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Chapter 143
~Spring’s POV~
My breath caught.
"Neil?"
He removed his gloves slowly, like he had all the ti in the world, and tucked them under his arm with a cocky grin that hadn’t changed one bit.
His sharp eyes lined with arrogant mischief, locked onto mine like we were the only two people on the track.
"Hey, Spring. You look even better under these lights."
"What... what are you doing here?" I managed, blinking rapidly.
My brain struggled to process the contrast—this wasn’t the Neil who annoyed at Rhys’s house.
This Neil radiated sothing else entirely. Charisma. Danger. Intent.
Tyrion turned slightly, his body still angled protectively in front of , but his gaze never left Neil.
"You two know each other?"
I nodded, finally finding my voice. "Yeah. He was the one who ca to my brother’s house yesterday... uninvited." I added that last part with extra edge.
Tyrion’s brows rose. "This is the sa guy at the door?"
"Have you two t before?" I asked, glancing between them.
Neil nodded, not even trying to hide his amusent. "We raced once. A long ti ago. At an underground run in Crestvale."
"You tried to cheat out of a win," Tyrion said dryly.
"And you still won," Neil said, shrugging. "Which only made respect you more." He turned to , smile broadening. "I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, Spring. But that’s not gonna derail from chasing after your hand. I want you to be my girl."
Tyrion’s jaw ticked, but his voice stayed calm, almost amused. "She’s already mine. And nothing, no one, is changing that."
Neil stepped a little closer, folding his arms casually. "Is that so? Well... guess we’ll see."
Tyrion just smiled, that dangerous, knowing smile that never reached his eyes.
Without a word, he slid his arm around my waist, pulled closer, and kissed again.
He didn’t just kiss to show he could. He kissed to remind that I was already claid.
The kiss stole the air from my lungs all over again. I felt every inch of his intent in that single motion.
When he finally pulled back, my head spun.
Neil stood there, completely unfazed. In fact... he smiled.
"I’ll be the one kissing those lips soon," he said with a wink. "You two enjoy the night while it lasts."
Then he turned, swung one leg over his snow-white bike, revved it once, and peeled off into the dark, his laughter echoing faintly behind.
Tyrion didn’t move. Neither did I.
But deep in my chest, sothing cold settled in like a warning.
I knew Neil wasn’t just here to flirt. He was here for war.
I looked up to see a dark glint flash in Tyrion’s eyes.
"He doesn’t know what he wants to get into. Your mates, none of us are going to allow a human near our mate, let alone to claim you."
***************
~Author’s POV~
The upscale bar buzzed with soft jazz, murmurs, and the occasional clink of glasses.
It was dimly lit, draped in shadows and gold glimrs from crystal chandeliers above.
In a plush corner booth, River sat, swirling her cocktail half-heartedly while trying not to let her scowl show.
Across from her, Zoey sat nursing her third drink, eyes flitting between the dance floor and River’s sullen expression.
"Okay, out with it," Zoey said finally, nudging River’s foot under the table. "You’ve been stirring that drink like it insulted your existence. What’s going on?"
River sighed. "It’s Spring."
Zoey raised a brow. "Spring?"
"She’s my bf’s sister."
"Rhys’s sister?"
"Adopted sister," River corrected with a bitter edge, taking a long sip. "That girl’s always lurking. I an, what kind of brother takes his sister everywhere like they’re conjoined twins?"
Zoey gave her a look. "You’re not seriously jealous of Spring, are you?"
"I’m not jealous," River said too quickly. "I just... don’t like her. She’s smug. She knows she’s got her brothers wrapped around her finger, and it doesn’t help that she’s freaking gorgeous."
Zoey tilted her head. "Okay, but... do you think Rhys has feelings for her?"
River exhaled, running her fingers through her glossy waves. "I don’t know. I just know he used her to make jealous last week. Who does that? Who parades his sister around to provoke his girlfriend?"
Zoey frowned. "That is ssed up, but you really think there’s sothing... like, inappropriate going on between them?"
"I don’t know what to think anymore," River muttered. "All I know is, there are no blood ties. She’s adopted. So technically... what’s stopping them? What if that little slut is sleeping with my man?"
Zoey nearly choked on her drink. "God, River. Can you hear yourself? That’s insane. Why would a brother sleep with his sister?"
"And why wouldn’t he, if she looks like that?" a sultry voice chid in.
Both girls turned to see Catherine sauntering in, dressed to kill in a curve-hugging red number. She slid into the booth like a queen claiming her throne.
River smirked. "See? You get it, Cath."
Zoey rolled her eyes. "You two are ridiculous."
"I’m just saying," Catherine continued, plucking a martini off the passing tray of a server. "We’ve seen how those brothers treat Spring, especially in the past. She was the apple of her eye."
River bit the inside of her cheek.
"It’s not normal. Too protective. Too attentive. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were trying to keep everyone else away from her... like they were saving her for themselves."
Zoey’s jaw dropped. "You can’t be serious."
"Deadly." Catherine took a long sip. "And you, bestie," she turned to River, "need to get ahead of the ga before soone else plays you for a fool."
River’s expression darkened. "Exactly. Thank you. Finally, soone gets it. Everyone thinks I’m being petty or paranoid, but I feel it, Cath. She’s a threat. And no one seems to care."
"Which is why you shouldn’t let your guard down," Catherine said. "Mark your territory. Make Rhys rember who the hell you are. Seduce him at ho, make love to him, and make it so hard and hot that even Spring would hear who he belongs to."
Zoey groaned and leaned back in the seat, lifting her glass in mock salute. "You two can chase this wild theory all you want. But don’t co crying to when this blows up in your face."
"Oh, please, Zoey," River rolled her eyes. "Since when did you beco Mother Teresa?"
"Probably around the ti you started accusing adopted sisters of incest."
"Hey!" Catherine snapped her fingers, then winked. "That’s enough. This is girls’ night. Let’s not let so golden-eyed witch ruin it."
The girls laughed—well, two of them did.
After a few more drinks and gossiping about other girls from their workplace, Catherine finally stood and adjusted her dress. "Let’s get out of here before we get drunk enough to actually text our exes."
Zoey shook her head. "You an you haven’t already?"
"Shut up."
River slid out of the booth next, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor. Her eyes held a storm behind them.
As they made their way toward the door, she spoke up. "I don’t care what anyone says. I’m not losing Rhys to that girl."
Catherine grinned, linking arms with her. "Then let’s make sure you don’t."
"How?"
"For starters, how about a visit to his house tonight? Then you can carry on with the plan I made."
"Which is?" Zoey asked, folding her hands in front of her chest.
"Simple... Fuck him."
***************
The soft purr of her sleek car’s engine faded as River pulled up outside Rhys’ mansion’s complex.
The night air was warm, and the street lamps cast a golden sheen across the sidewalk.
River took one last glance at herself in the rearview mirror, checking her lipstick, smoothing her already perfect hair, and then reached behind her to grab the items she’d shed earlier.
Her panties and bra lay tangled on the passenger seat. She smirked as she tucked them away, knowing exactly what she was doing tonight.
With a slow, calculated breath, River stepped out of her car. Her gown was sheer, intentionally so, midnight black, clinging to every curve, with a thigh-high slit that swayed as she walked.
Beneath it, she wore nothing. The click of her heels echoed as she approached Rhys’ building, anticipation curling in her belly.
She rang the doorbell, biting her lower lip as she posed, angling her hip, sliding her leg forward just enough to let the slit part and expose the silken length of her thigh.
The door swung open, and River’s seductive smile instantly faltered because it wasn’t Rhys.
It was Spring.
River blinked, caught off guard, but quickly pulled herself together. "Where’s Rhys?" she asked, keeping her voice smoother than she felt.
Spring didn’t look surprised to see her. If anything, she seed amused. "Not ho."
River narrowed her eyes. "At 1 a.m.? Really?"
Spring arched a brow, leaning casually against the doorway in a simple tank top and shorts that hugged her fra. "And what brings you to soone’s house at 1 a.m.? Can’t sleep? Or is your house haunted now?"
River gritted her teeth. "I ca to see Rhys. Do I need an appointnt for that?"
Spring gave a lazy shrug. "Suit yourself."
River’s gaze dropped for a second, catching Spring’s exposed legs and collarbone. "Don’t act all innocent. You’re dressed like that in your brother’s house. Kind of inappropriate, don’t you think?"
"I’m ho, River. About to sleep. You, on the other hand, went out like that."
River scoffed. "So now you’re judging ?"
"I’m not judging you. But if you’re feeling judged, maybe ask yourself why." Spring’s eyes were unflinching. "It’s not about what I think. It’s how you feel wearing that outside, and from your breath, I can tell you went drinking. So, the question is... are you representing my brother well?"
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