Page 9 of The Sweetest Revenge

"Don't worry," I smirked, not taking my eyes off Ariella as she hiked her bag higher on her shoulder and threw her head back on a laugh. My jaw tightened with annoyance, and I couldn't explain why. Maybe because she was here laughing and Kacie wasn't, or maybe because he made her smile like that. "It will be her decision."

"Yeah, I doubt that." He stepped in line with me as I picked up my speed. "It was her and Kacie's dream to be on that dance team. She's not quitting."

"She doesn't have to," I said. "She just has to tell them she belongs to me."

"Right," he said, drawing out the word.

"I'll catch you later." I waved him off as I bolted for the football team.

"Knight."

Adrian Donovan's voice cut through the hall. The wide receiver's call silenced the group. One by one, heads turned.

The conversation died.

Ariella's bright blue eyes found mine, ice against fire.

"Hockey team showing up this weekend?" Adrian asked, breaking the silence.

"We'll be there." Every year, one of the teams hosted a massive blowout party at the beginning of each season, and we were heading into football season. It was the only party where all the teams participated together. "But I need to borrow Ariella for a minute."

Elijah slid a protective arm around her neck, and my jaw flexed. "Sorry, man, Ari is part of the team."

"Yeah, bro," Kai Morgan, a linebacker for the Westbrook Predators, said. "Maybe you didn't hear, but she's on the dance team."

"And maybe you didn't hear she's my new stepsister."

"We didn't, but now isn't a good time," Elijah said. "We are headed to a meeting on the field. I'm sure you'll catch up tonight at home."

"Yeah, man." Sterling's fingers dug into my shoulder, his grip just shy of painful. His brown eyes flashed a warning. I hadn't realized he'd followed me. "I'm sure you two can catch up later."

"Sure." The words slid between my teeth as our eyes locked. "I'll catch you tonight, Ariella."

Her jaw flexed.

She squared her shoulders and coiled an arm around Elijah's waist. "Go to hell, Zaiden."

"Ohhh," Adrian's voice cut through the tension. "Fighting with the little sis." His laugh echoed down the hallway. "See ya at the party, bro."

Their laughter faded as they moved toward the field. But I caught it—the glance Ariella threw over her shoulder. Uncertain. Wary.

Good. She should be.

"Zaid." Sterling's voice dropped. A warning. "Do you even know what game you're playing?"

I watched until she disappeared around the corner, the memory of her defiance burned in my chest.

"Trust me. After tonight, Ariella Ledger will learn exactly who's in charge." My fists unclenched, one finger at a time. "She will learn exactly who she belongs to."

CHAPTER6

ZAIDEN

The digital clock's red numbers glowed 9:47 PM. 10:13 PM. 10:38 PM. Each minute stretched into an eternity as I sat motionless in my dark bedroom, ears straining for the sound I'd been waiting for. The pipes groaned faintly within the walls. Then, finally, water rushed through them toward the bathroom that connected Ariella's bedroom to mine.

I smiled in the darkness.

Since the library incident the night before didn't scare her enough to make her leave, it was time for us to establish our new relationship. The one where I owned her. The one where I slowly took everything she loved away from her, like she did to me.

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