arrive late. She wants to prove she’s not afraid of me and that she still holds all the cards. I like that.
“Bennett?” I call over to him.
He unwraps himself from his nightly fuck and comes over to me. I look up at him from my lounge. “Do you have the video from my father’s warehouse?” I made her steal a car with me last night. Her daddy’s car. Just more insurance. And she has no idea I’m gonna use it against her. Fuck, it’s gonna be so easy to break this girl. She’ll be in tears and begging me from her knees in no time. My cock is hard just thinking about it.
He nods. “Yes. And I sent it to Deke’s phone. It’s good to go.”
Perfect!
Kellan jumps to his feet. “I don’t understand why you want her so badly.”
“You don’t have to understand,” I say.
His jaw tightens. I feel my phone vibrate. I look down to see it’s from Becky.
B: She’s here. Kitchen.
I don’t respond.
Showtime.
“Only One King,” by Tommee Profitt, Jung Yong begins to play, and a smile spreads across my face. Game on, sweetheart.
I look at Kellan. “Our guest has arrived. Go get her. She’s in the kitchen. And Kellan? Don’t touch her,” I warn. She’s all mine.
He just stands there for a few seconds and then marches out the door, slamming it behind him. I lean back, crossing my ankles, and prop my head up with my hand behind it and wait.
Austin Lowes wants me. I saw the way she looked at me. And it’s unfortunate for her that I want her too. Just in a completely different way. And the thing about the GWS is that they always get what they want. No matter who they have to hurt, blackmail, or kill. They win.
“The moment she walked back into the kitchen with you, I about had a heart attack.” Becky shakes her head, interrupting my thoughts. “I thought maybe you guys knew each other. But when you walked away, I asked her how she knew you, and she said you had just met.” She lets out a long breath. “I should have told you no. Then you kissed her …” She begins to pace. “I should have never helped you use her.”