Page 14 of Crew Princess
His eyes fell flat and his mouth pressed into a thin line. “You’re not being fun, Bren. You used to be fu—”
“I’d consider whether you really want to finish that statement,” Cross said.
A chill ran up the length of my spine.
That was not the angry Cross from his dad’s divorce, or the quiet one waiting for me to decide something. This was the Cross no one wanted to mess with, the one who had stepped out and became our crew’s leader.
He was dangerous when he spoke like that—calm, and eerily in control, with a veiled promise to back up the unspoken threat.
Drake had heard it too, and he stopped. He studied Cross top to toe, then lifted his lip in a sneer. “Fine. You’re right. That was rude of me.” He tapped the side of his head. “Silly me. I was responding to her as another guy who’s been between her legs, not the crew leader I am.”
I closed my eyes, just for a moment.
There it was. The taunt.
He knew crew law. He knew I wouldn’t take that and not retaliate.
I opened my eyes and saw him waiting, staring at me. I smiled. “Really?” One step ahead.
We fought. It’s what we did. The insult was to me, so Cross would wait for my move. I would make the decision to advance, when I wanted to do it. And if Jordan and Zellman found out, they’d come to help. Probably Race as well, because that’s what had been happening this year.
Race had moved to Roussou specifically to fight in the underground rings. He’d been training Cross, and the rest of us were no slouches ourselves, so Drake coming up here, picking this place to start a fight—there was an angle.
“Why here?” I asked him.
He smirked. “Maybe I just want to feel your hands on me again.” He looked to Cross, holding there a moment before sliding back to me. “Nothing? Neither of you?”
My grin wasn’t hard-pressed. This was bothering him, so that meant I’d keep it up. I didn’t give a shit about our reputation. Those who did had a reason they cared.
I slid my hands into my pockets. “I’m going to be honest; I’m enjoying how much you want me to take a swing at you.” I narrowed my eyes, cocking my head to the side. “Why?”
Anger flashed in his eyes. He clenched his jaw, then took a step toward me. “Why does there have to be a reason? Maybe I’m harboring some resentment for what you did to my little brother.”
Cross stepped next to me, keeping up. “You gave him to us on a silver platter. And we didn’t permanently harm him, per your request.”
His crew members shared a look, and a couple whispered behind his back.
Drake shot them an annoyed look. “You’re right. That was stupid of me to bring it up. We all voted and decided that was the smart move.” His grin was forced, baring his white teeth for a second. “No hard feelings on my little brother, but my cousin, on the other hand…” His voice trailed off, and as if on cue, Drake looked behind him.
I shifted over just enough to see that very cousin, Race, coming up the path. They’d been partying a little farther down. Along with him came a trail of Normals. Taz was right next to him, holding his hand. I skimmed over the group. No Jordan. No Zellman.
The back of Cross’ hand brushed mine to get my attention.
We shared a look. If Race was coming, that meant our guys knew. They had something planned. Or I hoped so, because I didn’t want to get my clothes bloody tonight.
“What are you doing, Drake?”
This time it was Race asking, and he sounded just as tired as I was.
Drake’s grin widened. “Look, it’s the cousin I sent to seduce my ex, and he failed.”
Race swallowed, his eyes passing over to me.
I folded my arms over my chest. “He became our friend instead.” I tilted my head. “You really up here hoping to start another crew war? Is that what you’re doing?”
He stilled at my question, his eyes firm on mine. “What do you think—”
And then there was an explosion from down in the valley.
