Page 15 of PET

“Words mean nothing when your actions don’t support them. And now it’s too late,” I whisper.

He must hear the emotions in my voice because he turns, shakes his head, and marches straight toward me. I back away until the small of my back hits the picnic table, halting me in my spot.

“It’s never too late, Billie. We will make them all pay for what they’ve done to you. We just needed time.”

But his words are confusing again. “What are you even talking about? You keep saying these cryptic things, but you never follow through with them.”

His gaze dances over my face, and he says nothing again. The guy is driving me nuts, but no matter how much I ask him to explain himself, I know he never will. Zeke will tell me what he wants me to know when he wants me to know it.

“Take me home,” I demand.

Hurt flashes through his eyes before he steps back from me, nodding toward his car. “Whatever you want, Billie.”

What I want is for him to talk to me—to tell me what the fuck is going on and why he and Christian want to make me their pet. I want everyone to leave me alone at school. And I want my old fucking life back, even the one where I knew I didn’t have a chance with either of them. But this isn’t a fairytale and wishes don’t come true.

Chapter 7

CHRISTIAN VERADIN

“Whatthefuckisgoing on, Christian?!” Dad’s voice barks through the hallway as he approaches my bedroom, nearly kicking my door from its hinges. “I was in the middle of a damn meeting when I got a call from the cops telling me you’ve fled the house again!”

Rolling my eyes, I lean back in my chair and turn my attention back to my TV while I play a game on my PlayStation 5. He’s never given a shit about me before now, so it’s a little too late to start playing “dad” now.

“I had something to take care of, but I’m back, aren’t I?”

His face is so red it looks like it’s about to burst off of his shoulders. “I swear to God, Christian! If your mother wouldn’t divorce me for it, I’d send your ass to military school.”

Laughing, I shake my head and focus on killing my enemy in my game. But it clearly pisses my dad off as he marches over and shuts the console off. I stare at the blank screen, refusing to look him in the eyes. He just keeps repeatedly threatening my mother. It’s the one weakness he knows I have; the fucking bastard.

“You’re such an ungrateful little fucker, do you know that?”

“Yep,” I reply, popping the P. “I’m reminded all the time.”

He looks around the room, snickering in disgust. “Clean this fucking shit hole up. You have one week left on house arrest—try not to fuck that up, too.”

My door rattles when he slams it shut. I’d love to get up and bash his head in, but that would only send me straight back to juvie. I want to play with our little hellfire, and being stuck behind bars won’t allow that.One week. One gruelling fucking week and my freedom is back.

For now, I grab my phone and text Zeke.

ME: Tell me you’re still with our girl. I need a distraction.

His reply is almost immediate, making me grin from ear to ear.

ZEKE: She’s right here. What kind of distraction? ;)

ME: Come over and I’ll show you.

Tossing my phone on my desk, I put on something more comfortable—my favorite pair of American Eagle jeans and no shirt. I want to see her face when she comes in and finds me sitting here like this.

But we’ve got one little problem—my fucking dad. How do I get him out of the house before they get here? What does my dad love more than his car? Work, of course.

Bridget answers after the third ring. “Veradin Leasing Corporation. How may I direct your call?”

This is almost too perfect. “Hey beautiful,” I say in greeting.

Her sweet giggle comes through the line, and I know I’ve got her. This might be messed up, but I fucked this lady against her desk within her first week working for my dad. It was easy. A little sweet talking and flattery, and the girl was wrapped around my finger. Anytime I needed to fuck with my dad, she was my way in.

“Christian,” she purrs my name the same way she does while she’s coming.

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