He looks away from me, doubt crossing his expression, and I sigh.
“Look, I know it’s been a long time since Amy was born and she left, I’m glad you’ve found someone you want to move on with, but be careful Jake, they’re not like us.”
He nods but I know from his expression he wants to tell me to fuck off. He won’t though, because he knows this goes beyond just Liam murdering my brother, it’s a whole fucking list of shit that Liam and his father has done, not only to me, but to the community around me. We’re nothing but dirt under their designer loafers and we’re treated as such. And when someone manages to climb out of the six-foot ditch they’ve put us in, they’re kicked right back down to the bottom.
They have to pay for what they’ve done.
It’s as simple as that.
It doesn’t matter that little Marly Winchester was innocent, it doesn’t matter that she doesn’t think like them, she’s their princess and through her, I get to show them every mistake they’ve ever made.
What will they do when they realize I’ve corrupted their perfect little sweetheart?
How will they react when I rip out her heart and lay it at their feet?
Revenge doesn’t happen overnight, it comes with patience, opportunity even and Marly walking onto my ground a week ago opened a whole new world of possibilities. I don’t have the power they do, I don’t have the sway, but I do have her.
I already have her in my palm, I just need a little bit longer to be able to fully close my fist around her and once I do? I’ll present the little princess to them, only she won’t be theirs anymore,she’ll be mine.
Chapter Fifteen
Darkness falls across the track around nine PM and the flood lights flash on, one by one, illuminating the track I’ve raced hundreds of times. The Plymouth Barracuda sits in the row of cars racing tonight and standing right beside it is Marly.
She texted to say she was here, but I didn’t expect to find her next to my car nor to look as good doing so.
Marly leans on the car while she speaks to Jake and Zara, her long blonde hair pulled into a pony and secured by another damn ribbon. I’m certain those ribbons are trying to end me. I still have her little blue one, it’s tied to my Plymouth keys which are in my pocket and while I watch her, I reach for it, running my thumb down the silk.
She’s dressed in a pair of ripped Levis and a cropped white tee that clings to the shape of her, leaving a slither of skin on show at her naval. She looks fucking good leaning on my car, with her ribbon and her sun warmed cheeks and her radiant smile, andthen I’m kicking myself because I shouldn’t notice those damn things.
“Princess,” I purr, immediately drawing her attention. Her cheeks are pink from the sun today, but they darken when she sees me and it’s like a damn shot straight to my dick. She’s an attractive woman, I tell myself, it’s a normal reaction but I can’t name the last woman who had this kind of effect on me because there has never been one. There hasn’t been a single person who can get me hard by a look alone and yet here I am, fighting a fucking semi at the mere sight of a blush on her cheeks.
Shit.
I roll my neck side to side and move for the passenger door, “Race with me.”
Her eyes widen, “What?”
I open my mouth to respond but I’m interrupted when my name is yelled from behind Marly.
“River!”
Lifting my eyes, I see Benji strolling toward us, his grin a little menacing and his body poised to attack. I should have banned that whole entire family. Ricky’s cousin is as scummy as Ricky himself, and the only reason he is here is because he’s likely been called to fight his cousin’s battles.
“I’m taking that crown tonight, boy,” Benji licks his teeth, eyes bouncing between me and Marly before he settles his eyes on her. “I’m taking her too.”
I move my body until I’m covering her, leaning back a little to trap her between me and the Plymouth, “Careful, Benji, wouldn’t want you to end up in the creek.”
He laughs, “Feeling a little sensitive, are we?” His eyes flick to behind me, “You want a real man, sugar? Let me show you a realman,” He spreads his arms and raises his brows, “I can show you a real good time.”
“Get in the car, Marly,” I growl, reaching for the handle of the door to help her inside.
Benji lunges forward, grasping her by her upper arm and yanks her away from me. Something snaps and I don’t think, I just react. My hand grasps his wrist so quickly he can’t counter the move, my fingers digging into the tendons on the underside of his wrist hard enough he automatically let’s go of her arm.
And then I have it twisted, arm behind his back, shoulder jutted out at an awkward angle and his face smashed into the side of my car. He cries out as I apply more pressure, one slight move will snap his arm, and he fucking knows it.
“You don’t fucking touch her,” I bite.
“It was a fucking joke man!” He yells, his voice edged with a tremor.
