“I am.”
“No, you’re not.” I hop off the bike. “You’re just telling me that Dad might be kicking you out during a board meeting, and you need me to accept shares so I can make sure you remain at the top of the food chain. I don’t see a clause anywhere that says you care about my opinion, so drop the act.”
“And?” Her voice hardens. “Will you do it or will you do it?”
I scoff. “Hey, Serena. Did anyone ever tell you to play nice when asking for a favor?”
“That’s assuming you have a choice. I could kidnap June and?—”
“Finish that sentence and I’ll join Dad’s side just to bring you down.” My voice matches hers. “You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.Believeme.”
“You think I’ll ever be scared ofyou?” She releases a mocking noise. “Three potential Osborn heirs already disappeared. You can join your brothers in a heartbeat if you’re not careful enough, Marcus. It’s you who shouldn’t make an enemy out ofme, not the other way around. I’ll give you time to think this through, and I expect the answer I want to hear.”
She hangs up, and I let out a breath, then punch the lamppost a few times until my knuckles bruise and bleed. Then I walk between the parked cars, considering my options.
Now, I need to figure out a way to deal with her and protect Mom without raising her suspicions.
The only solution I have is Dad, and I truly,reallydon’t want to ask that old man for anything.
But then again, Serena is his problem. They have this weird power struggle going on between them, and I have to be careful not to end up as collateral damage like my brothers.
My thoughts and feet come to a halt at a scene taking place right in the middle of the dimly lit parking lot.
I came here with one mission—get Preston.
Drag him out if I have to.
It’s been about a week since he ran away from my place, and I figured it was time to teach him a lesson. He texted me the following day, asking if we were going to meet, and I sent a sole “No.”
To which he replied with something along the lines of “It’s not like I want to see you. Good riddance.”
Then he texted yesterday, the day before today’s game.
Preston
You done being petty?
I thought meeting regularly was part of the deal.
You know I’mhypersexual, Marcus. If we’re not fucking, I’ll find someone else.
Me
You do that, and we’re done.
You’re the one who refuses to meet me!
You’re the one who ran away.
I just went home.
You ran away. You do that again, and we’re also done.
Fine, then let’s not meet. If I have a shit game tomorrow, it’s your fault.
Apparently, he said that because he’d already decided to go with his initial plan—find someone else.
He’s now standing under the dim lighting, looking lethal in jeans and his Vipers jacket, his hair floppy and falling over his forehead.
