Page 53 of No Promises, No Lies

“No,” I admit.

Rory lifts her chin, proud of herself for proving her point. “Then I don’t see the problem.” She pushes at my chest. For such a little thing, she’s stronger than she looks, moving me a couple of inches. I smile at her just before I shove her back against theboards with one hand, reminding her she might be tough, but she’s no match for me.

Her breath catches from the pressure. “Fucking hell, Aidan, what is your problem?” she fumes. I delight in the anger I’ve stirred up in her eyes.

“My problem?” I turn it back on her, “What’syourproblem?” I’m both irritated and turned on by her bratty attitude.

“My problem is you!”

I push her up against the boards again, leaning in close so I can feel her warm breath against my face. “Exactly,” it comes out as a growl. “Your problem isme. And it’s going to keep beingme. So I suggest you stay behind your little guards, safe and sound in your pretty castle if you don’t want to end up as collateral damage,Kostalova.” I practically purr her name before darkening my tone, “Stay out of my way, little lion.”

I expect my words to scare her, but they do the exact opposite. Her little hands ball into fists while a storm rages to life in her eyes.

“It’s old news, Aidan. I don’t care about your sociopath brother or your little cousin with anger issues oryou. You gave me back, remember? In a deal to save your little traitor friend.” Her words are bitter, but she can’t hide the emotion in her eyes when she mentions Alex. “I’m no longer your problem. Now Let. Me. Go.”

I stare at her as she holds my eyes, tilting her chin up with an air of defiance.

My hands release her just before the crashing sound of a door slamming draws our attention. Both our heads whip back toward the main gate.

“O’Rourke.” My name rolls off the tongue of one of the last people I want to see. I roll my eyes into the back of my head and look toward the roof. “Rory,” Colt nods impassively at the tiny skater next to me.

That catches my attention.How the fuck does he know Rory?Drawing myself up, I turn to face him, stepping in front of Rory as I do.

“King,” I offer a cold greeting, crossing my arms and sizing up the new Breakers’ center, warning in my eyes.

“Everything okay?” He looks past me to where Rory stands. No longer pinned against the boards, but still leaning against them. Uncharacteristically quiet for once.

I open my mouth, but it’s Rory who responds. Her voice surprisingly level given the little exchange, Colt just interrupted.

“Yup. In fact, I was just heading out.” She knocks into my shoulder as she brushes by me, gliding to the door, and exiting the rink behind Colt without sparing me another glance.

He watches her pass him and my jaw tightens along with my fists.

“Remember what I said,” I call after her, ignoring Colt’s hard stare. The brief pause in her step is evidence enough she hears me, though she doesn’t turn around.

What Colt makes of it, I don’t care because I’m already skating across the ice, picking up the stick and puck I’d abandoned earlier, and in a couple of strides, I sink it into the net from the point.

This is far from over.

32

BETROTHED

RORY

By the time I get myself back into the mansion, I’m ready for a nap. Between going over my routine, running into Aidan, and climbing the freaking wall to get my ass back into the mansion undetected, I need to check out.

Easily dodging security, I made it to the East wing in the clear. I’m in my room with the door shut behind me before I sense him.

Caught red-handed, I linger by the door, staring across my bedroom at my brother.

Niko watches me from where he sits, shadowed from the sunlight streaming through my window in my plush reading chair, like some kind of vampire. Casually flipping through one of my books.

I tense, checking to be sure it’s not the one I hollowed out to stash my escape fund in.

“Where were you?” He doesn’t even look up, his eyes still scanning the pages.

“Around.” I wave my hand noncommittally, still working on how to play this off.

---