The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (33)

Jogging down the path, I spotted the Crown Vic parked among a sixties model Impala with gleaming black paint and chrome grilling, a red Porsche Cayman, and a black Camaro with white stripes. It was probably stupid—no, definitely stupid—but I inched closer until I reached the shadows hugging the condemned building.

With my back pressed against the side of the building, I sifted through the voices spilling over the moss and vine-covered threshold until I recognized one. There was a window above me, and if I stood on my tiptoes, I could see inside. I didn’t have to question if they’d kill me if I were caught.

My life had become one big irony. Rosalyn uprooted us from our home to protect me from these monsters only to have one of them living across the hall.

I’d laugh if I didn’t want to live.

I glanced up at the window again and realized I was much too curious for my own good. Standing on my tiptoes, I rested my fingers on the brick windowpane to keep myself balanced. I took in the intimate group of menacing men. I could hardly believe Ever was one of them, but there he was in all black with a skully cloaking his gorgeous hair. He had his mask in place as a man who looked like he ate babies raged. The tattoo on the back of his shaved skull marked him as Exiled.

There were three others. The one closest to me had brown hair swept back from his forehead with the sides shaved close. His back was to the window, so I couldn’t see his face, but I could see the mark at his nape. The other two stood in the shadows of the building, making it impossible to see their faces, but I was willing to bet they were Exiled.

My attention returned to Ever, and my heart stopped when I saw him staring straight at me. I ducked and considered what to do. It was too late to run. I could already hear them moving. I had no chance of making it to the car and even less of fighting them off, but I searched for a weapon anyway. There were bits of broken glass lying around, so I picked up the biggest one and ignored the pain when it bit into my hand.

Moments later, instead of fighting for my life, I listened as the cars started and drove away. I dropped the glass but waited an extra minute before peeking around the corner.

Ever was a mere foot away with his shoulder propped against the wall looking seconds away from strangling me. I screamed and landed on my ass.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he demanded as he stalked me.

I crawled backward on my hands until I realized I couldn’t fight from this position. As soon as I hopped up, he gripped my biceps and turned our bodies, pressing my back against the wall.

“I asked you a question.”

“Let go of me!”

His fingers tightened, but when I grimaced, he immediately loosened them. Maybe he wouldn’t kill me after all.

“Why did you follow me?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You were up to something, and I wanted to know what.”

His hands fell from my arms, and I was grateful. The rage in his eyes shook me to my core. “How much did you hear?”

Not a damn thing. “Enough,” I lied, satisfaction lacing each syllable. I had a death wish.

“Fuck!” he exploded. The curse sounded foreign passing through his lips. It seemed beneath him, yet it intimidated me as nothing ever had.

“I saw their tattoos. I know they’re Exiled.” I purposely left out that I’d also seen his mark because it meant admitting to watching him undress in the woods. Whenever I closed my eyes, I could still see the muscles that hadn’t been there a year ago.

“How exactly would you know that?”

“Had a run in with them last year. It’s how I ended up in Stepford.” He glowered at my reference. “I’m guessing your father didn’t give you the whole story?”

“Doesn’t matter. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He took a step back and started to walk away until my next words stopped him.

“Maybe your father can figure it out.”

Before I could say more or take a fighting stance, my back was against the brick again, and this time, he had my wrists locked above my head while honey brown eyes blazed.

“Rethink your next move, Archer, or I promise to make you regret it.”

“The only thing I regret is the day you were born.”

He leaned close, head bent, until his lips almost brushed mine. “Back at you, baby.”

The endearment had me shivering. Afraid he might feel my reaction, I bucked against him. “I never said you could touch me!”

Chuckling, he swept his lips across mine. “I never asked.”

Desperate now, I moved to knee him, but he quickly shoved his thigh between mine. My breath caught as I watched his Adam’s apple bob. Why must everything he does be so goddamn enticing?

“Let me go.”

Thick lips brushed mine again, and his voice was smoother when he spoke. “Promise not to tell?”

No, no, no. I hated the whimper that escaped me, and even more, I hated the boy who drew it out of me. I needed his kiss as much as I needed his downfall. When Ever’s hips pressed against mine, and his mouth skimmed my neck, I feared I’d be burned alive.

“Promise me,” he demanded softly.

“I promise—” Words eluded me when Ever softly bit into my neck, and his cock pressed against my fluttering stomach. I was grappling to keep my wits. “I promise you’re gonna regret knowing me, McNamara.” Slowly, he freed my skin from his teeth, and then our eyes met as I lifted my head from the wall and growled, “Now let me go.”