Page 42 of Merciless

My eyes narrow.

What’s up his sleeve? He’s the one trying to win the bet. Not me. In fact, I hate that he’s even turned her into some conquest. She’s mine to do with as I fucking please.

And I’m not his lapdog.

Eden glances at me, looking less pleased than I feel.

Elijah’s lips curve into a sly smirk, and he stares at me as he says, “Derrick, let me drive your Mazda.”

“Uh, do you really think that’s smart? Or are you just getting cocky, thinking you’re going to⁠—”

“Asher can’t show Eden anything if he’s not racing anyone.” Elijah turns to Derrick, stone-faced and done with his shit. “And admit it. I’m the best in the group.”

“Cocky much?” Derrick scoffs.

For once, I have to agree with him.

Elijah holds his hand toward Derrick. “Give me your keys.”

Fuck all of this.

I stride past Eden and snatch the keys to the GT-R from Elijah before closing the gap between Eden and me. Each time I move toward her, her eyes widen, little by little. She tilts her head back to look up at me as I tower over her.

“Come on, little ghost,” I murmur before stalking past her to the car.

I hold the passenger door open for Eden and lock eyes with Elijah. His dark eyebrows scrunch together, and he tilts his head as he looks between Eden and me.

I know that look. I grew up with it and even share the same expression when I’m deep in thought. Over my dead body will he figure out my secrets. He’ll never know what I did to her with my mouth or how I think about her while I’m in the shower.

He can’t stand her.

I want to figure her out.

He has his secrets. I have mine.

Fair is fair.

I flash him a grin, and the muscle in his jaw flutters as he clenches his teeth. Elijah spins toward Derrick, snatches the Mazda keys from him, and stalks to the car.

I turn and help Eden with her seatbelt.

She sighs, annoyed. “I don’t know what it is about you and Elijah that makes you think I can’t do it myself.”

“Just being a good big brother,” I say.

I turn my head to look into her eyes as I buckle the harness straps. My lips curve, and I stroke the bare skin on her thigh. It’s brief, barely there, but she reacts so beautifully to it.

Pink tints her cheeks, and she avoids looking me in the eye.

How interesting.

Even though she huffs and pretends to be put off by me, she can’t hide her body’s reaction. I’m no mind reader, but I’d bet all my money that she’s thinking some dirty shit about me right now.

Taking one last deep breath of her vanilla scent and forbidden desires, I pull away and straighten before closing her door.

The purr of the Mazda’s engine breaks through the night. Even though the windows are tinted, I don’t have to see Elijah to know he’s watching me.

I round the GT-R and stride to the Mazda.