Page 5 of Ruthless Mr. Ricco
She presses her palm against Angelo’s chest.Fury hazes the edges of my vision even as she pushes out of his embrace.When his expression falls, I grit my teeth in bitter resentment.She’s still the master of manipulation.
“Sorry, everyone, it was nice to see you all, but I’m not here for the reunion.I—”
“Oh my god, Brook!”I cringe at the high-pitched voice of Brook’s old desk mate, Carol, but force my shoulders to relax as I slide my other hand in my pocket.It isn’t until a flock of women descend on my prey that I realize Brook stood in a group of men.As the ladies extract their comrade from the cloud of testosterone, Carol’s exclamations continue.
“What the hell happened?You just disappeared after graduation.You never answered any of my calls or texts.I thought you were dead!”Shock and anger flow through me.I thought I was the only one she ghosted, but it turns out she’s crueler than I thought.Carol was always so nice to everyone.“How did you know the reunion date and time?We’ve rescheduled this stupid thing so many times.Can you believe it’s been eleven years since we graduated?!Leave it to our class to need an extra year, as if a decade wasn’t enough time to plan.We have so much to catch up on.Did you know Kelly got married and popped out—”
I step aside and absently note the latest gossip as Carol drags Brook into the restaurant.The reluctance in every step of Brook’s shapely legs shifts her ass within the tight fabric of her dress.
Goddamnit, she’s centerfold material even with the shawl secured around her shoulders and hiding her cleavage, and I’m not the only one who notices.When Angelo steps forward, I block him with my arm.He stops, peels his gaze off Brook’s ass, and glares at me for a moment before masking his anger with amusement.
“Calm down, lil bro.I’m not being serious; I just want to have a bit of fun,” he says.
I quirk a brow.
He sighs and claps my shoulder.I don’t react despite the force behind his swing.He squeezes hard enough to crush the bones of a weaker individual, but I hold my arm across his front and keep my other hand relaxed in my pocket.
We haven’t fought since we were in middle school, but I don’t doubt my abilities to lay him out should he cross the line.He used to overpower me easily.I’ve made sure he’ll never get the chance again.
“Have you forgotten what she put you through?”I ask.
“Of course not, which is why I’m going to play with her tonight.Don’t worry, dude.I won’t get tangled in her mess again,” he chuckles.
Not satisfied but also unwilling to cause a bigger scene with so many strangers and old acquaintances around, I lift my chin and drop my arm.When he gives my shoulder a final pat and rubs his hands together as he barrels his way across the sidewalk, I bite back a growl and flick assessing eyes at Trevor and the rest of the men before following him into the building.
I stride through the busy dining area to the reserved room in the back.Stepping over the threshold provides little relief from the noise, since old classmates introduce new family and friends to each other with obnoxious enthusiasm.
Carol hauls Brook to the far side of the main table and loops her arm in hers as though afraid she’ll flee if she releases her for even a second.A glance at Brook’s face reveals the reason why.Although her body exudes sex and confidence, her gaze flits between the exits.
Rich brown eyes catch on mine.Brook looks away, but not before several emotions flash through her expressive orbs.Guilt gnaws at my insides at the hurt narrowing her gaze, but I push the ridiculous emotion away and focus on the truth.
She played me.
She won’t soften my heart with her games anymore.She has no right to pretend she’s the victim.I was the one wronged eleven years ago.I’ll be the victor from now on.
After boisterous small talk with several other people, Carol pulls Brook into a seat near the center of the table and settles beside her.Angelo plops into the chair across from her and props his forearms on the table.He spreads his knees, crowding the seats on either side of him, and aims his perfectly straight smile at her.
I sneer at his offending leg and take the chair three seats across from Brook.She flicks a wary glance at me before turning her attention back to Carol.
Others choose their place at the table.Perfume clogs my nose as Darcy, the head cheerleader and homecoming queen, wedges her way between my brother and me.Once a stunner with natural blonde hair and a toned build, her platinum locks, silicone enhancements, and thick makeup are the biggest turn off I’ve seen in a while.Her best friend, a mean girl whose name I never bothered to learn, knocks her hip into my arm as she takes the seat on my other side.
Before I can brush off her fake apology, she slips her hand onto my shoulder and squeezes, copping a feel of my muscles.Eyes as rich and deep as melted chocolate narrow on the touch; Brook’s glance heated with what can only be jealousy.I smirk and give the mean girl my attention just long enough to enjoy Brook’s discomfort before I shrug the woman’s hands off me.
Waiters bring in appetizers and pitchers of beer, water, and soda.Unsurprisingly, my brother fills a glass to the brim and offers it to Brook.
She declines.He pouts.Darcy steals the glass, spilling a few drops onto his hand, and giggles as she offers to lick him clean.
Her flirting leaves little to the imagination and does nothing for me.The other unmarried women aren’t much better.I check my watch and groan internally, preferring to be at a board meeting or work conference rather than navigating these fruitless interactions.
After trying and failing to get my attention a few times, the mean girl simpers and turns away to bat her fake lashes at the man on her other side.
Carol shoves a glass of beer into Brook’s hand with a playful but unyielding threat of ordering shots if she doesn’t join her for a few sips.Brook accepts with obvious reluctance and gives a halfhearted smile as Carol clinks the rims together and downs half her glass.After the smallest of sips, Brook sets her drink on the table and places her hands in her lap.She glances at the exits again.Our eyes meet.Electricity zings between us.
No matter how much I hate her, I can’t help but want her, so I tell myself the connection between us is solely physical.
Angelo reaches across the table and takes her plate.She stiffens but doesn’t argue as he piles it with food.When he sets it back in front of her, she makes no move to eat.
A ruckus near the entrance pulls everyone’s attention that way.Carol’s shriek blends in with the class’s cheer as another group of students from our graduating class joins the mayhem.
