Page 44 of Scorching Lies

Grabbing her hair, he pulls her head to the side with a dark laugh, “I never said which brother, doll.”

Releasing her, she walks away on shaky legs, but by the time she makes it to the counter her sassy demeanor is back in place. Even West can’t keep that girl down for long. These Stone brothers think they can do and say whatever they want and we’ll just bow down to them. They need a taste of their own medicine. Sliding into the booth, his bulky frame takes up most of the space, murky brown eyes taking me in.

Reaching in his back pocket he pulls out a red package wrapped in plastic. Tossing it to me, he almost spills my tea all over the table, but I manage to snatch the cup out of the way before it ended up all over my lap.

“What the fuck.” I growl, annoyed with our girls' day being ruined.

“What? Disappointed I’m not the other Stone brother?” He raises a thick brow.

Laughing, “You’re right. I’d prefer Cole over you any day.”

Sarcasm drips from my tongue coating my words. West pulls back with surprise, visibly shocked that out of them all, he’s the one I hate the least. Accepting it for what it is he nods to the pack in my hand, making my stare fall to the table. There in my hands is a super-size pack of Twizzlers.

“I’m guessing they are still your favorite?”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer before he grabs a pancake from my plate, rolling it up, and shoving the entire thing into his mouth. His jaw works around the food but his eyes never leave mine. He’s studying me. This isn’t a friendly visit but he’s making it seem like one which puts me on edge, my eyes slowly take in the open space around us. A low buzz catches both of our attention at the same time.

UNKNOWN: Princessa.

UNKNOWN: You look ravishing today.

UNKNOWN: I see you got my gift. Have you been a good girl for me? I guess I’ll have to see for myself. See you soon.

My palms begin to sweat against the cold table, unable to look away from the lit screen. I read over those last three words twice before the screen goes dark. My gulp is damn near audible with how close West has leaned in to see my phone. Swiping it off the table to slide it in my back pocket I realize something that has me standing from the booth with confusion pumping through me.

“How the hell did you get my phone?” I question.

“Who the fuck was that, Kenna?”

Ally chose that moment to saunter back up with a pie in one hand and a milkshake in the other. Dragging the straw to her mouth she drinks down a few sips before looking between us, noticing the tension in the air. Popping her hip, she presses the plate into his chest, grabbing my wrist, she tugs me back to thetable. West stands there watching us both walk away, but my thoughts are not on food anymore.

“Ally, how the hell did my phone end up on the table?” My voice raises in panic.

Nothing is making sense. It was on my bed then it was gone. It wasn’t on the table earlier but now it is? I knew trusting the brothers was a bad idea but if not them then who? The only way into my dorm would be through Ally. Ally was in the dorm when I got in the bath. Ally was at the table when West showed up.

Yanking my hand from hers I spin on my heels, turning back to West who has yet to move. Storming back towards him, a smirk lifts at the corner of his mouth with my advance. He can see it in my eyes. The realization that no matter where I go I’m not safe. Not from them, not from Ally, and not from Shadow.

“So now you have Ally working for you? Was the stalker not enough for you that you added the one person I should be able to trust?”

Each word is punctuated with my finger jammed into his chest. The ache of being utterly alone fills my blood.

“You want to win that badly? Do you even know what really happened that night or are you just running around following your new daddy?”

Without thought my hand lashes out, striking him across the face. For a split-second fear washes through me, but then pure rage takes its place. Turning back around I ignore Ally, who has shrunk against the back of the booth. Her small stature is no match for mine. Betrayal is the worst fucking kind pain, but I’ve been here before. I know exactly how to survive this. Pushingthe door open I run right into Cole waiting outside. A cigarette hanging from his lips.

“Looks like you’re smarter than we gave you credit for. Not that West wanted to give you any credit at all.”

Taking a pull, the red cherry grows brighter, Cole blows the smoke in my direction.

“Smell familiar?” He laughs.

I fucking hate the smell of cigarette smoke.

Curling my lip at him, I go to move past him towards my car when I remember Ally drove us here so she has my keys.

“Fuck.” I groan under my breath.

“I think Ryker has that under control. Trust me, he’s the only one brave enough to touch poisonous pussy.”

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