Dirty Dark Prey: A Dark College Bully Romance (Elite Royal University Duet Book 2) Read online

  I can’t tell what’s worse—saying ‘no’ to my mom or going on a date with Carter Cole.

  “I’m sure Dad feels the same,” I groan. “I can go alone. I’m independent. I don’t need a guy to—”

  “Did I not make myself clear?” My mom's eyes are as red as her lips when she gets in my face, towering over me. At my height, it’s easy. It’s why being a “normal” model isn’t in the cards for me. I’ve no idea what she’s on, or what she’s consumed all week but I know a coke-fuelled Cassandra and it’s not pretty.

  “I’m the reason you’re here,” she snarls. “The reason you’re in that prestigious school. The reason you’re able to do your little fashion degree. So unless you want to be out on the streets, you’ll do as I say.” She blinks, waiting for an answer when I know better than to give her one.

  The couple grand ItsGravyBaby gave for a risky move is nothing in Eden Gardens. It’s a drop in the pond towards my admission at ERU and my pay is way too unpredictable to take that risk.

  I sigh, turning towards the hall. “Got it.” My mom wants an employee. A servant. An extension of her. Someone she can overthrow. What she doesn’t want is a daughter.

  My phone vibrates again and when I look down, a weight lifts off my chest. “Thank God,” I say, accepting the call. My mom clicks away behind me as I climb the steps. “Cassandra will be the death of me.” Passing modern art, photos of celebrities and other musical accolades, my feet slow as I near Isaac’s door.

  “And now I’m glad I don’t have parents anymore,” Ray says.

  I’m too distracted to delve into her dark joke, his words in my head.

  You’ll be next.

  “Lex?” Ray’s voice makes me jump. “You okay?”

  Shaking off goosebumps, I move to my room and into the place that makes this all feel okay. “Your independence makes me jealous,” I say. “Can’t wait until I’m on my own.”

  “Did something happen?”

  I hesitate, stopping at the pile of fabric next to my sewing machine tucked to the side of my new walk-in closet. “I found something in Isaac’s room. And being in his house gives me the willies after …” I trail off, remembering who she’s dating.

  His best friend.

  “So Christian was right,” she sighs. She hates when he’s right. “You think he did it.”

  “Well, no one’s told me otherwise.” I start pulling out a long line of shiny gold fabric. “And I found—”

  “Perez did tell you otherwise.” The sound of tapping comes through the phone and I know exactly what she’s doing. Smoking one. “He said he didn’t do it.”

  “But did he tell you what happened?”

  “He doesn’t want us involved and I trust him. Don’t you trust Isaac?”

  “You didn’t always trust him,” I remind her.

  “Lex …” she warns. If there’s one bond I can’t come between, it’s Ray and Christian’s. They’ve been through enough.

  “What if you found something that points to the truth?”

  “You mean found something that makes him a bigger suspect,” she corrects.

  “Whatever, yeah.”

  “Did you find something?” I don’t know how to answer, silence growing between us. Anna says it’s a twisted joke, but why else would he have it? “Listen, Lex, whatever it is, do you really wanna ruin his life over it? From what I hear, he’s been through a lot.” My mind flashes back to the first day we met. That distant expression as he stood by the door. I wanted to save him then and that hasn’t changed. “It’s not worth it if you don’t know the whole story.”

  My shoulders drop as I spread the fabric across the floor. “Fine, I’ll stop being so suspicious.” It’s likely better for my mental health anyway. “What did you need?” As I slide the scissors through the fabric, Ray asks about a dress for a date and I tease her because I never get to see her in anything fancy.

  But the next words she says fades my smile. “Carter Cole asked about you today.”

  My headache comes back, full swing. “Funny, my mom wants me to invite him to their fifth engagement party.”

  “Well, he’s not bad to look at.”

  “But he’s bad. Period.”

  “Worse than Isaac?”

  The mention of his name makes my chest tighten as I swallow the thick rock in my throat. "Definitely not."

  No one’s worse than Isaac Johnson.

  What’s worse? Deep down I know, there’s no one better.

  Two

  Isaac

  “Lay low, Johnson. No drama. No scandals.”

  As if driving this three-year-old Jag wasn’t punishment enough.

  “I’ll do my best.” Pulling in beside a shiny Ferrari in the campus lot, I reassure the voice coming through my speakers.

  Alexander sighs as I park, and I’m surprised. He’s my dad’s best lawyer. Isn't he used to this shit? Staring at the ivy-covered buildings ahead, my throat tightens. So I reach for the flask in the glove compartment. “What, you don’t believe me?”

  “Listen, I’ll keep it straight. Things aren’t looking good.” That makes me take a long glug. “Considering who you are, this is a hard case to win. Being back at ERU is your chance to show everyone you’re not who they think you are.”

  “Classy? Charming? Charismatic?” Scotch tingles my throat, reviving me.

  “The outlandish son of a playboy celebrity, a non-stop party train …” Alex corrects.

  “What’s wrong with that?” My white smile greets me in the rearview.

  “Everything. So you need to try to fit in.” Fit in? Looking down at my mustard-yellow slacks and my shirt with all the primary colours, that’s something I can’t do. “Tone it down.”

  “That’s not who I am, baby.” Patting the coils on my head, I make sure they’re intact. Shiny, curly and smooth.

  I’ve been gone for a week, laying low at my dad's beach house in Miami after this scandal blew up. But now? Now it’s time to remind these fuckers who runs this place.

  A beeping cuts off Alex’s words, a call coming through. When I look at the screen, the flask flies back to my mouth.

  Lexi.

  I’m dealing with enough today, so I’m not dealing with that.

  My finger hovers over the green icon, and I almost hit it before her words flash in my mind.

  “I found it.”

  “No one will accept you like this,” Alex pleads as I ignore the call. “Not the courtroom, not the jury, not the judge. Don’t be your own worst enemy.”

  “How about you do your job, Alex, and get me off this bullshit trial?" Lexi’s name flashes again, telling me I need out of this car shrinking by the second. “And I’ll do mine.”

  “Isaac, I need to warn you—” Those are Alex’s last words before I end the call and get the fuck out of the car.

  Grabbing my shades from the dash, I head for the scenic route to get me reacquainted with ERU. This private university is as fancy as our old high school. A massive campus with pristine stone paths. Grass as green as our money. The giant buildings around campus look like they belong in a space palace. Traditional yet futuristic. Fit for royalty like me.

  Sure, I could’ve continued my music studies at NYU, but why do that when I can be king on home ice? Here, everyone knows my name. And everyone respects it.

  Pulling a joint from my snakeskin case, my feet slow when I turn the corner to the main building. “Shit …”

  “There he is!”

  “Did you do it?”

  “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  A wall of reporters greets me, camera flashes making me wince behind my shades. They block my way to the main building’s steps and when I turn around, more swarm behind me.

  “How does it feel to be back after your accusations?” A reporter pushes forward, the microphone thrusting at my mouth as she waves her camera guy over.

  Shoving the joint deep in my pocket, I flash my best smile. “I’m ready to take my throne and make
some dope-ass music. Now, I have a question for you, baby. Want to sit on my throne with me?”

  Her cheeks redden as the crowd around us laughs.

  Still got it.

  “And your family?” she asks.

  “Want to make one?”

  She glances away for a moment like she’s thinking about it as I smirk at my audience. “You’re obviously never serious,” she says, shaking her head. “So why should we take you seriously now?”

  Her question hits my chest and it takes me a moment to answer. “All you have to believe is that I’m gonna kill it on the ice as hard as I kill it in the studio.” I cringe. Probably shouldn’t use the word kill. “Now if you’ll excuse me—”

  “Speaking of killing …” Shit. “How does this trial influence the daughter of Cassandra Lyon? Especially since you live together?”

  My jaw tightens. “No further questions.”

  When I take a step forward, she doesn’t budge. She blocks my path but I tower over her, fighting the urge to push her aside.

  No scandals.

  I’ve given them enough.

  “Do you think this will affect her negatively?” Pushing my hands in the pocket of my slacks I make sure she doesn’t see my fists tighten.

  “Listen, lady, either you—”

  “My friend here said no further questions.” A firm hand lands on my shoulder, Perez's voice taking over the impromptu press conference. When I sway, his strong grip keeps me in place. “But if you’d like to ask me about our upcoming season, I’m all ears.”

  Silence. And looking around this group, they don’t like the usual sports reporters.

  Perez chuckles, pulling me off to the side. “Have a good day.”

  “Christiano Perez to the fucking rescue," I mutter. The campus becomes a blur as my best friend leads me away from the inquisitive mob. I’m already pulling the joint out of my pocket the minute I step through the door.

  Perez pulls it out of my hand. “Might want to wait until they’re gone. They’re sneaky as hell.” He’s no stranger to the limelight. “But I bet shooting some pucks will help you chill out before class.”

  I cock a brow. “Having a girlfriend makes you cheesy.”

  “You say that now.” He walks backward towards the door, his outfit as cheesy as he is. ERU letterman, plain designer jeans and sneakers. Without his muscles, he’d look basic as fuck. “But I’ve seen you with the ladies.”

  “I’m charming, not cheesy.” Moving through the halls should feel normal as two Kings of Eden make our presence known. But something is off. Students part ways for us, moving to the walls. That's normal. But while Christian gets eyes from the girls and pounds from the guys, I get nothing.

  No girls ask what I’m doing later. None beg to come to my next party. Instead, they stand to the side, whispering.

  “Do you think he did it?”

  “Sucks, he’s so hot.”

  “All the best guys are lunatics.”

  Grabbing the joint from Perez, I reach for my lighter and spark it up. Being caught with a jay on campus is the least of my worries.

  “It’s nice having someone in my corner though, you know?” he asks, grabbing for the joint as I sway away. “Don’t you want that?”

  “I’m not about the domestic life.” I wink at one of the girls from the dance team as I pass. She looks away.

  “You can’t be down with one nights forever,” Perez says. “What about having someone that fights all your battles with you?”

  “Are we talking about dating or a war? ‘Cause the only war I want is in the bedroom.”

  A wonky smile settles on his face. “Love can be a war.”

  Now I’m not sure if I’m the high one. Before I can answer, my eyes catch something as we pass the hockey case near the rink. My feet stop when I confirm it. “I’m off the roster?” When I look to Perez for an answer, he rubs at his jaw, looking around like he has a secret. “Give it to me straight, man.”

  He pulls me to the side of the hall. “You’re still on the team, but Coach says some investors want your face gone because of the whole …” He trails off, wincing.

  “Trial?” My hand lands on the empty spot, my name removed. “I worked hard on that photo, man.” I flash him the smile I gave the photographer. The right amount of teeth and the right amount of mischief. “Great.” My smile fades. “The entire town already thinks I’m guilty.”

  “Doesn’t help when you’re hitting on the girl reporting your trial.”

  “I can only be me, baby.”

  “That why you can’t hold down a girl?”

  “I did and she died.” I take note of my snippy attitude and apologize, flicking the end of the joint on the sparkling floor. But since Perez and King got all hitched, they’ve been different. “It’s the single life for me. Forever.”

  A squeal comes from the end of the hall, startling my high. When I look towards the sound, a girl flips her blonde hair in a skin-tight pink mini, the fabric stretching over her ass. Those toned legs glow in designer sneakers, paired with a crop top that highlights the curves in her back. This girl knows how to flaunt what she has and does it with style.

  If this is a new girl, I want in.

  That is until she turns around.

  My jaw tenses. “When the fuck did Lexi get so popular?” Should’ve known it was her. Only Lexi would come to campus dressed like she’s in the middle of a teen drama. Some of the girls that used to flock to me all swarm around her, laughing and whispering.

  “Since she sucked off Carter and the entire polo team.” My fists tighten when a familiar voice lands on the other side of me. Glenn, one of our team's defensemen. While my dad's non-existent, his dad is as hardass as Perez’s.

  Heat flows through my body as I watch that cheesy fucking grin spread across Lexi’s face. Her lips look plumper and fuller than I remember. Likely from sucking dick. Lexi's boy-crazy so I have to confirm. “The entire polo team?”

  Glenn shrugs, his eyes on her ass. “That’s the word around the sports building. It’s why I’m asking her out.”

  My stomach twists. “To risk getting chlamydia? Or gonorrhea? HPV? She has it all.”

  “You guys talking about Lexi?” A guy I don't know from the polo team joins us by the trophy case. "I've been trying to hit that."

  My head whips to him. “You blind or stupid? We’re talking.”

  His eyes widen as he takes a step back, hands up in surrender. “Dude, sorry! Don’t kill me too, man.” I take a step towards him, Perez’s hand landing on my shoulder as he scurries away.

  “Fucking firecracker today,” Perez mumbles.

  My phone vibrates against my chest, distracting me from our topic of conversation.

  SilkyKitty: Let’s cancel until this all blows over. Sorry, my PR agent called it.

  “Fuck." I hoped to collaborate with the hottest rising artist on the east coast to get out of this hole. To finally prove I’m more than this. But looking at my inbox, I see other emails all saying the same thing.

  “After the trial.”

  “In a couple of months.”

  “Reach out when this is over.”

  “Didn’t know Carter Cole and Lexi got back together,” Perez says.

  Looking up to where his thumb points, my eyes land on Lexi again, the crowd around her diminished to one. Carter. The fucker has her against the wall, one hand by her head, her smile gone. If Carter’s in front of her, he can only be saying one thing.

  My grip on my phone tightens. “I’m gonna go roll another. Meet you at the rink.” Moving to where they stand, a sway in my step, I pick up their conversation.

  “You know I can change,” Carter says, running a hand through his greasy black hair. “Give me another chance. I promise I’ll make it worth your while. Everyone here calls you a slut, you know that’s not true. Prove it to them.”

  Lexi sounds exasperated, a huff in her voice. “I can’t get over what you did, you—”

  “You wanted it. You s
aid you did.”

  “That’s not what I wanted.”

  “You’re confusing.” She tries to move around him but he stops her. “Hey, I’ll make it up to you. I already told my parents you’re coming to dinner and if you don’t, I’ll look really bad.”

  What a piece of work.

  A large cup from MOCHA’s campus cafe sits in Lexi’s hand. Approaching her, that delicate scent of coconut and chamomile wraps around me, twisting my guts.

  Time to shut this down.

  As I pass them, I push my shoulder into her back.

  She squeals, the contents of her cup pouring over her top. I don’t miss the way it highlights the outline of her tits. "Isaac, what the fuck?!"

  But I ignore her, giving my attention to Carter instead. “Unless you want the chlamydia that’s going around the polo team, keep your Creepy Carter hands to yourself.” With that, I push through the doors leading outside.

  “Isaac!” Lexi calls behind me. “Isaac! What the fuck!?” Signalling Monica from my audio engineering class, I expect her to come to my side but she turns the other way. “Isaac! We need to talk about what I—”

  “What?” My voice silences her and I can smell her behind me. No, I can feel her, the warmth radiating off her body. She’s the reason I haven’t been home yet. The reason this day got even harder.

  Her finger lands on my arm and I pull away, a burn spreading through my shirt. “Can we talk about what I found? Whatever it is, I—”

  “What did you find, Lexi?” I fight the urge to turn around and look her in those eyes. I’m not ready. Not today. She doesn’t answer like she’s afraid to say anything else, so I end the conversation right here. “Whatever you found, you won't say a word about it because if you do, you'll regret it. Now stop being so fucking desperate.”

  Without another word from her, I keep on my path.

  After texting Perez a lame excuse to tell Coach, I dodge the press at the front building and head to my car. I’m getting the fuck out of here.

  My foot heavy on the gas, mickey in hand, my Jag flies down Eden streets. The smooth pavement helps keep my wheels steady, avoiding the curbs with planted seasonal arrangements.