Malice

How dare he.

How dare his whole damn family.

This is so much worse than his betrayal last year. The realization that he’s been making my life hell for months now without really knowing why is gut-wrenching.

I’m so blinded by my rage, that I don’t notice the figure leaning against the side of my building until I’ve nearly walked by him.

“You seem tense, little Je

No. No, not now. Not him.

I face Ghost and bare my teeth. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Your mom wants you,” he says, pushing away from the wall.

Of course she does. She only ever wants me at the most inopportune times. Her timing is shit, and so is my mood.

“If she wants to see me, she should pick up the damn phone,” I snarl, turning away from him with every intention of going inside and ignoring my summons.

He reaches me in two long strides and grabs my arm, stopping me.

“I don’t think so. You’re going to get in my car and come with me, right now.”

“Like hell I will.”

His fingers dig into my arm. “Do you need a little persuasion?”

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he dials a number and holds it to his ear. His grin turns cruel when he passes it to me.

“Say hello,” he orders.

He’s not giving me a lot of choice, so I reluctantly take the phone and murmur, “Hello?”

“Mallory?”

The blood drains from my face as I recognize Je

“Mom? What’s going on?”

“Everything’s okay, baby girl.” But her words are slurred, and I can tell she’s really high. “I’ll explain everything when you get here.”

Ghost takes the phone away before I can respond and ends the call.

“What have you done to her?” I demand to know in an icy tone.

He tucks his phone back into his pocket and shrugs. “Nothing she wouldn’t be doing to herself, believe me.”

I almost throw myself at him and attack, but even in the midst of my rage, I’m not an idiot. No way in hell would I survive a throw-down with Ghost.

Still, I swear to myself that I’ll make him pay.

“She better not be hurt,” I hiss.

He chuckles. “Or what? You’ll send your rich boyfriend after me?”

I don’t tell him that I won’t need Saint’s help. When the time’s right, I’ll make Ghost regret he ever crossed me all by myself.