Page 131 of Stutter

"I know all about yourlegacy. I don't want it to be mine. I didn't ask for this."

"Nobodyasksfor this. It's handed down. Generation after generation. It's a privilege and an honor. It's how we work. How we merge and grow."

I shake my head. "No."

"You have no other options."

"I can still-"

"Youcan't. I've already let the other universities know you won't be attending. Instead, you'll be touring Rayne-Moore's campus come spring. Set in stone, son. Now, sit down and I'll tell youwhyit's such a privilege, why it's an honor, and how you'll be my legacy."

My knee bounced as he spoke. His voice never rising in pitch or tone. Robotic.

"I don't want this." I repeated when he was done.

He leans back in his chair, leather. Expensive. Polished. Looking like the very epitome of wealth. "Oh son, everyone wants this. We are an amalgamation of everything one should fear. Power, wealth-"

I stand up, interrupting him. "It's not what I want."

"Thenleave. And you'll be penniless. You go out in that world without this opportunity, and you'll live like they do. Slaving away at a nine-to-five and barely making it. Not even thriving, son. Barely surviving at a job you hate. You may have gotten into those schools but without my money, the money we've accumulated from mergers and negotiations... you'll have no tuition."

He's dead serious.

"You're an asshole." I spit.

"No, son. I'm honest."

Hands on my hips I turn, then scrub my hands down my face. "So I have to kill someone?"

"It's a small price to pay to have the world at your feet. You think any of this would have been possible without your forefather’s sacrifices?"

I shake my head again, walking out of his office and up to my room and mourn my future.

I blink away the memory, keeping my eyes on the colonial home in front of me, watching as Raven kisses Damon and Maverick goodbye like she always does. Every fucking morning I have to watch her practically mouth fuck them before they leave. Big stupid grins on their faces as they step out of the door. Christ. They hardly ever close the blinds.

And Jonas?

He's theworst.

But he doesn't leave early with her other men today which I was expecting.

Coincidentally, I overheard a conversation his father was having with mine about meeting NFL scouts. It wasn't his fault they lost the game. He had been on the other side of the field, waiting for River to throw him the ball. He never did. It was a selfish play, and stupid, costing them the State Championship by one fucking point.

I was rooting for them, you know? I really was. I mean, that was my team at one point.

But again, he's the one with the girl and I'm not. He's the one chasing his dreams and I'm not. No, instead I'm fucking watching them fuck like rabbits on their breakfast table, and goddamn, I always knew it, but Raven has the most perfect pair of teardrop tits I've ever seen. Watching them bounce and dip to meet his tongue has me heating up.

I should look away. I should not shove my cold hand into my pants and jerk myself until I come with them. I shouldn't. But I do, wishing I could hear her fall apart for him. Imagining it's me she's clenching around.

I'm a fuckingpeeping Tomnow. That’s what I’ve been reduced to. A pervert hiding in the trees watching through binoculars, waiting for the perfect chance. There's a slab of meat in my backpack for that big fucking dog of theirs. I've thought of everything. Including going old-school and using chloroform and a rag, so I don't hurt her.

It's the last thing I want to do again.

Then again, I didn't partake last time.

I only watched.

I was a witness.

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