Page 88 of We Will Reign

“What do you think I’m going to do? I’m gonna torture the fuck out of him.” The seriousness in his tone is unsettling.

“No,” I blurt out. “You can’t do that.”

“Sure I can.”

“You can’t just go around hurting people just because they’ve hurt me. You’re going to get yourself in serious trouble.”

“You think I care what happens to me, Angel? I don’t fucking care. As long as you’re safe and happy, I’m living my best life.” He reaches behind me and takes his phone back. I’m too weak to fight him for it and too mentally drained to argue. “What’s her number?”

“Who’s going to protect me when you’re banished? Huh? Who is going to keep me safe and happy once The Elders destroy your life for bringing harm to another member?”

“Maddox. He’ll make you happy. He’ll keep you safe.”

“That’s why you told him to go be with me, isn’t it? Because you’re planning to get kicked out of The Society? You know what’s coming?”

His voice rises to a near shout and my limbs quiver. “Give me the damn number.”

“We’ll never be together if you do that. You know the rules—no outside relationships. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?”

I’ve already told him we can’t be together, but I know in his head one day we will. If anything will change his mind, it has to be that.

“Number. Now!”

“Fine. Do what you want. I don’t care anyways.” It’s a lie. Probably the biggest I’ve ever told, but I try to convince myself it’s true. So, I cave and I give him the number, so Scar can come to me and he can go ruin his life.

He sends a text then says, “She’ll meet us out front.”

A minute later, we’re walking out the doors of the school to meet Scar. His hand rests softly on my hip as he leads me to the picnic table out front. “She said she’d be here in five minutes.”

We wait in silence. There is so much I want to say, but this time, I’m the one who can’t speak. I gnaw on the inside of my cheek so hard that a metallic taste seeps onto my tongue. My nerves are fucking shot.

Scar comes running out the front doors, straight toward us. “What the fuck happened?”

Ridge jumps up, ready to flee, but I grab him by the back of the coat. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t always have to be the hero.”

He takes a moment to stare longingly into my eyes, as if he’s reading a page in our future, then he smiles. “See you around, Angel.”

And just like a superhero flying away, he’s gone.

CHAPTER32

RIDGE

Any minute now,he should be walking out this door, probably with his arm thrown around the shoulders of one of his whores. I could be dumb about this, not give a fuck and let everyone see. But I need to play this one safe. This will be my most important task thus far—the most personal, anyway.

My skin itches with red-hot anger. Adrenaline pumps fiercely through my veins in anticipation of making this fucker pay.

I glance at my phone, checking the time.

Five. Four. Three. Two…

The classroom doors open, and there he is.

Allowing him to lead the way, I follow behind with my black hood lifted.

A girl joins his side. Cade smacks her ass and she giggles, then nudges her side against his.

Stupid fucking guy.

---