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Eyebrows caved in, his chest bumps mine. “Who do you think you are talking to me like that?” he grits out. “I told you to clean up the mess you made, now fucking do it.”
I swallow hard and I’m sure my distress is widespread for everyone to see. I look over his shoulder at Riley, hoping she’ll come to my defense, since she’s been all chummy with these guys, but she won’t even look at me. With downcast eyes, she just runs her fingers over the water as if this isn’t even happening.
“I said no!” I shove Neo in the chest, causing him to step back. “What you’re doing isn’t leadership. This is straight-up bullying, and you three should know better than anyone that I don’t cower to bullies.”
“Everyone, back to what you were doing. We’ve got this under control,” Jagger says loudly.
I laugh, bitterly. “Have what under control? There’s nothing to control.” My hand waves toward the broken bottle. “It’s a cracked bottle, and much more put together than the one Neo just threw. I’ll clean my mess up if you clean up yours.”
Neo grabs me by the bicep, lifting as he pulls me away. Jagger doesn’t bother following, heading back to the water instead.
“You realize how ridiculous you’re being, right?” I laugh it off, but it’s not funny at all. When I’m nervous, I laugh. It’s something I’ve done since I was a kid.
“You’re really testing my patience, Scarlett. You’re lucky you have the Sunder last name or you’d be facing expulsion from The Society.”
“Is that supposed to scare me, Neo? Do you really think I care if me or my family are a part of this stupid cult?”
Neo blows out a blustery breath, squeezing my arm tighter before spinning me around to face him. He walks his body into me in rapid steps, and my back crushes against a tree. “You ever call this a cult again, and I’ll remove your last name and make you a nobody. Got it?”
He’s so close, I can feel the rage spilling from his pores. Sweat pools around his hairline. Of all the bad sides to get on, I just had to get on Neo’s.So fucking stupid.
“Got it,” I say, just to end this.
“No you don’t.” His tone is sharp, like a knife. “You hate this Society. You hate who you are because of it. You hate everything about being a Blue Blood, don't you?”
I open my mouth to speak, but the words get lodged in my throat. Truth be told, I don’t hate it all. I don't hate who I am or what I’ll become. “No. What I hate is being told what to do. By you. By them. By anyone.”
“Why is that, Scarlett? Think long and hard. Is it really about The Society’s rules or The Academy’s rules, or is it something more?”
What is he talking about and why is he calling me Scarlett? They always call me Scar.
Neo presses his palm to the tree behind me, his forearm blanketing my shoulder. “Perhaps it’s because your grandparents, who were madly in love, had to divorce so your mom and dad could get married before she birthed a bastard child.”
My eyes close, tears pricking at the corners. Not tears of sadness, but anger. I open them slowly, glowering. “How dare you? My family is none of your fucking business.”
“Did I hit a nerve,Scarlett?”
My grandfather, Abbott Sunder, passed away shortly after I was born. Two weeks later, my grandmother took her own life. From what my parents told me, they were so in love that neither could live a life without the other. The Elders would have forced my parents to abort me or be abolished from The Society if they did not marry. They also couldn’t marry until my mom’s mom divorced my dad’s dad. Apparently, stepsibling love affairs that result in pregnancy are frowned upon.Who knew?
Regardless, none of that is Neo’s business, or anyone else's for that matter.
“Is it so wrong that I believe we should be able to love who we wish to love and live how we wish to live?”
“When you’re a Blue Blood, this is your life, and unless you want to live in misery as an outcast, abolished by The Society, while knowing every member is breathing down your back and waiting for you to make a mistake they can use against you, then yes, you’re wrong for fighting the rules.”
“I’m not fighting the rules. I’m fighting the three of you. You waged this war and now we have to see it through.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. A war was never waged. A declaration was made. If you want to reap the benefits, you have to put in the work. And you’ve reaped those benefits more than any student at this Academy.”
“Bullshit! The only benefit I’ve ever taken advantage of is getting out of the trouble you all put me in. I didn’t do all that stuff and you know it.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then what the hell are you talking about? Because if this is all just a case of miscommunication, then let's clear the air. Say it. What do you think I’ve benefited from that you haven’t?”
He says nothing. Just assesses me.
“Just say it, Neo. And while you’re at it, apologize for the hell you put me through to get me here.”
