Page 31 of Rivals

“Riles.”

“I can’t right now, Reign. Okay, just go back to the party.”

She tries to pull out of my hold, but I’m quicker. My arm slings around her back, clasping her body to mine. “Stop running.”

“Stop chasing.” She glares at me. Her eyes are arrowed, her cheeks are pink with anger and her chest rises and falls rapidly.

I glance around us and calculate the distance to my car. “It’s too fucking cold out,” I mutter and start moving her toward the shelter of my vehicle.

“Reign!”

“Look, have your pissy fit at me in the car. It’s freezing and you’re out here without a jacket.” I ignore the way she twists and tries to pry herself out of my arms.

“Fuck you.” She grits her teeth and I can’t help the vicious smile that tugs at my lips.

“Oh, you will, baby, but not until after you tell me exactly what that shithead Hunter said to you.”

Riley loses her fight and it makes it that much easier for me to maneuver her into the car. Once I’m satisfied she isn’t going to jump out, I close her door and round over to my side. Minutes tick by as we head back toward campus and she’s still silent. When the road splits, one direction heading to her dorm and the other heading to where my apartment is, I take the exit to my place.

“Where are we going?” She sits forward and suddenly feels like talking.

“My place.” I slide a glance at her, my knuckles tightening on the wheel. “I thought you’d want privacy for this conversation.”

“I don’t have anything to say.” She shrugs, but her hands clasp together, telling me she’s holding back.

“So that dickhead spews nonsense at a party and you have to leave because it doesn’t bother you?” I challenge her. I know her and with how she’s been acting, it’s easy to see she’s hiding something.

A humorless chuckle leaves her lips and she turns her head to look out the window. “Who said it was nonsense?”

“What did he say?” I demand, wishing I could go back there and rearrange his face again.

Riley shrinks into her seat, and finally, a tear slips from her eyes and down her cheek. “Nothing I haven’t heard before.”

Anger pulses in my veins the rest of the drive. When we reach the apartments, I drive into the private parking garage, find my spot and throw the car in park before turning to her fully.

“Tell me what he said or I’ll go back there and keep pounding him into the ground until he tells me.”

Her head lifts and the doubt in her eyes guts me. “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. I’m nothing. I’m a Pirate whore. That you’re only with me as a challenge.”

“Who is saying that to you besides Hunter?” I need names. I need to know who to go after, who will never walk again, who can say goodbye to their time or scholarships here at All Saints.

“You can’t take on the whole school or town, Reign,” she mutters and the look of defeat on her face would bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already sitting.

The urge for bloodshed is riding hard when I fling open my door, get out and circle around to her door. I open it with a gentleness I don’t feel, so I don’t hurt her.

“Take me home, Reign.” Riley meets me with defiance.

I don’t even respond, just grab her by the sides and lift her from my car and over my shoulder. She screams her outrage and her fists hit my back, but it doesn’t stop me. With Riley in my possession, we enter the building. I nod at the night tenant who raises a brow.

“Role play.” I wink at the elderly lady and Riley slaps my back.

She doesn’t get to say anything though because we enter the elevator and I set her on her feet once the doors close. The minute she’s upright, Riley shoves me hard.

“Are you insane?”

I shrug. “Not diagnosed but when it comes to you it’s always a possibility.”

“This isn’t funny, Reign. I want to go back to my dorm. No, I want to go back to my home and forget everything here at this damn cesspool of a school.” Her arms fold over her chest and she looks so close to breaking. My jaw clenches and our eyes clash.

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