Page 100 of Kings & Corruption

His expression hardened. “I care about this house and its reputation, and like it or not, you’re one of us right now. You’re under our protection. If something happens to you on our watch, we’re the ones who lose the cred.”

“That’s what you’re worried about? Your cred?” I didn’t want to admit what I was really thinking — that he hadn’t corrected me when I said he didn’t care about me, that it hurt for a reason I couldn’t begin to fathom.

“You just got here,” Rock said. “You don’t know how things work.”

The tone of his voice said he was trying to be nice, trying to soften Neo’s words, but all I heard was condescension.

Poor little Willa is so naive, she has no idea how anything at Aventine works. We’re just stuck with her until she figures out what happened to her sister and takes off to post pictures on social media from the Maldives or something.

“I don’t know why you’re throwing such a shit fit,” Neo said. “You don’t even want to play the game. You should be happy you have an out.”

“That’s not the point,” I snapped. “The point is, I’m not some little girl who needs to be protected, and I’m definitely not someone who’s going to be bossed around by three… by three…”

I had several world-class insults on my tongue aimed at Neo, but I couldn’t get them out with Rock’s big puppy-dog eyes looking at me and my thighs still wet from the orgasm Oscar had given me.

“Three…” Neo looked satisfied by my brain freeze, and I had the sudden urge to tell him why I was so thrown, that I still hated him but was genuinely starting to like Rock, that fifteen minutes earlier I’d been desperate for Oscar to fuck me.

Why did I want to hurt him? And why did I think he’d care anyway?

“Three overbearing, controlling, narcissists playing at being gangsters while they’re away at college,” I said.

“You think I’m overbearing?” Rock said at the same time Oscar said, “It’s only because I care about you.”

Neo came around the kitchen island to advance on me, his expression so menacing I had to resist the urge to back up.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about, Jezebel.” His face was only inches from mine, his breath warm on my face. But instead of making me recoil, I felt a fresh wave of lust rip through my body. “Someday you’re going to realize that, and when that days comes, you’re going to feel like a world-class dumbass.”

I was breathing too fast, too shallow, sure he could see it in the way my chest rose and fell. I could only hope he thought it was anger and not the need that had opened up inside my pussy.

But he was agitated too. I could see it in the flare of his eyes, the tic in his jaw. He got off on our battles of will.

Just like me.

A second later, his familiar mask of indifference slid back into place.

He straightened. “Until then, you can do whatever you want, but we will be watching. And opening your mail.”

“Fine,” I said, folding my arms over my chest. “When do we get the keys to the case?”

Chapter43

Oscar

“That went well,” I said after Willa left the kitchen. My voice dripped sarcasm.

Neo grabbed three beers from the fridge, which was how I knew he was worked up. He had another fight coming up, and he didn’t usually drink unless he had at least a month to train before the next one.

He set two of the beers on the island, twisted the cap off the one still in his hand, and took a swig.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked. “Congratulate her on breaking into the dean’s office? Give her a trophy for leaving something identifiable behind?”

I raked a hand down my face, trying to control my frustration. I understood Neo’s feelings about Willa — as much as any of us could understand anything about Neo — but his fucked up psychological shit was making things harder than they needed to be.

“Maybe try understanding why she felt like she had to go it alone,” I said. “We haven’t exactly been any help in the Emma department.”

“That’s for her own good,” Neo said. “We talked about this.”

“Yeah, we did,” I said, picking up one of the beers. “I just didn’t expect you to be such a monumental dick to her.”

---