Chapter 24

Reign

Riley tried her hardest to break up with me. She used her perfect cunt to take me to my knees as a goodbye gift. Even after I came hard inside her and cuddled her to sleep, she was still trying this morning to put an end to us. A chuckle slips past my lips when I read her newest text.

WIFEY: Last night was closure. We can both move on. Good luck to you and Brooklyn.

I scoff at her message, and soon my fingers are flying over the keyboard, texting her back.

ME: Who? You're the only girl I see. The only one I need. Meet me later. I'll send you the address.

No way was last night closure. It was an epiphany. My feelings for her slammed into me, knocking me off my feet when I realized my obsession, my need for her had bloomed into something else entirely. I was in love with Riley. Obsessively in love with her. She's jealous. Which is a good sign for me. Hopefully I can use that to get back into her good graces once this is all over. I'm tired of pretending not to care. Quickly pocketing my phone before she can respond, I head to class.

My carefully laid plans are falling into place and after tonight, things will be clear to everyone exactly who Riley is to me. I will burn the world down for this girl. It's okay if she hates me right now, but I know she doesn't. She just wishes she did because then she can convince herself that I'll let her go. Spoiler alert…I'm never letting her go. I told her last night that she's mine, and she is. Forever. We might be young, but it doesn't matter. When you know, you hold on tight and kidnap them if it comes to it. Fuck. I'm losing my shit over this girl. Let's be honest, I have been for years. Riley wrote her name on my soul when we were kids.

"Regretting your life choices yet?" Carter asks, elbowing my back. I glance at my friend and shake my head.

"Everything's coming together. Just don't forget your job tonight," I remind him.

His eyes widen and he fakes being hurt. "Ouch. You know I'd never let you down, Thorn."

"This needs to go right. I can't take one more night without her."

Carter snorts and he shakes his head in disbelief. "You'll be lucky if she forgives you. It wasn't enough to invite Brooklyn to the party, you let the girl grind on you. I've seen the pictures circulating. They look way more damning than the reality."

My hands ball into fists and I have to tilt my head from side to side to ease the tension. "I did what I had to. She wouldn't have believed it otherwise."

"Hey!" Leif calls to us across the lot, jogging his way over. We come to a stop and wait for him. "Meyer is cocking off again," he tells us. "He plans to make a play for your girl again. He's telling everyone how much he cares about her."

"When is he going to learn?" I shake my head, eyes sliding between my two best friends. The plan for tonight is growing. Not only do I need to fix this thing with Brooklyn and any other misguided slut who thinks they can hurt my girl, but I need to put Blade Meyer in his place. No one else will ever have Riley. I will destroy anyone who tries.

"Nothing changes tonight. Make sure he shows up," I tell them both, and they nod. Neither of them questions what I'm doing, both of them loyal, just as I am to them.

Rules of the prank war are simple. You don't talk about prank wars. You don't get caught. Taking the challenge allows you to ask for a favor. A favor has to be witnessed by two people.

Tonight, I wanted this favor to be witnessed by more than two people; this is meant to be witnessed by the entire student body. And when you're the prank master, you have to do it big and it has to be done right.

"She's here," Leif murmurs under his breath next to me. My eyes already searching her out.

Riley moves through the crowd like the fucking queen she is and they all part for her. My body reacts to the sight of her, my dick instantly hard, knowing she's nearby. I want her. I need her like air. My eyes travel over her legs, perfectly encased in a pair of jeans that look painted on, to her puffy white coat and the matching white beanie on the top of her head. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose are tinged pink from the cold, and she keeps her hands inside her coat pockets. Riley moves her head and her long, chocolatey hair swings until her gaze catches mine. Her eyes darken and fill with hurt. Enough to remind me why we're here and what is at stake.

"I can't believe she showed up." Brooklyn's whiny voice reaches me from where she is standing in front of my body.

"Of course she did." I shrug, letting my mask slip into place for her. "Riley never backs down from a challenge."

And I'm praying tonight will be the same. That seeing me here with another girl will be enough to still ignite her competitive streak. Riley needs to be all in for this to work.

When Riley is within a few feet from us, her chin lifts and her shoulders roll back. "I'm here. What is it you wanted to say?"

A grin splits my lips. "I have a challenge for you, Con-man. If you're not too heartbroken to take it."

Her lips thin out in a line and she glances off to the side where her friends are waiting, both of them shooting daggers in my direction. My own heart feels like it's cracking in two when she looks back at me and quickly blinks away tears. "Why should I take it?"

Okay, well that was off script. I did not expect her to say that or to think about not taking the challenge. My girl always meets me head-to-head in everything. Standing straight, I nudge Brooklyn to the side, ignoring her whimper of protest, and move until I'm right in front of Riley. It's me and her. Everyone else fades away.

"Because you never back down from anything I throw at you," I remind her. I need her to feel the connection between us, the livewire of energy that pulls us together constantly.

Her coffee-colored eyes search my face, her whole gaze pleading with me not to hurt her. My heart hammers against its cage to get to her. "What are the terms?" She speaks so low, I almost don't hear her, but at least she's agreeing.

"Are you taking the challenge?" I ask, louder so everyone can hear.

Riley glances around us too. "Yes." Her voice is louder and crystal clear.

"Good fucking girl," I murmur only loud enough for her to hear. Her head snaps up but before she can question me, I continue on. "There is a box of fireworks on our school's rooftop and the other is at another undisclosed location. Winner gets to pick which box is lit off. Loser has to push the button."

"How are we deciding who wins or loses?"

I'm fairly certain my eyes are gleaming right now. She's so fucking perfect, playing right into my plans. "A street race obviously. If I remember correctly, last time your little stunt gave me a game suspension. Thought it was only fair we evened the playing field."

Her face pales. I want to reach for her, beg her to see through the bullshit. "I don't have a car to drive."

I shrug. "You can drive mine. I already have a ride." I turn and wink at Brooklyn. This bitch practically preens, thinking we're one upping Riley. Brooklyn's father owns a car dealership, one of the biggest in the state. The car he gave her and her brother is more for looks than racing. Brooklyn didn't agree with me and decided I should drive it in the race tonight.

"The fuck she will, Thorn." Blade's furious voice rings out in the crowd. "She isn't taking anything from you."

Ahh, his timing is impeccable. He slides next to Riley, his hand touching her shoulder and I want to hit him. I imagine his death over and over in my head. When she looks at him like he's her saving grace tonight, I raise my brow.

"Your car then?"

He nods and slides the keys to Riley. She holds them in her palm and glances from Blade to me, unsure, before pocketing his keys. "Where are we racing to?"

"I'll send you the location," I reply and her head nods. "Are you riding with her?" I ask Blade.

"Obviously," he mutters and starts heading to his car.

"Idiot," I say to myself under my breath. With a glance at Carter, he quickly grabs Riley's bestie, Emma, and they come over.

I let my eyes run over Riley. "How about a favor for old time's sake?"

Her shoulders slump a little, but she still turns to face me. "I can't wait to hear this."

"I win, you get down on your knees for me. You win, and I get to eat your perfect pussy for dessert."

The gasps and scoffs around us only make my smirk wider. The color returns to Riley's face and her gaze turns liquid for me. "Are you insane?"

"It's not clinically proven," I jest back.

A million thoughts race across her mind, but it's the intrigue, the curiosity that wins out in the end for my girl. "Fine," she grits out before stomping away and heading back to the vehicle where Blade is waiting.

I make my way over to Brooklyn's car, her wedge heels clamping behind me. "What did you say for the favor? I couldn't hear with the crowd. They went wild though so it must be good." Her blonde eyebrows waggle at me and it takes all my energy to lift my lips in a smirk I just don't feel. I can't wait to be done pretending I feel anything for this girl, let alone that I want to be alone with her.

"Either I'm providing the meal or she is," is all I say before starting the ignition and driving to the marked spot.

I drive up next to Riley, who glares at me. The whole scene is very reminiscent of the night that I finally lost my head over this girl. The night I realized I really would do anything to keep her. Even if it means giving up the title I've been coveting for years. Ever since she first approached me to apologize for what happened and I lashed out at her because I didn't understand the feelings I had for her. Our wars were born from my misguided notion that I wanted to see her suffer, when really, I just wanted her. We were both stubborn and carried these grudges way to far.

Quickly, I send her the address where the setup is. In the next second, Leif is signaling for us to go. My foot hits the pedal and the car lurches forward. We race down the hill and to the outside road of town. At one point, Riley slows on purpose; I'm sure she's not understanding where we're going. We never would race on an open road before this. She doesn't know that I need Blade's car to be spotted on all the different cameras to prove where the golden boy was tonight. Only a thin veil of snow dusts the roads; yet, we manage to swiftly move through the area, and once again, I'm impressed with her driving skills.

"Almost there," I whisper into the space of the car, glancing in my mirrors to see where Riley is. She's not given up, even when Blade's car is less likely to win, but it's still a muscle car and it holds its own. Her hands grip the steering wheel and she keeps her eyes on the prize.

We're barreling down the last stretch of the path, neck and neck, her front end right up there with mine. Right before we tie, I let my foot off the pedal and my girl streaks across the finish line.

"What the hell, Reign? How is this putting that whore in her place? She just won!" Brooklyn, is glaring, her words a screeching noise in my ear drum. I put the car in park and unclick my seat belt.

"The stupidest thing you could ever do was think you had a chance with me when Riley Conrad exists," I sneer at her before climbing out. Her mouth drops open.

"Wait, wait, Reign. I'm sorry, okay? Please let me make it up to you. I'm the one you want." Brooklyn's face is ugly with mascara running down her cheeks, and her eyes watery with the truth staring right at her.

"I never wanted you, Brooklyn. You picked the wrong girl to mess with because I would do anything for her." I point at Brooklyn's school in the distance. Built right next to her and her brother's brand-new hockey arena. "Anything."

Carter and Leif arrive along with everyone else. Most of their faces are now subdued while a few others are just plain shocked. Leif opens Blade's door and yanks him from the passenger seat, shoving him over to where I'm waiting. Riley gets out next, anger etched across her entire face, her arms folded across her chest.

"Nice race, babe," I call to her, smiling at how beautiful she is. This girl really is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. And not just on the outside; her heart, her kindness, her quirks, it all makes her the perfect package.

"You let me win," she accuses, stomping over until we're toe-to-toe.

"I did no such thing. I'm sad that you took my title tonight; I wore the prank war champion title for years. Call your box, Riles. Am I blowing the one on All Saints or..." I glance at Brooklyn who is grappling and sobbing in Carter's arms. "...the one on the Robinson Rebels brand-new roof?"

Riley blanches, her eyes swinging to Brooklyn. "Reign."

"Winner chooses. Loser hits the button," I remind her and hold up the flip pad that we rigged to cause the explosions. I lean down to face her, forcing her to lock eyes with me. My lips brush against hers, and she allows it. "Mine."

"Rebels," She breathes out and I hit the button with my finger.

"Are you for real? That's crazy, Thorn?" Blade spits blood from his cut lip on the ground. His eyes are wild. "You just caused permanent damage to a building."

I shrug. "I wasn't aware I caused any damage. At least none that the fire department or police are going to find. They might find your prints though on the explosives. And your car was seen speeding down the highway tonight, on multiple cameras in the direction of the explosion."

Blade's face morphs from disbelief to outrage. He's still kneeling on the ground, with Leif holding his arm back. His skin turning from red to purple. "You're a dead man, Thorn."

"Am I?" I stalk closer to him and lean down so my knee is in the dirt. "Because if you break the rules of prank war, you become open season for anyone to go after you. Then there's that little tidbit you probably don't want anyone to find out about, you and the art teacher…I happen to have a very interesting video of one of your lessons that any college would probably hate to see go viral."

His face pales and the recognition that he lost falls over his face. "Riley."

"Don't talk to her." I punch him in the gut and he keels over from the motion. "You will never speak to her or of her again. She was never yours, Meyer. Riley was always mine. Always."

Leif hauls Blade to his feet and brings him to his car. He takes off out of the area, racing away, like he thinks he can still salvage the night. My phone vibrates, an incoming text from one of the wingmen on my team who I sent to make sure the explosion worked.

MARSHALL: The fire spread to the arena. Great fireworks show! *thumbs up emoji*

I might have lost the challenge, but I feel like I won. My hands cup Riley's face and I bend to kiss the shit out of her. Her soft lips open for me, letting my tongue sweep in to meet hers, tease her, while my hands dig into her soft curves. I can hear Brooklyn start crying harder when I pull away, breathing hard. Using my hand, I pull Riley's head to my chest and glance at Brooklyn.

"You never stood a chance. I will never let Riley go and no one will ever take her place."

The girl's eyes fill up with more tears, her face red and splotchy. Carter lets her go and she gets behind the wheel of her car, tires squealing against pavement as she leaves.

I hold Riley tighter. It's over. "About that favor."

Riley stiffens next to me, before her arms drop completely. My heart hammers in my chest when she steps out of my embrace, putting distance between us. Her coffee dark eyes meet mine, and my heart shatters at the blankness in her gaze. "You cheated. Which makes the favor void."

"Riley." I reach for her, but she steps back again, shaking her head. "It's over, Reign."

She leaves me speechless, getting in the car with her best friends and driving back toward campus, taking my soul with her. I knew deep down this was always an outcome that could happen. Even though I tried to cover my bases by making love to her last night, I still wasn't telling her the truth. I didn't let her in and instead forced her to be a pawn in my game.

"It will never be over," I promise her in the quiet of the empty space. I've broken down her walls before; this time, I'll strategize and come back, fighting for both of us.