The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (70)

She peeked at me as I applied my cherry flavored lip balm, so I popped my lips for good measure.

“You’re pissing me off.” Her gaze was now on the screen again, but she was no longer watching the movie.

“I’m sorry.” I offered her the tube. “Would you like some?”

She twisted her lips but didn’t respond. When the movie finally ended, I led the way out of the theater. Tyra had a hard time meeting our gazes while Vaughn wore a stupid grin. “What’s next?” he questioned excitedly as he rubbed his hands together.

Tyra shook her head. “I need to get home. I have a test to study for.”

Vaughn narrowed his gaze. “Isn’t that in two days?”

“Some of us aren’t comfortable cramming,” she retorted.

“Whatever.” Vaughn trained his gaze on Four. “What about you?”

I pretended not to notice her glance at me before answering. “I have to get the bike home.”

“You guys are lame,” Vaughn sighed. To Tyra, he said, “Come on. I’ll follow you home.”

They took off together, leaving Four and me alone on the sidewalk. We slowly walked to the parking lot, and when we reached her bike, she twisted to face me. “I guess I’ll see you at home then?”

“I guess so.”

With an awkward nod and wave, she hopped on her bike and took off. I stole a peek at her ass just before she turned the corner and groaned. There was no way I wasn’t going to follow her.

Hurrying to my car, I almost missed the hooded figure lingering under one of the street lamps. I couldn’t see his face, but I knew he was watching me. I felt for the blade in my pocket and took cautious steps toward the stranger. Blackwood Keep was one of the safest places on the eastern seaboard, but instinct told me that I was about to face-off with a predator.

The orange glow grew brighter the closer I came. I searched the shadows behind him just in case he had friends before stepping into the circle of light. When he pushed back his hood, my blood ran cold, and I cursed myself for leaving my Exiled-issued gun at home.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Harlan?” I tightened my grip on my blade just in case he decided to do something stupid.

“I followed you, Danny Boy.” He then smiled and said, “You’ve got a nice set up here. That big fancy house of yours is really impressive.”

“Why did you follow me?”

“I never trusted you, but after you saved my life, I figured I might have been wrong about you…but then I saw you in the city, looking like a million bucks, and I realized I’m never wrong.”

“Whatever you think you know—”

“You and I both know what I know, so let’s not insult each other’s intelligence. I thought you were hiding something, but I got to say, you’re damn good. I never expected to find some rich boy looking for a thrill.”

I didn’t bother to correct his assumption. My reasons for becoming Exiled were none of his fucking business. “What do you want?”

“Straight to the point. That’s the Danny I know. What I want is never to see your fucking face again, pretty boy. If I do, I’ll carve it up real nice before letting Fox kill you.”

“Does he know?”

When he shook his head, relief flooded me. “Consider us even for saving my life. As long as you stay the fuck away from Exiled, we’ll stay even.”

He stood to his full height, and I considered killing him, but we both knew I wasn’t a murderer. The only blood I would ever spill was Fox’s and only if he left me no choice.

“This is goodbye…Ever.” He patted my shoulder on his way past, and I felt helpless and enraged as I watched him disappear into the night.





I SLEPT PAST MY ALARM and did a mad dash from my bed to the shower and into my uniform. After the movies, I’d taken the scenic route home. Ever still hadn’t made it home when I arrived, so I snuck into his room and left the keys to the Racer on his nightstand. Somehow, while worrying if he’d make it home in time and chewing my fingernails to bits, I’d fallen asleep.

Dressed for school, I grabbed my backpack and rushed downstairs. I was too late for breakfast, but I stopped by the kitchen anyway for one of Mrs. Greene’s freshly baked muffins. Judging by the mouth-watering scent my nose was picking up, it was going to be a blueberry morning.

I jumped the last two stairs just as Jamie sauntered from the kitchen with a half-eaten muffin in one hand and two in the other. He grinned when he caught sight of me and stuffed the last of the muffin in his mouth.

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” he said with a mouth full of scrumptious blueberry delight.

“Did you save some for the rest of us?”

“I’m a growing boy,” he defended.

I started for the kitchen again when his free hand circled my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

“Heads up. You’re riding with me today.”

“Is everything okay?” Jamie and Ever usually took turns driving, and on the rare days they drove separate cars, I always chose Jamie. It was better for everyone that way. Last year, riding alone with Ever had left him with a black eye and me with a threat from him that I should have heeded.

Jamie glanced over his shoulder at the kitchen, and when he regarded me once more, the worry in his eyes caught me off guard. “Here”—he offered up one of his muffins—“take one of mine, and let’s get out of here.”