Page 11 of The Ruthless Note

When she spins, long, glossy brown hair goes flying. Her eyes meet mine and widen in fear.

At least she knows she should be afraid.

I study those brown eyes, trying to make sense of them. Redhead had vivid green eyes, like the soft spring grass. Cadence must have used contacts while she was her other self.

What else did she change?

I scour her face roughly.

Makeup.

Redhead always wore heavy makeup.

It looked damn good on her—on Cadence. All that thick eyeliner brought out the sultriness in her eyes. And that damn red lipstick…

But Cadence doesn’t wear a stitch of makeup. Nothing except for the gloss shimmering on her hot-as-sin lips. Lips that are parting even now as I stop right in front of her.

She tips her chin up. “What do you want?”

The earlier fear is gone, replaced by an unabashed disdain. She tightens her bottom lip and gives me a scolding glance.

Is she that brave or is she that stupid?

Either way, I’m going to teach her what submission looks like.

I clamp my fingers around her wrist and haul her down the hallway. The kids part in front of me, not daring to get in my way. Whispers echo through the crowded corridor. We’ll probably be featured in Jinx’s stupid little app tonight.

I don’t give a damn.

Brahms swats at my arm, trying her best to peel my fingers off her skin.

I chuckle darkly and glance over my shoulder. “Keep fighting like that and I’ll find another way to get you where I want you.”

“Try it and see what happens.”

I arch an eyebrow.

She sees my expression and digs her feet into the ground. “I swear, Dutch, throw me over your shoulder like a caveman again, and I’m going to bite your ear off.”

Her brown eyes spit flames. Her voice holds true venom.

My eyes search hers, looking for something that isn’t there.

I see the truth then.

She never really cared for me.

All those times I thought we were connecting…

Stupidity.

No part of her was genuine. She played me like an idiot.

My fingers tighten around her wrist, squeezing so hard that her face pinches.

Her brown eyes meet my amber ones and she glowers. “Let me go!”

I turn the bend instead.