Page 6 of Savage Truth

Damon shrugged before getting to his feet. “She didn’t rat us out about the party.”

“So?” Dad already knew we were behind it.

“I’m just saying. She’s not that bad, and she doesn’t like our dad.” He winked before heading out. “Something to think about,” he said over his shoulder.

As if I could get her out of my head as it was.

“I’m with Damon on this one, cuz.” Shane got up and followed my brother.

“His opinion in this doesn’t matter.” Phoenix snorted then slapped me on the shoulder. “Look, dude, Damon has a point about Riley not being what you think she is. But none of that matters. What does is how you’ll handle the next game. You can’t afford to fuck up again. Get things figured out with her before next week.”

“I will.”Eliana could be a distraction. Something told me that if I hooked up with Riley, one time would never be enough. I would let my dad think his word was law. It wasn’t. The decision was mine. “Are you going to Eliana’s party tonight?”

“Yeah.” Phoenix closed his locker. “I’ll see you there.”

I finished grabbing my stuff and followed him, only to find my dad and Raelyn waiting for me in the hall.Fuck.I refused to look at her. When I did, all I could see was Mom lying on her bed, surrounded by empty pill bottles, her sightless eyes stuck open.

“What happened in the last half?”

Dad’s frown caused mine to deepen. “Don’t know. What?” I stepped closer, unable to stop myself. The inner conflict surrounding all things Riley was mind-fucking me. “You’ve never had an off game?”

“On that last pass, you looked behind you instead of up. Rookie mistake and far beneath you.” Dad rose an eyebrow. Raelyn remained frozen by his side. “I saw Thane’s scout here tonight. Whoever’s on your mind, it isn’t the time.”

“I’m well aware of what’s at stake.” We were locked in a stare, and I refused to be the one to break it.

“Why don’t we head home?” Raelyn’s voice drew Dad’s gaze. “We can get ready to go out to eat and drive in one car from there.”

I didn’t bother responding. I turned and headed toward my car, ignoring Dad saying my name in warning.We’re going out to eat tonight? Fine. Whatever. Wonder how well that’ll go with Riley there.

The drive home was an autopiloted blur. Dad had been on my case lately. I only had this year, and I would be out from under his roof—and if the scholarship held, his thumb, at least for the most part. The trust didn’t turn over to me until I was twenty-one, but I did have some money saved from the fights. It would be enough for whatever I needed.

I threw the car into park, shut off the engine, then went inside and took the stairs two at a time. At the open door to my room, I dropped my bag on the floor. Everything in me froze in shock when I saw Riley lying on my bed. I took in her toned legs, crossed at the ankles, all the way to her tiny little shorts. I had to fight from lunging forward and climbing on top of her. She looked like heaven with her long hair fanned out on my pillow and her breasts pushing against a form-fitting, washed-out-navy T-shirt. A slow, sexy grin curved her plump lips, and I continued to imagine everything I wanted to do to them.

“It’s good that baby bro doesn’t go soft when the chips are down.”

What the hell?I narrowed my eyes, not liking the innuendo or how hypersexual she was. “You came to watch me. And I’m more than willing to show you how there’s nothing soft about me.” The room seemed to shrink. All I could see was Riley, and she was messing with my head. “But you’ll have to wait for that. I’m going to a party tonight. You have grass stains to get out of my uniform.”

Her lips turned down in the sexiest pout I’d ever seen. Then she rolled off my bed, and I locked onto the gentle sway of her hips. Sweet fuck, she made me so hard.

“I’ll get right on that.” She rested a hand on my chest then turned away, far too close, on her way to the door.

Her hip brushed against my dick as it strained to get to her. I didn’t know what game she played, but I didn’t like it. Or maybe I liked it too much, which made it much worse.

CHAPTER THREE

RILEY

Cole’s feet pounded down the stairs, and I sprang into action, hitting the button to connect me to Cassie. With the phone pressed to my ear, I paced my room, willing her to answer. The blinds were down, and I double-checked that the lock was engaged on my door. Two more rings, and she picked up. I flopped onto my bed, so grateful for the lifeline of my first and only friend.

“Hey, Cass. You busy?”

“If you mean busy by hanging with my sister so my parents can go out? Then yeah, my life is golden.”

I snorted a laugh. “Ah, sibling problems. I wouldn’t understand.”

“Stop rubbing it in. One sec. Let me start a movie for her, and then I can talk ’cause I hear the stress in your voice, girl.”

While waiting, I put in my earbuds so I could move around without being tied to holding the phone then turned onto my back to stare at the ceiling with—I-shit-you-not— a chandelier. In my seventeen years, I’d never had a room as fancy as this one. I’d never lived in a McMansion, either, and I wouldn’t get used to it. Anything could happen and force Mom and me to pack up and leave. I couldn’t get too comfortable.

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