Page 21 of Filthy Elites

“Because she’s Victoria fucking Petrov!”

Not because she’s his mother. I begin to have a clearer picture of what his upbringing was like.

I take a step closer and touch his arm. “I don’t care who she is. Her opinion shouldn’t matter.”

“You don’t know anything,” he grits out. “How could you? You’ve always been the best, living a perfect life. I don’t fucking know why you would throw it all away.”

“I wasn’t the best, and my life was far from perfect. Maybe if you’d stop looking at your own navel for once, you’d be able to see that.”

His eyes shine with rage, making me fear he’s thinking about tossing me over the cliff.

I’m not going to wait for him to try. I turn around and stride back to the car.

“Oh no, you’re not getting the last word.” He grabs my arm and spins me around, pulling me flush against his body.

“Let me go, asshole.”

This time I fight with everything I have. I’m too angry at myself for trying to be the bigger person. He doesn’t deserve it.

Suddenly, his fingers are in my hair and his mouth slants over mine roughly. My body tenses while my brain goes haywire.Jason Novak is kissing me.

He pries my lips open with his tongue, and the moment it connects with mine, it’s game over. I surrender to his invasion, knowing this is probably the second biggest mistake of my life. I have to hold on to his arms to remain standing, because his fiery kiss is quickly melting my body. I never knew hate could taste this good.

As sudden as it began, it ends. Jason pulls back, breathing hard. His eyes are wide, as if he can’t believe what just happened. I’m still dazed, so I don’t react fast enough when he returns to his car. It’s not until the engine purrs to life that his intentions become clear. He takes off, leaving me stranded on the side of the road, taking my damn purse and phone with him.

Son of a bitch.

ChapterTen

Nicola/Isabelle

I cannot believe this.Jason did leave me behind. I knew he was capable of that, but his passionate kiss threw me off. Now I’m reeling for more reasons than one. I can’t tell how far I am from the Maverick campus; I’m not yet familiar with the town. There’s nothing for me but to start walking. At least I know the direction I must go. There’s no other way but down.

The sun quickly makes its descent and soon, darkness drops like a blanket over me. I’d like to say it doesn’t bother me, but some fears are hard to conquer. The last time I was alone in the dark was when Juan was chasing me. The landscape is different, and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below is soothing, but I can’t help the spike of panic that’s threatening to take control.

Damn it, Jason. I could forgive you for many things, but not this.

I don’t know how long I walk, but I’m nowhere near the bottom of the hill. The sound of an approaching vehicle makes me tense. It’s coming up the mountain and, for a second, I think it’s Jason. It’s not until the vehicle speeds by that I see it isn’t him. Disappointment rushes through me all over again.

I keep going, but then stop when I hear the car’s tires screech.Shit. I hope that whoever’s driving isn’t a psycho who just spotted their next victim.

“Nicola?” a girl asks.

I turn and squint my eyes, trying to see who called me. All I see is the shape of someone’s head sticking out the car window. “Who is it?”

She opens the door and gets out. “It’s Sage.”

I say a little prayer in my head.Thank God.

“What are you doing here? Did your car break down?” she asks.

“No. It’s a long story. I do need a ride back to campus though.”

“Yeah, sure thing. Come on.”

I have no idea who’s behind the wheel. I hope it’s not Justice.

To my relief, it’s Sage’s brother, Luke. “Thanks for stopping. I have no idea how long it would take to get back to campus on foot.”

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