Page 83 of The Rivals' Touch

My father pats Bennett on the shoulder as a member of the paid help hands Bennett his coat. “Take care of yourself, young man. Remi will come to visit you next weekend as agreed.”

“Good. My father looks forward to seeing you both at dinner.”

My dad turns, motioning at me with his hand. “Come here and say goodbye. I’ll go speak with the driver.”

I reluctantly walk over to Bennett. It’s strange that I once held him in such high regard when he’s a carbon copy of my dad. In my defense, he hid it well.

He flicks his blonde hair out of his eyes and possessively plants his lips on mine.

“Remember what I said,” he warns, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I will kill Zayd if he touches you!”

I tear my face away from his touch and punish him with my silence.

“Babe,” he whispers, diving down for a kiss. I snap my face to the side and deny him my lips. No fucking way am I letting him kiss me.

He grabs the back of my neck and swipes his tongue over my bottom lip, but I set my jaw and push on his chest. “You’re being a bitch!” he growls, digging his fingers into my skin to the point of pain.

“The minute you walk out that door, I’ll crawl into Zayd’s bed like a fucking cat in heat!”

He hits me before I can react, and the punch to my chin propels me backward. I collide with the wall behind me with such force, I lose my breath.

His chest heaves as he stares at me slumped on the floor. “I can make your life a living hell. It’s up to you! You’re marrying me whether you fucking like it or not.” He crouches down, swiping my blonde fringe out of my eyes. “You’re my property now. You belong to me, so you do as I say!”

My mouth tastes metallic, and my lips curve in a bloodied smile as I sit up. “You’re a pathetic loser!”

“And you’re a whore!” He cups my jaw, brushing his thumb through the blood seeping from the corner of my mouth. “We make a good pair!” Then he stands up and straightens his jacket. “Touch him, and he dies.”

I grit my jaw, watching him walk out. The door shuts with a soft click, and the silence that follows is drowned out by the pounding heartbeat in my ears. I want to move, but my body screams in pain. My jaw is going to bruise. That was one hit that can’t be explained away.

Legacy beeps her car horn outside, so I pull myself up and walk on unsteady legs to the door.

My father is talking to Legacy in her red convertible. Her sunglasses are pushed up on top of her head, and her lips are painted a striking red. Her long, windswept, brown hair is brushed over one shoulder.

When she spots me in the doorway, she smiles.

I plaster on my best fake smile and descend the steps, wiping blood off my chin. “Hi.”

My father beams. “I’m so glad you’re making friends.”

“I’ll stay at Legacy’s tonight, if that’s okay?”

“Of course it is, pumpkin. Have you got your phone?”

I hold it up. “Here.”

“Don’t be late for school in the morning, girls.”

Legacy treats him to her most charming smile. “We won’t, sir.”

I lower myself down in the passenger seat as my father walks back to the house, whistling a tune. The gravel crunches beneath the heavy wheels, and I breathe a sigh of relief as we leave the grounds.

“What the fuck happened?” Legacy asks, her voice thick with concern. The wind moves her hair around her face.

I tie mine up with a spare hair tie around my wrist. “What do you mean?”

Her flowery perfume drifts over to me in the breeze as she strokes her fingers over my jaw, the corner of my mouth. “There’s blood there.”

“Fuck!” I lick my finger and wipe it off.

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