Page 164 of Ruthless Chaos

I start imagining my legs wrapped around his head and my hands rooted in his hair, his tongue caressing my core. I would arch myself against his mouth, his grip on my ass would turn viselike and—

The glass doors to the parking lot slide open, pulling me back to the present.

My heart sinks to my soles.

I never gave much consideration to who Liam would bring on this trip. I half expected him to come alone or bring a random girl from Chaos or Hemlock. Yet, this is worse than anything I could have ever imagined.

On his arm, decked out in black from head-to-toe, is Cassidy Coldwell.

My eyes flicker between him and Alexander. The annoyed expression he’s wearing has turned to rage. Liam and Cassidy have smiles on their faces. The two of them saunter into the room leisurely, talking to each other, while a uniformed man brings their bags in.

“What the fuck is this?” It’s Vance who speaks, not Alexander.

He’s up from his seat, walking towards Liam and Cassidy. Ezra is on the edge of his seat as well. Though I know Alexander is burning up inside, he doesn’t say anything, just stares daggers into them.

All eyes are on the scene unfolding in front of us. Even Tara looks worried.

“It’s nice to see you too, Du Pont,” Liam says with a flourish. “My apologies for the delay, gentlemen. My date was fashionably late.” He looks down at Cassidy. She titters, covering her mouth.

Apart from the shadows of a few scars on his cheekbones and around his nose, Liam looks the way he did before Alexander rearranged his face. The fact that he’s here withCassidymust be an attempt at goading Alexander.

Didn’t he learn the last time?

“You know what he means,” Ezra says. “Why the fuck would you bring her?” He jabs a finger in Cassidy’s direction.

Her smile gets brighter then, and for the first time I glimpse how truly deranged she is. Any well-thinking person would be uncomfortable in this situation, embarrassed even. But not Cassidy.

Negative energy and drama fuel her like kindling to a fire.

“I expected a better welcome, to be honest,” she says. “After how hospitable and protective I’ve heard you Kingmaker men are.”

My heart is beating so hard it’s about to pop through my chest. Alexander is still quiet, seething. I worry about what he is going to do.

I don’t think he ever expected something like this. After all, what do Liam and Cassidy have to talk about other than their mutual hatred of Alexander and me?

Oh god, that’s probably what bonded them together.

My stomach is uneasy.

Tara squeezes my hand. I’m even happier I insisted she come. She’ll help me get through this. Ezra, Vance, Cassidy, and Liam are locked in some sort of tense stare off.

If I endure another second of this, I’m going to puke.

Alexander walks over to me and stretches out his hand. I take it, and he leads me to a corner of the room shaded by an elaborate potted palm. We’re out of earshot.

“Everything will be fine,” he says, squeezing my shoulders. “I promise. There is nothing they can do to you. I’m here.”

He grabs the side of my face and kisses my forehead.

I put my hands on his wrists, trying to trust what he says. I wish it got rid of all my anxiety, but it doesn’t. I know Alexander will do anything to keep me safe—he’s surely proven it.

I also know that Cassidy and Liam don’t play fair.

If they’re here together, they have a plan. What could it be? Right now, things are almost perfect for Alexander and I. Cassidy will do anything to ruin it.

He realizes I am still worrying.

“We might be going to a Kingmaker Council retreat, but we’re off campus all the same,” Alexander says through gritted teeth. “If either of them so much as look at you the wrong way, just tell me.”