Page 59 of King

Her blood ran cold.

Why is that bitch here?

Janelle stood with her arms crossed, a smug snarl curling her blood-red lips. She looked just as she had the day Ella had first seen her in the firehouse. Gorgeous in a way that was sharprather than soft, dressed in tight jeans and a low-cut top that screamed confidence.

But her eyes?

Her eyes were filled withmeanness and hate.

Ella squared her shoulders, forcing her voice to stay steady. “What are you doing here?”

Janelle let out a low, evil chuckle. “What do youthink?” she sneered. “I came to getKingback.”

Ella’s stomach twisted, but sherefusedto let this woman intimidate her. “He doesn’twantyou,” she stated firmly. “You need to leave.”

Janelle’s smile faded, her expression twisting into something dark and dangerous. “Andyouthink you can stop me?” she spat.

Ella took a step forward, suddenly hyper-aware of how alone they were in this part of the clubhouse. Everyone was outside at the party—no one would hear her if anything happened.

“Iamstopping you,” Ella snapped. “King and I are together.He loves me.Not you. You need to move on.”

Janelle’s entire body tensed, her hands curling into fists. For a brief second, Ella thought she might just storm past her?—

But then, without warning, Janellelunged.

Ella barely had time to react before Janelleshovedher with all her weight, forcing her backward into a darkened doorway. The unexpected force sent her stumbling, and as she tried to catch herself, her ankle twisted at an unnatural angle.

Pain exploded up her leg.

She let out a cry, collapsing onto the floor, her hands scrambling against the cold concrete.

Janelle stood over her, her expression smug.

“Pathetic,” she hissed.

Ella tried to push herself up, but the sharp, throbbing agony in her ankle made hergasp.

Janelle’s foot suddenly shot out, kicking Ella.

“You bitch!” Ella shouted as she tried again to get up.

But it was too late.

Janelle slammed the door shut.

Ella’s heart dropped into her stomach as she heard the unmistakable sound of alockturning from the outside.

Dread surged through her.

She scrambled to her feet. The pain in her ankle nearly sent hercrashingback down, but she wouldn’t let that stop her because she needed to get out of there. Then she was going to find Janelle and kick her ass.

The room waspitch black. She wasn’t even sure what kind of room it was. A storage closet or a cleaning closet?

Oh, God, what if there were spiders in there?

Ella’s breathing came faster, fear crawling up her spine.

She reached down, her fingers patting the sides of her dress frantically.

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