Ruthless Empire (Royal Elite 6)

I fly out of the scene as fast as I can. I don’t know how I ascend the stairs, but the moment I’m in my room, I fall to a slumped position on the bed, my heart nearly beating out of my chest.

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The need to cry hits me out of nowhere and I can’t control it.

What is happening to me? Why do I feel like I missed the greatest timing of all? Like I screwed everything up?

My door clicks open. I feel him before I see him.

There’s something about his presence that has become familiar over the years. Even in the park, I feel him before he shows up.

In school, I know when he’s there before I step into class.

It’s a curse.

One I haven’t been able to get rid of since he first called me Butterfly and wiped my tears, getting glitter all over him.

Cole stands at the door, placing a hand in his jeans’ pocket. He has bloomed over the years to become tall and with a muscular athletic body that all the girls swoon over.

It’s not only because he’s part of the football team and one of Elites’ four horsemen.

He’s nicknamed Famine because, while he’s mostly silent, he’s deadly in attacks. He sneaks up on you out of nowhere and kills you a slow, torturous death.

The girls think he’s the whole package — smart, hot, rich, and an athlete. I can almost hear Summer and Veronica say I’m so lucky to be his stepsister.

I’m not.

I don’t want to be his anything.

“Are you hiding to cry alone again?” He appears calm, bored even.

“I’m not crying.”

He motions at my eyes as if proving a point. I wipe them harshly with the back of my hand. “Those aren’t tears.”

“Sure, if you say so.”

“What are you doing here, Cole?”

“I need to call Mum. Oh, wait, mine is downstairs.”

“Get out.”

“I should start picking a room. I think I’ll go with the one next to yours.”

“Are you rubbing it in?”

“Rubbing what in?” He approaches me with steady steps. All his nonchalant mood evaporates and his voice turns more lethal by the second. “You set them up. You gave them your blessing. You said, ‘I’m glad both of you are getting a second chance.’ Remember that, Silver?”

I rise to my feet, pointing a finger at him. “You didn’t say no either. You let them. You freaking congratulated them just now!”

“You started this whole mess.” His voice is calm, but his shoulders are rigid as he towers over me. “You let Aiden fuck you in the back of a car and then got engaged to him.”

“That’s because you didn’t keep your promise. If you didn’t save me your firsts, why should I save you mine?” That need to cry hits me again and I lower my head. “It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s too late now. It’s —”

He lifts my chin with two fingers and slams his lips to my parted ones. I gasp against him, my head swirling with dooming thoughts and my body bleeding, trembling, craving more.

So much more.