Page 2 of Defiant
Storm? Why the hell would I call him Storm? Was that his last name, or some kind of nickname he’d given himself to sound tougher? Either way, he didn’t need to be called Storm. Danger oozed from every pore on his body without the need for a nickname like that.
My heart felt like popping out of my chest and running away, especially when he neared me. I found myself taking a few steps back as I asked him, not for the first time, “How do you know who I am? Did someone hire you?” If only I had the money to combat the Midpark brats’ wealth…
“I’ve known who you are for a while,” he said, still taking more steps toward me.
I really wished he wouldn’t, because I’d managed to back myself up against the wall, my legs awkwardly bent over the window air unit. I scooted to the side, getting myself off it, but I only ended up backing myself into the deepest corner in the room, between the outer wall and the bed.
“No one hired me,” he added, his blue gaze dropping to my feet, slowly traveling up my entire body, as if I was naked and on display—as if he had every right in the world to check me out so unabashedly. “I came of my own volition, and it’s a good thing I did. You don’t belong in Midpark, Jaz.”
How the hell could this guy tell me, with a straight face, after kidnapping me, that I didn’t belong in Midpark? Who was he? The way he stared at me, like I should know him, gave me pause.
He was insane. He had to be. That was that.
I let out a short chuckle, though the sound died in the back of my throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I really need to get back to school.” First period had already started, which meant I was late. Had revenge to get to, you know. Couldn’t waste time like this.
Just by looking at him, I knew Dante didn’t care about wasting time.
“Come on,” he said, inching toward me. I had nowhere to go; I was effectively stuck against the corner, my fingers gripping the straps on my backpack so hard my knuckles turned white. “We both know that’s a lie. I could tell just by watching, you don’t belong there. Not in that school, not with those people, and not in that big house.”
“How do you know so much about me? Who are you?”
Again, he smirked. “I’ve been watching you a long time. It was hard to find you after you moved, but…” Dante shrugged, and I realized his shoulders were even wider than they looked, now that they practically blocked out the entire room from me. “I managed. I’ll always find you.”
The way he talked, it was like he knew me—but he didn’t. I’d never seen him before in my life, and surely I’d remember a walking bad boy with a tattoo on his skull.
“I don’t know you,” I whispered, my breath hitching when he stepped even closer. Less than two feet between us now; he was way too close. So close I could hardly breathe. This guy definitely did not understand personal boundaries; if the situation was different, maybe I wouldn’t mind so much.
He was…not terrible to look at, but now was not the time to lose myself in the attractiveness of this stranger.
He’d threatened my mom, after all. That was not something I could forget.
“Maybe not,” he admitted. “But you will. You’re eighteen now, so you should choose where you want to be. In Midpark, with those rich, spoiled fuckers, or where you belong—with me.”
I didn’t…what the hell was he going on about? I’d never met him before in my life. If this was some freaky way of asking me out, he had another thing coming. I…I didn’t even know what to say, at this point. Speechless, I was frigging speechless.
“Again,” I said, meeting those intense, azure eyes, “I don’t know you.”
“Maybe right now you don’t,” Dante murmured, taking yet another step closer to me, the distance between us mere inches, now. “But you will.” Beneath his smirk, his teeth were white and straight, a devil’s smile through and through. Any girl with a thing for the tall, dark, and handsome guys would feel a warming in their lower gut when Dante was so close.
That’s what I told myself, anyway, to make me feel better for the blossoming heat in my belly.
“We can get to know each other better right now,” he whispered.
I blinked, my cheeks heating up to match what was going on under the waist. Was Dante propositioning me? Was this…was this really happening? Did I hit my head and knock myself out when I wasn’t looking? I had no idea what to say or how to respond without risking him pulling that knife on me—
Wait a minute. The knife.
It was in his inner coat pocket. I could pull it out, if he was distracted, use it on him to get away.
As much as there was that could go wrong, it was the only plan I had. There was no way I could outright beat this guy without hurting him a bit. If I wanted to make those rich brats at Midpark High pay, I had to learn to do what was necessary—and right now that included putting on a mask and playing the game to get close to that knife.
I figured it’d be better to put up a bit of a fight; it’d look too strange if I gave in so quickly. I bit my bottom lip, watching as his eyes fell to my mouth, and I whispered, “But I just met you.” It’s what I should’ve told myself before hooking up with Archer, but I’d been stupid. Beyond foolish. Hooking up with anyone in Midpark was bound to have consequences.
I just didn’t realize exactly what those consequences were until last Friday.
“That’s the best time,” he said. “No built-up expectations, no strings.” He tilted his head, checking me out yet again. “I could make you forget all about every other dude with a dick that’s been near you—and that’s a Storm promise.”
Oh, God. Was he going to constantly refer to himself as Storm? Was he one of those weirdos? Maybe I should rethink this seducing plan…
