Page 23 of Demon Rider

“Oh, I know enough.” She steps closer, heels clicking on the floor. “Girls like you come in thinking you’re special. Thinking you’re different and you’re gonna change one of them.” She laughs. “But you’re not. You’re just another warm body he’ll toss aside when he’s done.”

Heat flares in my chest, but not embarrassment, or fear, but rage. My kidnapping seems to have made me stronger, and ready to take on any fucker, since I survived that monster.

Turning around, I take her in, and the stupid bitch that came with her as added back-up, clearly both not caring about the earlier warning.

“You don’t get to talk to me like that.” I state calmly, even though I am raging inside.

“I’ll talk however I want.” Her smile is one I want to use as target practice.

“Not to me.” My voice doesn’t shake. “Not today.”

She blinks in surprise at my strong comeback.

“You think you’re tough?”

Now I scoff, still gripping the spoon. “I think you’re used to people letting you run your mouth, bullying them. I’m not one of them.”

“Tyson won’t keep you. He never does.”

“That’s between me and him,” I snap. “Not you.”

She steps in closer, trying to crowd me. “You really think he’s coming back for you?”

“I know he is.” I hold her stare, not backing down.

She scoffs. “You’re delusional.”

“No,” I say, voice low. “I just know what I am willing to fight for.”

For a second, she doesn’t know what to do with that. Her lip’s part, then close, then she tosses her hair like she’s dismissing me, but her eyes flick away first. She’s rattled. Good. Fucking cunt.

Being a foster kid, you learn to deal with bullies who think they are better than you, so I have had my fair share is bitches like Lisa, and have happily dealt with every one of them.

“You’re gonna regret talking to me like that.” she threatens, making me laugh this time.

“No, I am not.” I step forward, getting in her space. “I’m done letting people like you talk to me like that.”

For a heartbeat, she looks like she might swing, or scream, but she does none of those things.

“I rule this house, bitch, and I will tell you when I am done making your life hell,” her little buddy giggles, and I arch a brow at her.

“Clearly you both are stupid as fuck, and not heading the warning that Tyson gave you both.” That makes the little buddy wince. “Yeah, forgot about that did, ya?”

She doesn’t get to reply because the back door slams open.

Tyson walks in, jaw tight, eyes darker than they were when he left. There’s a charge around him, like the air is holding its breath. Something supernatural still clings to him, faint but unmistakable.

Lisa straightens instantly, plastering on a smile. “Ty⁠—”

He doesn’t even look at her.

His eyes lock on me.

And the whole room shifts.

Lisa notices, she huffs before stepping in front of him, but he keeps ignoring her.

I don’t say anything. I don’t need to, the pull is there, right in the center of my chest.