Page 103 of River of Deceit

Asch looks at him. With a bitter laugh, he replies, “You’re right, she doesn’t. But somehow, I doubt she was trying to get inyourpants.”

“Why? Because she was too busy getting into yours?” Declan sneers. “She just decided I was better, that’s all.”

My mouth drops in indignation, and I shake my head.

“I absolutely did not!” I exclaim. “Why would I want a loser like you, when I’ve got Blaze and Asch?” I smile up at Blaze. “You agreewith me, right, Blaze? Asch is so much better than Declan. Declan isboringand predictable. Asch has hidden depths. Rushing like a coursing river—” and I start laughing, becauseRiver.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Asch mutters.

“Get me a doctor,” Declan demands. “And I’m going to report this and sue for everything your family is worth, Pandora.”

Blaze wraps an arm around my back, and I can feel the tension in his body.

“If you do that, you’ll regret it,” Blaze says. His tone is darker than I’ve ever heard it, and I shiver in pleasure. “Be grateful you’re getting away with a few simple stabs, because I’m tempted to do worse.”

Oh.Oh. I knew Blaze was great. Perfect Blaze, perfect Asch.

I’m only missing my perfect River.

“You should do it anyway,” I tell Blaze. “I want to see you fuck him up.”

Blaze looks down, and when our eyes meet, I can feel that spark of something familiar, the anger and chaos that swirls around inside both of us.

Then Zayden fucking interrupts us, and I want to pull his entrails out for it.

“Get her the fuck out of here, Blaze,” Zayden barks. “Asch, call the paramedics. Declan, shut the fuck up for once and wrap something around your thigh before you bleed out here.”

I hold my breath, waiting for Blaze to snap and defy Zayden.

But he nods, and I pout when he starts pulling me away from the door. “Yeah. Come on, Pandora. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”

As if there’s a limit to the amount of trouble I can cause.

I snuggle against Blaze anyway and follow him while Declan continues to yell in the background.

Blaze takes me down the stairs and out the front door. I spot other Kappa Losers staring at me, but I don’t care.

Once we’re outside, Blaze slams me against the side of the building. His fingers grip my arms and dig in sharply.

“What do you think you’re doing, Pandora? Didn’t you get enough from Asch?” Blaze hisses.

I smile at him and place my hands on his hips. “I did! Then Declan insulted Asch, and how was I going to let that stand? Well, I also discovered his stash of roofies. Not doing a good cleanup job there, Blaze. Almost makes me think there’s some truth to all the rumors about Chaos buying and selling women.”

Blaze’s expression goes blank, then he snarls at me. “Who’s saying that shit? We aren’t?—”

I laugh at him. “Really, Blaze? You know who I am now. Well, I’ve always known whoyouare. The Bouchard Syndicate’s fingers are all over Dyschord U. Your daddy dearest still has strong ties to Kappa Omega. And I know that party wasn’t the first time weird shit happened to girls.”

There’s a split second where I think Blaze will try to deny it again, where he’s going to disappoint me, but he sighs and shakes his head.

When he meets my gaze again, he’s grinning. “Fine. But what are the Pavones doing here, Pandora? This isn’t your territory. You’ve got all of New Bristol already. Your daddy’s gone legit?—”

“Papa,” I correct him.

He scowls. “What?”

“My papa, not my daddy. Those are two different people.” I wait for him to get it, but when he doesn’t, I sigh. “Giulio Pavone is my papa. If you say daddy, I won’t know who you’re talking about.”

“But you clearly understood me,” Blaze argues. “And—no, never mind. It doesn’t fucking matter. The point is, there’s nothing here for the Pavones.”