The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (93)

Tyra must have had as much trouble as I reading Vaughn’s mood because her confidence faltered when she offered him a shy smile.

“Don’t worry, T-baby. I’m not the only one whose pants are fitting a little tighter.”

A vicious snarl tore from Vaughn’s throat, and then he was snatching the bottle from Jamie with one hand and forcing his head back with the other before practically waterboarding him with rum.

The bottle was nearly empty when Ever sighed and barked, “Enough.”

I was beginning to wonder why Jamie insisted on provoking them. It was as if he was eager to take a beating. He never fought back even though I was more than sure he could handle himself.

Vaughn tossed the bottle in a choking Jamie’s lap and then glared at Tyra and me. “Deal.”




“So, what should we make them do?”

After the movie ended, the guys took off. To run an errand they’d claimed. My guess was they were secretly running scared of what we’d make them do. Tyra and I were now holed up in my room in our PJs while Jay D was nestled in a ball at the foot of my bed.

Tyra applied the last coat of nail polish and beamed at her freshly painted toes with satisfaction. “I thought I’d make Vaughn tattoo my name on his ass.”

I barked a laugh, making Jay D’s ears perk. When he drifted back to sleep, I said, “Think he’d go for it?”

“Hell no, but I can’t wait to see his face when I try to make him.”

“Ever already has a tattoo,” I blurted. It was hard keeping all these secrets bottled inside. I always figured it was just a matter of time before they came spilling out. Besides…what was the point in having a BFF if you couldn’t confide in them?

“Really?” Tyra’s whiskey gaze was now fixed on me. “He’s much too uptight for a tattoo. What is it, and most importantly, where is it?”

I had a hard time swallowing, but when my throat was free of doubt, so were the words. “His gang. It’s tattooed on his back.”

She slowly blinked. “Come again?”

The deep breath I took was for courage, and the prayer was just in case. I didn’t want to betray Ever, but I needed to talk to someone. “Ever is Exiled.”

“Ever McNamara?” she echoed. “Your Ever?”

My Ever. “Yes,” I confirmed breathlessly.

“And by Exiled you mean the murderous, raping, pillaging Exiled?”

“That would be the one. I didn’t know you knew about them.”

“Shit. Who doesn’t?”

“I didn’t. Until one of them tried to kill me.”

“Jesus, Four!” She scrambled to face me, forgetting about the still wet polish that now stained my bedspread. “Shit! Sorry.”

I waved her off and hugged my knees.

“How the hell did you get mixed up with them?”

I gave her the short version. “When I was ten, Gruff took me under his wing. He taught me how to ride and fix bikes, and when his back was turned, I raced the fast ones for cash. I’m the reason Rosalyn and I left Cherry.”

“You were one of them?” She looked disturbed by the idea.

“Not a chance,” I quickly denied. “I went up against one of them during my last race. It didn’t end well when I tried to win. Not surprisingly, the Exiled are sore losers.”

“Who’s Gruff?”

“My old boss…and the only father I’ll ever have,” I wistfully replied.

“Is he the one who gave you the bike?”

“Yeah…he’s the best.” A wave of homesickness hit me, and I thought I’d drown in it until Tyra’s next question had me breaking the surface.

“Why would Ever join Exiled?”

“He said their leader has something that belongs to him. He didn’t say what.”

I watched as Tyra digested the news. She shook her head, mumbled, and then shook her head some more. “How do you know all of this?”

“I followed him into the woods after the first day of school. He keeps a car hidden back there with the clothes he wears whenever he does a job stashed inside.” I left out the part about me following him into the city and him holding Rosalyn’s fragile mind over my head to keep my mouth shut.

“That’s why that Harlan guy called him Danny Boy, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

“Holy shit! I thought that was weird, but I figured it was some movie reference I didn’t get.”

I shook my head, wishing it were that simple. “Ever becomes this whole other person, and it seems so real, like he’s two different people.”

“I wondered why he was dressed like that the day you took me to meet Jay D. He usually looks he belongs on an Abercrombie ad. I figured he was trying to impress you or something.” Tyra flashed me a timid smile that I tried to return and failed. Miserably.

“Ever’s going to get himself killed, and no matter what I say or threaten—” My voice broke, but I pushed through it. “I can’t talk him out of it, Ty.” I felt a tear slip from my eye and quickly wiped it away while cursing this newfound femininity. I liked the old era. Before Ever—excuse me—Everson fucking McNamara. I wasn’t this girl who cried over a boy and craved his kisses. I was the girl who could rebuild engines and make grown men cry.