He laughs. “You expect me to fall for that. My accounts are well protected. No one could do that.”
“Zayn has mad IT skills.” Emery sounds and looks like she’s in a daze. “His father was an IT genius, and he learned everything from him.” I knew telling her that would come in handy at some point.
Silence engulfs us as he pulls out his phone, checking his accounts. Emery’s hurt-filled eyes stare at me, but I keep an emotionless mask on my face, returning her stare with a disinterested one.
“You little bastard,” he snaps, lifting his head from his phone. He’s red in the face and on the verge of an epic meltdown.
It’s fucking awesome.
I take a few steps back. “You know what you need to do. Turn the bitch in, ensure she’s charged, and this will all go away. Refuse to cooperate, and I’ll release that video and permanently empty your bank accounts. I’m thinking the boys Lindsay abused could use the money.”
“I’ll end you for this. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
I flash him a self-satisfied grin. “That’s where you’re mistaken. I know everything, Winston. And if you attempt to come after me or my brother, I will ruin you. You’re not the only one with powerful friends.” I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans as I deliver my parting shot. “Hamilton says hi, by the way. He knows what you did, and as soon as he’s out, he’s coming for you.”
Part Two
Summer before Freshman Year of College
Chapter Ten
Zayn
Beats pulse from the speakers at the top of the room, bouncing off the walls of Everett’s new East Village apartment. It was a graduation gift from his parents, and this is the housewarming party to end all parties. I wish I could enjoy it, but I’ve got too much on my mind to relax and let loose. My foul mood hasn’t stopped the hot brunette on my lap from writhing all over me like a monkey on speed or pawing at my chest like I’m her favorite cashmere sweater.
“You’re so tense, baby,” she purrs, the sound like a cat spewing up a hairball. Her lips descend toward mine, but I turn my head and lift my beer to my mouth.
Her fleeting scowl is quickly replaced with a look I’m sure she thinks is seductive, but it does nothing for me.Shedoes nothing for me. The handful of other girls I’ve hooked up with in the past year meant nothing either. I don’t even remember them. I never see them.
The only face I ever see ishers.
As if my thoughts conjured her doppelgänger to life, a stunning redhead strolls into the large open-plan living space, and the visual is like a dagger straight through my heart. She’s got green eyes too, but they don’t shine with intelligencelike Emery’s do. Long legs peek out from a tight-fitting black minidress, highlighting spectacular curves, but again—it doesn’t measure up to my ex.
Pain spreads across my chest like always when I let my mind go there, and I’m done. Ignoring her protesting cries, I push the clinger off my lap and head toward the kitchen area where Everett is lording it over his fawning minions. Chugging back my beer, I drain the bottle and toss it in the trash.
Everett glances over his shoulder, pausing mid-speech.
“I’m out, dude.”
“Wait.” Everett leaves the gaggle of giggling girls and walks over to me. “Don’t go. The night’s young, and the room is full of hotties.”
“Not interested.” I push through the crowd with an urgent need to put space between me and this party.
“Just call her, man,” Everett says, following me out into the hallway.
I stop walking and rest my back against the wall. Smoothing a hand across the top of my cropped hair, I emit a heavy sigh.
“Do it.” Everett holds out his cell.
“And say what?” I snap. “Sorry I imploded your life, but fancy another ride on my dick?”
“I wouldn’t recommend that approach, and we both know it was more than sex.”
“There is no approach.” I thrust the phone back at him. “She’ll never forgive me, and I’d never expect her to. She has every right to hate my guts.” Emery wouldn’t appreciate me showing up when she’s worked hard to make a new life for herself. I know I’m the last person she would want to see, and I don’t want to fuck up her second chance—even if I’m concerned for her welfare and being close would be advantageous should anything go down.
“You’re miserable as fuck, Zayn, but you should be on top of the world. You put that pervy bitch behind bars, ruined Emery’s old man, and we’ve just graduated top of our class. We’re starting WLU in a couple months, and we have the rest of the summer to party. We’re in our prime, and you’re throwing it all away. You need to fight for her or fully let her go. You can’t go on like this.” He shakes his head. “Remember, this is what you wanted.”
“I know.” I kick at imaginary dirt with the tip of my boot. “But you were right. I shouldn’t have used her. I hurt her. I shit all over her life and I can’t get past that.” It’s not like me to grow a conscience, but I have since everything went down last August.
