Page 11 of Fatal Scheme

These boys are strings on my fiddle, constantly being played with, and I can’t wait to see how they try to scramble to catch up after the show I put on just for them.

The first half of the day goes off without a hitch, my stalkers keeping their distance, but right around noon, I can feel Jasper’s presence lurking behind me as I walk the halls, and a sinister thought crosses my mind before I can even stop myself.

Rather than following my usual path, I duck down a corridor that becomes a dead end, and I slow my pace, allowing him to catch up to me.

Right on cue, I can hear his footsteps, caging me in with each stride he takes.

“Jasper, what the fuck do you want from me?” I ask, faking an exasperated sigh as I slowly turn around, finding myself face-to-face with his icy-silver eyes.

“Just making sure my Principessina gets to class without any issues,” he smiles, leaning a massive shoulder against the wall, effectively blocking my exit.

“You don’t understand social cues, verbal warnings, or the face of a woman who just isn’t interested, do you?” I ask, rolling my eyes for good measure as I attempt to step around him, catching a whiff of his cologne as our bodies land chest-to-chest.

He twists his fingers until they're under my chin, attempting to draw my lips to his, but I resist, pulling away from him as I scoff at his pathetic attempt to get me to kiss him, again.

Every few days we find ourselves like this, and I pump the brakes each time, not letting my lady parts dictate this mission.

“Not happening, Stalker Boy,” I choke out, attempting to hide how attracted I really am to him.

If he’s as clued into me as I am to him, he already knows, because my chest is heaving, goosebumps prickle my arms, and my cheeks feel as red as the devil’s ass.

“Behave yourself, Carter. I’ll be watching,” he whispers in my ear before flattening his body against the wall, allowing me to walk by as his signature saying sends a shiver down my spine, but not out of fear – not in the fucking slightest.

That thought shouldn’t turn me on, but for some reason, it sends a shot of lava from my head, all the way down to my toes, and I shake it off, reminding myself how unavailable I truly am.

Getting involved with either of these boys would be the signature on my death certificate, or worse, the sole reason why I don’t take over the Cassini Family, and the latter simply is not a fucking option.

FIVE

JASPER

My Principessina is a certified temptress, and all the while I’ve been watching her, she’s been playing me just as hard, figuring out exactly how to lure me into her traps.

She’s invaded every space in my mind, stealing my focus and replacing it with lingering thoughts and desperate fantasies.

Just once, I need to know what those pretty lips feel like against mine, but she finds ways to push me away right before the payoff every time, reminding me that I’m not the only player on the chess board.

Today, I’m upping the stakes, and instead of watching my ice princess get her education, I’ll be learning more about her.

As usual, I park on the corner of her street, and she pretends I’m not there, teasing me with another teeny tiny outfit.

This morning she’s actively trying to kill me, her perky tits practically falling out of the dark purple tank top she’s wearing.

“You look beautiful, Principessina.” I roll down my window, winking at her while she walks by, a look of irritation painted on her face.

“Fuck you, Jasper!”

“Gladly. Name the time and place,” I say, and she only sighs in response, picking up the pace as she passes my car.

Keeping my eyes glued on her body in the rearview mirror, I wait until she’s out of sight before making my next move, already confirming that her roommate left first this morning.

Making quick work of the lock, I force my way into the open concept living space. Right away, I can tell which bedroom belongs to Carter, the dark curtains and overall aura standing out immediately.

She hasn’t decorated the walls, her bed spread is basic like it was purchased at Walmart, but two large suitcases perched in the middle of the room instantly catch my eye.

They’ve been torn through and are completely disheveled, but when I check the luggage for tags, there are none.

She’s smart, way more intelligent than I’ve ever seen in a young woman, only further forcing me to believe that she’s hiding something.