Page 165 of The Unravelings

But I saw the moment he locked eyes with her, and a trickle of recognition sparked. Of course, Keeper doesn’t know who she really is. Not exactly. Or that he’s rolled around on the sparring mats with her. And fucking liked it. Or that he’s touching his dick to the thought of her as Oliver every night he goes to sleep.

Time to buck up, Keeper. You’re about to meet the girl of your dreams. Or guy of his dreams? Hmm. I wonder which he prefers. I’ve never actually seen him with anyone else. He’s far too busy. Or so he claims.

How curious…

Well, this will be fun and entertaining to see the look on his face when he actually puts two and two together. Honestly, how hard can it be? Besides the gorgeous tits peeking out of her barely there shirt, she still looks exactly like Oliver. Same hair. Same face. How those three idiots behind the table haven’t put two and two together, I’ll never fucking know.

Deep down, I think my keeper knows exactly who she is and who she’s pretending to be. He’s in denial, though. So much so that he’s practically swimming in it. That’s all right. I’ll set my keeper free and let him in on all the fun little secrets I’ve been keeping from him.

Starting with her.

Will he be mad that I finally kept my mouth shut and didn’t clue him in on my plans? Eh. It’s a possibility. I can already hear the tongue-lashing from the future ringing in my head. I’m reckless. I should have told him. Blah blah fucking blah. It’s better for him not to have a clue what I’ve been plotting behind his back.

This is for Meredith.

Also, my dick.

I mean, who am I kidding? Olivia Viotto was always meant to be mine, and tonight, I’m following through with my plans to do that. Forever and ever. She’ll be tied to me for life in one way or another.

I tilt my head as I stop our retreat at the front entrance, keeping my gaze on my keeper from across the Coliseum again, as he stops, huffing and puffing in front of the famous table that holds our enemy. Mack looks up from his phone with his brows furrowed and then jumps up. Funny. He and Wilder have the same expression when they’re pissed off—a constipated look mixed with fury. Wilder would hate to hear how alike the two of them truly are, but I keep my lips sealed. Sometimes. From over his shoulder, Wilder sends me a crazed look, narrowing his eyes with a silent message. “Stay here, and I’ll drive us home.”

But where’s the fun in that? I want a head start with the girl who’s holding on to my hand for dear life.

I nod. Is it in agreement? No. But to him, it satisfies whatever lives deep inside him that claims control. His shoulders sag, and he returns his attention to his brother and his little friends gathering around them.

I flick my gaze to the girl, discreetly texting beside me. I tighten my hand around hers, reveling in the way her soft hand feels in mine. It’s right. So fucking right that I never want to let her go. She’s mine, damn it. Forever and fucking ever. No one can ever take her from me again. I’ll tie her to me permanently if I can.

Olivia shifts uncomfortably when she puts her phone in her pocket with her free hand. Those blazing brown eyes connect with mine, and her pupils dilate at the sight of me looking at her.

“Had to tell my friends I’m ditching them for the night,” she says, clearing her throat and holding my stare.

My defiant little ghost, staring the devil in the eyes without flinching.

“Right. Of course, Crumpet. Can’t have a squad of people worrying about you.” Just as I say the words, JJ catches my attention. His brows furrow, and I swear his eyes narrow at me with suspicion.

He conveys a completely different message from Wilder with the look in his eyes. Oh, joy. His eyes narrow more when I take a step closer to Olivia, grinning when she softens against me. JJ sends me a death look like he'll track me down and castrate me. It gives me the warm and fuzzies.

He knows exactly who my little ghost is, too. And he’ll do anything to protect her.

“Are we waiting for Wilder?” she asks softly in my ear, pulling me from my thoughts.

Fuck. I shiver at the feel of her warm breath against my neck and tighten my hand on hers. I grin down at her. She has no idea what is in store for her the moment we walk out of the Coliseum and through the front door of our home on Syndicate Row.

“You’re really going to walk away from the fight?” she asks, keeping her head high and watching Wilder stand tall in front of Huxley with his cigarette between his lips and rage boiling under his skin.

“For you?” I say, earning a glimpse of her big, brown eyes not overshadowed by the green contacts she’s been sporting the entire time she’s been here. “I’d do anything.” She nods a few times with furrowed brows. “How about we go get a head start, Little Ghost?”

Yes, a head start sounds wonderful. My keeper can fight my battles for me tonight. I have better plans.

The second I pull her through the front door, my mouth is on hers. I barely give her a second to rethink her evening and instead give her a preview of what’s to come.

Her. Me.

We’re both going to come. A lot of fucking times, if I have anything to say about it.

Once I get my mouth on her pussy, she’s mine. Forever. No takesey backseys. Ever. She sealed her fate that night in the women’s bathroom when she looked at me with those bedroom eyes and begged me to fuck her.

And I obliged. How could I not? The girl I had been obsessed with and ached to see again was finally back in my sights. I wanted her. She wanted me. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I lost my virginity to her. My dick will only know her.