Remorse (Rhodes #0.5) - Rina Kent Page 0,16
fit bodies like these athletes.
They wear pressed dark blue trousers, white shirts and fitted jackets like ours. The only difference is that the boys have red ties with the school’s symbol.
The crowd’s attention strays to the four boys standing off to the side, half-playing with the team and half-chatting amongst each other.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they’re in a league of their own.
Kimberly’s gaze remains on the tallest boy who’s throwing a ball in the air and laughing like a young film star in the making. He has a classical, golden boy handsomeness. Slicked blond hair, sharp jawline, tanned skin, and a blinding smile, even from this distance.
However, the expression on Kimberly’s face isn’t of admiration or excitement like everyone present. If anything, it’s of… dread?
“Who are they?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
“They’re the elite of the elite.” Her voice trembles, genuinely, it trembles. “If you want to have a peaceful life in RES, you have to be on their good side.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Kids can’t own a school. “Who’s the golden boy?”
“Xander Knight and he’s trouble,” she blurts fast as if her butt is on fire. “I like you, Elsa, and I mean it when I say, stay away.”
His put together type doesn’t interest me, anyway. I throw another look at him for a double-take.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand like needles when I meet the smokiest, most chilling eyes I’ve ever seen.
I hadn’t noticed him earlier because he was half hidden by Xander and his ball. He’s almost the same height as Xander, but with more developed shoulders. His uniform is missing the tie and he looks ruggedly handsome. Inky black hair runs long and slick in the middle, but it’s buzzed on the sides. His nose holds an aristocratic vibe although it appears a bit crooked like it was hurt before. That little imperfection adds more mystery and intrigue to him.
Something in my chest moves. I don’t know what it is, but it just moves.
It’s like a prisoner has been lurking in the corners of my chest and now decided it wanted to be set free.
Even if I want to break eye contact, I can’t.
He stares at me with a slightly tilted head and a silent, manic interest as if he’s meeting an old friend.
Or foe.
“Shit! Shit!” Kimberly grabs me by the jacket and pulls me in the direction of the exit.
“What…?” I’m incredulous, and a bit hazy from breaking eye contact with that boy.
“Just walk, Elsa,” she hisses as her quick footsteps pad along the pavement.
“Why are you taking me away?”
“King,” she mumbles under her breath. “Aiden freaking King.”
“And… who’s that?”
“He’s as much of a King as his last name. Heir of King Enterprises and of this damn school. His and the others’ parents own this place and you don’t want shit with them.”
“Okay.”
I don’t want shit with him either. He’s too attractive for that. Though I can’t place whatever got into me when I locked gazes with him.
Boys don’t interest me. I’m too nerdy for that and my studies always came above any boy drama.
That won’t change now.
Especially since my Cambridge dream is within reach.
Then why am I itching for another glimpse at those metallic eyes?
“Oh. Damn!” Kimberly curses again. “They’re coming this way.”
I glance over my shoulder and sure enough, Aiden and Xander stride towards us and the rest of the football team follow like a gang in a mafia film. All laughter disappears and even the bystander’s chatter halts abruptly and a tomb-like silence conquers the air.
The crowd parts for them like the red sea did for Moses.
“Run!” Kimberly whisper-yells, her nails digging into my wrist until I’m sure she’ll draw blood.
“Why would I run?”
Due to my struggles with Kimberly, they reach us in no time and block our epic failure run to the exit.
Up close, Aiden’s eyelashes are thick and as inky as his hair. A small, beauty mole sits at the edge of his deep, smoky eyes.
He stares down at me with a cold, foggy edge that matches the colour of his eyes.
Call it instinct, but something tells me I should be scared of him.
Like that prisoned thing from earlier, something claws at the corners of my chest, screaming at me to run and never look back.
That’s ridiculous. I don’t know Aiden, why should I run?
“Isn’t it Berly?” Xander asks Kimberly in a detached tone before his lips curve into a cruel smirk. “You look even nerdier this year.”
Everyone around us bursts into laughter, throwing fat-shaming remarks her way. My cheeks tint in red on Kim’s behalf, but it’s not due to embarrassment.
My blood boils to smash Xander’s golden boy looks to the ground.
I open my mouth to say something, but I’m cut off when Kim lowers her head, lips trembling, and sprints past Xander to the exit.
He follows her with a smirk tilting his lips.
I should’ve seen what’ll happen next coming.
I don’t.
A strong hand wraps around my throat and pushes me against the wall. My back hits the brick and pain shoots down my spine and tightens the pit of my stomach.
I always thought myself brave, but nothing, absolutely nothing could’ve prepared me for this sudden, aggressive attack from a complete stranger.
The grey eyes I thought were beautiful seconds ago glare into my soul with murderous intent. The dark shadow on his face terrifies me more than his grip on my throat.
His other hand clutches my jaw, and my lips tremble at the thought that he’ll snap my neck.
“W-What are you doing?”
He leans forward so his mouth hovers inches away from mine and growls. “I will destroy you.”
Those words seal my fate.
Continue reading Deviant King.
Also By Rina Kent
TEAM ZERO SERIES
Lured
Crowed
Ghosted
Shadowed
Misted
Team Zero Boxset 1-3
THE RHODES SERIES
Remorse (FREE)
Ruin
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ROYAL ELITE SERIES
Cruel King
Deviant King
Steel Princess
Twisted Kingdom
Black Knight
Vicious Prince
Ruthless Empire
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LIES & TRUTHS DUET
All The Lies
All The Truths
* * *
HATE & LOVE DUET
He Hates Me
He Hates Me Not
About the Author
Rina Kent is an international bestselling author of everything enemies to lovers romance.
Darkness is her playground, suspense is her best friend, and twists are her brain’s food. However, she likes to think she’s a romantic at heart in some way, so don’t kill her hopes just yet.
Her heroes are anti-heroes and villains because she was always the weirdo who fell in love with the guys no one roots for. Her books are sprinkled with a touch of mystery, a healthy dose of angst, a pinch of violence, and lots of intense passion.
Rina spends her private days in a peaceful town in North Africa daydreaming about the next plot idea or laughing like an evil mastermind when those ideas come together.
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If you’re in the mood to stalk me:
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