SHATTERED SKULL EXCERPT

The first time I saw Aiken Cross, aka Skull, he was standing atop a speeding motorcycle. The second time, he was putting his fist through my brother’s face. Now he’s everywhere I look. He’s making my life hell with his vulgar remarks and seductive lure, but it’s not my fault my brother joined The Border Lords, his rival crew. I keep my nose out of their business and my head in the books. Yet he’s always there provoking me, dragging me into their conflict. Everyone in town knows you don’t mess with the Sons of Sinister, but no one ever told me what to do when a Son of Sinister messes with me.

EXCERPT

Two hours passed. The races stopped and turned into stunts and laughter. It seemed the skull had finally given up on making me mad and had disappeared. At least that was what I thought until I turned around and found him standing in front of me. He stepped closer, unaware of personal space, and I looked up at him, my head bent back in an uncomfortable position.

Lifting a brow, I asked what he wanted without using words. He didn’t deserve my words. None of them did.

“I didn’t think you’d come back,” he said, taking a hit from a joint and blowing it into the air above him.

The smell moved down over me, sifting through my hair, and I turned my head away, afraid I would get a contact high.

“How could I not after the amazing reception I got last time.”

“Sarcasm.” He chuckled without humor. “That’s cute.”

Anger started to burn in my stomach. I didn’t enjoy how he treated me like a little girl. I hated it even more that he thought he had the right to speak to me after the crap he and his boys pulled in my bedroom.

“Why are you here messing with me?” I asked, skipping straight to the point.

Smoke poured from his lips and nose, and I waved away the smell and sighed in annoyance.

He grinned, his green eyes were glassy and bloodshot.

“Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you last time you didn’t belong?”

“Do you own this place?”

His grin grew darker. “Sort of.”

“You don’t, which means you don’t have the right to tell me to leave.”

This time his grin disappeared.

“Okay, little pyro. Keep talking shit.”

“Little Pyro? What’s that even mean?”

“It means you’re playing with fire, and little girls who play with fire get burned.”

“You’re ridiculous. First, I’m not a little girl. And second, I’m not playing with anything, nor do I want to. You’re the one who keeps messing with me. I’m doing my best to stay away from you and your annoying group of boys.”

He moved closer, staring me down as if he were ready to brawl with me.

“I keep messing with you because you don’t belong here. The only person who wants you here is Zada. Maybe you should take the hint and stay the fuck away. Also, all girls want to play with my fire, but only a select few can handle my burn. You’re not one of them.”

And then he walked away, a conniving grin on his face.