Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3) by Rachel Jonas (books like beach read txt) 📗

we could come to an understanding. But what the fuck did you do? You rejected the truth because, apparently, pussy’s more important than your pride,” he scoffs. “She’s making a damn fool of you, West.”

I look him dead in the eyes, ignoring all the meaningless noise that just left his mouth. “How is it that you just managed to do all that talking, but never got around to answering the fucking question?”

He holds my gaze and then lets out a breath, deciding it’s time to come around his desk and face me.

“For what it’s worth, that post you saw was poorly timed and misleading. It wasn’t what it looked like. I’ve got no romantic interest in her whatsoever. Whatever we had, it’s dead now.”

Does this asshole really think I still believe his bullshit? I nearly laugh hearing the act he’s putting on.

Fucking pathetic.

“Why were you there?”

He lowers his head, and his expression turns solemn. Like he’s deep in thought, troubled. Meanwhile, I’m one hundred percent certain this dick doesn’t even have a heart.

“I was there because she asked me to be.” He sighs, pausing for dramatic effect. “She’s threatened to hurt herself in the past and she sounded unstable, so… I went to her.”

Hearing his excuse, I can hardly stomach it.

“Listen, I’m sure she’s told you a completely different story and, if I’m being honest, she’d be smart to do so,” he reasons. “She’s playing a sick game, West. Whatever she said about me, about why I was there, she’s just trying to protect herself.”

I meet his gaze again and there’s a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“Tell me exactly what she told you.” The words leave his mouth with a calm edge to them, like the psychopath he is.

He presses me with his stare, thinking I’ll cave and trust him, but he has no fucking clue how done I am with his ass. That gleam dims and his expression goes cold. He knows I’m not cracking. So, when I fail to answer, he starts in with the lies again.

“She’s blinded you to the truth! Can’t you see that?” he shouts, causing his face to redden when he loses his temper.

I stare as he begins to pace, and rage shoots through me like a bolt of lightning, forcing me to clench my fists.

“You don’t know when to just… shut the fuck up, do you?”

He’s quiet after I speak, staring with determination in his eyes. He’s not going to stop until he thinks I’ve fallen for his B.S. Problem is, that’ll never happen.

“I’ve got no reason to lie to you, West. What the hell could I possibly gain from you seeing my faults? What good can come from you knowing I was once stupid enough to fall for someone like her?”

And that’s the million-dollar question. Why would you want me to believe something happened between you and Southside? What’s so bad that having me believe this is the better option?

No sooner than I ask the question, I remember what he said to Southside—about how he has the means to make her and Scar disappear, how he’s already had people show interest.

My stomach turns and I have to make myself hold it all in, everything I know about the shady life he leads when he leaves this building every morning.

But then I remember the promise I made to a beautiful girl on the other side of town. One who has so much more riding on this than I do, and I reel in my ego.

“I’m only gonna say this once,” I warn him. “Stay… the fuck… away from her.”

His stare is set on me—stern, angry.

“We’re not done here,” he insists. “It’s important that I know what she’s said. If she’s filling your head with lies, there’s no telling who else she’s feeding them to. Imagine if this shit gets back to Headmaster Harrison! Our family would never live it down. The Golden name wouldn’t mean shit in this city anymore.”

I glare at him and he stares back, waiting for me to respond. Waiting for me to cave.

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing the Golden name already doesn’t mean shit to me.”

He manages to hold his composure, but I’m willing to bet World War III is raging inside him. This man’s name is everything to him.

“Watch yourself,” he growls.

“Or what? I’m not fucking scared of you.”

That sick-ass smirk of his returns. “Yeah, maybe not. But you sure as hell should be.”

There’s a stare-down between us and the only thing stopping me from punching him in his shit is the promise I made to Southside. I told her I wouldn’t provoke him, wouldn’t widen the targets on her and Scar’s backs. This promise is also the reason I decide it’s time to leave before I do something I can’t take back.

The one thing that’s more powerful than pride in this moment is love. It’s ruled every decision I’ve made since the first time the word left my mouth, spoken only to Southside. That girl’s got me wrapped around her damn finger and I’m in too deep to fight it, even if I wanted to. Which is why I may as well just fucking admit it.

When the door to the study slams shut behind me, and Vin’s angry steps trudge across the tile, I feel it in my bones that this won’t end well.

For anyone.

Chapter 8

BLUE

Nope, don’t call. The phones are shady and, besides, he’s probably having ‘the talk’ with his father this very moment. The talk I begged him not to have.

So, to keep from dialing, I stare at my sister. She’s channel-surfing while twirling the end of her now jet-black ponytail. I’m guessing the natural blonde we inherited, courtesy of mom, is never good enough. First pink, now this.

The new look she’s sporting is the result of having spent the hours between school ending and me getting home from practice at Jules’s house. That girl loves playing dress-up on us Rileys, but a warning before dying my sister’s hair would’ve been nice.

I