Page 40 of Liars

I folded my arms, meeting his gaze head-on. I could feel Poppy and Nash staring at us. “Great, then you can share thiswith your brothers. I’m not scared of you. It’s going to take a lot more than walking a few miles and stealing my shit to break me.”

Mason’s smirk deepened, a slow, taunting thing. “I guess we’ll have to step up our game.”

I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping just enough to taunt him. “Bring it. I’m ready.”

He let out a low chuckle. “I can’t wait to see you beg.”

As if. Only in his fucking dreams. “And I can’t wait to have you on your knees.”

He leaned in, kissing the tip of my nose. “Kinky. I’m looking forward to it, my little kitten.”

Poppy exhaled beside me, watching Nash and Mason walk away. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I didn’t break eye contact with Mason’s retreating form. “Me too.”

Curiosity, but mostly spite, had me heading to the football field where the team was starting practice. I could have walked home. I thought about asking Poppy if she could drive me. What I really wanted to do was call my friends and have them kidnap me, aka bail me out of this shitty situation.

But if I wanted to gain any ground with the Raven Crew, I had to learn more about them and who I was living with.

They played football.

I knew the basics of the game. I wasn’t a big sports girl despite playing volleyball.

The football field buzzed with energy as I approached, the rhythmic sounds of cleats pounding against turf and the sharp whistle of the coach cutting through the air. I spotted Kreed almost immediately. My eyes went directly to him on the field,huddled behind the center, his athletic frame standing out as he sprinted back to catch the snap. His movements were fluid and effortless as if he was born to dominate the field.

He had the same presence off the field.

I crossed my arms, leaning against the fence and watching for a moment. Mason rushed down the turf, catching the ball Kreed hurled right into his waiting fingers. I hated to admit it, but something was mesmerizing about the way the team moved in unison with Kreed at the center of it all. It was almost enough to make me forget why I was there—almost.

Maddox caught my eye from the sidelines, his helmet dangling from his fingertips. I squished my nose up at him, giving him double middle fingers. The prick just winked at me.

As the team regrouped for another play, frustration bubbled up in my chest. I didn’t have the patience to wait until practice ended, and I certainly didn’t want to sit here and watch them play or stare at the group of girls drooling over their every move.

If I had to listen to the giggling coming from the stands every time Mason so much as touched the ball, I would either scream or pull their hair out.

What I wanted to be doing was arranging to meet my friends, and I was kicking myself for not just saying fuck my bag. So what if I lost my laptop. Surely, Donovan would get me a new one. The only thing that kept me here was the slight chance he wouldn’t, and that might put my graduation in jeopardy.

My gaze shifted to the locker room building at the edge of the field. It was quiet, the door slightly ajar. A daring idea sparked in my mind.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I slipped away from the field and toward the locker rooms. I glanced around to make sure no one was watching before slipping inside.

The distinct smell of sweat and body spray hit me in the face. I wrinkled my nose, keeping my breathing as shallow as I could.Rows of metal lockers lined the room, and the faint sound of the team’s practice echoed through the walls. I moved quickly, scanning the area for my bag.

The jackass better have brought it with him.

After a few tense minutes, I spotted it tucked beneath one of the benches. Relief flooded me as I crouched down to grab it.

“Looking for something, little raven?”

The voice sent a chill down my spine. I froze, clutching the strap of my bag tightly before turning around.

Kreed stood in the doorway bare chested, his practice jersey swung over his shoulder, sweat gleaming on his skin, a cocky smirk playing on his lips. His dark eyes glinted with something dangerous as he stalked toward me.

“I-I just—” I stammered, standing up straight as my mouth went wet. “Came to get what’s mine.”

He wiped his forearm over his sweaty brow. “In the boys’ locker room? Bold move.” He stepped closer, and I instinctively backed up, my shoulders pressing against the cold metal of the lockers behind me.

“I wasn’t going to wait all day,” I shot back, trying to sound braver than I felt. He needed to put a shirt on so my eyes wouldn’t be tempted to keep glancing at his chest.

---