No Crosses Count

NO CROSSES COUNT TATE MONROE RORY IRELAND Copyright © 2023 by Tate Monroe + Rory Ireland, Banned Baddies All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Author Contact: [email protected] Created with Vellum For the girls who wanted a fierce heroine and her obsessed stalker anti-hero People aren't always what they appear to be. Don't forget that. RAY DUQUETTE - WILD THINGS CONTENTS Content Tropes and Tags 1. Reese 2. Vaughn 3. Vaughn 4. Reese 5. Vaughn 6. Vaughn 7. Vaughn 8. Reese 9. Reese 10. Reese 11. Reese 12. Vaughn 13. Vaughn 14. Reese 15. Reese 16. Vaughn 17. Reese Epilogue Sneak Peek Acknowledgments About the Author Also by the Authors CONTENT TROPES AND TAGS This is a dark romance and as such can and will contain possible triggering content. For a list of content tropes and tags please visit our website here 1 REESE “Oh, absolutely fucking not,” Regina gripes, pushing her wavy brown hair over her shoulder and smoothing her hands over the plaid skirt. I don’t get to ask her what has her panties in a bunch today, because she’s already mumbling under her breath, “Oh, of course it would be him. This is why I don’t fuck with anyone. I should have insisted on a single room.” “Who? What are you talking about?” I start to swivel my body to look behind me, but she frowns, shaking her head no. My first week here has been an absolute whirlwind, and a little overwhelming, if I’m honest. The photos I saw before coming here in person don’t do any justice to the looming stone buildings and neatly manicured landscapes. The students, despite being in college, wear a strict, regimented uniform that I hate. I much prefer my ripped jeans, fishnets, and slasher tees to the pleated skirts, crisp white button-down shirts, and navy blazers. “The worst thing you can do is look. Keep walking. I’m not dealing with his ass today,” Regina says, never faltering a step. Unfortunately, I’m not that coordinated in the dress shoes that are Hillcrest mandated. I lose my footing and reach out, grabbing Regina, and make us both topple over. “Fuck, I’m sorry.” I reach out to brush her hair back because it’s thick and curly and currently covering her face. The more I try to help, the worse I seem to be making things and we’re attracting attention on the main walkway through campus because we’re a pile of limbs and expensive clothes. “Enough!” Regina snaps, swatting me away and pushing to her knees. She leans in close and speaks quietly, “Vaughn King has been staring at you since we left the dining hall, and I will absolutely under no circumstances…” I cut her off, asking, “Who?” Instinctively, I look to the right exactly where she told me not to, and it feels like I’ve been kicked in the teeth. My whole body feels heavy, and I wouldn’t be able to push myself up off the ground even if I wanted to. He’s tall with broad shoulders that fill out the dark blazer he wears. His hair is jet black and his eyes are stormy and intense. He’s glaring at me like he wants to strangle me, like I’ve personally victimized him in some way. His full lips are pursed as he takes a drag from a cigarette that isn’t permitted on campus. I get the feeling just by looking at him that Vaughn King doesn’t adhere to any rules or regulations. He makes them. He’s the most attractive man I’ve ever seen in my entire life, but that isn’t the reason he’s stolen the breath right out of my lungs. He looks exactly like I imagine my twin brother, Andrew, would have looked if he hadn’t been murdered when we were ten years old. “Are you trying to get us into a full-on fistfight?” Regina hisses, yanking me out of my haze, and I realize that she's already standing up and reaching down to help me to my feet. “He’s the most ruthless motherfucker on this campus.” I try my hardest to focus on what Regina is telling me and shake off the thoughts of Andrew. I’ve worked so hard over the last ten years to push away the dread that fills me up when I think of my brother. I miss him every single minute of every day, and for the longest time, I didn’t think I’d be able to live without him. He’s my other half, and truly the only person I’ve ever loved. I care for my adoptive parents, but I’ve never felt the connection I had with my twin with anyone else. Hillcrest is the most elite college this side of Violent Peak Mountain, and it’s unheard of for someone like me to attend. I don’t come from old money or new money, for that matter. I was adopted when I was ten years old by the sweetest couple, who gave me everything they possibly could. They weren’t wealthy, but my life was comfortable, and they did their best to soothe the trauma I’d experienced as a child. They tried to heal me, and I’ll forever appreciate them for that, but it isn’t possible. There’s only one thing, one person, who can make me whole. The night Andrew died, he took me with him. I feel like nothing but an empty shell most of the time. I thought maybe this would be a fresh start, something to keep my mind occupied. Instead, I spend most of my time