Playlist - Kill Bill by Sza

Two days after Astoria left

Axel

A feminine tanned hand closed around my upper arm. I turned around to meet a familiar pair of warm brown eyes. My own eyes softened when Charlotte came to my view.

I hadn't seen her since forever. She was busy with her own vendetta, carefully mapping out how to take Luna West down. With Luna occupying most of the space in her head, she had forgotten about me. And thank fuck for it. I wouldn't have been able to entertain her antics.

"I should be screaming at you right now, but all I want to do is to kiss you." She pressed her forehead against mine. "You're difficult to tie down." Knowing her, she meant it literally.

I threaded my fingers through her soft chestnut brown hair, pulling it just enough to draw her face backward, just an inch. It gave me a chance to intimidate her with my height.

"If you're the one tied down to my bed, then I am in for a treat." She pursed her lip.

I pulled both of us over to the couch. I don't overthink, going straight for the kill. Our fingers clasped together, I held her eyes which reflected the desire of my own. We are forgetting that we both are at a dinner hosted by Cade Henry at his mansion, and our parents—her dad—are waiting for us to show our faces in the formal dining room.

What's fun without a little risk and I had grown a rebellious streak since childhood.

Our lips meet in the push and pull of dominance. Charlotte likes it when I take charge, it's her way of actually being in control of our rendezvous. My hold tightened against her nape, she moaned in return.

I used the vantage of my height to unnerve her in-control personality. I knew Charlotte better than anyone, even her own brother. She was vain on the inside. It had become her habit to add meaning to her life, and that habit of hers has come to bite me in the ass.

She thought of me as her property, silently marking me as her own. At first, I had completely dismissed this notion, but now I had enough reasons to put her down easily.

Charlotte must've caught on my apprehension, because her fist clenched around my bicep, holding onto it like it was her only source of support. Our lips parted slightly. It gave me a chance to stare into her eyes.

Vulnerability was evident in her warm chocolate eyes. She had allowed me to see her defenceless side. A surge of memories flooded my vision and chocolate brown eyes were replaced with tantalising blue orbs. They stared into my soul with a depth of adoration, love and vulnerability in them. Those were the same pair of eyes that had discarded my heart like yesterday's bread.

"Where have you wandered off?"

I was brought back to reality. Charlotte stared at with an accostory glint in her eyes.

"Nowhere." I unclasped our hand. Straightening my formal dinner jacket, I attempted to fix my disheveled hair, but was stopped when Charlotte placed her hand on mine.

"Stop doing whatever you're doing," she started off.

"I am fixing my hair. How's that an inconvenience to you?"

"It makes me feel like you're trying to mask the evidence of us together. I think it's time we tell them," she whispered.

Puzzled, I blinked. "Tell them what exactly?"

"About us."

"What about us?"

"Axel," she warned. "I am not in the mood to fight." She pushed at my chest, then unbuttoned the top buttons of my dress shirt.

She had made it her habit to leave love bites on me. I had an inclination Charlotte did it to warm off the next girl who tried to get close to me. It was her way to stake a claim on me.

"I actually don't."

I know where she wanted this conversation to lead. She's been all over me ever since I had kissed her behind a tent in a summer camp as teenagers. It was a gigantic error on my part. I had let our infatuation stricken relationship continue, and now it has led me here.

If she was irritated, she didn't let it show. Instead her claws stroke my chest, hands sliding to my neck.

"Baby, I don't know why you're acting out of character, but I do know one thing, whoever is making you this defiant to admit our relationship out to the world, that person will meet a very tragic fate." She leaned down to kiss my neck.

On impulse, I grabbed her hair and made her face me. She had a smug grin on her face and I didn't like it one bit.

"What makes you think you can casually throw threats at me and get away with it." My tone is far from gentle. "If you're going to act like a menacing bitch, actively trying to bully me for a relationship, then baby, big news for you, I am fucking done with you."

I pushed her away. Straightening my appearance, I glanced one last look at a rigid looking Charlotte before walking out of the room.

At the dinner table, I completely ignored Charlotte which raised questioning looks from Ares. He was the only one on the table with the exception of Chase who knew about our little thing.

My head was threatening to explode. I have had a shitty fourth-eight hours and I wanted the shittness to fucking leave me alone. I was mentally drowning. On the edge of my seat, I stood from the dinner table and excused myself.

The glares, threats my father undoubtedly was sending my way could wait. I had to get out of here. I was too much in my head and it would have to stop right now.

I got into my car and sped away. My vision was filled with her face. The last image I had of her in my head, bleakly and broken. Dread crawled under my skin when the thought of that day being the last time I get to see her.

Something close to a disgruntled sound left my voice. I slammed the breaks. "Fuck."

Before I knew it, I had dialed the last person I wanted to talk to. Yet he was my best option in getting what I want.

On the third ring, he answered my call. "Hello, baby cousin." Ace's voice spoke through the speaker of my voice. "I would suggest you be quick as I am currently inside my girlfriend." He grunted and I cringed.

"I need a favour from you and I want it fucking done."

***

More three days after...

Soccer has become a convenient way to unleash my pent up frustration. I was thankful to know how to play the sport and additionally, it gave me a chance to be sadistic without any repercussions.

"Connor, ten laps around the fields. Trent you'll be joining him if you don't cool down that anger. You don't play against your teammates, dumbass. Stop butchering them." Our coach, Carter yelled.

He could be a pain in ass, but he meant well. And the guy had already outwitted me on my own tricks so yeah, he had my respect.

I concentrated on my footwork and tried to shrug some of the irritation off my head. An hour later, we started with our practice match, red vs green. My team won, no shocker there. I saw the coach frown and I knew I had done something wrong.

I jogged up to him and was met with his unnerving personality. "I know what you're doing to say so just say it and get this over with," I told him, bracing myself to be berated by him.

"Believe it or not, Trent. This is the best game I've seen from you in a long time."

"In a long time, huh? Ouch."

"Don't get panties twisted. What is true is true."

"Then why do you look so... upset?"

"It's the hostility that's bothering me. What happened to you? Pfff... I don't care, but if you don't keep that rage aside in an official match, you'll end up playing against your teammates." I went to speak in my defence, but a glare from him stopped me. "No excuses. Now go, take 15 laps.

***

The following day...

I felt destructive. In fact, I would be causing a lot more trouble from now onwards than I had ever done before. My first prey was my AP physics teacher, Miss Sienna. She had asked me to wait after the class and like the obedient student I was, I waited.

Turns out, Miss Sienna was very much interested to know about the physique. Her misty eyes danced all over my body. On cue, I grinned flirtatiously as a menacing idea popped in my head.

I had invited her to meet me at the Gate in the night. The cunt had greedily accepted my invitation and now I waited here with friends for her to show up. Our little teacher had a very bad habit of getting a little close with the student body and now she'll be reprimanded for it.

"I am glad we are friends," Chase said, tossing the beer can behind him. "Because you would be the worst kind of enemy ever." He gave me a knowing smile.

Yeah, yeah, asshole. Like you would be any different.

The gate was located at the hilltop side of our town. The kids used it for parties, getting in trouble, hanging out and whatnot. It used to be a massive carnival with a circus as it's main attraction when our town was established back in 1805. But then, the founding fathers of the town built a church. When tragedy reared it's face, a young girl was raped and murdered and in return her family butchered her rapist, the place was immediately abandoned.

Now, it was nothing more than a convenient place to stir up havoc.

"That little bitch better show up. She fucking traumatised my little brother." Jason Miller, a senior, sneered, blowing out the smoke from his cigarette.

Tate Morrison patted Jason's back. "And where is Ares? He's usually the first in line for things like this."

Chase and I exchanged looks. "He's busy," I said."

"Doing what?" The other guys wouldn't let it go.

"Eating ass," I blurted, angrily. "You fuckers need your boss to guide you? Then go call him."

Some oohs rang in the air, followed by laughter.

"Break up with Jenna really affected you man. She must have an amazing pussy."

My fist clenched and I shot them one threatening look that silenced guys and they went about some other shit. The rumour that Jenna had broken up with me was really rubbing me the wrong way. The bitch had pranced around spreading the lie. At first, I paid it no attention but now I was getting really annoyed by it.

A car screeched, altering all of us. A smug smile played on all of our lips. So it begins...

Next day, the school abuzz with the news of Ms. Sienna mysteriously handed out her resignation at the principal's office. It would take everyone to put two and two together before they figured what actually went down with Sienna.

No one would bat an eye or shed a tear for the cougar who had a huge interest in putting dicks of young men in her mouth. Too bad that she had taken a liking towards the wrong man. Plus, she also was big pervert who had preyed on Jason Miller, captain of the swim team, underage brother.

Jason had shown her exactly had should have done with a whore like her and now their deed's footage was stored in my cloud. My finger threatened to airdrop the footage to the entire school, at least that's what Sienna believed.

My head was finally back in the game. I had gotten my flow back just in time for a match against our rival, Black Reid prep.

"Move along, stalker." I knocked the books out of Jenna's hand. "Books, huh? You know how to read something other than tumblr posts?"

Her brown eyes trailed up and down my body. I was in my soccer jersey and shorts. Jenna, being the cheerleader, was unfortunately more in my vicinity than normal.

She had intentionally sashayed right towards me in her tight navy blue and gold cheerleader outfit. Her eyes widened like a doe at my remark.

Feeling a little too generous today, I decided not give her a hard time, just little taunts.

"Get out of my way." I didn't wait for her to act or speak, with a firm grip, I slid her out of my way. "Maybe some other time you can take a picture, it'll last longer." I flashed her a vindictive grin.

I heard her voice calling out my name yet I kept on going until I reached the locker room.

Coach Carter was going over our strategy for today's game and field positions. Ares, our team captain, gave everyone a much needed talk to get serious and play like we mean it.

"Let's beat them in their own home. There's nothing more important than gaining respect and dignity from your rival's. We need to play a game that they'll never forget."

Everyone cheered at Ares's little pep talk. His mouth told one thing and his eyes told another. We knew our captain well enough to understand what he meant, show those fuckers who's the boss.

"Let's go, Phoenix!" We huddled and then prepared to go into the field.

The only reason I tolerated soccer was because I was half good at it and it didn't bore me to death. Other than that I had no clue why I gave so much of my effort to the sport. I contemplated whether I liked the surge of adrenaline in my veins when I was playing the game or how it made me feel after I had successfully scored goals for my team.

The season had already started with a bang. Coach Carter was constantly breathing down our necks. We needed to bring this one home.

My phone buzzed with a series of text messages. At first, I wanted to ignore it, then I thought better of it. I fished my phone out and read Ace's name on my lockscreen.

Call me, honeycake.
Right now.
Not even kidding

They were all from him.

I heard one of my teammates call for me. "Trent, let's go."

"I'll be right there."

I called my cousin, wanting to know what he had got for me. I hope to God, it was something that wouldn't piss me off.

"Is it good news or bad." I stopped breathing as I waited for him to answer me.

"A mix," he said. "Your little piece of ass has an extended family that's swimming in debt. They're framers and what throws me off is the nature of their debt. It's complicated."

"I don't want to understand the semantics of their debt. I told you what I wanted and yet you're speaking to me in riddles."

"Your girl can't return until the land is repaired and ready for sale which can roughly take over a year. On top of that, she isn't alone. Her snooty cousin is there with her." His voice hardened.

"Oh, you mean the girl that rejected you." The mean streak in me had made a return. "Are you going to help out or not?"

I could hear the threat in his voice. "Easy there, tiger. It's not a piece of cake. The land is infertile and a shitty investment. I suppose, your daddy doesn't let you shop around with his black card, now does he?"

I clenched my jaw. He knew the deal with my father, his generous uncle. "I don't need your uncle to buy me things. Unlike you, I have connections outside my father's."

"You're not old enough to drink, Axel. The connection that you have is me who actually has his own money. Money that's not monitored by anyone. I am your only option, be nice for once."

"We both have something that we want. I need you get it done."

"You'll have to wait."

"Fine."

I looked up, my gaze landing on the cheerleaders lining up to begin the game. I caught one particular cheerleader's eyes and made up my mind. This can be fun.

"Fine, I'll wait. Remember what she has done to you. Don't you want her to pay for it? Are you that weak to let her off the hook so... easily." I was propelled to get my way and if that meant throwing others under the bus so be it.

Wallace spoke after a beat. "I know what you're trying to pull, cousin. Don't forget I am your teacher. I am always ahead of you."

"I'll be disappointed if you weren't."

I smiled to myself knowing I had planted the vicious seed in his head. After all, I'll do anything to get Astoria back.

***
My life had become monotonous. The only little fun I had has now become too tedious to carry out. I didn't get off easily even though the girls were all over me. They saw me as a conquest. Something to brag about and at first it had nothing more than to flare my inflated ego.

I know I'll give them the right kind of thrill, but the entire act seems so unworthy. I suppose keeping Jenna had its perks. She had kept all the girls on a tight leash when we were together.

With so much attention my way, I had truly never felt more alone.

My days and nights were consumed with thoughts of a certain beauty that kept me from sleeping, disarrayed with my concentration at school work, field practice and sucked out all the fun from having fun.

What a drag.

I had come to contemplate quitting smoking nicotine, at least. I still needed to feel high, here and there. It's normal to chase the high in some way in your life.

I heard the cheers and laughter from the guys as they partied their ass off. I didn't bother leaving my comfortable position on top of Ares's BMW. There were girls loitering around us. Giggling, eyeing suggestively, trying to make their tits appear prominent in their bikini top.

The rancid taste of beer suddenly made me want to head back home and watch animes that I used to watch with Astoria.

"Hey handsome," I heard a sugary voice. "Wanna take me out for a spin?" Jenna. I swear the girls had bigger balls then some of the guys on the team. She never gave up.

My eyes drifted to her. She leaned over to meet my eyes. Her hands boldly tugged on the collar of my leather jacket.

The thing I liked the most about her was her determination to never back down from a challenge. Here I was, her biggest challenge. She's been trying to bring me to heel ever since we first got together.

She was also in for a rude awakening if she thought I'd bend to her will.

The cold air pricks my face and in a moment of weakness I flash her knowing smirk. All of the energy I had in me suddenly concentrated on getting her ass on the backseat of my car. My car was nowhere in sight so I took her in Ares's car.

Jenna didn't bother to hide the victorious grin from her face. Oh, I'll show just the price she won.

No sooner I had her pinned down on Ares's leather seat. Her comfort is far from my list of priorities. This would be an act releasing my frustration. She had cunt and it'll be thoroughly used.

It was inhumane of me to treat her like a cumbucket, but as far as it concerned me, I didn't had much use for her other than shooting my load inside her ass.

"Fuck your anger out me, baby. Do it."

I pulled her caramel colored hair as a violent force fogged my vision.

"You're such a bitch." I pushed her legs apart and slapped her pussy. "Do you like when I spank your pussy?"

"Uh-huh." She moaned and I slapped her pussy lips. She was naked except for the killer heels she had on.

I had stopped behind the back gate of her house. She liked the idea of getting in trouble so I decided to invite in trouble.

She opened her eyes when she felt a different pair of hands on her tits. Her eyes widened when she saw who it was. "Eric." Stunned, she looked at me. "What's he doing here."

"You wanted to get in trouble and what's more fun than having your house staff enjoy a piece of us. Just a little." I teased.

"Axel, he's my chauffeur." I brought my lips to hers, kissing her.

"Baby, let loose a little. The guy is young and hard for you. I swear you won't get his dick until you really want it."

I shoved two fingers inside her cunt, and pulled it out with wetness dripping from my finger. I shoved my finger inside the boy's mouth and he sucked on them, a little moan escaping his mouth.

"How much do you want to come again?" I asked her.

"I need it so much. Just give it to me."

I pushed her legs as far as they could go and called in the erick guy. "Come here, fucker. See what you can't have." I pushed apart her pussy lips to show him her pink hole. "Tell me how much you want to fuck her."

"I want to abuse that hole." He groaned. "If you let me—"

"If she lets," I corrected him. "I'll only show you her goods."

"The girl is a cocktease. She masturbates right in the pool when she thinks no one is watching her. I always watch it."

I looked at Jenna, grinning. "You have got a fan." She reddened at my crass tone. "If only I—"

She didn't let me finish my sentence. She arched her back letting out a low moan and inserted a finger inside her cunt.

"Let me show you a proper show. Use me all you want. If you enjoy it, have Eric fuck me or let me show you how naughty I can get."

I leaned in, joining her fingers. "Do it."

She flashed me a smile and told Eric to take his dick out. She got up from her place and changed positions so that her back was pressed to my front and her legs spread even wide.

"He'll fuck while you watch. I'll do things to him so fucking dirty, you'll need holy water the next day."

***

"For fuck's sake, clean up your mess next time you use my car." Ares yelled at me the next day, storming inside the gym.

He didn't need to remind me of last night. I felt like shit later on and the guilt ate me alive. I felt so out of my element. And Jenna. I closed my eyes. Hating that I enjoyed last night. It was dirty and got me to ask Jenna out on a real date.

"Say something, asshole. You're paying to have my car seats cleaned. Cum stains are of the worst kind, Axel. Believe me when I say, take your orgy party to your own car."

***

two weeks later

Cold. I mean, arctic cold water gushed throughout my veins. At first, I had dismissed it as nothing but spurts of heat annoyance. It was damn hot in my town yet I had never felt more numb.

In a moment of haste, I had called things off with Jenna. She had thrown a fit, cried, and begged me to be with her. Without batting an eye at her act of desperation, I had instructed the staff to show her the main gate.

I was nothing short of cruel at school. I suspected my genetic predisposition had altered to some extent, because I felt enraged all the fucking time. Not for one single moment had anything remotely calmed me down.

My brain had been wired to produce malice that kept on growing with each passing day. Before I could put a finger on my changed behaviour, I was rudely met with another reality.

Luna fucking West.

She was like a mole I couldn't shrug off. Her little crush on me had come to bite her back in the ass. Her defiant self had gotten her claws trapped inside the lion's mouth. The fact which she was oblivious of...for now.

My best friend and Charlotte' brother had taken upon his mighty self to bring Luna down on her knees. To have her at his sister's mercy. That was cruel, even to someone like me. But I couldn't care less about her. In fact, I wish I could block her out of my head.

She was everything I despised. Even blind, I wouldn't be able to stand her presence. A ballet dancer, studious to the bone, athletic, not to mention she had a big fucking mouth on herself. Blonde, tall with a face that could passed as pretty, and eyes which were confused whether they were green or blue. She was the complete opposite of Ast...

No, no, no.

My jaw tightened, fist clenched. I tried to divert my thoughts to something less traitorous. When a low moan echoed in the abandoned Opera House, where Ares had called his conquest to meet him, I found myself intrigued.

I snuck a glance at the direction of the sound and smirked. What a dog!

I'd have to give to Ares on this one. He got that feisty little thing on her knees, his ball in her mouth as he commanded his head to move on his accord.

What an interesting turn of events. Luna indeed had a big mouth...

Unbeknownst to either of them, I continued to watch them. Ares was enjoying himself a little too much for my liking. When he started to deepthroat her mouth, I averted my eyes.

Painful memories flooded to my head. Not a long time ago, I had her sucking me off. It was the first time I had felt completely alive. I shoved the memories away when the pain morphed into livid spite.

"You are fucking mine. Get that in your head..."

I tuned his voice out and thought of my own plans. Maybe I should get Veronica Anderson to get me off this time. She sure was being extra flirty with me today. I heard the swim team of our school was throwing a party not too far away.

I texted Ares so he'd know where to find me if he decides to end his party after that mouth fuck.

A ding sound came through my iphone as soon as I climbed inside my car. I fished out my phone from my jeans pocket and clicked the text. It was from Chase and he had written some random need help text.

It was late at night. The only help that he needed from me was either to bury a dead body or to help him fuck someone over. I wasn't in the mood for either of the tasks.

Grudgingly, I sighed and drove over to Chase's place. He better not bore me to fucking pieces.

The iron gates glided open when the security saw my car. I'd been over his place so many times that I didn't need to announce my arrival at the front gate.

The Henrys were loaded up with dirty politics money. Chase's father was a representative of the democratic in illinois. His grandfather had a political legacy intact in our town, being the mayor and all. Chase loathed his father, for what? Cheating on his mom, sending her away, not granting his custody to his mother, the list went on.

Everything he did, the foolish pranks, vandalising public places, partying an unhealthy amount of times, going through girls, scaring others with vindictive agenda was ultimately his acting out. The only defence mechanism he knew.

He and I were alike yet different. There are certain things that set us apart. Chase threw away any chance of receiving unconditional love whereas I craved it. I wanted my father's approval, to notice me, he wanted his father to leave him alone.

I parked the car in the roundabout and went inside. Thank fucking goodness for the elevator car to cut the stride to Chase's floor to less than five minutes. The moment I stepped out of the car, haunted jazz music hit my ears.

Perplexed, I navigated my way through the hallway. Chase was more of a hip-hop guy rather than the sad, gloomy music that was currently being played... somewhere near.

I ambled to his room and kicked the door open, about to throw verbal insults to his face when I was met with a timid platinum hair chick. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights when her eyes landed on me, guess she wasn't expecting me.

My brain ran through the list of faces I knew and hers was pretty familiar. Blonde, average height, curvy physique, brown eyes and a cute face. Wait... was she, no.

As realisation dawned me, Chase finally decided to make his presence known. My wide eyes met his amused ones. What the fuck is she doing here with barely nothing on her body? I silently asked him.

His only response was to throw his towel which was wrapped around his hips at me. I ducked and he chuckled. He stood naked with his cock prodding his belly. I had seen him naked plenty of times, heck I'd fucked with him on occasions, but his fishy business.

"You're gonna fuck her?" I asked, blatantly gawking at him. "Dude, you're out of your mind," I said, when he didn't answer.

"Mia, lie on the bed."

"C-Chase, please, I won't do it a-again." The words trembled out her mouth.

"Another word out you and I'll gag with my cock." His voice was calm, but threatening enough. "I don't want to hear anything from you."

Mia gulped and thought better than to say anything.

The easygoing asshole that I'd known my entire life had morphed into the biggest asshole, a bigger one than me. That left me utterly speechless.

"You have questions—"

"Absolutely," I said, without skipping a beat, but first tell me why am I here and why is your step-sister on her knees with her pussy on display?"

***

They thought their acting was good. I'd say if it weren't for the endless hours I had spent with my mom at her drama club as child, I might've actually fallen into their traps.

Sly bastards. Especially that chick, Mia. She was a very good actress. All of the cries of protest, begging and struggle looked almost genuine. Beyond it, I knew there was something fishy about her. I wouldn't be surprised if Chase himself hadn't caught onto her act.

But, the question was why they did it and what made them include me in their kinky act. No one in their sensible minds would pull such a stunt. Either Chase was dumb or had a trick up his sleeves.

I had watched Chase brutally fuck Mia over and over again. He had looked livid, out of control when he got her under him. It all looked very real to me at first, even the tears, but then I had taken notice of their eyes. They were putting an act in front of me. Their eyes said it all.

Chase's gaze had silently asked if he's hurting her and Mia' stringent look almost angry at him for momentarily breaking the character. At first, he made me hold her doe as he took her mouth, sitting on her face, pinching her nose to cut off her air supply. Now, that was surprisingly hot.

He gave her hair a forceful tug as he withdrew his cock from her mouth. The sound pop buzzed in the room. She enjoyed having cock in her mouth even if she had put a hell of a struggle. Chase was still hard, not having released his load in her mouth.

"She's a fucking slut, Axel. The biggest one in town."

I arched an eyebrow at him, not believing his words. Still, I went along with his charade. "What did she do to you?"

"She deprived me of my rights. She had the audacity to go to an abortion clinic without letting me know about the existence of my child. Can you believe that?"

"She's pregnant?"

"With my fucking baby, no less. I just feel enraged at what could have happened if she..." He didn't finish his words. Instead he flipped her on her stomach and told me to tie her hands with my belt.

He told me to heal her to a sitting position so that her back was to my front. She was restrained. When I got her on her haunches, Chase stood on the bed, hovering over her and slid back inside her mouth.

This time it was an act of possession.

I laughed at the vivid image in my head. Chase was a manipulative bastard yet he couldn't stop himself from getting manipulated at Mia's hands.

"Alright, you called me to show your fuck-fest? I'd have to admit, I was a little turned on myself."

We were seated in his father's study. The best kind of liquor was to be found right here. I got comfortable on the leather chair as I tasted the burning amber drink.

Chase had covered himself in a bathrobe, covering his prized possessions. He stood near the french window, smoking a cigarette.

At this moment, he has a shrewd secretive glint in his eyes. He couldn't wait to profess the beans that had been brewing in his head. It certainly got my heart pumped up.

"I have a plan. It involves Mia's best friend. I want to use her to get Mia in line."

My eyebrow arched. "Isn't Ares taking care of that girl himself? Why don't you let him do it?"

"Mine is a little different from his. It involves you in it too. But you'll have to agree to never let Ares know about it."

Another rumble left my throat. For the first time in my life, I felt bad for Chase. Oh, Mia... when I find what you have planned for him, it will not end well for you.

***

Days stretched into weeks. Life had become monotonous without her. Astoria was the balm of my life. She had clawed way too deep in my heart and now I felt empty without her.

The only thing that made my blood rush was behaving in a completely erratic manner. I took part in Chase' shit, helped Ares with his fucked up plans. My reckless behavior had resulted in taking up on Jenna' offer of getting back together. Again, I wasn't thinking at all.

At least she eased my nerves, if only for a moment. She wasn't my only conquest, she was one of many. I wouldn't have given a fuck if she hadn't been okay with it.

"Why did he bring her here?" Emily Rogers, who was a senior and Ares' classmate, stared daggers at Luna. "What's so special about her?" If jealousy had a face, she would be its ambassador.

I ignored her, mostly and continued to survey the crowd. We were in Cabo. Ares had used his parent's vacation home to move forward with his plan. My eyes landed at the happy pair who—from what I hear—we're officially partners.

Ares had 'professed' his love to Luna and they were now hand in hand in front of everyone. If truth be told, Ares was too calculative for his own good. I know when he faked a smile. In our world, it was customary to own your signature fake smile, but the longer I observed, the more it became apparent that there was a hint of genuine emotion, love in the flicker of his eyes.

He wasn't that good of an actor so it can't all be fake. If his feelings are even mildly genuine then he has gotten himself into a clusterfuck of a situation.

When I wasn't focusing on the happy pair. My thoughts drifted back to Astoria. It had been a long time since I last heard her voice. I wish we hadn't separated the way we did. My ego had been bruised and she took the bite of it.

There was nothing stopping me from driving all the way to her. But patience was a virtue, and what I had learned from Ace, let the prey approach you first. She was still my prey and would always remain one. The prey who stole my heart and I was her predator.

I don't know what was cooking inside Ace's head. I knew it was related to Astoria's cousin, Winter. I hope he didn't take too long to bring Astoria back to me.

Time had been ruthless to me. I was brimming with pent up resentment and when my eyes zeroed on José'—the caretaker—daughter, I had the sudden urge to release the energy. I wasn't oblivious to her come fuck me glances that she was sending my way. I downed the amber liquid down my throat and went in for the kill.

Fuck the world tonight.

"Follow me," I instructed. My voice sounded like a horse even to my ears. I didn't bother slowing down my pace or making sure whether she was following me. Call me arrogant, but she sure as fuck wouldn't turn me down.

I told her to strip when we entered the guest room. The intensity of my own thoughts felt peculiar to me. I told myself, time will heal the hurt, but that was a lie. Time was inflecting the wound.

Gravitating back to reality, my gaze caught the presence of the annoying pest that wouldn't leave me alone. Luna West stood at the threshold of the doorway, witnessing the graphic scene in front of her. It was a bad time to have this girl writhing beneath me for air while I was balls deep enjoying myself.

Ares should handle this girl, because it seemed like I was always the one to deal with her.

I pulled out, not missing Luna' horrified expression. Too bad for Ares. I guess, his wouldn't be the first *** that she'd see. I slammed the door shut, not sparing words on her and went back to my eager partner.

The day we landed back in Chicago, I was summoned to meet my father at his office in the city. I already knew I was to be berated by my father. The elevator car took me to my father's office. Each employee acknowledged my presence with a slight nod.

Jason Benson, who was my father's PR manager, waited for me in the waiting lounge outside my father's office.

"Spoiled prince, thank you for finally arriving." His tone held a slight sneer as he regarded my appearance. "I can't possibly think of ways to ruin my life like you do."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't talk in circles. I read the news piece too. I don't think you're doing your job well, Jason. That information shouldn't have hit the tabloids in the first place. Admit that you're a lousy PR."

"You're unbelievable. Blake Trent doesn't deserve a son like you."

Anger swelled in my chest. "Thread carefully, Benson. Don't forget you're on my father's payroll."

Even though Jason' words flaters my control momentarily, I remind myself what's at stake here. The tabloids were enough to have driven my father up the wall. I couldn't add an injured manager, who worked for him rather horribly, on his plate.

Once we were both ushered inside the office. I stilled when I noticed my cousin, Ace Knight, seated on the leather chair. The sumptuous shift in air braced my skin. Father's cold eyes regarded his own son with disappointment and Ace with pride.

That alone wounded me beyond repair. I should envy Ace because he had everything in life that once was mine, but the only thing I felt was nothing. The nothingness had its onset since Astoria left me and was slowly becoming the only permanent thing I knew.

I could say, I was the light of my mother's life, but mom was a different chapter.

"Thank you for showing up, son. Your holy presence has certainly made us the happiest." Dad's words were dipped in sarcastic fluid. "Take a seat, c'mon. Read that clipped paragraph for everyone to hear."

WIith a resigned nod, I picked up the paper and saw the dreaded article about me.

Teenage son of tech mogul Blake Trent was caught sniffing heavy drugs at a party. Our sources have reported that this isn't the first time for the privileged wild child to make headlines for the wrong reasons. Earlier this month, an unnamed woman had claimed that the prince had abandoned her after she told him she was pregnant. It looks like Blake Trent can control everything except his own son.

Along with the article, there were blurry pictures of me attached for the world to see. It was all so ridiculous. I was not at the party doing drugs and who the fuck was this woman who claimed to be pregnant?!

Before I could say anything in my defense, I was handed over a brown manila folder.

"I don't know what you want from me, dad."

"I want you to start acting like my son, goddamn it." His roaring voice was enough to make me flinch. "I have had enough of your antics. If it wasn't for your mother, I would have thrown you out of here."

My temper rose. "Why haven't you, then?" I demanded, raising my own voice. "Stop using mom as an excufor everything, just admit that you're afraid to taint your reputation."

"You are the taint to my reputation, son."

I pushed away the onslaught of his words and regarded him with the same contempt he had for me.

"You're listening here, Ace." Ace, who was silently observing the rundown, arched his brow at me. "You're so close to replacing your cousin' place. I should thank you in advance for the position, but you should know you'll also end up disappointing the great Blake Trent."

"And what is this-" I pointed at the folder and tore it open. "Some kind of proposition, dad?" I snickered. "Wow, you really are the best dad ever."

Dad narrowed his eyes on me. "You're not done here. Face the consequences of your actions, son."

"What are you going to do? Cut me off? Or worse, disown me? I suggest that you take all your money and shove it—"

"Enough!"

In a flash, a ringing sound echoed through my ears. I hadn't realized that it was the impact of dad' hand across my face. He had slapped me. The fuck.

"Axel, just fucking stop. You have no idea how much hurt you have caused this family. Day in, day out living your life wasting my hard earned money, dropping your grades down in the most prestigious school that wouldn't have taken you in if you were not my son, disrespecting your mom, this family, me. That is enough, son. You will sign the papers." He took the documents out of the folder and threw them at me. "This is a warning, Axel. One more step out of line and you're gone and I will surely not make it pleasant for you