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“I know what you’re doing, Rynn,” he murmured. “Turning the conversation around on us.”
Jace scooted up the bed, catching my ankle when I moved to stand. He yanked, pulling me down on the mattress until I was nearly lying down. I managed to kick free, rolling to get off the bed and ramming right into Kian, who was standing on the side.
“What are you doing?” I shrieked when Kian gave me a push, putting my ass back into the middle of the mattress.
“We’re not done talking,” Jace told me, making himself comfortable beside me.
My fingers curled into fists when Kian plopped down on my other side. They both looked determined to continue this conversation. My bright idea of getting under their skin had seriously fucking backfired.
“So every day you weren’t with me, you were with him?” Kian questioned, lifting his eyes over me to look at Jace.
“I saw her almost every other day,” Jace informed him. “It makes sense why she was so against being anywhere near gang business.”
They were right. I was always moving between their two territories, and the only reason I remained undetected was because I was adamant about not wanting to be near any Grimrose or Disciples members. Jace and Kian barely did any business that summer because they spent all their time with me.
“How long have you been in this life?” Kian asked quietly. “Or did you grow up in it like Jace and me?”
“Where are you from?” Jace piped up when I didn’t answer. “You didn’t grow up in Pacific Point like you told me.”
He was wrong. I did live in Pacific Point once I moved in with my brother. Not that I planned on telling him that. I shifted farther away from him when he leaned closer, and I only bumped into Kian, whose fingers wrapped around my upper arm to keep me close to him. I gritted my teeth, deciding to give them a slice of truth to get them off my back.
“The life story I gave you wasn’t a lie,” I snapped, failing to yank my arm out of Kian’s grip. “My mom died when I was a baby, and I never met my father. I was raised in the system.”
Neither of them said a word, clearly considering whether I was telling the truth. I pinched Kian’s arm, making him hiss out a breath as he released me. I clamored over him, giving myself the space I needed from them. They both went on high alert, but I only landed against my dresser instead of running out of the room like they expected.
“If we’re talking about pasts, then that goes both ways,” I stated, raising an eyebrow. “What happened between you two? Because that’s the only thing you both refused to talk about.”
Jace went rigid while Kian kept his gaze on me, not even blinking. One word about their past, and the tension skyrocketed. Wondering how far I could push them, I racked my brain, trying to remember all the details they’d told me. I knew they split ways at fifteen after something big happened.
“Jace said he bought his bike around that time,” I muttered, taking a random guess. “Does his dislike of cars have anything to do with what happened between you two?”
Understanding flashed in Kian’s eyes, and he whipped his head to look at Jace, proving my hunch was right. Jace scowled, leaping off the bed and stalking toward me. I didn’t move. Just lifted my chin when he stopped inches from me.
“We’re not talking about that,” he murmured, his voice dangerously soft. “But I’ll give you something else.”
“And what’s that?”
He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger as he answered. “Two weeks.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Two weeks what?”
“That’s how long it took me to realize I was falling in love with you.”
My mouth went dry from his admission, and my eyes stayed locked on his. His expression was hard, but he was searching my face, waiting for my response.
“That was a long time ago,” I breathed out, my brain going blank at the exact moment I needed to keep my walls up.
“You fucked me over, Rynn,” he replied, a harsh edge in his voice. “Yet I still can’t stop myself from protecting you.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” I snapped. “And holding me hostage isn’t exactly doing what’s best for me.”
“Actually, it is,” Kian said as he climbed off the bed. “Because Chris wanted us to take you to Pacific Point so he could find out who you’re working with. His men are all over the city. You wouldn’t have gotten far if you tried to leave. And now my dad is curious about you. Staying on campus with us is the safest place you can be.”
“No, it’s not,” I retorted, pushing Jace away from me. “I have nothing to do with your little territory spat—”
“You have everything to do with it now,” Jace cut in coldly. “Chris and Hayes aren’t stupid. They’re suspicious as fuck that you still had something to do with the Phantoms taking Kian and me. You’re on their radar now. There’s no just walking away anymore.”
“If you think I’m going to stay here and play nice after your big show at The Pit, you don’t know me at all,” I spat out, my anger surging. “Trapping me and claiming that you own this school, and that you ownme? Fuck both of you.”
