Total pages in book: 181
Estimated words: 181613 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 908(@200wpm)___ 726(@250wpm)___ 605(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181613 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 908(@200wpm)___ 726(@250wpm)___ 605(@300wpm)
“And where’s that?” I retort.
He glances over his shoulder, sporting that same devilish smirk from before. “Wherever you are.”
CHAPTER 11
Apollo
I take another swig of my drink and set it down on the pile of firewood next to me. A fire blazes not too far from here, and guess who’s at the forefront, dancing to the flames?
Aspen fucking Caruso.
I grin as I watch her having the time of her life with her friends, blissfully unaware that she’s being watched.
But I can wait. I have all the time in the world.
All the time for her to come running straight into my arms when the time is right.
I admit, that whole thing with Levi being branded a killer because of Mavis’s death has offered me an opportunity I cannot ignore. Despite my best efforts, those two used to only have eyes for each other. And now that she hates his guts, I finally have a shot without becoming the villain of the story.
Although I’m sure Levi won’t see it that way … he won’t try to kill me.
After all, I’m one of the few allies he has left at this school.
We’re family. And family always shares.
A devious grin forms on my face, but the second I want to approach her, a guy with snowy-white hair appears out of nowhere and takes her out of her friends group to dance with her. Fuck me, it makes me grip the tree beside me so harshly I nearly rip the bark off barehanded.
“The boyfriend,” I mutter to myself, glaring at the motherfucker clutching her dainty ass like he owns it. But that ass is mine, and only my handprint belongs on that piece of her skin.
“Who?”
The voice behind me makes me turn around and grab his throat so fast he can’t even blink.
“Relax. It’s me.” My brother, Atlas, raises his hands. “Don’t kill me.”
I put him down and sigh out loud. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
“Who’s doing the sneaking here, though?” he retorts, raising a brow.
“I was just having fun,” I say.
“Hiding behind a tree?”
“You know how those girls are.” I turn around again so I can keep my eyes on her and that mystery guy she definitely didn’t want me calling her boyfriend.
“Oh … girls …” Atlas shrugs. “Yeah, it’s not like I have experience there.”
“What are you even doing here?” I quip. “You’re not supposed to be here. This is a student-only party.”
“Heath invited me,” he replies. “And who cares? It’s run by students. It’s not like anyone’s gonna check everyone.”
“I might tell them to,” I quip.
“Because I caught you plotting?” He scoffs, almost taking pride in the fact that he’s managing to piss me off. “Didn’t think I’d be able to get up your ass that quickly. What kind of girl has gotten Apollo fucking Torres so worked up?”
I swiftly turn around and grab his shirt, dragging him away from the bonfire. “I don’t have time for this. Leave. Now.”
“Or what?”
“You want me to call Dad?” I growl.
He tilts his head. “Dad already knows. He encouraged me to come.”
“Why would he?”
He shrugs. “He wants me to get out of the house. Live a little.”
“Then live a little.” I make a waving motion with my hand. “Shoo.”
“It’s so much fun watching you stalk a girl, though.” He smirks the same way I do, and it pisses me off even more.
“Don’t you have a lame friends group to entertain? Go.”
He raises his hands. “Fine. I’ll leave you to your creeper ways. But only if you tell me all about her later.”
“In your dreams,” I retort as he slowly backs away and finds Heath’s little gang. And by gang, I mean Silas, Max, Ivy, and all of their friends.
Silas and I got along okay because we’re both sadistic sons of bitches, but the others … eh. Couldn’t care less.
The only thing I care about right now is finding out who that fucker is who’s constantly floating in Aspen’s vicinity. And why Levi has even allowed him to live.
Then again, it wouldn’t look good on him to kill another person she loves.
One more mistake, and the Caruso family will wipe him off the map.
I smirk to myself. Lucky me.
Years ago
Aspen and Levi run around on the playground, constantly chasing each other for at least thirty minutes now, and I’m left hanging from the swing.
“Aspen,” I call. “Aspen, look!”
But she’s too busy with him to even notice me when I’m doing a really neat trick.
Upside down, I watch them roll around on the grass, annoyed that they won’t even look at me. “Aspen. Hey, Aspen!”
Levi tickles her.
“Stop, stop!” she begs.
She giggles nonstop, the sound infectious enough to make even me grin.
“No,” Levi says, laughing like a maniac.
She tries to crawl away, but he grabs her with two hands and lifts her off the ground. “C’mere!”
She squeals as he carries her away, her eyes glowing as she glances at him. “You’re so strong!”