Page 56 of Rivals

“The fuck she will, Thorn.” Blade’s furious voice rings out in the crowd. “She isn’t taking anything from you.”

Ahh, his timing is impeccable. He slides next to Riley, his hand touching her shoulder and I want to hit him. I imagine his death over and over in my head. When she looks at him like he’s her saving grace tonight, I raise my brow.

“Your car then?”

He nods and slides the keys to Riley. She holds them in her palm and glances from Blade to me, unsure, before pocketing his keys. “Where are we racing to?”

“I’ll send you the location,” I reply and her head nods. “Are you riding with her?” I ask Blade.

“Obviously,” he mutters and starts heading to his car.

“Idiot,” I say to myself under my breath. With a glance at Carter, he quickly grabs Riley’s bestie, Emma, and they come over.

I let my eyes run over Riley. “How about a favor for old time’s sake?”

Her shoulders slump a little, but she still turns to face me. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“I win, you get down on your knees for me. You win, and I get to eat your perfect pussy for dessert.”

The gasps and scoffs around us only make my smirk wider. The color returns to Riley’s face and her gaze turns liquid for me. “Are you insane?”

“It’s not clinically proven,” I jest back.

A million thoughts race across her mind, but it’s the intrigue, the curiosity that wins out in the end for my girl. “Fine,” she grits out before stomping away and heading back to the vehicle where Blade is waiting.

I make my way over to Brooklyn’s car, her wedge heels clamping behind me. “What did you say for the favor? I couldn’t hear with the crowd. They went wild though so it must be good.” Her blonde eyebrows waggle at me and it takes all my energy to lift my lips in a smirk I just don’t feel. I can’t wait to be done pretending I feel anything for this girl, let alone that I want to be alone with her.

“Either I’m providing the meal or she is,” is all I say before starting the ignition and driving to the marked spot.

I drive up next to Riley, who glares at me. The whole scene is very reminiscent of the night that I finally lost my head over this girl. The night I realized I really would do anything to keep her. Even if it means giving up the title I’ve been coveting for years. Ever since she first approached me to apologize for what happened and I lashed out at her because I didn’t understand the feelings I had for her. Our wars were born from my misguided notion that I wanted to see her suffer, when really, I just wanted her. We were both stubborn and carried these grudges way to far.

Quickly, I send her the address where the setup is. In the next second, Leif is signaling for us to go. My foot hits the pedal and the car lurches forward. We race down the hill and to the outside road of town. At one point, Riley slows on purpose; I’m sure she’s not understanding where we’re going. We never would race on an open road before this. She doesn’t know that I need Blade’s car to be spotted on all the different cameras to prove where the golden boy was tonight. Only a thin veil of snow dusts the roads; yet, we manage to swiftly move through the area, and once again, I’m impressed with her driving skills.

“Almost there,” I whisper into the space of the car, glancing in my mirrors to see where Riley is. She’s not given up, even when Blade’s car is less likely to win, but it’s still a muscle car and it holds its own. Her hands grip the steering wheel and she keeps her eyes on the prize.

We’re barreling down the last stretch of the path, neck and neck, her front end right up there with mine. Right before we tie, I let my foot off the pedal and my girl streaks across the finish line.

“What the hell, Reign? How is this putting that whore in her place? She just won!” Brooklyn, is glaring, her words a screeching noise in my ear drum. I put the car in park and unclick my seat belt.

“The stupidest thing you could ever do was think you had a chance with me when Riley Conrad exists,” I sneer at her before climbing out. Her mouth drops open.

“Wait, wait, Reign. I’m sorry, okay? Please let me make it up to you. I’m the one you want.” Brooklyn’s face is ugly with mascara running down her cheeks, and her eyes watery with the truth staring right at her.

“I never wanted you, Brooklyn. You picked the wrong girl to mess with because I would do anything for her.” I point at Brooklyn’s school in the distance. Built right next to her and her brother’s brand-new hockey arena. “Anything.”

Carter and Leif arrive along with everyone else. Most of their faces are now subdued while a few others are just plain shocked. Leif opens Blade’s door and yanks him from the passenger seat, shoving him over to where I’m waiting. Riley gets out next, anger etched across her entire face, her arms folded across her chest.

“Nice race, babe,” I call to her, smiling at how beautiful she is. This girl really is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. And not just on the outside; her heart, her kindness, her quirks, it all makes her the perfect package.

“You let me win,” she accuses, stomping over until we’re toe-to-toe.

“I did no such thing. I’m sad that you took my title tonight; I wore the prank war champion title for years. Call your box, Riles. Am I blowing the one on All Saints or...” I glance at Brooklyn who is grappling and sobbing in Carter’s arms. “...the one on the Robinson Rebels brand-new roof?”

Riley blanches, her eyes swinging to Brooklyn. “Reign.”

“Winner chooses. Loser hits the button,” I remind her and hold up the flip pad that we rigged to cause the explosions. I lean down to face her, forcing her to lock eyes with me. My lips brush against hers, and she allows it. “Mine.”

“Rebels,” She breathes out and I hit the button with my finger.

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