Page 23 of Ruthless Chaos

My words have hurt her; fresh tears stream down her face. My chest squeezes at the sight of her thick lashes sticking to her cheeks. Her pink lips are set in a trembling frown.

For a moment, I consider breaking my rule.

I find the strength not to by reminding myself that I’m doing her a favor. This is a lesson she’ll have to learn. Life is hard, and it hurts.

This could have turned out a lot worse for her.

“Fix yourself up,” I growl.

She flinches, then does as I say, all the while keeping her eyes low like a meek little lamb. It’s a shame that things will not work out between us.

She has the right disposition.

I don’t trust myself to watch her fix her clothes. Already, my cock is trying to tell me I’m making a mistake. I almost cave thinking of how tight and wet her pussy felt on my fingers.

I leave her under the cover of the trees and make my way back to the party.

Cursing under my breath, I try to think of the bright side. But there is none. I’ve got blue balls, and the gorgeous girl I want to fuck is off-limits.

It’s rotten luck.

Someone steps into my path from the shadows. I almost bump into them. When I realize who it is, whatever is left of my arousal instantly dies. I guess I should thankherfor that. The five-foot-nine dick-deflating demon has the audacity to smile.

How the hell did she even know I was out here?

“Alexipoo, I’ve missed you!” Cassidy says, trying to hug me.

I sidestep her, but she doesn’t seem to mind.

She’s dressed in the typical Hemlock party uniform—skimpy dress, sky-high heels, and bone-straight blond hair. Truth be told, the getup looks good on everyone but her.

Maybe it’s because I can’t look at Cassidy without seeing her personality.

I’m about to keep walking when I hear another set of footsteps. The girl from earlier emerges from the forest. She looks a mess—her makeup is running and her hair is disheveled.

Clearly, I should have stayed to ensure she understood whatfix yourself upmeans.

It’s pathetic. Pitiful, even.

When she notices it’s me, she looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her steps falter for a moment, then she all but runs away. Her reaction is so juvenile. I chuckle.

“You fucked a Hemlock House girl?” I forgot Cassidy was standing beside me.

Usually, I wouldn’t even entertain a conversation like this with her. But if the girl is from Hemlock, Cassidy would have the most information on her since she’s president of the sisterhood. Right now, I don’t even know her name.

I shrug. “You sound surprised.”

“She hasn’t even been here a day.” She sounds genuinely upset.

Her delusion about how close we are never ceases to amaze me.

Cassidy’s been clinging to that one drunken night we shared when she was a freshman like it’s a fucking lifejacket. I’ve run out of ways to tell her that it’s never going to happen. I’ve taken to just ignoring her now.

She’s like that rash that never goes away.

“I hope you’ve warned her about the initiation,” she hisses.

She’s got a feral look in her eyes. Though it’s not anywhere as intense as the Kingmaker Initiation Trials, I’ve heard of how brutal the girls can get. I read Cassidy’s words as a threat to make the girl’s life a nightmare. Knowing her, she’s probably trying to get her sent to Hell House as quickly as possible.