Page 82 of Pure Vengeance

My stepbrother shared a forbidden kiss... with me.

And while I would like to say I knocked his lights out and never spoke to him again, I didn’t. In fact, I’m not entirely sure I didn’t kiss him back, and that scares me. It terrifies me. I can still taste him on my lips. It’s like a moment ago we were yelling at each other, and then he gathered me in his arms and we were kissing. Our tongues rolling over each other’s, a soft stirring in the pit of my stomach.

He had done this to me. He messed with me, messed with my head, and now I can’t stop thinking about him or that damn kiss.

I grab my things in an effort to distract myself and unpack my clothes. I need to throw myself into football. I need to focus on my classes, and I need to get my own back. Noah is the enemy. The opposing fraternity. He will bring upon himself whatever he deserves, at my hands or someone else’s. Though I hope it’s at mine.

I could tell the world about Noah. I could tell everyone he’s blackmailing those girls to keep his secret. But then I would have to out myself. I would need to admit to my own feelings and my own vices. My stepfather would never forgive that.

If homophobia were a person, it would be John Bennett, and he would proudly proclaim it to anyone who asked. He certainly made it very clear in our family that he wouldn’t be having anyhomosexualsfor children.

Anyone who swings that way would be instantly disowned and tossed out onto the street. There was no room for people likethatin our family.

No, sir.

I finish packing away my things and go downstairs again. Some brothers are playing pool in the recreational room while others are lounging around in the living room. I go to the kitchen and grab a beer, opening it and sipping. The afternoon sun issetting slowly in the west, and I watch it through the kitchen window.

“Hey Ace, you okay?” Declan asks as he comes into the kitchen to grab his own beer.

“Yeah, everything is perfect. Thank you.” I give him a smile. “I’m excited to be here.”

“Good, because we’re going to get to our first order of business soon, which is terrorizing theDelta Kappa Order.” He eyes me out. “I know your stepbrother bid there. Is that going to be a problem?”

“He’s a little traitor and a loser. It won’t be a problem. He’ll get what he deserves.” I take a big sip of beer.

Declan nods. “That’s what I like to hear, Ace. You’re going to fit in perfectly here. Our last school quarterback was also in our fraternity. It’s where all the rising stars are. Here, you’ll meet people who can make or break your future. Make sure you let them make it all it’s worth.”

I nod. “That’s why I’m here.” Declan claps a hand on my shoulder, squeezes, and then leaves.

I feel dirty. I’m a fraud. I don’t want to be here. I’m doing this because it’s what’s expected of me. It’s what Imustdo.

CHAPTER TWO

Noah

Joining theDelta Kappa Orderwas not what I thought it was going to be like. There’s no bigshot playboy trying to bully the new recruits, though they are selective of who they let in. It’s still a boys’ club, just a better boys’ club than theAlpha Omega PhiFraternity. My father would’ve preferred I join there, but I have no sports background. I don’t play football, baseball, or basketball. I’m not a letterman.

What do I consider myself then? An artist, I suppose. A musician. A poet. Creativity is where my strength lies.

It certainly doesn’t lie with Adrian Fucktard Carter. He went toAlpha Omega Philike a good daddy’s boy.

Ah, my stepbrother. The apple of my father’s eyes while I’m the biggest disappointment.

I have to meet with Abigail today so we can be seen together. She’s been extra clingy of late. Using me to boost her status so she can climb the social ladder in her sorority.

I really wish I was meeting with Adrian, although I loathe him. I want nothing to do with him, and yet he is like a toxin invading my mind, taking hold of every thought I possess andtwisting it to be about him. He’s like a parasite that invades every inch of me.

Laundry? I picture him in my shirt and nothing else.

Painting? I picture him posing naked for me.

Playing the piano? I imagine him crooning a soft tune while I paint.

I take my things to my room, and I unpack everything, sticking up some of my artwork and pinning my class schedule to the corkboard. Wonderful Adrian will be a football star, and if that fails, he’s studying to be a lawyer. While I decided to study the arts, the bane of my father’s life.

I want to be a musician and an artist, and there’s good money to be made from it if you make the right connections. And this fraternity will offer me that. Access to the elite kind of people that would be interested in my artwork, in investing in me.

They say that who you meet in the fraternity can make or break your future, and I intend to make my future amazing so that I can move away and not deal with everyone anymore. Especially Adrian.

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