Page 36 of The Sweetest Revenge

He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. "As you can see," he whispered, "that was all you. You used me to get off."

My recorded voice climbed toward release. I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't look away from the screen.

Just before the final moment, he cut the video. His eyes locked with mine. "See you later, Ariella."

Something fractured inside me. My hands trembled first, then my arms. Rage and humiliation collided in my chest as tears threatened to spill. Not here. Not in front of him. Not in front of everyone.

"Hey, Ari," Hawk shouted loud enough to draw more attention to us. "Next time you need a lap to get off on, call me."

"Fuck you, Hawk." I raised my middle finger, holding his gaze while conversations died around us.

Then I walked away. One foot in front of the other. Shoulders back. Head high.

Every step felt like walking through fire, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me run.

CHAPTER18

ZAIDEN

"What the fuck are we doing here?" Sterling's shoulders slumped forward. "I've been at Westbrook for three years, and I've never attended a football game." He twisted to face me, his jaw clenched, hands gesturing wildly. "Do you want to know why?"

I shook my head, not taking my eyes away from the field. I knew why we hadn't attended a football game. I didn't need him to explain it to me, but for the last few years, Ariella hadn't been on that field.

"Because hockey players don't go to football games," he continued. "And football players don't go to hockey games." He raised his voice with each word.

I rolled my eyes. I never understood why we didn't participate in other sports functions. It was all stupid, but it was the way Westbrook had been since my parents attended and probably even before that.

A buzzer sounded, echoing through the stadium, and the game stopped.

"You didn't have to come," I mumbled as my gaze followed the football team off the field.

It was halftime.

"Yes, I did." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Someone has to keep you from doing more stupid shit."

He turned around, putting his back to the field, staring up into the crowd. "Could we at least go to the top of the stadium? So no one sees us." Being here could be social suicide for someone who gave a fuck. I did not.

We stood at the first level; the metal bars and a short drop were the only things separating us from the field. I'd spent enough time watching her practice to know exactly where she'd be.

"Zaiden." Sterling's voice cut through the crowd noise. I kept my eyes fixed on the field.

Something heavy settled between my ribs, squeezing until each breath came shallow. My gaze fixed on the spot where Kacie should have stood. This had been her and Ariella's dream since they were little girls, practicing routines in our backyard, giggling until sunset.

And now, because of Ariella, Kacie would never get the chance.

My hands curled into fists, fingernails carving half-moons into my palms until the skin threatened to break. The pain was welcome—something tangible to focus on besides the fury pulsing behind my eyes.

Bass thundered through the stadium as the dance team emerged from the shadows of the tunnel, a flash flood of black and red. Their bodies caught the stadium lights—glittering Predators logos stretched across heaving chests, crimson streaks racing down toned legs as they claimed the field with synchronized precision.

My gaze followed the line, knowing exactly where Ariella would be.

She waved to the crowd, a huge smile plastered on her face, as she found her place. As her eyes swept across the ground-level seats, she froze. Our gazes locked.

Her smile vanished, replaced by something cold and raw.

The corner of my mouth hitched upward, satisfaction spreading through me. Let her dance, knowing I was watching. Let her wonder when I'd appear next. Let her spend the night with that itch between her shoulder blades that comes from knowing you were being hunted.

The music transitioned, and Ariella's head dropped as she got into position. On cue, her head popped up, and her show smile was back in place as her hips moved to the music.

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