Page 22 of The Sweetest Revenge

"Ari," Mila whisper-hissed. "Don't do this. You won't win." I didn't know if she was right or not. I couldn't see clearly through my pounding rage. I surged forward. "Ari." She grabbed at my arm, but I was already gone. "Shit."

My fist clenched at my side, and my jaw flexed as I stormed forward, my body tight with anger. Zaiden's grayish-blue eyes lifted, meeting mine, and a slow, sadistic smirk twisted on his lips like he'd won.

Sterling's dark eyes widened on me as I stormed forward, shoulders first.

"Aw, I was hoping you'd drown in that grave," Zaiden sneered.

I stopped. Time slowed. His smirk widened as I reared back and slammed my fist across his jaw.

"Fuck you."

Pain exploded through my hand. Bones grinding against bones. I kept my face blank, fist clenched at my side as I resisted the urge to shake the pain out. No way I'd let him see how much it hurt.

"Holy shit," Sterling and Mila both shouted.

Mila grabbed me, pulling me back as Sterling shifted to grab Zaiden if he needed to, but Zaiden didn't charge me. The corners of his lips lifted as his gaze froze on me. He drew in slow, controlled breaths as he swiped his thumb across his lip, wiping away the blood.

My heart pounded. Uncontrollable breaths rang in my ears. Panic gripped my chest as the realization of what I'd done sank in. Too late now. I squared my shoulders and stiffened my spine.

"You just fucked up, princess." Zaiden's tongue darted out to taste the blood on his lip.

Sterling stepped between us, hands raised. "Why don't we all calm down?"

"Yeah." Mila's fingers dug into my shoulder.

"Fuck that." I wrenched free from her grip, my voice raw. "He left me in an empty grave last night."

Sterling's eyes widened as his gaze shifted back to Zaiden, who was still shooting daggers at me. "That's what the fuck you were doing last night."

"She deserves to be buried right next to my sister." He stepped forward, puffing his chest out.

"If I deserve to be next to her, so do you." I stepped forward, bumping my chest with his.

His hand moved to grab me, but Sterling hooked an arm around him, jerking him back. "It's not my fault she's dead. It's yours, and you have to live with that guilt for the rest of your life."

"What did I do?" I threw my hands up in the air. "What, Zaiden?"

His lips curled into a smirk. "I'll see you tonight, princess."

He jerked hard, shrugging Sterling off him, and walked away. Sterling gave us a 'what-the-fuck' look before following after Zaiden.

"You just punched Zaiden Knight in the face," Mila squealed once they were gone. "I don't know whether to be proud or scared."

I shook my head.

"He's going to get me back at the party tonight."

"You think he'll show the video to everyone?" Mila's voice bounced off the concrete walls, making the question echo.

My gaze tracked Zaiden and Sterling until they disappeared around the corner, the sound of their laughter lingering in the air like a threat.

"I don't think so. That's the only leverage he has over me. If he uses that, then it's over. I'm ruined, but I'm free."

"No, girl." Mila's voice dropped. She glanced around before continuing. "You'll never be free as long as he thinks you killed his sister."

"Yeah." I rubbed my bruised knuckles, wincing. "See if you can get Sterling alone tonight at the party."

Mila fidgeted with her bracelet. Hesitated. "Maybe we should skip the party tonight." She glanced over her shoulder. "It's going to be so packed that the team probably won't miss us."

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