Page 21 of Play Dirty

“Daddy.”

“Nice to see you, princess.” He kisses the top of my head, and something in the way he smells tonight seems off—different. “Great turnout tonight.”

“Yes, it is,” I whisper, hating how small I feel beside the man who created and raised me.

“Mom couldn’t make it tonight, and I’m only around for a bit longer. I just need to handle something before I can go back home.”

The smell of the sea mingles beneath his cologne... but there’s something else. “Dad—” I go to ask when Christian Roberts and his wife, Susan, approach us. My gaze moves towards the clock, and I swallow hard when I notice I only have five more minutes left… before the pain.

Chapter Eight

Nico

My body burns from the intrusion— the smell of his cologne clings to my skin like a fucking curse. I should have gone back to my dorm, but what’s the point of sitting in silence with my demons when I can just drown them in bourbon?

Or whatever these fancy pieces of shit are drinking.

Small waves of electricity still run through the hand that cupped Shiloh’s soft skin— I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.

I wanted to touch her, make her look at me as if I ruined her. The simmering anger I always carry seems to overflow when she’s around. There’s no holding it back—it demands to be felt. To break free and break her. Gripping the mask, I pull it free from my face. Walking into the library, then out to the balcony, to catch some air.

Even with all this oxygen… I still can’t breathe. My lungs won’t expand. My heart continues to beat, but I’m not living.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I wait for the message— to do what was asked of me. To be here at midnight. Why? Who the fuck knows? I’m just an errand boy— a pet that obeys. Nothing else.

The burner phone in my pocket vibrates. With a sigh, I look at the illuminated screen, and my stomach drops as I read the words.

Anonymous

Want your freedom, stain your soul. Show me that you can listen. Fuck her.

Fuck her?

I shake my head. No, there’s no way. My throat closes up, tugging at my collar —I try to give myself more room to breathe. What the fuck are they talking about? I’ve done nothing but stain my soul? My body. What more do they want from me? I consider chucking the phone into the large backyard but then it goes off again.

Anonymous

Don’t do it, Reyes, do as you're told. Do not disappoint me.

I scan the darkness, but all I see are students sneaking off and smoking, fucking, or doing whatever behind the bushes. I know there are eyes on me, but from where?

What the fuck am I supposed to do?

On a good day, I can hardly see the color blue and keep my composure.

However, right now? Not happening.

But before I can do anything, the door swings open – and the smell of her perfume hits me like a freight train stealing the air from my lungs. Despite the lace mask, I can still see her cobalt orbs shining, even in the dark. She stumbles, her hand rubbing her arm. Is she nervous? I feel the blood rushing to my dick— and all I can think about is everything I’ve gone through in this pristine university.

And those fucking blue eyes.

Always blue.

Always drowning me.

I guess I'll show her how it feels.

They want me to stain my soul. Fine.