Fraud

Ivy

Have I ever mentioned how much of a clusterfuck my relationship with Gabriel has been?

Since the begi

Even if he was bleeding.

Even if he was bruised.

Even if he was already broken beneath the weight of his horrible family.

There he was, the boy I would never forget. Never stop chasing. Never let go.

But instead of our fairytale begi

A broken prince.

The spoiled princess.

And a war where the players had two different objectives.

He hid behind the mask of never being hurt. And I hid behind one that pretended to hate him.

When the time came for me to let him go, when our senior year was almost over and I knew he would leave, I did the only thing I could to latch on to Gabriel.

It was my biggest lie.

And one I refuse to regret now that we ended up here.

Gabriel’s spine straightens at what I said, the mask slipping into place not because he can hide from me but because he feels threatened.

“What do you mean you set me up?”

There’s an edge to his voice that cuts a faint line in the sand. It’s a defensive tone as he sinks back into character. Already, his lips are curling into the arrogant smirk that has driven me crazy for years. His green eyes are sharp, assessing, his posture so much taller as he stares down at me waiting for my response.

Opening my mouth to answer, I can’t find the air in my lungs to get the words out. My heart is pounding in my throat, my fingers curling into my palms.

It’s not even that big a deal. Yet it’s still a game I used to ensnare him because I knew it would drag him back.

It’s just another lie that hangs between us, heavy, bloated and festering.

“Stop imitating a fish, love. You’re cute with your mouth opening and closing like that, but it doesn’t answer my question.”

Gabriel steps toward me and I have to crane my neck to look up at him. Like this, he’s a menacing presence, a tension that could snap at any moment and tear my world apart.

“What have you done?” His voice is far too soft to be comforting.

Sucking in a deep breath, I clench my eyes shut and summon the nerve to admit just how much I was willing to risk myself to ensure I would see him again.

A voice at my back steals our attention before I can get the first word out, Gabriel’s eyes cutting over my head as I turn to see Emily ru

“Are they okay?” She meets my stare before looking at Gabriel. “Did you stop the fight?”

His eyes crawl back to me as I turn to face him. They search my face until locking on my gaze with restrained anger rolling behind them.

Without looking away from me, he says, “Emily, I’m going to ask once that you walk away.”

“I need to know,” she begs.

His jaw tightens, his eyes finally shooting back to her, but I turn before he can say anything.

“They’re fine,” I answer for him. “The guys were able to pull them apart. You said you were leaving. Why are you still here?”

Her turquoise eyes flit to the house and back to me. “I just had to make sure. It’s my fault.”

“You both seem to be at fault for a lot of things lately.”

The deep whisper of Gabriel’s voice drags my attention back to him. There is a question and a warning in those words, accusation in his tone.

Knowing I have to get this conversation over with so he can see what I did isn’t as bad as he thinks, I glance back at Emily and offer her a weak smile.

“The twins are fine. I promise. Just take off, and I’ll call you later.”

She nods, her eyes glancing at the house once more before she turns with keys in hand to walk off to her car.

I stare after her until her shadow is indistinguishable from the rest in the distance, a breath pouring over my lips as I turn back to the looming presence at my back.

Gabriel’s fingers gently touch my jaw, green eyes finding mine with a threat clearly written in them. His voice is so gentle it’s chilling.

“What did you do?”

His thumb sweeps the line of my jaw and I shiver at the contact, my throat going dry. And, really, it’s bullshit. He’s the one who wanted what happened, I only used it to my advantage.

Even if I hadn’t known, everything would have turned out the same. So what if my decision was based on my objective instead of his? We would have ended up here regardless.

Shrugging a shoulder, I spit out the truth. Dragging it out is ridiculous.

“I knew you set me up to burn down the pavilion.”

Gabriel blinks, his damn thumb so freaking soft against my face, the pad of it brushing over the faint bruises my father left.

“We’ve established that. I’m sure you figured it out after you received the recording the next morning.”

“No, Gabe. That’s not what I mean.”

Pulling away from his touch because it’s distracting me and scrambling my thoughts, I confess, “I knew before I burned the pavilion. I knew you started the rumors. I knew you set the challenge. I knew you wanted me to ask a favor. I knew everything before I followed through with it.”

His eyes widen a bare fraction. Not enough that anybody else would see the reaction for what it is. But I know him better than most.

Stepping back, Gabriel slips his hands into his pockets, Fraud firmly in place, his posture a blank slate that says nothing.

“Why would you do something so stupid?”

His voice is barely a whisper, so damn soft, yet thunder rolls beneath it. I lift my eyes to witness the hint of rage in his stare. Only the corner of Gabriel’s mouth quirks, the begi

That’s the ultimate truth a person has to remember with him:

Gabriel is at his most dangerous when he smiles.

He takes a step forward, and I step back out of instinct. When his head tilts just slightly and his eyes study my face, I fight to swallow the knot in my throat.

I didn’t do anything wrong, not really, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him.

“Tell me,” he demands, his voice so aggravatingly tender that my heart hammers beneath my ribs. “Why would you do something so insanely stupid?”

My back hits a porch column, and I’m stuck in place as he closes what little distance remains between us. Craning my neck, I stare up at him, my eyes narrowing on the curve of his mouth.

“To hold on to you,” I admit, my voice shaking on the answer.

Momentary confusion flashes across his expression, there and then gone again, replaced by the slow, sinuous smile that terrifies me now, even when I’d only ever seen it as a challenge before.

And why is that?

Why is my pulse so fast I feel like passing out? Why can’t I catch a breath or formulate a clear and concise thought? Why is every muscle locking down my spine now when I’ve never feared Gabriel before?

Is it because I’ve tasted what it is for him to want me? To show he cares? For him to finally admit we can be on the same side instead of at each other’s throats?

Is it because I know what that feels like, and I’m terrified of losing it?