Striker: A Dark Bully Romance (Redwood Rebels Book 1) Rachel Leigh (the reading list book .TXT) 📖

I look to the guys and, sure as shit, they’re gawking. Smacking my hand to the bottom of Lar’s jaw, his eyes shoot up. “What the hell!” He slaps at my arm that’s already back at my side.

“They’re not on display for you,” I grumble. I’m starting to think this girl eats up all this attention. Of course she does. Why else would she be on the WatchMeNow app? Sure as hell isn't for the money. I walk around her to go find Zed, but stop and whisper in her ear, “Go put on a sweatshirt and while you’re up there, delete the last two hours on your security system.”

Marni’s fingers grab a hold of my arm, stopping my movements. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To see what the hell Zed is doing roaming around your house.” I shake her hand off, but her expression leaves my feet planted.

Blinking a few times, her jaw clenches. “Zed’s here?” With a loud groan, her feet begin moving. “Zed!” she shouts, “you better not be in my fucking room.”

I follow after her. “Highly doubt he’s in your room. I’d guess some place like your dad's office.” I step in front of her and walk up the stairs, skipping every other step. I pull the location of his office from memory of the last time I was in there and as guessed, the door is wide open. “What the hell are you doing?” I snarl at him, as he sits comfortably in Anderson Thorn’s chair.

“I don’t understand what the buzz about this guy is. He doesn’t even have a gun in his drawer. What kind of big top cartel leader doesn’t have a fucking gun?” He speaks calmly, as he rocks back and forth with his arms resting on the arms of the chair.

Marni comes storming in the room. “Are you trying to get us all killed?” She points at the door. “Get out of here.”

“Calm down, Little Thorn. It’s highly unlikely that your dad would murder his only daughter.”

Heavy steps bring her to his side where she begins pulling on his arm to try and get him up. All the while, I find it comical. She is a feisty thing when she wants to be. “Get up! If my dad notices the cameras are off this long, he will send security in here. If he finds out that you all are lurking around like a bunch of nosey little shits, we’ll all be in trouble.” When Zed doesn’t budge, she directs her attention to me. “And you. Don’t think I didn’t see that you were in my house long before I even got here.”

“You have my fucking phone. I’ll search every inch of this place if I have to.”

Her hands flap in the air like a flock of angry birds. “I’d just gotten here. How would I have hidden your phone in this house?” She looks so fucking sexy when she’s angry.

Zed rolls the chair back and stands up. “I hate to break up this cute little fight, but I’ve got important shit to do.” I watch as he pushes down a folded paper in his front pocket, but I don’t think Marni noticed. When he catches my glance, he gives me a subtle nod.

I have no clue what it is or what he might want from Anderson Thorn, aside from some blackmail material or a possible link to his own father, and I really don’t care.

“Come on,” I throw an arm around Marni’s shoulder, “we gotta get home. Our student has to do homework before bedtime.”

“Ugh, get away from me. And quit treating me like a child. I’m the exact same age as you are. Just because you’re a high school dropout, doesn’t give you authority, and it certainly doesn’t make you wiser. In fact, you’re the exact opposite.”

I’ll let her have those words for now. She can view me as just a high school drop out if she wants. The truth is, I’ve just about completed my senior year early. After rehab, I did round the clock virtual schooling to catch up. Somehow, I ended up ahead. I guess when you’re knee deep in the muck of depression, and you don’t wanna go anywhere or see anyone, you strive for more.

The problem now? I have nothing left to strive for, except for my revenge.

As soon as we step out in the hallway and Marni closes the door behind us, a more chipper side of Zed emerges. “Who’s up for a party? It’s Thursday. I’m thirsty.” His tone is cheerful and everything that Zed is not. Whatever paper he just pocketed must have been something useful to him.

Marni gets all too excited. “A party sounds fun.”

Lucky for me, I get to be the bearer of bad news. “Can’t. She has school tomorrow.”

“Fucking A. Really?” Zed sighs.

“Yes, really. She needs sleep and there is no way in hell that she can sleep with a party going on downstairs.”

“I’m eighteen years old. If I wanna stay up late and go to school tired and hungover then I will.”

My jaw ticks as I think. This could work in my favor. Give her a few drinks. Soften her up. Get my damn phone back. There is so much shit in there that could destroy me if it fell in the wrong hands. And that’s not even what has me worried. It’s the video. All she has to do is open that up and bam, I’ll lose all leverage, and she’d hate me more than she already does.

Tommy and Lars are raiding the cupboards when we walk downstairs. “Where are the bowls at?” Lars pulls open the freezer and grabs a tub of chocolate ice cream.

Marni stretches on her tiptoes and reaches into the cupboard behind him. Her shirt rides up and the ruby red string of her thong sticks out from the back. This girl is going to fucking kill me. An overdose couldn’t do the job, but she will fucking kill me if she doesn’t