Page 70 of Paper Doll

Raf glares back at me, the muscle in his tightly clenched jaw feathering. While Wes took his sweet time getting here from his Economics class across campus, the two of us discussed the best way to approach this, revisiting last night’s argument. Turns out, with the right kind of motivation, the mancansee reason after all.

Shit, maybe I should thank Chelsea for being such a wretched bitch.

Wes glances between Raf and me, squinting as he tries to read the situation. “Are you gonna leave me in suspense?”

Raf’s obviously not gonna say it, so I’m all too happy to step in and do the honors.

“Raf changed his mind,” I declare gleefully, lit up like a damn kid on Christmas morning. “He wants to make Ava our Doll.”

Wes flinches back in surprise, whipping his head toward Raf. “But I thought you said…”

“I know what I said, but this has gotten out of control,” Raf growls in a low, menacing tone, as if he’s thinking about how best to kill a man with his bare hands. He leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees, stabbing his fingers through his inky black hair. “It’s the only way to keep her in line while also keeping up appearances.”

Wes’ wide-eyed gaze flickers over to me and I smirk back at him smugly, watching his expression shift from skeptical to intrigued as he processes the news.

“Like we discussed last night, it’ll be in name only,” I say, tucking my arms behind my head as I recline back in my chair. “No initiation or involving the Invictus.”

“You don’t think they’ll find out?” Wes scoffs disbelievingly.

I shoot him a pointed look, warning him to shut his trap if he wants this to happen.

“Gideon said he’d come for her soon, so that won’t be a problem,” Raf mutters.

Wes rises from the couch and paces across the room, each stride heavy with thought. “So, when are we breaking the news to her?” he asks, swiping a hand over his chin. “And what if she fights us on it?”

“Kinda hope she does,” I say with a devilish smirk.

Raf grunts his agreement, but there’s a flicker of something uneasy in his expression. He’ll never admit it, but I can tell that finding Ava in the bathroom today rattled him. He’s so out of touch that he doesn’t realize how deeply that girl has burrowed under his skin.

Wes is still pacing, his brow creased in agitation.

“You’re not gonna pussy out, are you?” I ask him.

“No,” Wes replies sharply. “I was just thinking of how to spin it for the path of least resistance.”

“Easy,” I say with full confidence. “It’s either submit to us or keep dodging attacks in the bathroom. I’d take option A if I were her.”

“That’s if she doesn’t run first,” Wes counters.

“Which is why we’re doing this now,” Raf huffs, pushing up from the couch.

“Now?” Wes echoes, eyeing Raf cautiously. It’s no secret how wound up he is.

“What, you wanna get her a welcome basket or something?” I chuckle darkly, rising to my feet and cracking my knuckles.

Wes flips me the bird, but a reluctant grin spreads across his face. He’s fully on board with this, even if he’s still scrambling to play catch-up.

“Is she moving in right away?” he asks eagerly, eyes gleaming with cruel intent at the prospect of having her under his roof and thumb.

“That’s the plan,” I tell him, stepping over to clap a hand down on his shoulder. “Welcome her to the neighborhood and all that.”

“You mean tell her she’s screwed,” he chuckles, finally absorbing the full scope of our scheme.

“That too,” I shrug.

Raf takes the lead, the three of us making our way toward the door.

“Ava Morrow, the new Doll,” Wes muses, another grin breaking through.