Page 14 of Endgame

Exhaling loudly, I lay on my back and used my arms to tread the water as I allowed myself to float on the surface with my eyes clenched shut. Blocking out everything else in my life, I immersed myself in the tranquility of the moment.

Tomorrow, I was going to take a look around Ocean Bay. I still had a whole bunch of resumes tucked away in my backpack. Maybe I’d hand them out to the local restaurants and diners; see if anyone was hiring. I would need my own money. My pride refused to allow me to ask Gabe for handouts.

“Trying to kill yourself already?” A deep voice said from close by. “Damn. Figured it would take more than one conversation to break you down,Six. I’m kinda disappointed.”

My eyes flew open at the sound ofthat name.Bastard. Couldn’t give me an ounce of peace.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I growled as I waded back to the shoreline to where Rourke was standing with my clothes in his hands. “Your childish bullshit doesn’t bother me.”

Dammit, Rourke was sickeningly good looking. He was all broad shoulders, ripped stomach muscles, and sexily disheveled brown hair as he stood a good five inches above me. It was disturbing. And those deep dimples in his cheeks? Yeah, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stab them with a knife or my tongue…

“Is that so?” he shot back with a cocky grin. “Guess I’m gonna have to up my game then, huh?” He watched my every move as I walked towards him. “Nice bathing suit, Six. Where’d you get the panties – in the geriatric section of K-mart?”

“They’re called underwear, asshole,” I hissed as I stared up at the handsome bastard who was dressed now only in a pair of black board shorts. I forced myself not to cover my body. I had nothing to be ashamed of. My black bra and panties were perfectly fine – albeit a little generic.

“They’re called granny panties,” he shot back mockingly.

“What are you even doing out here?” I sneered, changing the subject. “Are you one of those sick freaks that get off on creeping around beaches at night?” Dropping my hands on my hips, I forced myself to keep eye contact when I taunted, “Let me guess, this is how you pick up girls? By stalking them and stealing their clothes?”

Rourke threw his head back and laughed. “Not that it’s any of your damn business, but I was out for a run, and I don’t need to chase pussy, Six. It comes to me.” The loud gasp of breath that escaped my lips only seemed to encourage him. “And even if I did.” He cocked a brow as his gaze slowly moved down my body and then back up to my face. “Trust me, you’d be the last girl I’d fuck.”

“I didn’t meanme!” Ugh. “Whatever.” I huffed, holding my hand out, ignoring the way his words stung and prickled at my self-esteem. “Give me my clothes.”

“Say please,” Rourke taunted, smirking down at me with a dangerous glint in his eye. “Six.”

“I don’t beg,” I shot back, flustered and infuriated. “Prick.”

“Oh, you’ll beg me,” he replied cockily as he held my clothes hostage above his head. “Sooner or later.”

“What’s your problem?” I demanded, losing what little was left of my self-restraint.

Rourke didn’t even take a moment to think about my question before stating “you” in an angry tone. “I don’t like you,” he added unapologetically as he took a threatening step closer. “I don’t trust you.” He moved closer again and I had to crane my neck up to keep eye contact with him. “And I sure as hell don’t want you in my house. Or my town.”

“Your town?” Now I was the one to laugh, though it was forced. “Could you be any more self-absorbed?”

“My town, my rules,” Rourke shot back, smirking cruelly. “I say jump, you say how high.”

“You’re delusional,” I shot back, raging.

“And you’re a money hungry bitch,” he countered airily.

“Don’t put a label on me,” I warned him. “I am nothing like what you’re thinking.”

“And you know what I’m thinking?” He cocked a brow and stepped closer. “Six?”

“Six?” I felt like screaming at him. “Is that supposed to stand for something?”

“Yeah.” Smirking cruelly, Rourke trailed his finger across my collarbone. “It’s what I like to name my father’s latestkids. You’re the sixth, but not for long,Six.”

“Awh,” I sighed dramatically. “A cute pet name. I’m flattered.”

“Don’t think you’re anything special,” he shot back cruelly. “The next one will be seven. The one after that; eight.”

“And Amelia?” I mocked. “What’s she?Two?”

“She’s my sister.” His tone was flat and cold. “Somethingyouwill never be.”

“Half,” I muttered under my breath.

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