Page 22 of Forever Golden

“She’s blinded you to the truth! Can’t you see that?” he shouts, causing his face to redden when he loses his temper.

I stare as he begins to pace, and rage shoots through me like a bolt of lightning, forcing me to clench my fists.

“You don’t know when to just… shut the fuck up, do you?”

He’s quiet after I speak, staring with determination in his eyes. He’s not going to stop until he thinks I’ve fallen for his B.S. Problem is, that’ll never happen.

“I’ve got no reason to lie to you, West. What the hell could I possibly gain from you seeing my faults? What good can come from you knowing I was once stupid enough to fall for someone like her?”

And that’s the million-dollar question. Whywouldyou want me to believe something happened between you and Southside? What’s so bad that having me believethisis the better option?

No sooner than I ask the question, I remember what he said to Southside—about how he has the means to make her and Scar disappear, how he’s already had people show interest.

My stomach turns and I have to make myself hold it all in, everything I know about the shady life he leads when he leaves this building every morning.

But then I remember the promise I made to a beautiful girl on the other side of town. One who has so much more riding on this than I do, and I reel in my ego.

“I’m only gonna say this once,” I warn him. “Stay… the fuck… away from her.”

His stare is set on me—stern, angry.

“We’re not done here,” he insists. “It’s important that I know what she’s said. If she’s fillingyourhead with lies, there’s no telling who else she’s feeding them to. Imagine if this shit gets back to Headmaster Harrison! Our family would never live it down. The Golden name wouldn’t mean shit in this city anymore.”

I glare at him and he stares back, waiting for me to respond. Waiting for me to cave.

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing the Golden namealreadydoesn’t mean shit to me.”

He manages to hold his composure, but I’m willing to bet World War III is raging inside him. This man’s name is everything to him.

“Watch yourself,” he growls.

“Or what? I’m not fucking scared of you.”

That sick-ass smirk of his returns. “Yeah, maybe not. But you sure as hell should be.”

There’s a stare-down between us and the only thing stopping me from punching him in his shit is the promise I made to Southside. I told her I wouldn’t provoke him, wouldn’t widen the targets on her and Scar’s backs. This promise is also the reason I decide it’s time to leave before I do something I can’t take back.

The one thing that’s more powerful than pride in this moment is love. It’s ruled every decision I’ve made since the first time the word left my mouth, spoken only to Southside. That girl’s got me wrapped around her damn finger and I’m in too deep to fight it, even if I wanted to. Which is why I may as well just fucking admit it.

When the door to the study slams shut behind me, and Vin’s angry steps trudge across the tile, I feel it in my bones that this won’t end well.

For anyone.

Chapter 8

BLUE

Nope, don’t call. The phones are shady and, besides, he’s probably having ‘the talk’ with his father this very moment. The talk I begged him not to have.

So, to keep from dialing, I stare at my sister. She’s channel-surfing while twirling the end of her now jet-black ponytail. I’m guessing the natural blonde we inherited, courtesy of mom, is never good enough. First pink, now this.

The new look she’s sporting is the result of having spent the hours between school ending and me getting home from practice at Jules’s house. That girl loves playing dress-up on us Rileys, but a warning before dying my sister’s hair would’ve been nice.

I can’t help but wonder if Scar knows there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. My world’s revolved around her for so long, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t even notice anymore. Even so, I’m good with not getting recognition for doing this one thing right in life.

Loving her.

“What, creep?” Scar shouts with a laugh when she catches me staring.

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