Chapter 4
“Welcome back, McKinsley.”Gray hangs the bottle of Macallan over the glass rail, platinum rings shining under the moon. Both match his hair. “Finally. The Crowned back together.”
“Mac McKinsley at your service.” I raise my glass to the moon and it’s about as high as I am, blurring the longer I stare. “For one night only.” Taking a sip from the crystal glass, spicy notes settle on my tongue as I stare at the lights below. A spotlight shines in the distance from one of Father’s newest hot spots.
“Good luck with Coach tomorrow.” Ryung stands on my other side, hiding his stupid sly smile in his black wine glass but I see it. I also don’t miss the fucker’s usual condescending tone. His phone sits in his other hand, a video of a woman getting railed in a brutal way from behind playing on it. The Red Light. It’s a site making its way around campus. It’s known for featuring the filthiest women and the things they do.
“My performance will be the last thing on Coach’s mind after tonight.” Moving my glass to each of their drinks, we toast our win. My win.
“What did you do this time?” Ryung sounds like a tired mother when he asks. “Burn his house down? Kidnap his wife? Murder his children?” He’s an easy fit to Gray and I, his words as dark as his outfits. Gold shines from his suspenders, the only colour on him. Black hair, deep blue eyes you think they’re obsidian. He’s a walking Poe with the depression to match.
“Me?” I feign surprise. It’s getting harder not to wobble when I spin around, my back hitting the glass a little too hard. I need to be careful. There’s no room for fuck ups. “He’s the one who got caught kissing a student, didn’t you hear? The rascal.” A small smirk comes to my face.
Ryung straightens up, his long black hair catching some wind. “Wait, who?”
Gray laughs, “This fucker got Nadia to kiss Coach Winslow and got Luisa to catch it on her phone.”
Ryung slouches back into place. “And what did you promise them?”
“They both want me to take their virginity.”
Gray laughs, “And you’re actually gonna do that?”
“No, he’s not,” Ryung answers for me. “He’s deranged.”
“I’ve sat out long enough,” I protest, nudging him with my shoulder.
“For a reason,” Ryung argues. “I don’t want you floundering on the ice. We’re facing Eden Gardens in the opener and I’ll actually let you slit someone’s throat if we lose.”
His tone and words bring that glass back to my lips. “Your mother had doubts too. That’s before I fucked her brains out and now she won’t stop calling me.”
Silence comes between us before we all laugh, Ryung”s laughter loudest. “Despite having three kids, it wouldn”t surprise me if that whore is a virgin. Do us all a favour and take hers too.” A phone chimes between us, Ryung reaching into the pocket of his oversized slacks. “Speaking of the literal devil.”
“Don’t tell her I’m with you,” I remind him. “She’ll tell my father.”
“Hello, mother?” Ryung answers, nodding at my request. “No, I’m not having another party. Are you crazy?” That’s exactly what he’s doing. Our fellow students know to keep their distance from us, but behind our area of the yard sits a classic Crown event.
Coloured lights illuminate the sleek pool decorated with imported palm trees, the sunset casting a warm glow over it all. A DJ spins house music between the space that blurs the outdoors from the rest of the party inside. Students in their best swimwear crowd the cabanas draped in white linen. They grab champagne and caviar from servers waiting on them, ignoring the open display of white lines and pills.
Ryung rolls his eyes, mocking the chatter coming through the phone. “Well, Martha’s a liar and jealous of your perfect life and perfect kids.” His voice fades as he walks towards the fire in the middle of a concrete table at the side of the yard.
“Still hiding from your dad?” Gray asks.
“I’m not hiding.” The crystal glass hits my lips again. “My father is delusional. He expects me to be at every event and ace my classes.” My grip on the glass tightens. So does my jaw. “I don’t have time for training and practice and that’s exactly what he wants.”
“You also haven’t had the time to do what we do best.” He turns around, gesturing to the bacchanal in front of us. “We know this thing with Winslow will give you the leg up you need. I’m just happy to have you out tonight. Good drinks, good drugs, good company.” He steps towards the sprawling mansion encased in glass, his arms outstretched. “And later?” He looks over his shoulder with a goofy smile. “A good fuck. Yeah, that’ll cheer you up, you sick bastard. Remember, all you have to do is snap your fingers and these fine Paradise ladies come running to be with menaces like us.”
He lifts his chin towards the pool, proving his point as he beckons to one of his options for the night.
“Speak for yourself.” The girls in Paradise Hill are fast-food dolled up in glitter. I still don’t see what my boys see in them. They’re attractive by Paradise Hill standards, but they’re all…
“Easy.” Gray reads my mind as Marisol Crownfield approaches him in a glittery two-piece suit, a nipple peaking out. She tugs on his arm, pulling him in for a kiss on his cheek, leaving a purple stain. “They make it so easy. I see those gears turning. Stop making things hard.”
“Seems like you’re already hard,” Marisol teases, her finger trailing Gray’s abs.
“Crowns.” Hannah Alfonso’s voice is enough to have me reaching for Gray’s bottle. She pops out behind Marisol in a white strappy swimsuit. Private training sessions and a diet of exotic fruits get her that body she flaunts. That and her father’s credit card.
She’s the self-proclaimed queen of Paradise Hill. She’s also a mistake.
“Hannah, give our returning Crown a blowie or something. Give him a load off.” Gray laughs as Hannah’s cheeks turn pinker than the blush she wears, her martini glass coming to her plumped-up lips. “See what I did there?”
“Don’t you have chlamydia to catch?” she retorts, her nose wrinkled at Marisol. Hannah’s just jealous she knows she’s not getting anything from any of us tonight. She leans against the glass, pulling a pink cigarette from her fluffy white bag. It’s rare she smokes but I’m not asking why.
Gray ignores her as Marisol reaches for his junk, teasing her tongue on his lips.
“Remind me.” It’s getting harder to hide my slur as I grab a cigarette from Hannah’s pack before she closes it. “Who invited you out here?”
“Can you pretend to be nice for once?” she whines, looking away from Gray’s R-rated show. Marisol moans, Gray’s hand reaching for her ass. “I had the worst day. Some Valley Vermin threw wine all over my silk Chanel.” Something tells me she deserved it. “Ryung”s mom says it’s ruined.”
“I don’t care.” I never did and I’m not about to start now. Reaching for my phone, I check the score on the Golden Knight’s game, the numbers blurring. Tied.
Hannah ignores my comment, lighting us both up with her golden Zippo. “How the fuck does she think she could step foot into Sun House? That whore looks like a red mop on a loaf of bread. And freckles? That’s so last year.”
The bottle in my hand shatters against the concrete floor.
Hannah’s words linger, that night swirling back to my head.
Hannah’s head swings to me. “Mac?”
“Can you two get the fuck out?” Brushing my hair back with a sweaty palm, it feels like the alcohol hits me all at once.
Gray looks around, finally released from Marisol”s lips. “For real?”
“Leave the yard. Now.” My voice raises by a thousand octaves. “Everyone.” It takes one signal to the DJ for him to cut the tunes. Our guests are smart. They don’t hesitate to take the party indoors, the pool clearing out in seconds.
Gray shakes his head, pulling Marisol with him. “Fuck that guy, I have something I want to show you and it’s the upstairs jacuzzi.” Marisol giggles, letting Gray pull her towards the glass doors.
“Not you.” Grabbing Hannah’s wrist makes her jump before she settles into my hold but that’s not what this is.
“Yes, Mac?” Her voice is softer as she flutters her sparkling lashes.
“That Vermin…” Am I really about to ask this? “What did she look like?”
Hannah’s shoulders drop. “I don’t know, Mac, like The Valley? Death?”
“Or dark green eyes that you think are brown but don’t notice the green until you really do. Like bloodstone. But for eyes.”
Hannah’s brows knit. “How did you?—”
“Did she get the job?”
She scoffs, “Of course, not. Beau Laval did. But Marisol saw Greta Fukushima talking to her and like… actually laughing when she went back to get her sunnies.” The thought of her laughing in Paradise Hill like she belongs here makes me grip Hannah’s wrist tighter.
Is her laugh loud and ruckus? Soft and raspy?
Doesn’t matter. I want to strangle it out of her.
“Hello? I thought you wanted me out here alone for another reason.” Hannah pulls from my hold before her hand comes to my chest. Her fingers walk up to pull on the collar of my black hoodie. I hardly feel it when she tugs at me, or puts her hand on my heated face.
All I see is her.
Years later and I’d still give it all to drain the life out of her.
“Mac!” It’s only when Hannah squeals that I realize my hand is around her throat, her back pressed against the rail. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Lifting up her skirt, that mess of red takes over the back of my lids. She’s as crazy as her hair. Reckless and negligent. That red hair blinds me from the inside as heat flows through me.
“Is this what you want?” My free fingers press into her thigh. “You want to be my whore for one extra night, is that it?” Tugging on her hair doesn’t give me the release I need as she squeals my name again. “Is this what you were expecting? Me to plow your needy cunt, right out here for everyone to see?”
“Mac…” Hannah gasps. “If you’re this riled up, let’s maybe take this to the bedroom?”
Hannah’s request crashes me down to earth. “Too bad you fucked my best friend.” Releasing her I step back, my mouth twisted. “Get your prissy cunt out of my sight. It stinks.” Hannah wobbles when she stands, straightening her hair. “Leave. Now.”
“You’re still a fucking psycho,” she spits. Pulling another cigarette from her pack, she finally walks away.
“That’s a bit of an overreaction, McKinsley, even for you.” Ryung appears from taking his call, watching as Hannah joins the rest of the party. “Who hasn’t had their share of threesomes?”
“I don’t want the girl I’m with to be with anyone else. She’s mine and mine only.”
“Well, that’s possessive.”
I shrug. “I am who I am.” Hearing about The Valley girl that bothered Hannah makes my heart pound as I swipe the joint from Ryung’s hand. “I don’t have time to worry about girls. Not when I’m back on the team.” I don”t have time to worry about her either. She should know better than to come to The Hill after what she did.
If I ever cross her path again, I’ll make sure it”s the last time.
Bang! Bang!
Loud noises fill the air, my body stiffening as the joint falls from my hand. My abs burn, that feeling coming back to me as painful as it was that day.
“Dude, relax.” Ryung’s hand comes to my shoulder, bringing me back to reality. “It’s probably some kid’s birthday.”
My shoulders drop.
Fucking idiot.
Ryung arches a brow, picking up the joint from the stone. “Listen, I want you back despite your shortcomings.” He passes me the joint. “But are you sure you’re ready?”
Ember
“I’ll sayit one more time in case those diamonds weigh on your brain.”
The crowd surrounds us in the middle of campus, Hannah pulling me out of the fantasy movie I’ve walked into.
Saint Bonaventure University is surreal. Cobblestone paths make their way between castle-like buildings, vines crawling up the turrets. They’re framed by lush gardens, tranquil ponds and greenery manicured to perfection. It’s all a contrast to who I am, standing in the midst of it all in those same black slacks, and my darkest graffiti’d shirt.
“Get the hell out of my face, Hannah” I repeat.
The tips of my Oxfords kiss the tip of her red-bottomed heels. Hannah’s lips match her shoes, her glittering lashes blinking under the Paradise Hill sun.
“Or what?” A stupid smile spreads across her face. “You’re gonna take your glock and off me?” Hannah looks around her, laughing.
My throat tightens, the world tilts.
There’s no way she knows about that night. Does she?
It feels like that cold metal is in my hands again, my ears ringing when that sound ricochets through my head.
I use my Valley edge to my advantage, moving an inch closer to her perfectly made-up face. “Try me.” My hands turn to balls by my side. “I dare you.”
This all happened so fast. One call to Greta’s dad and less than forty-eight hours later, I’m enrolled. Starting a whole new life in three days was a whirlwind, but I’m not giving up this chance. And I won’t let Hannah take it away from me.
“Do you hear that everyone?” Hannah raises her voice, speaking to the crowd around us. “The Valley Vermin is threatening to shoot me. Typical.”
“And you’re so insecure the new girl threatens you,” I retort with a snorty laugh. “Basic.”
Hannah sneers but before she can answer, the crowd quiets.
Her evil grin widens as the sun disappears, the sky darkening. Is Hannah a witch and orchestrating some evil spell?
“Move.” A strong, stoic voice comes from behind Hannah. It’s familiar. Bored but crisp. Demanding.
Haunting.
Hannah steps aside, her chin tilted to the clouds before I’m faced with the person I never thought I’d see again.
My breath stops, just like the first time. I’m frozen as he towers over me way more than he did that night.
It can’t be.
It’s hard not to pinch myself seeing him again. His shoulders are broader in that grey sweater boasting the school’s name. He”s packed on muscle, ones that can crush me way more than his presence.
He doesn’t say a word, those eyes moving to the fountain next to me. When I glance down at the water, he catches my gaze in the reflection, narrowing those Iron Eyes. In the reflection, the letters on his sweater spell out exactly what I know he is. It’s what makes him a perfect fit for this place.
S-N-O-B. Bons backwards.
A silver medal hangs from his neck, boasting his accomplishments for everyone to see. The side of his mouth upturns, just like it happened before he did the unthinkable. He blocks the sun but I still feel warmth on my skin, spreading to my insides. Swallowing hard, I try to ignore the pounding in my chest to find my words. But nothing comes.
He leans in, his breath tickling my ear and it’s hard to ignore his smell. An intense mix of spicy and sweet. Like opium. And he’s just as dangerous. “You stupid, stupid, girl.” His voice is rockier than I remember, vibrating my insides. “You’re as fucked as the whore you are.” His hand comes to my shoulder, the warmth within me intensifying.
Then a force stronger than a tornado pushes me off my feet.