Page 11

CHAPTER 11

ARIELLA

A nger boiled through my veins as I stood in the shadows of the school hallway, watching Zaiden laugh and joke with his friends. I wanted to murder him. Any thoughts I'd had that Zaiden had any human decency disappeared last night when he left me alone in the dark, scared and cold, along with any lingering sympathy I'd had because he'd lost his sister.

He'd declared war.

I knew I wasn't as big and strong as him physically, so I'd have to be creative.

"I know you're plotting something." Mila leaned closer, her voice barely audible. "I can see it in your eyes."

I shrugged, tracking Zaiden's movements across the hallway.

"He's psychotic and deranged, Ari." Mila chewed her bottom lip. "You won't win."

She was right, but my rage consumed me, egging me on. Making me believe I was ten feet tall and bulletproof.

"Yeah," I muttered. "I need to figure out what he thinks I did to Kacie."

"Do you really think there's a reason?" Her brows pulled together. "I think he just needs someone to blame."

I shook my head. "I don't think so. I think there's more to it, and we need to find out what it is."

"How do we do that?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure, but I think we need to get to Sterling." My gaze shifted, meeting Mila's. "Are you two still friends?"

"Yeah, of course." Her gaze twisted to the guys. "But I'm not sure he'll tell me anything. He's loyal to Zaiden and his team, and we aren't on his team. We belong to the football team."

I rolled my eyes. I didn't belong to anyone, but I wasn't going to argue about it either because I needed that protection right now. "Don't ask him straight up. Beat around the bush."

She nodded. "I'll try."

The hockey team dispersed. The hallway emptied except for Sterling and Zaiden, their footsteps echoing as they strolled our way. Memories of last night—dirt filling my mouth, darkness pressing down—surged forward. My muscles coiled. I shifted.

"Ari," Mila whisper-hissed. "Don't do this. You won't win." I didn't know if she was right or not. I couldn't see clearly through my pounding rage. I surged forward. "Ari." She grabbed at my arm, but I was already gone. "Shit."

My fist clenched at my side, and my jaw flexed as I stormed forward, my body tight with anger. Zaiden's grayish-blue eyes lifted, meeting mine, and a slow, sadistic smirk twisted on his lips like he'd won.

Sterling's dark eyes widened on me as I stormed forward, shoulders first.

"Aw, I was hoping you'd drown in that grave," Zaiden sneered.

I stopped. Time slowed. His smirk widened as I reared back and slammed my fist across his jaw.

"Fuck you."

Pain exploded through my hand. Bones grinding against bones. I kept my face blank, fist clenched at my side as I resisted the urge to shake the pain out. No way I'd let him see how much it hurt.

"Holy shit," Sterling and Mila both shouted.

Mila grabbed me, pulling me back as Sterling shifted to grab Zaiden if he needed to, but Zaiden didn't charge me. The corners of his lips lifted as his gaze froze on me. He drew in slow, controlled breaths as he swiped his thumb across his lip, wiping away the blood.

My heart pounded. Uncontrollable breaths rang in my ears. Panic gripped my chest as the realization of what I'd done sank in. Too late now. I squared my shoulders and stiffened my spine.

"You just fucked up, princess." Zaiden's tongue darted out to taste the blood on his lip.

Sterling stepped between us, hands raised. "Why don't we all calm down?"

"Yeah." Mila's fingers dug into my shoulder.

"Fuck that." I wrenched free from her grip, my voice raw. "He left me in an empty grave last night."

Sterling's eyes widened as his gaze shifted back to Zaiden, who was still shooting daggers at me. "That's what the fuck you were doing last night."

"She deserves to be buried right next to my sister." He stepped forward, puffing his chest out.

"If I deserve to be next to her, so do you." I stepped forward, bumping my chest with his.

His hand moved to grab me, but Sterling hooked an arm around him, jerking him back. "It's not my fault she's dead. It's yours, and you have to live with that guilt for the rest of your life."

"What did I do?" I threw my hands up in the air. "What, Zaiden?"

His lips curled into a smirk. "I'll see you tonight, princess."

He jerked hard, shrugging Sterling off him, and walked away. Sterling gave us a 'what-the-fuck' look before following after Zaiden.

"You just punched Zaiden Knight in the face," Mila squealed once they were gone. "I don't know whether to be proud or scared."

I shook my head.

"He's going to get me back at the party tonight."

"You think he'll show the video to everyone?" Mila's voice bounced off the concrete walls, making the question echo.

My gaze tracked Zaiden and Sterling until they disappeared around the corner, the sound of their laughter lingering in the air like a threat.

"I don't think so. That's the only leverage he has over me. If he uses that, then it's over. I'm ruined, but I'm free."

"No, girl." Mila's voice dropped. She glanced around before continuing. "You'll never be free as long as he thinks you killed his sister."

"Yeah." I rubbed my bruised knuckles, wincing. "See if you can get Sterling alone tonight at the party."

Mila fidgeted with her bracelet. Hesitated. "Maybe we should skip the party tonight." She glanced over her shoulder. "It's going to be so packed that the team probably won't miss us."

"EJ will know I'm not there, trust me," I said. "Plus, I'm not giving that asshole the satisfaction."

"Satisfaction?"

"Of thinking he won." I lowered my voice. "I'm not letting him scare me into hiding in my room."

My gaze shifted to her. "Which, by the way?—"

Mila's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"–isn't a safe place either."

"If you're sure."

I nodded. "I'm sure." The sooner we figured out why he was so angry with me, the sooner we could correct it. "Come on, let's get ready for practice."