Page 9 of Steal Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 1)
“I can see that.” I murmur.
Royce then frowns at Kaden, pulling me from his friend and pressing on my back so that we’re walking forward toward the elevators. I swallow a bit because elevators and I aren’t friends. When Pierce and I used to come home to our condo at night, he would spend the entire elevator ride up berating me on everything I had ‘screwed up’ that evening. So as we step onto the marble floors and the soft background music surrounds us, I anxiously grip the sleeves of my jacket. I watch as the numbers go up and when we finally reach P, I realize just how much money these men have.
The penthouse is by far one of the nicest ones I’ve ever stayed in. It has modern furniture but the walls have a classic gold and cream wallpaper with wooden floors, covered in soft carpeting. The windows spanning the living room look out over the city and I can see an entire bar that stretches along the back of this main room. I briefly wonder how many bedrooms are in this place but that’s answered for me when I look up to see three archways in the upstairs foyer and I can see one on the main floor.At least the couch is large enough that I’ll be comfortable tonight.
My brain is running over all the possible situations. So they could either kill me or let me go. If it’s the latter, what the hell do I do? I can’t go back to campus and I can’t go back East. I’m so screwed. I’m distracted enough that I barely hear Royce speak.
“River you have to stay.” Royce looks determined, his jaw set hard.
River, who’s standing way closer than I realized, looks incensed. “Absolutely fucking not. I’m not a babysitter. I already told you what I think we should do with her.” I flinch slightly but keep my face neutral.
Blaine speaks quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “We’re only going to be there for an hour or so, just to be seen. You know as well as I do that you aren’t missing out on anything.”
River snarls and goes on to say something, before catching himself. “Except for my plans.”
Kaden rolls his eyes. “Move your ‘plans’ to another night, you wanted to be a part of this, so be a part of it and do more than just be the driver.”
Royce looks at me before walking toward the door. “We’ll be back soon.”
Kaden hesitates, looking at me, then River before storming toward the elevator by the brothers. I swallow as the elevator closes and takes them down, with River still glaring at me. With a tired sigh, I move to sit down on the couch, after shrugging off my coat, and River steps in my path. I tilt my head confused.
“What are you doing?”
“If you’re a hostage, you don’t get to sit on the couch.”
This is just petty and I’ve reached my limit. “Listen, River …” I step closer to him. “I get that you’re pissed that you can’t go off to some party and get wasted before screwing some cheerleaders, but I didn’t ask for this. I am a victim here, not part of the problem, in case you forgot.”
“You’re a fucking liability,” he growls. “Which is exactly why you’re going to end up dead.”
A cold shiver works its way up my spine at his anger, I turn and his hand grasps my arm. This time I can’t help but flinch, Pierce’s face flashes before me, and instantly River lets go of me. I look down at the floor, my ears turning pink, as I finally lift my eyes to his. They’re wide and his expression blank, making me know that he didn’t miss it. He’s seen the fear. I stumble on my heels and look toward the large staircase.
“Sloane.” River speaks quietly, his eyes flashing to the arm he grabbed, the one Pierce bruised so many times. Something flashing through his gaze, maybe realization? I hope not.
“If you want to kill me, try to make it a clean shot,” I bite out before looking away from him. “But I’m not standing up the whole night in these heels.”
He smirks, suddenly amused and probably surprised by my feistiness. “Ooh, the little kitty has claws …” Then his gaze hardens again, before he grabs me by my hair, his big hand cupping the back of my head and bringing my face closer to his. His breath smells like sweet watermelon and I see green flecks in his amber colored eyes.
“So you’re not gonna stand up all night in those heels, huh? What are you gonna do then to earn couch privileges? Are you gonna go down on your knees and provide me with the entertainment I’m missing out on because of your inconvenient, pretty ass?” I inhale sharply and resist the instinct to knee him in the balls. I’m sure that if I did that, he’d ignore Royce’s and Kaden’s instructions that I’m not to be harmed.
I open my mouth to say something but no sound comes out. That’s when River loosens the grip on my hair and his hand skims down my neck in a slow, surprisingly gentle descent. His hazel gaze is fixed onto my eyes and again, my body instinctively reacts with a rush of heat and blood is roaring into my ears, making me feel dizzy with fear and excitement at the same time.
River’s hand stops on my shoulder with a firm grip and he smiles but it’s unnerving and it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I was joking. Don’t look at me like that. Sure, I’m fucking pissed that I won’t get laid tonight but I’m not a rapist. It’s only fun if both people want it. So, for as much as I’d love to see you sink down on your knees and wrap those pretty lips around my cock, I’d never force you to do it. Let’s order some room service and watch a movie while we wait for those annoying motherfuckers to come back. Choose something funny while I order us dinner. Cheeseburger ok with you? For some reason, you don’t strike me like a salad, everything on the side, kinda girl, huh?” And his gaze skims slowly down my body in a smoldering caress that makes that heat burn brighter and settle down, down between my legs. It’s ridiculous because I know he means it as a compliment, in some weird twisted fucking way and I am a small woman … but instantly I’m insecure at his words. It’s true, I hate salads but dance has always allowed me to eat whatever the hell I want. It wasn’t until Pierce started commenting on what I ate that I began to have body image issues.
Also, for the record? The rumors about him are true: River is fucking crazy. I have been surprised by the lack of tears thus far, but I can’t and won’t cry in front of him. Fuck this guy.
???
Royce
I already want to leave.
My jaw hurts from all the faux smiling and Blaine looks equally frustrated. Still, it's important to be seen and Kaden is doing a good job at getting us in as many photos as possible in the hour and a half we’ve been here. Normally, a party like this would be at least entertaining. The entire house is bursting with people and bass rattles the floors, causing everyone to only amp up their activities. I have a beer in my hand that I haven’t even touched and the usual group of girls that hangs around us are sloppier than normal.
Or maybe we’re just more sober.
I hold in a growl as one of them spills beer on my jersey and I look down at the girl. Except when I look down at her, I only see the little hostage we have back at the hotel.Sloane.I want to get back to the hotel and I can’t deny that it’s because of her. I trust River only to a certain extent but Sloane has a very cautious edge to her, like a rabbit, and I don’t want my bunny hopping away before I can sink my teeth into her.
I used to think the women around us were the best at school, I was clearly dead wrong. Blaine offers me a look as some girl starts kissing all over his neck, red lipstick stains making his jaw tick. I nearly laugh at that because while he isn’t as bad as Kaden, he’s also a bit of a control freak.
