Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(40)

I don’t usually doll up to meet Kai, but my nerves are shot to pieces today.

And, okay, there’s a teeny, tiny part of me comparing myself to her, which is ridic, because I know our charade at dinner was a total act, but I can’t help how I feel.

And I feel threatened.

And a bit scared.

Father has the power to mess with my head, and I’m terrified of anything or anyone fucking up what Kai and I have.

“Earth to Princess Abigail.” Xavier flicks his fingers in my face. “You completely zoned out.”

“Sorry. I’ve a lot on my mind, and I am fucking pissed.”

He slings his arm around my shoulder. “Oh, oh. What don’t I know?”

I give him a cliff’s note version of the dinner earlier.

He whistles under his breath. “Do you think your father is on to us?”

“I don’t think so, but he’s a naturally suspicious person, and he was always going to test me. Especially now Drew has planted that idea in his head.” Although, it was my idea that Drew suggest I needed to be tested.

Talk about something coming back to bite you in the butt.

I flop down on the lumpy couch in the main section of the warehouse. “But it was a complete fucking shock seeing Kai and Rick there.” I know the bastard said he was welcoming Atticus back into the elite, but I didn’t think he’d move so fast or that he’d want the guys involved. Especially knowing how much he hates Kai. But understanding my father as I do, I know this is his way of testing both me and Atticus. He wants to push me to see if this act I’m playing with Charlie is real. And he wants to see if Atticus is truly back on board.

Or he’s moved up a level in this twisted game he’s playing.

He needs Atticus to play ball now.

But once he’s elected president, I’m guessing all bets are off.

Atticus forced his hand, and he won’t like that. I think he’s doing what he needs to do to win him on his side, and then he’s going to knock him flat on his ass again.

“They are working their father, and he’s working your father,” Xavier says, perching on the arm of the couch. “We should have expected this. And I hate to say it, babe, but you’ll have to get used to it.”

“I know.” I pout, planting my high heels on the old coffee table. It’s littered with empty pizza boxes and moldy coffee cups, but I find an empty space to rest my feet. “I know he’s going to use Kai and Giselle at every opportunity to try and break me.”

“You won’t crack.” Xavier’s confidence bolsters my spirits.

But only a little.

“Please tell me you found something on the bastard we can use.”

“We have found something interesting.”

I sit up, slapping his arm. “You should’ve opened with that!”

“Let’s wait for the others to get here because you know I don’t like repeating myself.” He glances at his watch. “They should be here by now.”

“I hope nothing’s wrong.” I hate how my mind immediately goes there. But that’s the kind of world we live in.

“Did you check your stuff for bugs?” Xavier asks, effectively distracting me from my worry.

I nod. “I check daily.” I’m expecting Charlie to plant more tracking devices on me, so I use the device Xavier gave me to check my bag, my clothes, my shoes, and my cell every time I leave the house. I also check my room on the regular, paranoid about him planting a camera or listening device in there.

But so far, he hasn’t.

And that makes me suspicious. I’m not na?ve enough to think he’s buying my act yet, so why isn’t he trying anything? I’m hoping it’s because I’ve been careful enough to cover my tracks, and that he’s effectively distracted with his family situation and the business, but, when it comes to Charlie, I’ve learned he’s unpredictable. So, I’m on edge, constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting to be found out.

“Huh.” Xavier frowns, and his thoughts must mirror mine.

“There’s a tracking device on the car, but that’s because all the Barrons’ cars are fitted with them.”

“Why hasn’t he tried to bug you again?” Xavier asks, tugging on his lip ring as his brow furrows.

“I’ve asked myself the same question, but I can’t get a read on Charlie. I literally have no clue what’s going through his mind. I—”

A loud noise from the rear of the warehouse cuts me off mid-speech. I stand, and a flurry of butterflies sprouts in my chest. Xavier leans forward on his elbows, watching the side door.

Kai appears first, and he stalks toward me like a marauding Viking intent on pillage.

An instant ache throbs in my core, and my legs turn to Jell-O. His eyes ooze danger as he charges toward me, and my heart speeds up to coronary-inducing levels.

A cavalcade of emotions assaults me, and I can’t decipher how I’m feeling, because I’m all kinds of fucked up after today.

God, he’s so fucking gorgeous when he’s all pissed and angry.

I’m sick in the head.

I know it.

But this version of Kai never fails to arouse me.

I want him to take all that aggression out on my body, and I’m already quivering in anticipation.