Page 99 of The Ruthless Note

“Keep a hold on that anger,” I whisper, my fingers tightening ever so slightly as her ripe mouth turns down into a frown. “Don’t youdarethink about leaving Redwood Prep until I tell you to.”

“And if I don’t listen to you?” she snaps, her eyes burning and lashing at me like angry waves on a shore.

I press into her. “Cadey, don’t try me.”

She stares at me until the tautness in the air between us starts to snap and crackle. I’m riding high on my fight with Sol and my own complicated emotions that Cadence seems to exclusively draw out of me.

So I start to step back.

But before I can order her to leave, she shoves me. “I hate you.” Another shove. “I hate you so much it kills me.”

I grab both her wrists before she can shove me again.

Her eyes lock on mine, hot and burning.

It’s terrifying. Exhilarating.

I need to burn with it.

I need to burn her with it too.

Without warning, I lower my mouth to Cadey’s in a crushing kiss. She doesn’t push me back. To my surprise, she pulls me closer.

That hot passion of hers explodes all over me and I realize that I may not have as much control as I thought.

I’m Dutch Cross.

Leader of The Kings.

Ruler of Redwood Prep.

Insatiable.

Untouchable.

Unbreakable.

But as Cadence’s tongue slides against mine and the fire burns me like a fierce wave, I realize something troubling.

If there’s anyone who can bring about my demise, it’s this tiny spitfire in my arms.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

CADENCE

It frustrates me to be this drawn to the guy who continues to make my life a living hell. It tears me up inside, like a pinwheel of knives rolling through my gut.

I may have never considered myself to be strong.

But at least IthoughtI wasn’t stupid.

Turns out, I’m the biggest fool in Redwood Prep or maybe the biggest fool in the world.

Because as my fingers curl around Dutch’s neck and his hot, demanding mouth plunders mine, I lean into the heat and let it burn me to ash, let it burn out all the thoughts of Miller’s evil proposal from my mind. Until all I can feel is the hard body plastered to mine.

Dutch’s scent fills every desperate breath I take. Mint. Sandalwood. Something unique to him. That fragrance poisons me in the worst way possible. It’s like a virus turning me into a zombie. A zombie that needs him. That would do anything to have him.

I want to taste his skin, lick my way down his neck to test what he’s really made of, but he has my tongue occupied.