by Lily White
“What did he want?”
“Nothing,” I say, fake smile in place because the group around us is staring.
I don’t crumble.
Ivy Callahan never crumbles.
I’m made of stronger fiber than that.
Eventually, everybody returns to their obnoxious conversations, and I’m no longer the focus of their scrutiny. The minutes wear on as the night pushes closer to the announcement that is the purpose of this party.
“I have to go,” Emily whispers to me just as my head turns and I catch sight of the one man in the world I’ve fought more than anyone else.
“Now? But-“ I nudge my chin in that man’s direction.
Him.
A monster that has tormented me since we were children.
Soft laughter blows over her lips. “Just ignore him. You’ll be fine. And I have a date upstairs.”
Grinning like the dirty wench she is, Emily backs away. I can’t be mad. I know where she’s going...and why.
“Which one is it tonight?”
Walking backwards, she laughs and shrugs. “Why choose?”
“Both? At the same time?”
Another wicked grin. “I only have so much freedom left. Might as well have fun.”
She only has an hour of freedom left, and I hope she remembers to be downstairs on time. Still, she’s insane for having anything to do with those boys.
Unfortunately, Emily running off has left me unattended, and I don’t miss the smooth stride of the man approaching me, my gut churning as he draws close.
How convenient that he should appear after what Tanner just asked of me.
If they think I won’t notice, they’re idiots.
I play it off that I don’t see him.
Smiling and nodding at the conversation around me, I ignore the way the hair lifts on my arms, the tingling at the nape of my neck, and a thready pulse that warns of trouble coming.
The liar has no respect for personal space.
But then, he never has.
The deep, dark notes of his cologne assault me before the heat of his body cages my back.
“How long has it been, Ivy? I don’t think we’ve spoken since high school.”
Gabriel’s voice is a tauntingly smooth sound. A tease.
“You mean when you found your car sunk to the bottom of Kevin Landry’s pool? It has been a while, hasn’t it?”
I feel him grin against my cheek, the sweet smile of his that is as much a lie as the rest of him.
It’s a fight to resist the urge I have to lean back against him, though. Part of the liar’s charm is his ability to attract.
He was beautiful in high school, but the years since have only served to carve this man into something damn near irresistible.
“My fault. I should have parked it better.”
Biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing, I turn to face my old nemesis.
Instantly, I regret it.
He stares back at me with emerald green eyes that are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. But they’re only simple jewels that adorn a face designed specifically for a woman’s destruction.
My gaze traces the strong line of his jaw. The height of his perfect cheekbones. The straight line of his nose that leads down to perfect lips. When he smiles that full watt grin, it’s a fight not to smile in return.
I know better than to believe it.
“Gabriel,” I purr, “is there a reason you’re down here?”
His eyes search my face, pausing for only a moment on my mouth before he lifts his beguiling stare to mine.
“I was just passing by and thought I’d say hello to an old friend.”
Sure you were, sweetie...
This man can take a long walk off a short pier with that lie.
The smart thing to do right now is to walk away. But I’m in trouble, and the Inferno boys aren’t the only ones adept at playing games. I need something from Gabriel, and I’m willing to play along with just about anything to get it.
I’m that desperate.
“I should hate you right now,” I say, playing coy.
He cocks a brow and steps closer, our bodies brushing together as he lifts a finger to brush a stray hair from my face.
“Why’s that?”
“I think you know.”
Grinning, Gabriel locks his stare with mine.
“I don’t, but if you’d like to tell me about it, I’ll be happy to listen.”
Liar...
He’s not the only one.
After casting a quick glance at the people around us, I turn back to him and lower my voice. “We should talk somewhere else.”
Gabriel nods and wraps his fingers over my arm to lead me away.
Most would believe I’m the idiot falling for his charms. And most would be wrong for assuming that.
I haven’t spent the last few years falling victim to the socialite life my parents want for me. Not like everybody thinks I have.
Instead, I’ve spent them sharpening my edges, honing my skills and perfecting my game.
If our past has taught me anything, it’s that there’s no better person to play against than the silver-tongued devil beside me.
Gabriel
The first time I met Ivy, we were nine.
It wasn’t the best meeting two children could have, mostly because I was in a bad mood and took it out on the first person I saw. I had a hell of a temper when I was young, something I eventually learned to control, but she was the unfortunate target of it that morning.
This war we have?
I started it.
I’m not sure if Ivy remembers that since this has lasted so long, but the beginning was entirely my fault.
I’m a big enough person to admit it.
What happened that day started a fierce hatred and competition that would last the next nine years.
And fate has a lovely habit of bringing things full circle.
It takes effort to control my expression, the corners of my lips fighting to curve because the universe was kind enough to place Ivy in my path again.
I haven’t seen this woman since the night she sank my car in a pool.
The last memory I have of Ivy is the way she stared down at me from the second story balcony of Kevin’s mansion, surrounded by her entourage, a smirk gracing her poisonous lips because she believed she’d won the war. She hadn’t.
She may have won that battle.
And I’ll admit, a few others.
But the war never ended.
It was only postponed for a little while.
That was the last party I attended in our neighborhood before leaving for Yale, the last time I locked eyes with the person I’d fought since we were children.
I’d heard Ivy was sent to an all-women’s college because her father was fed up with the notoriety her pranks and bad behavior had earned her in high school.
That was only part of the reason, but then I know more about it than I should.
Governor Callahan wanted a well-behaved social darling for a daughter. And judging by what I’ve seen of Ivy tonight, he got it.
I should feel sad to see such a fierce competitor defeated by the life that cages her, but instead, I count myself fortunate. I have every intention of using her forced compliance to my every advantage. Although, it’s a shame she won’t be as much fun this time.
Escorting Ivy to one of the lesser occupied white tents set up throughout the large party, I lean against a half wall that runs the perimeter of the yard.
My eyes search her face, my carefully controlled expression feigning concern instead of superiority. And fuck me, she’s somehow grown more beautiful in the ten years since we’ve seen each other.
It can’t matter.
I have a job to do.
Yet it reminds me of one underlying problem I’ve had when it comes to her:
There has never been a moment when I didn’t want her as much as I hated her.
Voice a soft croon th
at disguises my contempt, I ask, “Why should you hate me?”
She’s a vision in blue, the color of her one-shouldered gown highlighting the startling white blond of her hair and the hypnotic aqua of her eyes.
Seeing tears shimmering at the rims, I’m a bit thrown off. Ivy has been known to do many things, but crying was never one of them.
Never.
Not when I wrecked her sweet sixteen party, her prom or her graduation.
She never cried.
Ivy simply got even.
But then, that was our history.
What the hell had the last ten years done to her?
Her gaze escapes me for only a second before returning to my face. Stepping closer, she doesn’t pull away when my hands reach forward to take soft possession of her hips.
She’s definitely subdued.
The girl I once knew would have rather sucked face with a piranha than let me anywhere near her.
“I can’t pay the price Tanner wants. Not if it’s against my dad.”
She wipes a tear from her cheek, her eyes blinking them away. “I’ve already caused him enough problems. I’ll do anything else.”
Anything?
Interesting...
Another flicker of a glance away from me, and when I follow the direction of it, I see Governor Callahan standing with a group of men, his polished smile firmly in place.
Really, I have nothing against the guy, and I couldn’t care less about whatever political aspirations he may have.
But Warbucks feels differently. Which only makes my life hell.
Ivy leans against me, the scent of her floral perfume wafting beneath my nose, a soft strand of her hair brushing against my face.
“I can’t do it,” she insists. “He’ll disown me if I fuck up again. He almost did last time.”
Salty tears slip from her eyes to roll down her cheeks. I watch each and every one of them, staring at the way they slide down her immaculate skin.
It’s impossible to know if they’re real or fake, but from the way she’s shaking, I want to believe she’s truly frightened.
Good.
She deserves it for everything she’s put me through.
And bad.
This will make the entire game boring.
Still, I can’t help wondering what happened to her. This is not the woman who matched me toe for toe when we were growing up.
This isn’t the girl who somehow filled my locker with sex lube and smiled to see me open it. That shit doused the bottom of my legs and tops of my shoes when it poured out. Walking away was damn near impossible. I looked like a newborn giraffe on shaky legs walking through a particularly nasty porn set. After watching me bust my ass twice, Tanner finally stopped laughing long enough to slide me the fuck out of there.
This definitely isn’t the girl who managed to hide a glitter bomb in my backpack. The fucking thing exploded in my face, and no matter how hard I scrubbed my skin for the next month, I looked like a reject vampire who was denied a role on Twilight every time I walked in sunlight.
And it most certainly isn’t the devious bitch that snuck fifty live chickens into my house an hour before I was throwing a blowout party. I’d intentionally not invited her just to piss her off, but the guys and I had to call everything off as soon as we got there and discovered the chaos. We spent most of the night chasing the feathered fuckers through my house before spending the next few hours cleaning up bird shit.
To this day, I still can’t figure out where she got the chickens.
Sadly, that wasn’t the worst of it, and I’m reminded suddenly just how much I can’t trust her.
Not that she can trust me either.
Easing an arm around her shoulder, I hold her close. We’ve never stood like this before, never done more than trade angry barbs and lash out with the intent to destroy each other.
“It’s doubtful he’ll disown you,” I lie.
The truth is I can’t wait to see this social darling fall. The fact that I was the cause of it makes the victory even better.
Another delicious tear slips out as she tips her eyes to mine.
I know I have her.
Right here and right now, I begin the game I have every intention of using against her.
We meet again, Ivy Callahan.
You have no idea how much I’ve looked forward to this.
Of fucking course, that’s when shouting filters from the house followed by a few catcalls and people laughing. Because that’s the way my life goes. I’m so busy chasing everybody else’s fuckups that it’s hard to focus on my own.
“Oh, my God! Yes, Tanner! Give it to me harder!”
We both turn toward the noise, Ivy’s brows crinkled in confusion while I close my eyes to recognize that voice.
Around us, people laugh and whisper at what was said, their attention on the open back doors as Luca comes storming out. Tanner is fast on her heels, his hand grabbing her arm to spin her back to him.
“What’s going on?”
No. I need her focused on me and not the distraction. Especially one that proves we’re still the bastards she battled in high school.
I palm Ivy’s cheek to drag her attention back. “Don’t worry about that.”
She attempts to turn again, but I won’t let her.
Dipping my head down to hers, I don’t miss how her lips part slightly, her blue eyes widening just as fraction.
Mouths hovering a teasing inch apart, we both still in place.
It’s aggravating as hell to hear my voice come out on a rough whisper.
“We should see what can be done about your problem.”
Luca’s voice rises again, and I lift my gaze to see Tanner following after her. If that’s not bad enough, our fathers are watching, their expressions tight with disapproval.
Fuck...
If it’s not one thing, it’s always another.
It’ll be a miracle if Tanner ever gets a handle on Luca. That woman has always managed to slip between his fingers, and judging by the scene occurring, he’s no better off with her now than he was at Yale.
If it wasn’t screwing up my game in the process, I would laugh.
I’ve always liked Luca.
I lock eyes with Ivy again, my fingers lightly trapping her chin. “I need you to stay right here for a minute while I go handle something.”
It’s like speaking to a toddler - not that Ivy thinks like one. She just has a nasty habit of causing chaos every time a person gets distracted and has to turn their back.
She nods as if she’ll do as I ask, her eyes blinking away more tears despite the confusion in her expression after seeing Tanner and Luca’s argument.
A vein of distrust unravels inside me, but I leave her there anyway.
By the time I reach my father, Tanner and Luca are out of sight, but it hasn’t erased the stern look in Warbuck’s eyes or the thin line of his mouth.
“I thought we taught you kids better than that.”
He doesn’t bother to look at me. Probably because I’m the disappointing son. The one who doesn’t give a fuck to follow every order laid out for me in the manner he wants it done.
Of all the guys, I’m the best choice for dealing with our fathers, only because I’m a master at hiding my contempt for them.
Instead of my father’s stare, I meet the eyes of Daddy Dearest. “Luca has been an issue for years. Tanner is handling it.”
“From where we’re standing, it doesn’t look like he’s handling it at all.”
At William’s comment, I turn to glance at him. As far as I’m concerned, the twins’ father can be eaten alive by rabid vultures, and it still would be too good a death for him. Although, he has every right to be pissed off at the situation. It’s what we used to cut off his access to the Ezra and Damon.
Eyes back to Tanner’s father. “I’m sure whatever they were arguing about won’t be a problem.”
“Go deal with Ivy,” he answers, rather than acknowledging what I sa
id.
The three of them walk off to join the rest of our families, and I’m dismissed to go back to my problem.
Except, when I turn around, Ivy isn’t where I left her. I knew better than to leave her unattended. That woman is slippery and not one you want running around loose.
I spend the next half hour mingling and making small talk as I wander the party looking for her.
At the same time I spot her walking quickly with Emily from the back door of the house, a hand slams down on my shoulder as Shane and Sawyer run past me.
“Come on, Gabe. It’s time.”
My teeth grind, but I run after them. My eyes lock with Mason’s pissed off glare as we take our spots at the front of a pavilion and line up like this is a fucking wedding and not the announcement of an engagement.
The problem is, there are only six of us instead of nine.
Elbowing Sawyer, I lean closer to whisper, “Where are the twins?”
He shrugs but glances quickly at the house.
“They dipped out right after Luca ran away and Tanner chased after her. They didn’t say where they were going.”
In my peripheral vision, I watch Ivy tend to her best friend.
Judging by Emily’s smeared lipstick and the mess of her hair, I sigh and look back toward the house to see the twins walking out, odd grins on their faces.
Around the party, a few people begin clinking their glasses so that a hush falls over the crowd. All eyes are on us as the twins finally step up to fall in line. We’re mirrored by a row of women stretching out on Emily’s side, all of us decked out in only the best clothes and elegant finery.
It’s all a bullshit lie, a younger generation used as pawns in our families’ power trips.
Both Mason and Emily’s fathers step out of the crowd to approach the pavilion, their wives left behind to fawn over the fake picture of happiness that is really a disaster waiting to happen.
I wonder how nobody notices the happy couple are standing as far apart from each other as humanly possible.
“Where the fuck is Tanner?” Shane whisper-hisses.
I catch his stare and shake my head. “Chasing Luca.”
“Asshole,” Shane laughs. “I knew he’d find a way to get out of this. I bet he brought her on purpose.”