Page 3 of Bought and Broken

“Devon!” Summer calls. I look at her over my shoulder and wave her off, letting her know I’m fine. There’s no point in fighting this. I won’t win. I don’t want a brawl to break out over me being a brat. Yeah, I like the idea of the football players sticking up for me, but I don’t really want them to hurt Tatum. What I want is for Tatum to leave me alone.

There’s always a risk of getting caught at parties. Summer and I have been doing this dance with my brother and Tate for years. There’s only been a handful of parties we haven’t been caught at. That’s what happens when you have an overprotective twin brother who is up our overprotective father’s ass.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my brother to death. I just wish he would back off a little. I’m not a child and I hate that he treats me like one. I’m not as fragile as he thinks, and I’m certainly not as stupid.

When Tate gets me into the kitchen, I get a wonderful idea.

Could be the alcohol. Could be my creative juices flowing. Either way, it’s the best idea I’ve ever had.

Tate is going to get a taste of his own medicine… sort of.

I look at the drink in my hand, biting on my lip to hide the smile. There isn’t much left, maybe a mouthful or two, but it’s enough.

“Hey, Tate,” I shout, yanking my arm from him. I don’t get free fully, but his hand slides from my upper arm to my wrist. When he whirls to glare at me, I toss my drink right in his face.

He lets me go, hissing and jerking away, causing him to bump into a group of guys behind him. A bunch of people look our way. Some gasp, watching with scared looks. Others raise their brows. A few laugh. Everyone from school knows Tatum isn’t someone you fuck with. He won’t corner you and beat you up like some bullies do. No, he’d make sure you fail classes or get kicked off whatever sports team you’re on. Tatum doesn’t like to use his fists to get even; he uses everything else he has in his arsenal. Like his money and his name. The Winters are a big deal around here. His father is the first man from Willowdale under thirty-five to become a millionaire on his own.

Most people who live here come from money from businesses that are passed down from generation to generation. But not the Winters. Tate’s father worked his butt off to make a name for himself… and he ruined it in half the time. Many people don’t know that part of it, but that’s because they don’t know the Winters like I do.

Tatum’s nostrils flare as he glares at me, liquid dripping down his face. If looks could kill, I’d be dead.

I smile sweetly, then turn on my heel and run through the crowd back to Summer and the football players.

I grab my best friend’s arm and tug her after me.

“Time to go,” I say with a laugh.

“But I don’t want to!” she whines, looking back at the guys who are watching us with frowns.

Still, I pull her after me until we’re outside in the front yard. The sun is down, but the warm summer air lingers. There are a few groups of people out here, but mostly everyone is inside.

“What did you do?” she says, looking back at the door. “How did you get away? Why are we running? You know I hate running.”

Summer hates any form of physical activity that doesn’t include a dick.

“Threw a drink in his face,” I say as we move to the sidewalk.

She gasps. “You didn’t!”

“Oh, I did.”

“What a waste of tequila.” She finishes what’s in her cup and tosses it over her shoulder onto the lawn with the others.

We link our arms together and walk down the street, away from the party.

“So, what now?” she asks with a sigh. “Since you ruined my chance of sleeping with Tommy.”

“Oh, please. As if that could happen.” She frowns and I add, “Tell him to come pick us up.”

Her eyes flood with excitement. “Really?”

“Why not? We can find somewhere else to go. Somewhere my brother and his keeper aren’t.”

“I can’t believe you threw a drink at Tatum Winters,” she says as she pulls her phone from her pocket. “Whatever, though. He deserves it. He’s an asshole.”

“I’m tired of him thinking he can control me, especially after he broke up with me.”

My phone rings and when I pull it from my pocket, I see it’s my brother. Great. Tatum already ratted me out. I silence it. He calls again, so I shut the ringer off.

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