Page 10 of Hate So Deep

As usual, my fingers itch to touch the silky strands of her mahogany hair but that’s always been my problem, I can’t stay the fuck away.

Why else would I be here sussing out the situation when common sense should have sent me across town to deal with my dad before getting the fuck out of dodge.

I have to play this cool though because now is not the time to arouse Colt’s suspicions, not that there ever was a really good time to reveal my sordid history with his half-sister.

If she had been anyone else, I would have played with her before sending her home because she’s fuck hot with those wide green eyes and lush, curvy body.

I suspect that’s why the pretty little princess caught my eye in the first place. Despite her obvious affiliation to Academy—tearing up a pair of designer jeans couldn’t hide her pedigree—she was bold and fierce and fucking majestic.

However, Academy chicks only want one thing and that’s the badge of honor they take back to their dull ass lives proclaiming they walked on the wild side.

I’m no stranger to girls like her using their beauty to hide the wicked within. This is where our brutal games began, after all.

Lauren Stark epitomizes everything I hate about this fake ass town and the people in it. Yet here I stood, watching her finish the dishes while her family, whether she chooses to accept them or not, congregates in the living room.

Of course, she sasses right back when I tease her about getting dirty, one of the things I like best about her. She gives as good as she gets and fuck me if that doesn’t make me hard.

What’s going through that diabolical mind of hers?

What happened that night?

This is why I’m here, but I find that I can’t say shit because if she’s asking then she doesn’t remember, and it would be stupid to open that door if I don’t have to.

As far as I know, Colt doesn’t know what we did, and I’d like to keep it that way. Even though there are things I don’t understand, what I do know leads me to believe that our relationship could never come back from this.

I need to keep my distance from the sassy siren before everything implodes but if she doesn’t stop looking at me like I’m a fucking god, we’ll be right back where we started and this, I cannot afford to indulge in.

She’s dangerous in more ways than one and now I’m stuck with her until I carry out my best man duties.

Chapter 4

THEN

Lauren

“What are we doing here again?” Tori whispers, studying the couple going at it on the porch with wide eyes.

It’s hard to avoid because they’re out in the open and frankly I feel like we’re extras in a porno with all the noise they’re making but we can’t afford to get caught staring.

This situation is precarious enough as it is.

“Recon,” I mutter, glancing at her outfit.

We’re about to crash a Northside High party and she’s wearing a designer dress, wedges, and a fucking sweater.

They’re gonna know we’re Academy before we make it through the door.

“I told you to tone it down,” I hiss, and she straightens.

“Thisistoned down.”

Fuck me.

“Whatever. I told you. I want to see what he looks like,” I say, ignoring the two chicks who side eye us as we pass their car.

After a beat, she slows and says, “I think this is a bad idea.”

I know it’s a bad idea but it’s not about to deter me and I grab her arm, saying, “Please, I just need to see.”

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