Chapter 56 A HOT BLOODED EX.
SLOANE’S POINT OF VIEW.
The thought of Ace’s car from outside had me clutching my purse tighter, as my skin grew flushed with nerves. Tonight, I intended on making Lucien bleed, or burn, or both. And this dress was the perfect way to do it.
Taking a few deep breaths, I muttered words of encouragement to myself and headed downstairs after one final look at myself. Amara had gone for red.
Literally everything on me was fucking red. My dress, my lipstick, my eyeshadow, my shoes, even my damn nail polish. She had said it was the color of passion and anger, so the mix of the two strongest emotions in the world would be perfect to set things off.
My bare ass rubbed against the tight material of the dress as I walked. I wasn’t wearing any panties tonight….because I knew exactly how it would end.
I was hoping it would end that way.
Shutting the door, I headed out of my house and towards Ace’s Rolls-Royce. At the sight of me, he quickly hopped out of the back seat and headed my way.
“Oh fuck. Sloane, you look so…...” He whispered, his eyes dark as the dark orbs ran up and down my body.
“Good?” I asked, smiling slightly, against the bundle of nerves, and the slight urge to puke.
He chuckled, running his hands through his straight hair, which reached his neck. “Good? You look fucking amazing.” He breathed before reaching for me. I placed my hand in his with a small smile and let him lead me to the car.
Lucien Ravenscroft might think he and his bimbo have the power to play me with a stupid bet, but tonight, I’d show him, her, and every other person in that damn school that there’s more a scholarship kid can do once she puts her mind to it.
Tonight, I’ll remind him, her, and all of them that I’m not a fucking pawn on the chessboard; I’m the checkmate.
Gliding into the car, Ace shuts the door softly before heading the other way and getting in. In no time, we’re moving, as the low purr of the car’s engine rivals that of the blood rushing through my ears violently. My skin brims with anticipation at the sight of his face, the moment his eyes make contact with mine….in Ace’s arms.
A wicked idea pops into my mind, and following it, I pull my phone from my clutch, pose for the camera, and take a picture. My face, my cleavage, and Ace’s knee show in the picture, and it sends a thrill through me.
Opening my Instagram app, I post the picture on my story with the caption;
Every queen deserves her Ace.
In less than two minutes after I post it, my phone buzzes with a notification;
LUCIEN: It’s on, Sunshine.
His text adds to the thrill I already feel, and I recline in my seat with a contented smile. Ace’s gaze is hot on the side of my face, and his voice fills the silence.
“If this is how you get back, remind me never to hurt you,” He chuckles.
“Smart boy,” I mutter with a smirk of my own.
The drive is filled with his attempts at charming me and at light banter, but I barely hear him. My gaze is fixed on the blur of city lights outside, as my pulse quickens with each second we draw closer to Theo’s mansion. My thoughts aren’t on Ace; they’re on Lucien.
I wonder what his face will look like when he sees me step out of another guy’s car. Especially one he doesn’t know, or approve of. If it had been one of the horsemen, he would not bat an eye.
But Ace?
He’d go batshit crazy.
In no time, the car pulls up to Theo’s mansion, and the party is already in full swing. The different colorful lights reflect on the street, as students line up in their expensive clothes, each one of them with a solo cup in their hand.
“Finally,” I mutter, removing my seat belt and waiting for the driver to park the car.
The loud blast of 50 Cent’s music echoes even in the silent car as the driver parks the car close to the entrance. I could already feel their stares as each one of them stopped mid-conversation to stare at the sleek red car.
Ace steps out, dressed in his dapper attire, and rounds the car to get to my door. The moment he opens my side of the car, it’s almost as though I hear the music go off, as everyone’s eyes train on me the moment I step out.
“Sloane?” They gasp collectively, as their eyes widen with shock. Each of them pulls out their phones and starts typing furiously. Some people take pictures and videos of us as we walk through the crowd. In no time, Claire, the head of the school’s gossip column, rushes over to us.
She stares at two of us in shock before pulling her phone up to record.
“Sloane, you’re here with Ace…does this mean you and Lucien are no longer a thing?” She asks. And I like it, because she didn’t bother with beating about the bush.
With a small smile, I look straight at the camera and answer, “I have no idea who you’re referring to.”
I didn’t bother waiting for an answer because I pulled Ace along and walked away from her. My ears filled with their whispers, as speculations of Lucien and no longer being together filled the room.
“Wow. You just made me your accomplice.” Ace whispers in my ears, his breath making my skin tingle as my eyes searched around the room for Lucien….or at least one of the horsemen, but I found none of them.
“Congratulations. You’re officially an enemy of Lucien Knox Ravenscroft.” I said, smirking.
“Will you nurse me back to life if he kills me after tonight?”
“I’m not promising anything,” I said, smiling as we moved through the crowd. I barely looked at any of them, because I was still searching for him.
“Sloane.” Cassian’s voice stops me in my tracks, and I turn to him with a smile on my face.
“Hey, Cassian! What’s up?”
He barely spares Ace a look as his eyes train on me. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
“No way. You’re not taking her anywhere.” Ace says before I could even respond, and the look Cassian gives him sends a feeling of dread up my spine, as my face practically loses all color.
“I’ll go, Ace,” I said, nodding at him, before I followed Cassian.
He leads me to a secluded part of the party before stopping abruptly.
“Sloane. I will warn you for the first and last time.” He says, not even breaking a smirk. “Lucien is an unfeeling bastard; he’s always been like that since I met him. But one thing changed that…or rather, one person.
You.
Do not screw things up, but let the psycho lose. Because I fear for the whole school if that should ever happen.”
I swallow at the ominous feeling his words leave behind, as a chill runs up my arms.
Nodding, I let him know I understand before he leads me away and back into the party. My throat bobs, and the urge to wash my hands grips me.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I mutter to him.
Walking on shaky legs, I reach the bathroom with slight difficulty. After washing my hands, I stare at the mirror. My reflection stares back at me, and just before I could blink, his voice fills the silence.
“Hello, sunshine