The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (40)

I was turning eighteen in a couple of days, and Bee was barely seventeen fucking years old, but that didn’t seem to bother Elliot as he sat at the head of the table expecting a proposal for his daughter’s hand in marriage as if I’d knocked her up. My fists balled on my thighs. If I turned him down, Elliot Montgomery would have someone else seated at his dinner table the very next day, ready to offer his daughter on a platter to a man who didn’t care about her honor or her interests.

I stared into the eyes of the girl who taught me how to climb a tree and who lit a candle for my mother every Sunday. This was the moment Bee and I had been anticipating since that night four years ago. I promised to protect her no matter what it took, but at fourteen, I had no idea how much that promise would one day cost me.

“Yes,” I answered, feeling Bee’s relief as if it were my own. “There’s nothing and no one I want more.”

Those words burned.

Like someone had just poured acid down my throat.





I FOLLOWED TYRA INTO A blue two-story home sitting on stilts with two stacked balconies facing the beach. She was teeming with excitement next to me, which was no surprise since she had begged and begged and begged until falling dramatically onto the floor and crying that she’d be a virgin forever.

“Whose place is this?” I shouted over ‘My House’ by Flo Rida.

“It belongs to the Rees’, but Vaughn’s the only one who ever puts it to use, which doesn’t surprise me. They live in this grand castle, and the guest list is so exclusive that hardly anyone other than family has ever stepped foot inside. I heard that their security is tighter than a virgin’s ass.”

My brows rose at her bitter tone, but I decided it was best not to peek behind that curtain right now.

“Really? That’s not suspicious at all,” I responded sarcastically. It made me wonder why someone who wasn’t a celebrity or the President needed that much security.

Tyra shrugged while looking around the party. “I told you. There’s a rumor that Franklin Rees wears suits, but it isn’t to punch a clock.” With all the wealth and prestige surrounding this town like a bubble, I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but that was before Ever McNamara made the impossible ordinary.

I looked around too and spotted Jamie deejaying near the speakers with a gang of girls surrounding him. He seemed in his element as they swayed their hips in low-cut tops and skintight bottoms.

Things had been staler than usual since his almost fight with Ever yesterday morning, but the tension quickly fizzled when Vaughn announced he was throwing an eighteenth birthday bash for Ever. Apparently, Thomas had banned parties at the palace after last year. I just hoped there wouldn’t be a need to crack open another skull this year. I never did get to apologize to Daniel Kim, whose parents had been furious. Even though Ever hadn’t ratted me out, fingers were still pointed. Thomas sending me away had kept the Kims from pressing charges, but the bad blood remained. I could practically feel the target on my back whenever I crossed paths with Daniel Kim.

Ever’s actual birthday wasn’t until tomorrow, but partying on a Saturday night ensured everyone would be well and sober come Monday morning. Not to mention, he was still technically grounded, but Thomas had temporarily lifted the ban because well…you only turned eighteen once. As for me…I didn’t consider myself his to punish.

I hadn’t made it far inside the party when I felt an arm over my shoulder. “You have on too many clothes,” Jamie shouted over the music. “I can barely see your skin!”

I’d worn black jeans with a white and black Evil Dead T-shirt and Vans that had seen better days. Tyra had begged for me to wear my hair down, but I refused. The natural bounce and volume of my wavy tresses made me feel too…feminine.

“That’s the point!” I yelled back.

Jamie had apologized yesterday, and it was hard not to forgive him since he’d chosen to do it in the most embarrassing way. In the hallway, as the entire school was changing classes, he literally threw himself at my feet. Ever, on the other hand, went back to pretending I didn’t exist. He also didn’t show up for dinner last night. I guess everything had returned back to normal. Maybe. When I told Tyra about this morning, while leaving out the parts that had made my panties damp, she gave me a strange look but said nothing.

“I’ve been instructed to give this to you.”

My stomach did that fluttering thing again when Jamie handed me a folded note. The paper was all too familiar as I recalled the note I’d receieved two nights ago.

Ever obviously knew I was here, but how did he know I’d come?

I searched the crowd and every dark corner and almost gave up looking when I saw him. Above the dance floor, with his hands resting on the balcony railing, Ever lorded over his subjects with his trusty sidekick, Vaughn, by his side. He wore a white button-up with the sleeves shoved to his elbows, a tie the color of blood, black jeans, and kicks. Vaughn wore only a destroyed denim vest, showing off his abs and chest, with black jeans and kicks. The two of them together looked like trouble. Like a conqueror and corruptor.

I’d caught the conqueror staring, but he didn’t bother to look away. He jerked his head toward the note in my hand. The order was clear.

Looking around, I assured myself that everyone was busy chatting or dancing. Jamie was occupied fixing Tyra a drink, and I wondered with a small smile if he knew getting under her blue mini skirt would never happen or if he simply appreciated the challenge.