Savage Sinners (Elites of Macedon High 3)

Shaking my head removes any suspicion that his motives are pure. “I don’t need your protection. I need to succeed where my father failed.”

“So, you want to end up like Felipe?”

“That’s not what I said.”

His chest heaves as he grunts. “That’s what it sounds like, precious.”

“His mistakes aren’t mine,” I state firmly while slapping the wooden statue on the vanity. “I’ll be better. I’ll be stronger.”

“You’ll be dead if you don’t take my hand.”

I roll my eyes, knowing it’ll irritate him. Some days, I do everything in my power to put Parker on edge. I test his limits, shoving him so hard that beating me into submission seems to be the only option left for him to get me under control.

And that’s the thing about us. We fight and then we fuck. And then we fight some more. It becomes a looped cycle of arguing and banging that never ceases, a perpetual tumble that occasionally sucks Soren and Tomas into the haze.

“I’ll take my father’s place,” I announce, “and I’ll join the other families together under me.”

He strokes my shoulder while nuzzling into my neck. The way his breath coasts over my skin and elicits goose bumps reminds me of how much control he has over me. No matter how much I deny him or defy him, I can’t shake this willingness in my body to respond to his voice.

“Why not under me?” he challenges in a heated whisper. “I should lead.”

When he kisses my main artery, I nearly give in, his caress so light and feathery that it makes me wonder if it’s him at all. Has someone else swooped in and taken the place of hotheaded Parker Somerville?

Or am I simply dreaming?

My eyes pop open. “You’re just trying to use me.”

“Like you’re not doing the same thing?”

Anger floods my system as I shove him away from me, flipping around to face him. “All you care about is ruling me. You don’t want to help me at all.”

“If you would just learn to fucking trust me, then maybe you wouldn’t get so paranoid about me offering help. Do you remember what I said about keeping my word?”

“Your word is always latched on to some kind of manipulation tactic.” I laugh dryly while placing my hands on my hips. “I’m not going to fall for it this time, asshole.”

He shakes his head. “You’ve been tugging me by my dick since day one, you goddamn cockteaser. Don’t try to toy with me.”

“Oh, because I’m the toy, right?”

“You know, arrogance looks better on Soren than it does you.”

I scoff at the accusation, shaking my head while repositioning my bag on my shoulder. “Well, it never looked good on you, Parker. You’re getting cocky because I’m finally gaining momentum by myself. Does it scare you how powerful I could become without you by my side?”

“What scares me is how you could waste your fucking opportunity for blind ambition.”

“For once, a girl is standing up to you. Rejection isn’t so hot, is it?”

He growls. “Now you’re getting cocky.”

“Save it, Parker.” I waltz past him, slamming his shoulder with mine in a last-ditch effort to piss him off. The rumbling snarl that resonates in his chest satisfies me and arouses me all the same. “When you’re done trying to manipulate me, maybe I’ll consider trusting you. Until then, go fuck yourself.”

“Fuck me yourself, you coward.”

Marching out of the auditorium feels like a simultaneous win and loss. Parker could have been such a great ally if he hadn’t been such a conniving horndog. The more he tries to push me into marriage, the more I fight back, unwilling to accept that my fate should be tied to some spoiled son of a Mob boss.

We’re not the same, and we don’t belong together. People like us don’t get fairy tale endings. We just get blood, pain, and power. All the more reason to stick to my guns about my original plan for revenge. This isn’t just for me. It’s for Lev. It’s for my family.

And I’ll stop at nothing to make it happen.