Violence (Antihero Inferno #3) - Lily White Page 0,21
think he’ll answer, but then he points to the left side of his neck.
“Do you see that?”
I study the skin he points to, but it’s clear of any mark or blemish. It’s just smooth, olive-toned skin, more golden from time spent in the sun.
“There’s nothing there.”
His grin curls more. “When you look at Damon next, you’ll know what I’m pointing at.”
A freckle, I guess.
Just like Mason said.
It must be so subtle that not many people have picked up on it.
“Feel better now?”
No. I’m still mad, but I’m getting better. I nod my head because it’s easier than standing here continuing this argument.
His hand brushes mine.
“Then come dance with me.”
I want to, but there are teachers and other school administrators. They’ll report back to my parents if I dance with anybody besides Mason. Especially if it’s the twins.
Sheepishly, I answer, “I can’t.”
“But it’s your prom.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Anger rolls behind his eyes, but he doesn’t argue again. Instead, he glances above my head back to the Inferno table.
“Are you allowed to leave with Mason?”
My brows tug together. “Yes. Why?”
The slow smile of his is back, his eyes glimmering with wicked mischief. “Then we’ll leave here and dance somewhere else.”
“But Mason has a date.”
He lowers his head again so that we’re eye level, his shoulders so broad that he fills my vision.
Ezra consumes me somehow, and I barely even know him.
It’s what makes him dangerous.
This can never lead somewhere.
It can only be for fun.
Trapping my chin with his hand, he rubs the pad of his thumb over my lips. All I want to do is open my mouth so I can taste his skin.
Heat bursts behind his eyes like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“You let me take care of that. This is your prom. And I’m about to make damn sure you have a reason to remember it.”
Emily
To say it’s awkward being in the back of this limo is an epic understatement.
In truth, I’ve never felt so nervous and uncomfortable in my life, my fingers tapping slowly over my leg, the silence deafening as we all stare at each other without any ability to bridge this deep canyon of a gap.
On either side of me are Damon and Ezra. Four fit to a seat, so to the left of Damon is Shane, and on the seat facing us is Mason, Sawyer, Gabriel and Tanner. I’m the only girl in the limo.
The only one.
That fact is made even more evident by the way each of the Inferno boys stare at me (excluding the twins, of course, since they created this situation).
When it was decided it was time to leave, Milly Ferguson had her own ride because she’d met Mason at the dance, so she left on her own. The twins insisted I walk out with Mason as if we were happily continuing our date.
Shane and Sawyer packed their dates into the limo they’d shared to prom for them to go home, Gabriel and Tanner doing the same thing with theirs.
Jase and Taylor happened to like their dates and left with them in the limo they’d shared for prom.
And now, here I am with a knot in my throat and a boulder in my stomach as we’re being driven to Gabriel’s house for the after party.
I would feel better if Ivy and Ava were here, but they had to leave with their dates (not that they would have fit in this car even without them).
They’d both promised to meet me at the party tonight after running home and changing clothes, so at least I’ll have somebody I can trust showing up later.
Pursing my lips, I tap my fingers on my knee again, my eyes darting to anything except the boys staring back at me.
Unfortunately, Gabriel’s voice drags my attention to him when he breaks the awkward silence with a warning.
“You should have told Ivy to stay home tonight. She’s not welcome at my house. And she won’t like what happens when she gets there.”
I’m not sure why Gabe thinks he knows what I may have told Ivy, but it shows just how arrogant he is to make the assumption that I said anything at all.
Still, we also both know Ivy.
Everybody in this limo knows Ivy.
So I state the obvious.
“If I did tell her to stay away, do you really think she’d listen?”
The corner of his mouth twitches, something in his expression making me wonder about the war they have. Both make it very clear they hate each other, but they’re also insanely fixated.