Page 10 of Paper Doll
I shake my head with a frown. “I don’t really know him,” I say, swinging around to face her again and folding my arms over my chest. “Our parents just got married a couple months ago and he didn’t even bother to show up to the wedding.”
She chuckles bitterly. “Sounds like Raf.”
The disgust in her voice makes me wonder if there’s some sort of history there. Maybe she’s a scorned lover, or maybe these ‘Kings’ targeted her somehow. Or… maybe it’s all bullshit.
“Do you know where I can find him?” I ask.
“Right now?” Richelle pushes to her feet, glancing at the clock on her nightstand. “Down in the gym, probably.”
I nod, stepping over to the desk and pocketing my room key.
“But you can’t go there,” she quickly tacks on.
I spin around, brows drawing together in confusion. “Why not?”
“This istheirgym time,” she states like it’s common knowledge. “Every day from four to five. Kings only.”
I fight back another eyeroll, ignoring her warning and retrieving my campus map from the orientation folder before starting for the door. “Well, too bad. I’m gonna go talk to him. I’ll be back later to finish unpacking.”
“Your funeral,” Richelle mutters as I exit the room.
I turn over our conversation in my mind as I navigate my way to the student union, wondering what bizarre world I’ve just stepped into. I mean, I’m not an idiot– I knew Gideon was likely involved in some shady shit judging by how filthy rich he is and the fact he’s always carrying a gun– but him being part of something like what Richelle described never even remotely entered my mind. Organized crime, sure. But a secret society? That’s just too far-fetched, even for me.
Thanks to the campus map, I’m able to find the student union easily enough, following the signs in the lobby to the gym on the lower level. As soon as I hit the bottom of the stairs, I’m met with a view of the enormous weight room through the glass wall spanning the entire length of it– and there must’ve been some merit to Richelle’s claim about the place being off limits at this hour, because there’s only one person inside.
My new stepbrother.
I recognize Raf from the pictures displayed in his father’s mansion, but those old photos hardly do the man justice.
He’s shirtless on the weight bench, the muscles of his arms and torso rippling with his effort to pump the heavy bar overhead. I can’t help but stare because his body is truly a work of art– bulky, yet toned to perfection, his bronze skin gleaming with a thin sheen of sweat as he works through his reps.
I don’t know what’s gotten into me today, but just like when I first saw Wes earlier, I find myself rooted to the spot I’m standing in, completely captivated.
Raf’s thick black hair is longer on top now than it was in the photographs, curling at the ends, and his profile is even sharper, his chiseled jawline more prominent. He might just be the most attractive person I’ve ever seen in real life, and that’s saying something considering how hot Wes is. It’s difficult to compare the two when they’re alluring in such different ways. Wes is your classically handsome, pretty boy type, and Raf… well, he’s more dark and mysterious.
Dangerous.
That’s what Richelle said when she warned me away– that Raf and the other supposed ‘Kings’ of this place are dangerous.
I’m still not sure how much stock I put into her claims, but looking at Raf now, that assessment doesn’t seem too far off. There’s something intimidating about the tight set of his jaw, the way he pushes and lowers that heavy bar over and over like it’s effortless. The circular weights pinned on either side are massive, yet somehow, he makes it seem easy.
I practically fall into a trance watching the repetitive movement. I don’t know how long I’ve been staring, but at some point, my foggy thoughts clear and I realize I can’t just stand out here forever. I came to find my stepbrother for a reason.
When Gideon told me I’d been enrolled at Corvus College, he soothed my anxiety by saying Raf would take care of me. We’re family now, after all, and my mom was right– this is my chance to get to know him. We were friendly as kids, and he’s the only person here I have a connection to. Hopefully he’ll be up for helping me navigate the college experience and make this whole transition a little easier.
With that in mind, I suck in a deep breath and reach for the door handle, shoring up my courage as I enter the gym.
CHAPTER 5
RAF
My biceps burnwith every rep as I lift the weight bar overhead, sweat beading on my brow.
I’ve lost count of how many bench presses I’ve done. Doesn’t really matter, anyways. I stopped keeping count at the gym a long time ago, choosing to listen to my body instead. When my muscles ache, I push a little harder. When it feels like they’re about to give out, I force myself to do just one more rep.
There are physical limits and there are mental ones, and I push myself beyond both. It’s made me strong; disciplined. Formidable.
In control.
