Page 16 of Cruel Devotion

He had to be furious, but he showed no sign of anger.

He had every right to be worried, but he didn’t give any indication that he was sweating it at all.

Surprise didn’t really stay on his face for long, though. He returned to me with something like a cocky, arrogant grin on his face.

A calculating smirk.

This settled it. He was delusional. Preston West had officially snapped. I’d stunned him speechless.

“What’d I say, Young? You’re nothing but a loser,” he taunted. “Only a fucking moron would do something like this.”

“Preston, man. I’m sorry.” I shook my head, doing my best not to let my panic show in my tone. To keep cool and maintain distance from him until he yelled and came after me for crashing his expensive antique. Iwantedhim to react and lash out about this, like any other sane person would. His pensive quiet was making me nervous and afraid.

“I didn’t shift the gears. Drake did, but I realize how bad this looks and all.”

“How bad thislooks?” He laughed, shaking his head. “You mean how bad thisis.” He held his hand, still holding his beer can, and pointed at the damage. “You just crashed my fucking car.”

I winced. But he still wasn’t yelling. His voice was raised, but he sounded more incredulous than upset. He cursed, but not with any heat behind the profanity.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated, hating that I was apologizing for something that wasn’t wholly my fault. Drake grinned, Preston’s back to him. That fucker was laying this all on my shoulders.

“I just got it,” Preston said, almost like he were musing about it aloud.

“I—”

“You’re fucked,” Preston said, cutting me off. “You are so fucked.”

I swallowed, fighting not to show any fear. Deep down, I was terrified of what was going to happen because of one moment in my life. One action.

I didn’t need him to explain how precarious this situation was. This was Mr. West’s purchase for his son. As in the Mr. West who was a chairman on the committee that granted me a full-ride scholarship, the one I could not afford to pay back any time soon.

Finn had just been harping on me about being on “good behavior”, and crashing this car was not anywhere near it.

“You realize that, right?” Preston said, pacing back and forth as he sipped his beer. “You are literally fucked. My parents will come back here and see this, and when they hear that it wasyou, the ‘star athlete’ they gave that scholarship to, you arefucked.” More laughter followed his warning.

I kept my lips shut. I wouldn’t deny what he said. I couldn’t. But I had no grounds to argue against him. Sweat trickled down my spine. My head throbbed with an instant ache. And my heart thundered so fast as I was thrust in a fight-or-flight response. I couldn’t fight him on that logic. Iwasfucked. And running away from this wouldn’t do me any good, either.

Staring him down, I waited for him to face me again.

I’d rather he yell and shout.

But instead, he seemed to be debating and analyzing his next move and next words. Like this was just a game.

“How about I make you a deal?” he said at last, strolling up to me like this was just another night of fun for him. Like it hardly mattered if his expensive car was totaled. The notion that such a rare thing could be dismissed blew my mind.

Make a deal?I tensed, not budging as I watched him approach.

His bloodshot eyes made him look crazier, and the reek of booze and smoke proved he wasn’t thinking straight. Regardless, I waited for him to finish.

“I’ll spare you from getting in trouble.” He grinned maniacally. “I’ll tell my parents that I crashed it.” He shrugged. “So long as you…” He rubbed his jaw. “So long as you do a dare for me, I won’t tell them.”

A dare.

I knew he was up to something. I just knew it.

“A dare?” Finn asked, able to find his voice before I could. I was stuck fearing the worst and imagining what kind of bullshit he was plotting. This was how Preston was, evil and sneaky, cunning and always taking the first opportunity to fuck with someone else’s life.

“What kind of a dare?” I asked. I wouldn’t believe for one second that he’d stand by his end of any deal struck with me. But I had to ask.

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