Page 12 of Paper Doll

Ava’s entire body trembles with fury as she abruptly pivots around and rushes for the door, flustered and red-faced. She slaps her palms against the glass to push it open, practically tripping over her feet in her haste to leave.

Don’t react.

You’re in control.

I blow out a breath, reaching up to grip the bar again and continue my workout. I only get a few more reps in before Ford and Wes push through the doors into the gym, the latter shooting me a questioning look as he throws a thumb over his shoulder. “Was that Ava I just saw storming out of here?”

Ford looks up from his phone to whip a glance over his shoulder. “The transfer student?” he asks hopefully.

“Yeah,” I growl, releasing the bar and shoving up to my feet.

You’re in control.

Shadows start bleeding into my vision as I stalk across the gym to the bench where I left my backpack, reaching inside and fishing out my phone. The guys watch me tentatively, exchanging concerned glances as I bring up my dad’s contact and mash the button on the screen to dial him.

It rings.

And rings.

Then it goes to voicemail, Gideon Romero’s smooth voice apologizing for missing the call. As soon as the beep sounds to leave a message, I unleash.

“Oh, I see how it is, so you can call me relentlessly for days, but when I call you back, you can’t even pick the fuck up?” Ishout down the line, tugging at my hair and pacing. “Why the fuck is sheHERE?!” I seethe. “Call me back, you piece of shit.”

I tear the phone from my ear and hang up, chest heaving with my ragged breaths as I stare down at the darkened screen.

In for three. Out for four.

You’re in control.

“What’s happening?” Ford wonders aloud, edging closer.

“Do you know her?” Wes asks cautiously.

I jerk my head up to look at my friends, gripping my phone so hard I swear I hear a crack. “You know thatwomanmy dad just married?”

“The hooker?” Ford snorts.

I grit my teeth. “That’s the one.”

“What about her?” Wes questions, arching a curious brow. “And what does that have to do with Ava?”

I grind my molars, shaking my head. “Ava’s her fuckingdaughter.”

CHAPTER 6

FORD

I’ve knownRaf my whole life. My earliest memory of him is picking up a toy truck that he was playing with and trying to walk away with it.

He chased me down and punched me in the face.

The next day, he teased me about my shiner, so I gave him a matching one.

The two of us have been inseparable since.

Raf was an angry kid that grew up to be an even angrier adult. His dad has always been unnecessarily hard on him, molding his son in his own image and grooming him to be just as cold, calculating, and ruthless. It worked, but Raf fucking hates him for it.

Can’t say I blame him. Anyone who grew up with Gideon Romero as a father is bound to turn out a little warped. It didn’t help matters when Raf’s mom got sick and he had to watch her wither away to nothing while his dad was out gallivanting with his mistress. Then he stomped all over Lucia Romero’s memory by marrying the woman mere weeks after her funeral.