Page 116 of Paper Doll

Rather than handing it over, she pulls my phone in closer to her chest, finally looking up at me with the pain of betrayal in her eyes– the kind that cuts deep. The kind you don’t come back from.

“Who’s Drew?” she asks shakily.

“My brother,” I reply with a shrug. “Why?”

Her grip around my phone tightens. “Why did you send him that picture of me?”

My jaw ticks with annoyance. Sothat’swhat this is about.

She must’ve seen the message I sent him the other night, the picture I snapped of her spread out on our father’s hotel bedin black lingerie with my cum coating her thighs. I don’t regret sending it. Not for a second.

The corner of my mouth ticks up. “Why not? You’re hot, Ava baby. I like showing you off.”

Her whole body stiffens, eyes glassy and sharp all at once. “You sent it to yourbrother,” she repeats, like she’s trying to make sense of it, trying not to scream.

I shrug again, taking a step closer. “Yeah. So?”

Her arm cocks back and she throws the phone at me, aiming to injure, but her hands are trembling too much. The throw is weak and I catch it easily.

Ava shoves up from the bed, wrapping the sheet tightly around her body. I can see the rage building, choking her from the inside out. It’s a thing of beauty.

“He texted back,” she grits out, her voice breaking. “Asked if he could have a turn.”

I laugh before I can stop myself– not because it’s funny, but becauseof coursehe did. That’s Drew, always sniffing around other people’s property.

“Typical,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “Big bro’s got a thing for my sloppy seconds.”

“Fuck you, Ford!” Ava spits, shaking with fury.

I fight a grin. Her anger’s always been my favorite flavor.

“What?” I ask innocently. “You want to indulge him? I saw the way you were looking at him at the gala.”

That gets her. She sucks in a breath like I’ve just punched her in the gut, eyes going glassy, mouth set in a tight line.

“You’re unbelievable,” she huffs.

“And you’re a Doll,” I say, giving her a pointed look. “A pretty little toy for us to wind up. Or have you forgotten your place, Ava baby?”

Her control over her composure fractures. It’s just a hairline crack, but I see it all the same. Her fingers grip the sheet, knuckles whitening as she starts backing toward the door.

“I’m not a toy,” she grits out. “I’m not something you get to just use and pass around.”

“Sure you are,” I reply, cool and detached. “You just haven’t accepted it yet.”

She gapes at me, every emotion playing out on her face. Fury, disgust, heartbreak. It should probably make me feelsomethingother than annoyed, but she’s making a big deal out of nothing. It was just a picture, a joke between my brother and I. Honestly, it was less about her and more about bragging that I soiled our dad’s hotel bed.

Ava’s chestnut hair whips behind her as she turns and storms out of my bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

I don’t go after her. Not because I can’t, but because I don’thaveto. She’ll be back as soon as she calms down and realizes she overreacted. She always comes back.

I pick up the phone from where it landed on the bed and swipe open the messages. Drew’s text is still there, my eyes flickering over the text. Then I type one back just to fuck with him.

She says she can’t wait.

I chuckle to myself as I toss my phone back down on the bed, heaving a sigh and stretching my arms over my head. I suppose most people would feel guilty for upsetting someone like that, but I wasn’t wired for normal human emotion. No semblance of a conscience was woven into my DNA– I was built to take what I want and leave everything else to burn.

And Ava?