Page 93 of Paper Doll

Wes looks at me, and I can see the same tension reflected in his eyes that’s tightening my chest. Raf returns the bar to the rack and sits up on the bench, looking over at me with a brow cocked, probably wondering why I haven’t answered the call yet.

You don’t keep the Invictus waiting.

I blink down at the screen, mashing the button to pick up and put it on speaker.

“The Invictus understands that you’ve chosen a Doll,” a robotic voice on the other end states, disguised by a voice modulator.

“News travels fast,” I muse, eyes pinging up to meet Wes’. His own are wide, the color draining from his face.

“She hasn’t been properly vetted or initiated,” the mechanical voice continues. “The high council is displeased.”

“And here I thought they’d just be glad we finally chose,” I scoff. My grip tightens around my phone, pulse kicking up a notch.

I usually love creepy shit, but that voice haunts my fucking nightmares.

“Prepare her to be initiated,” they reply, this time with a hint of menace. “We’ll let you know when to bring her to the crypt.”

I open my mouth to respond, but the call disconnects, a heavy silence descending.

Wes is the first to break it with an exasperated, “Told you they’d find out.” He paces a few steps away, scrubbing a hand over his face in frustration. “So they’re making us go through with it?”

“They can’t make us do anything,” Raf mutters.

I dart a glance his way, furrowing my brow. I knew the guy was out of his mind, but I wasn’t aware he’d crossed into straight up delusion.

“Wanna bet?” I snort. “They practically ordered us to hand her over.”

Raf eases to his feet, casually stretching his arms over his head as if we didn’t just get a bomb dropped on us. “The pact says we control everything on this campus,” he states. “They can’t set foot here without our say-so.”

“And?” Wes challenges, jaw set like stone.

I have no idea why he’s so bent outta shape about this– he’s obsessed with Ava, he should be throwing a fucking parade right now at the news we might get to keep her.

“And, all we’ve gotta do is hold them off for another week or so,” Raf murmurs. “Gideon said he’s coming for her, so if they call before then, we’ll come up with some bullshit excuse to push her initiation.”

Shit, I forgot Gideon said he’d take Ava off our hands.

Wes and I exchange a look, and I know he’s thinking the same thing I am.

We’re not ready to let her go.

“Maybe we should let it happen,” I suggest, keeping my tone casual. “Initiate her, I mean. If we get rid of Ava baby, they’ll just make us choose another Doll, and the next one might not be so compliant.”

“No,” Raf barks, eyes darkening. “That’s not happening.”

I watch him carefully, waiting for a crack to appear in his hard veneer. When it doesn’t, I turn away and pretend I don’t give a shit, but it only takes a second before I can’t resist the urge to bite back.

“You really think you can get outta this?” I ask, tossing the question over my shoulder like a careless barb.

“This isn’t just about you, Raf,” Wes growls. “We’re a fucking triad. We need to do what’s best for all of us, and if Ava’s ours…”

“She’smine,” Raf snaps, eyes blazing with fury as he stomps in our direction, the vein in his neck bulging. “Mineto punish.Mineto break. Andmineto decide when she goes and where.”

“She’sours,” I correct, taking a step forward and leveling him with a glare to rival his own. “Like Wes said, we’re a fucking triad, asshole. Blood in, blood out. Or are you forgetting what all this is even for?”

Raf’s hands ball into fists at his sides, clenching tighter until his knuckles turn white. “Fuck you, Ford,” he spits, a bead of sweat streaking down the side of his face. “Go tell your little pet to write a fucking paper about you, next time.”

I roll my eyes, raising a fist and flipping him the bird.