“Oh, right. By standing up for some poor freshman you were humiliating.”
Devlin smirks. “Exactly.”
“Then why fuck with me beyond that?” I ask. “If it has nothing to do with that, why drag me into this shit with my brothers? Because I’m a girl? Is that why you pulled me into the middle of something that has nothing to do with me, just to get back at my brothers?”
He doesn’t answer.
“That’s bullshit.” I spit out the words, too frustrated to care if I sound like a bitch.
“Yeah,” he says, surprising me even more. “The most vulnerable one gets taken down first. That’s just the way it is.”
“That’s not fair,” I point out. “I didn’t ask to be part of this bullshit war between our families.”
Devlin lets out a puff of breath and shrugs. “Like you said, this is war. All’s fair.”
It’s not fair, and that pisses me off beyond words. I want to cry at the unfairness of it. Not just that he used me, but that we couldn’t be together even if we wanted to be. We’ve gone too far now—both of our families have. I feel the ache of unshed tears behind my eyes, in my throat. Fuck. I’m too vulnerable to be around a Darling right now.
“So, what now?” I whisper, forcing the tears back. “You fucked me and threw me away. You made your point with my family. You broke me, Devlin. And you got Royal. That’s worse than we could ever do. So why keep destroying us? You’ve already won.”
“It’s not that easy,” he says. “Not with my family. They won’t stop until this town is rid of every one of you and the dirty money you brought with you.”
“You want to drive us out of town,” I murmur, halfway to myself. “Just like last time.”
But last time, no one disappeared.
Did they?
Devlin hesitates, then says quietly, “Preston didn’t take Royal. I don’t know who did, but…”
“What?” I ask, my heart beating so hard I can’t hear my own whispered word.
Devlin runs his palm up the back of his head. “I’ll ask around,” he says, avoiding my gaze.
Tears brim in my eyes, and I want to believe him. I want to believe so bad it aches. But I’ve been deceived by one too many Darlings. I’m not the trusting girl who climbed in the limo with Colt a week ago. Tonight, I won’t be partying. I’ll go home, and I’ll replay every word of this night until morning. I’ll read between the lines and decipher every word for hidden clues. I’ll be the best damn detective this shitty little town has ever seen. Because I will find my brother. And when I do, they will fucking pay.
I blink, letting a single tear trickle down my cheek. I’m glad Devlin’s not looking into my eyes, because he would see the burning fury of a thousand suns in mine instead of the meek little girl he believes me to be when I whisper, “Thank you.”
eighteen
Devlin
Crystal turns, but I catch her elbow before she can walk away. I’m not ready to let her go yet. I want to play with my puppy, have a little fun with her first.
“I’m not going to find what you want,” I say. And then, because I can’t help being a dick, I add, “But if you want to thank me, you can do it on your knees.”
“Why would I thank you if you can’t find my brother?”
“You tell me,” I say, stepping closer. Even in a hoodie and furry boots, she’s cute as fuck. She’s so short I could pick her up, toss her over my shoulder… And carry her off to do very bad things to her. “You were ready to thank me in your room yesterday morning.”
“I did thank you,” she said.
“How about a proper thank you,” I say, letting my fingers skim lightly up the outside of her thigh. Her lips part, and her eyes widen just a fraction. It’s enough to send a swell of that addictive power through me—and to send the blood rushing to my dick. This girl is dangerous as fuck.
“Thank you,” she says. “For showing me exactly how much I mean to you.”
I draw back and quirk an eyebrow.
“See, you could have just fucked me the way you fuck other girls,” she says.