* * *
The short journey to campus is silent, both of us stewing and plotting. I park in my reserved slot, frowning when I see a familiar person standing on the sidewalk, apparently waiting on us. “What doesshewant?” I ask in a neutral tone, channeling nonchalance.
“My friends are none of your business,” Julia retorts, applying a layer of gloss to her lips before she gets out.
I climb out my side, staring at Anita Hoare, trying to figure out the angle. Julia walks up to her and pulls her into a hug as if they are the best of friends.
Back in high school, Anita was on the cheer squad with Julia and Ash. Like most of the cheerleaders, she sucked up to Julia while bitching about her behind her back. No one liked Julia, but they tolerated her because her father is a bigshot, billionaire, media mogul with a lot of power and influence. None of it is real though. And they don’t even know the half of it.
The four luminaries are all successful, rich businessmen, but their legit businesses are a front for the real work they do behind the scenes. If anyone really knew who they were and the ultimate power they wield, they would have run the other way screaming.
Anita shoots me a flirty smile over Julia’s shoulder. Or what she perceives to be a flirty smile. Hard to pull that look off when your face resembles the result of a crossbreed between a human and a pug. Her personality is even uglier than her face, and I have no time for the nasty bitch.
Ash was friendly with Anita for a time until she discovered she was a manipulative narcissist with a massive chip on her shoulder and a malicious secret agenda.
These two striking a friendship can only be self-serving. If Anita is sucking up to Julia to target Ash again, I will bury the ugly bitch. I mean that literally. There are no rules or laws that prohibit me from killing a plebeian.
Julia has her fake smile and faux persona firmly in place as she chats with her new friend.
The roar of an engine distracts all of us, and I turn around in time to see the degenerate pull up to the curb with Ash on the back of his motorcycle.
They should have arrived way before us. I’m guessing the dickhead took an extended route on purpose so Ash would be late to class. Judging from the deep scowl on her face as she yanks the helmet off her head, my girl knows it too.
“You’re an asshole.” Ash fumes, lifting her helmet like she’s seriously considering smashing it into his head. Silently, I encourage her to do it.
“You’re cute when you’re angry.” Ares snatches the helmet from her hands before she can wield it like a weapon. He knows he has a captive audience, so of course, he hams it up for them. “You loved being pressed all up against me,” he says, sliding the helmet on one of the handlebars. “Your hands were so low on my stomach you were practically touching my dick. Didn’t want to deprive you, dollface.” He flicks her nose, and Ash’s face turns puce with anger.
I grind my teeth to the molars. It’s excruciatingly painful to maintain a nonplussed expression, but I need to execute my role perfectly. I sense Julia is keeping me in her peripheral vision while she watches it go down with Ash and Ares.
“I wanted to ensure you had enough time to grope me.” He leans in close to her face. “You’re welcome.” Sarcasm drips from his tone as his eyes lower to her lips.
That’s nothing new.
Chad and I have seen the way he looks at her.
We know he wants her, but he can’t fucking have her.
I will murder that motherfucker before I let him touch what’sours.
Mine.
Shoving my hands in the front pockets of my jeans, I dig my nails into my thighs, needing some physical outlet before I explode and give the game away.
“Bet if I shoved my fingers inside you you’d be dripping,” he adds.
My initial fury is quickly replaced when Ash punches him in the nose, drawing blood, and I disguise my snort of laughter as a cough
That’s my girl.
Not your girl, my nasty inner voice whispers, but I punt that asshole to one side.
Ash moves to walk away but not before Ares slaps her on the ass, and I’m back to instant rage. “Keep Sunday free, dollface. The rents are expecting us for dinner.”
She ignores him, stepping up on the sidewalk, holding her shoulders back and lifting her chin.
“It’s a date!” he shouts before revving his engine, like the giant dick he is, and tearing out of the parking lot. He flips me the bird as he passes, and I return the gesture.
I hang back as Ash approaches Julia and Anita, pulling out my cell, ready to message Chad, should they start any shit with her, because I can’t intervene.
