“I’m more loyal than you’ve ever been.” I put myself in her personal space, my hand hovering at her hair, whether to pet or yank it, I wasn’t sure. “The thing is, you’re not a human at all. You’re just a spoiled Park Avenue Bitch desperate for attention. You were then, and”—I made a point of looking her up and down—“from the looks of things, that hasn’t changed.”

I turned, leaving her behind me, right where she belonged. Ignoring the small fucking ache in my chest she’d left there long ago when she stabbed me in the back and proved once and for all these rich bitches were the same.

Chapter 2

Devlynn

“You don’t know the full story of what happened back then!” I shouted at his shrinking form before I launched after him, catching him by the arm when I was close enough.

He yanked out of my grip and kept walking. “I don’t need your bullshit story. What I need is your hands off me.”

“I’m not a spoiled Barbie. Things in high school were…complicated for me.” Annoyed tears formed behind my eyelids again, and I swept them away before he could notice.

His look of disgust was like a jagged piece of glass slicing through me. Elis had perfected his look of death, I thought he’d never look at me like that, but I was wrong. I was so very wrong.

“Said every spoiled princess ever,” he seethed, continuing to stalk down the gravel pathway as snow-covered evergreen branches hung low over his head.

He looked every part the villain he’d become. If I were in law enforcement, I’d give Elis Brooks a once-over too. Black on black was his uniform, but it was more than that. He had that devious glint in his eye. It was one thing that drew me to him in high school. The way he scared everyone and put them on edge with just a look sent thrills of excitement through my skin.

I battled to fight that same reaction to him now.

“Elis…” My voice softened.

His steps slowed when he reached a bench, and he turned, leveling me with his gaze. I crossed the pathway in his direction. A late-night jogger looked warily between us before nodding at me once and giving Elis a wide berth.

“It’s been a lot of years since then. I don’t feel like the person I was when we last knew each other.”

“That sounds like a win.” His voice was monotone.

I didn’t react to his dig. I sat on the bench at his shoulder. “So you’ve been the one decorating all of 5th Avenue in graffiti? You made the top headline in Page Six last week. Your designs are gaining a cult following. A few more runs from the law, and they’ll erect a statue in Williamsburg in your honor.”