Page 17 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

Delanie’s door is cracked open the way it always is. That way, everyone can hear in case she needs anything in the night.

I can’t stop myself from peeking inside.

She’s a light sleeper. Always has been. Momma has warned me time and time again not to go into her room, but hearing a man like Tank talk about my baby sister has left me more rattled than I’ve ever been.

Even more rattled than my conversation with Noah left me.

I should hate Delanie. In fact, when my mom told me she was pregnant with a baby sister, I did hate her a little bit.

I hated her mostly because my mom didn’t.

For as long as I could remember, I’d done nothing but bring my mother disappointment.

But she beamed when she told me she was pregnant with another little girl.

I hated Delanie for that.

Plus, I hated her for what she did to my life. For the chaos and destruction and upheaval her arrival brought.

I hated her so, so much…

Until I saw her.

And in that moment, every bit of anger and hatred I felt towards her changed immediately into love and devotion.

Her room is glowing pink from the unicorn nightlight perched on her dresser. I can see her laying on her back behind the bars of her crib.

Her pajamas are white, as are the ruffled blankets mussed around her chubby legs, and her caramel brown curls fan out around her face like a halo.

I’d rather deal with the full brunt of the Golden Boys coming after me than have a single hair on Delanie’s head be moved out of place.

She was born from one of the worst things that ever happened to me.

But she is the best thing I’ve ever known. She’s pure. Perfect. Innocent.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her that way.

7

Noah

Penny glows beneath me.

“What are you waiting for?” Penny purrs, dragging a nail down my bare chest. Her eyes are electric green now, hypnotizing. “Take me.”

My cock is throbbing between my legs, so hard it’s painful. But I don’t want to end it yet. Not like this.

Because this shit between me and her? It isn’t love.

It’s war.

I grab her wrists and pin them above her head. Her eyes widen in fear.

She strains against the hold, but her squirming body brushes my cock.

I hiss, “Don’t you ever try to tell me what to do.”

“Please.” Her glossy lips pucker around the word, tormenting me the way they always do. “Get inside of me.”

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