Page 57 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

“And I’ll have you arrested for kidnapping,” I snap. “Tell her to get out.”

It only takes a few seconds for her door to fly open. I step out of the car’s way, and it can’t pull out fast enough. She stalks up to me and raises her hand.

The slap she gave me at a party is seared in my memory.

I grab her wrist before she can make contact, and use it to tow her to my truck. She doesn’t make a sound when I open her door and push her into the opening. Grudgingly, she uses the handle and hauls herself up.

I grip her thighs, swiveling her toward me.

A slight gasp comes out of her mouth, and my dick twitches.

I lean against her knees, which she keeps firmly closed. I almost expect her to try to slap me again. But she just presses her forehead to mine.

An interesting reaction, but not an awful one.

No, it is awful.

“What are you doing to me?” she asks. “You just come back and take over my life? Again? Newsflash, Eli. There’s nothing left to destroy.”

I freeze. “What makes you say that?”

She straightens and swings her legs back into the truck. “Please take me home.”

What else is there left to do but listen?

15

Eli

Two and a Half Years Ago

Caleb nudges me with the butt of his lacrosse stick. “Wake up, man.”

I shake myself back into attention and frown. Riley is here. Did I know she was going to come? She hadn’t participated in any other activities…

“Eli,” Coach yells.

I readjust my helmet and wave him off, jogging across the field in Theo’s direction. We’re doing an exhibition match against Lion’s Head, and all the ticket sales are going to charity. It’s the sort of stunt that makes both schools feel like they’re doing their part.

Rumor has it, Stone Ridge High students are here. But if those rumors have any weight, the students came with the intention of blending in.

The whistle blows just as my attention strays back to the stands. Riley sits between Amelie and Jackie. She doesn’t understand that she’s getting special treatment because her of her father.

I wonder how long it took Amelie to figure out Charles Appleton was her father’s new boss. The whole Page family loves to scheme—I wouldn’t be surprised if this was just another ploy.

Someone rams into me, and I grunt. I can’t let my focus keep sliding like this.

I go into autopilot, circling the Lion’s Head asshole and managing to intercept a pass. I flick the ball back toward Caleb. He catches it smoothly and bolts down the field. He passes to a waiting Liam, and we score.

The screams and cheers from the crowd is muffled.

Theo slaps the back of my helmet. “Where’s your fucking head, huh? He almost got by you.”

“But he didn’t,” I snap.

Theo grins, following the direction I’m angled. Right to the stands.

Riley’s on her feet with the rest of them, clapping and cheering. A bag of popcorn is cradled between her arm and chest, and I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be an inanimate object before, but now I do.

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