Page 16 of Merciless

“Where are you going, Eden?” I say loud enough for her to hear.

Her shoulders stiffen, rising to the bottoms of her ears, and she stops in the doorway. She looks every bit like a frightened bird about to be ensnared by the snake. She tosses a glare at me over her shoulder before leaving the room and putting a measurable amount of space between us.

I could close it in a few strides if I wanted to. Yet, I enjoy this game of bird and snake. It makes life more enjoyable. Maybe not for her, but more so for me.

“Birdie,” I say with a smile. “You can run, but you can’t hide.”

Eden spins around and juts her chin up. “Why are you talking to me?”

I stop in front of her. “Easy there, sis. I’m not the enemy you think I am.”

She has to tilt her head back to look at me since I stand a solid two feet taller than her. I won’t pretend the size difference doesn’t affect me. Because it does, and I don’t understand why. Why her when I tower over other women I’ve been with?

It’s the innocence—the way she looks up at me with wide doe eyes.

“Then what are you to me if you’re not my enemy?” She shakes her head with a sigh. “It doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t be talking to me, anyway.”

I tilt my head. “Why?”

The fear creeping into her eyes hardens my cock. We’re well past the twitch, thrust into the lust-driven emotions I can’t afford to feel for her. Goddamn, I’m a sick bastard.

“You’ll end up getting hurt because of me,” she says.

“By who?”

Her gaze snaps to me, then narrows. “You should know, since you’re so popular. You’re friends with the same people who make my life miserable.”

“I can be your ally.” I bend so our faces are closer. “You’re my stepsister, after all, and family should look out for each other.”

She lets out a dry laugh. “You don’t need anyone to look out for you. And you’ve done a terrible job protecting me all these years.”

“You have no idea what I’ve done.”

“Standing aside and watching everyone harass and bully me? Yeah, you’ve done a lot for me.”

I pitch my voice lower. “I can make it up to you.”

“And how would you do that?” She steps back.

I straighten to my full height and slip my hands into my pockets. “We can be friends.”

“How does that help anything?”

“As long as you’re around me, no one will mess with you.”

She squints. “I feel like there’s a but in there.”

I grin.

Such a clever girl.

“But,” I say, “you’ll have to join me in some competitions. Asher needs a break, and I need a passenger.”

“I knew it,” she mumbles. I’m not sure if she meant for me to hear it. “What do you mean, you need a passenger? And what competitions?”

I grab her elbow and lead her toward the front of the school. “It means exactly that. I need someone to ride with me and keep a lookout.”

“You didn’t answer my other question.” She jerks her arm out of my hold and faces me, and I sigh and slip my hands into my pockets.