Page 16 of Scorching Lies

West chuckles from the driver's side of our SUV, “That’s what you get for getting in your head instead of coming to us. We always bring shit to the table, but lately you're going off on your own. Should we be worried about her being at Hawthorne? If I knew you couldn’t handle being around her, we wouldn’t have enrolled.”

I can hear the concern in his words, but it pisses me off all the same.

“We have the foundation breathing down our necks, Kane sitting pretty just out of reach, his daughter living the perfect heiress life under our noses, and I’m supposed to sit back and smile?” My fist hits the dashboard.

His stare meets mine before it moves back to the dark road ahead, “We have a plan, Ryker. Stick to it.”

“Our plan or their plan?”

“Stone. Don’t forget what name is stamped on everything in Del Mar, Rye. It’s time we start taking back control over what is rightfully ours.” His hands tighten around the leather wheel.

I don’t respond at first, my thoughts running wild in my head, but then I’m reminded of something G said earlier today.

Rubbing my hands to ease the ache, “The Lawless brothers are in town.” Is all I say.

It’s not a question. It’s a statement neither of us respond to, instead the rest of the ride to our home is silent. Blonde hair and grey eyes taunt me well into the night.

CHAPTER NINE

KENNA

“Rocky Road again?” I laugh, watching Ally shovel a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.

“Mhmhh” Her words are lost behind the sugary treat.

We both burst into laughter at her attempt to speak around the spoonful. We decided to spend our Friday night in, watching movies, and eating junk food. After last week's run in with Ryker I’ve avoided going out, unless it’s to class or my late night appointments. Rubbing my thigh to ease the itch where my scar is, I'm reminded of how sensitive the area is after a tattoo. Getting ink over healed skin grafts and burns is equivalent to setting your skin on fire after letting it heal. It’s not the tattoo itself that brings back the pain, it's the healing process afterwards, though it's worth everything that comes with it in the end.

Ally hangs her head over the armrest of the couch, purple hair dangling on the edge. Smiling, she winks at me.

“Let’s watchTwilight.”

Scrunching my nose, “Really?” My brows dip.

“Yeah!” Her small fist shoots into the air.

Shaking my head at her antics I agree, secretly loving the series, and of course the books. We’re halfway into the spider monkey scene when my phone vibrates in my lap. Glancing down, my muscles tense, spotting an unknown number on the screen. Looking over at Ally, who is way too into the movie, my finger swipes over the number to pull up the message.

Where have you been Princessa?

Nerves sink into my stomach at the name used by the shadowed man in the hallway.

Who is this?

My fingers fly over the screen typing as fast as I can but a message comes through before I can set it down.

You don’t belong to them. You were mine the day your father betrayed theirs.

Air rushes past my lips exhaling in shock. If this isn’t Ryker or one of the Stone brothers who the hell is it? And how did they get my number?

I’m not finished typing out the next message before his final text comes in, my fingers releasing the phone, letting it fall into the crack of the couch.

I’ll be collecting what’s mine. See you soon Princessa.

Now on edge, it takes effort to focus on the movie, and Ally must sense it because once the credits roll she sits up to look at me. There is worry shining in her eyes, but something deeper reflectsback at me. It’s gone all too soon when her mouth opens to speak.

“What’s-”

A knock at the door stops her next words, both of us looking in that direction, yet neither of us move from our spots.

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