by Sam Crescent
“Tabitha, Eva and Tiny’s kid from The Skulls.” She shook his hand, making sure he knew she wasn’t any pushover.
She wasn’t a fool. Her mother had told her there would come a time she’d be part of the club, that it wouldn’t always be only men. She also knew The Skulls. She’d be either an old lady or for the rest of her life known as Tiny’s daughter.
Neither of them appealed to her, but that was the way it was.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Really?”
“Believe it or not, we’re not all here to cause conflict.”
She glanced over at the men, who were acting like a bunch of children. “Could have fooled me.”
She sipped at her orange soda as Matthew stood beside her. He was a lot taller than she was, muscular as well, reminding her of Drew. Thinking about him reminded her once again of home.
“Do you think they’ve done this to laugh at us all?” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“The fancy house, the large garden, the entire mansion that proves they’ve got wealth. The kind that we’ll never have.”
“I don’t know. I think the Billionaires are on a mission, and it’s not to look down on anyone.”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t trust them?” Matthew asked.
“If you were really a Prez’s son, you shouldn’t either.”
“You’re a little young to be this … pessimistic.”
Tabitha thought about the beating she’d gotten years ago. She’d been just a kid then as well, and she’d experienced many hospital trips herself all because of some rift or another. “When you grow up in The Skulls, you’ve got to learn to take care of yourself. There are always enemies lurking around to take their place. Don’t think for just a second that because this is peaceful that it will remain so.” She grabbed a grape soda. “Excuse me.”
She made her way across the garden, aware of Simon’s eyes on her. He was always watching her, and she loved it. Glancing over at him, she saw the jealousy in his eyes, and rolled hers.
Taking a seat beside Daisy, she handed her a soda.
“Who was the hottie you were speaking to?”
“You saw that.”
“Simon was foaming at the mouth.”
Tabitha smiled. “Matthew. Trojans’ boy. Seemed kind of nice.”
“I wish someone would look at me the way Simon does you. Whenever he’s around, he’s always following you.”
Tabitha looked toward Anthony. Her friend was playing it cool, but she was more than aware of who he was watching. “You’d be surprised.”
End of sample chapter
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