Page 5 of In Darkness We Claim

As Ryan balls his hands into fists, his stance getting progressively more threatening, out of the corner of my eye, I catch my best friend coming to stand beside me.

I’m not at all surprised to find Bram by my side when there’s the potential for shit to hit the fan. If there’s a fight going down, Bram will be the first to throw himself into it. He’s just that type of friend.

I turn to give him a small smile, and a slight head nod is all that’s needed between us to confirm we have each other’s backs—just like we always have. Ryan’s gaze flicks between the two of us, and he has the good sense to back up, clearly not wanting to take us both on.

“Stop talking in fucking riddles. I bet your dad got you the fucking top spot,” Ryan spits venomously.

Those were the magic words that he needed to say to spark the fire simmering beneath the surface. I take a menacing step forward, letting him see my rage as I snarl at him.

“My father has nothing to do with this. I earned the fucking top spot. I watched every single one of you complete your kills. I listened to each of you brag about how you undertook your assignments, and the feedback Xander gave you.

“You all gave me more than enough information, so when the time came for me to complete my task, I knew exactly what Xander was looking for. I watched and I waited, and you handed me everything I needed to beat your arse. So you have nobody to blame but your fucking self.”

Everyone in the room falls silent at my words, no doubt berating themselves for handing me my success. It’s only because everyone else is silent that I’m able to hear the quiet word that slips from Harper’s mouth.

“Clever.”

My gaze flicks over to her, and for just a second, she looks almost proud of my plan. Then she realises she spoke the word aloud, and she slams her lips shut as her beautiful blue eyes grow almost comically wide, before she drops her gaze to the floor. I can’t help but smile as her cheeks flush bright-red, emphasising her freckles even more.

“Enjoy it while it lasts, Radley. I’m going to fucking destroy you,” Ryan snaps.

Before I can respond, Harper reaches up and places a hand on Ryan’s chest, looking up at him with her lips in a tight line. “Calm down, Ry. This is only your first task, and second place is still great. You have more than enough time to get first.”

Ryan glares at her as he slaps her hand off his chest, before removing his arm from around her shoulders. “Don’t ever tell me what to do. Just shut the fuck up, this doesn’t concern you.”

If I wanted to kill him before, it’s nothing compared to how I feel now. Seeing him treat Harper that way, like she’s nothing, has venom dripping through my veins like acid, sizzling all my nerve endings.

I ball my hands into fists as I pull in a sharp breath, trying to get control of my rage, so I don’t act on instinct. I want nothing more than to pull out my knife and slice off the hand that dared to slap her, but I can’t attack a fellow Crow without just cause.

Besides, Harper shouldn’t mean anything to me—she doesn’t mean anything, and I have to make that clear to anyone who might think differently.

It takes every ounce of willpower to keep my expression neutral, and to ignore the hurt on Harper’s face. I want to defend her, but that goes against the image I’ve built. People think I don’t care about anyone, and if I jump to her defence, that will be ruined.

Besides, I’m not exactly sure why the hell I want to protect or defend her. So I draw on the persona I’ve spent the last two weeks perfecting, and keep the cocky smirk in place as I address Harper for the first time.

“That top spot will always be mine, sweetheart. But if you want to know what it’s like to be with the best, I’d be willing to show you.”

I deliberately make myself sound sleazy as I throw a wink at her, and it has the desired effect, as she wrinkles her nose at me in disgust.

“I’m Betrothed to Ryan. Why would I throw away my entire future just to become another forgettable notch on your no doubt already crowded bedpost?” Harper replies, cocking her hip with as much sass as can be heard in her voice.

I can’t help but smile as my heart pounds in my chest at the way she challenges me, while my stomach sinks on learning she’s Betrothed to that fucking bellend.

I shouldn’t reply, but I can’t help myself. I lean in closer until my breath flutters across her cheeks, and I love the way her breath hitches at my proximity.

My voice is low and husky as I say, “I have a feeling one night with you would be anything but forgettable.”

She lets out the smallest gasp, making my cock twitch, and Ryan pushes me backwards, whilst he pulls Harper behind him, shielding her with his body.

“Stay the fuck away from my girlfriend,” he shouts.

Harper peeks her head around Ryan’s back, her pretty blue eyes wide and curious. Her breaths are coming out in small pants, as if she’s as affected by our closeness as I am. That, combined with how much it’s winding up Ryan, is enough to spur me on.

“I will…for now,” I say, before flicking my gaze over to meet hers once more. Only when her eyes are locked with mine do I continue. “But one day, she’ll beg me the way I want her to.”

Ryan rushes at me, but Bram is there to pull him back, to stop him from doing something he will regret. As Ryan moves, Harper is exposed once more. Instead of cowering under my comments, she meets my gaze without fear as she scoffs loudly.

“I’d have to desperately crave you if I were ever going to beg, and given how much you disgust me, that will never happen.”