The Win

THE WIN REBELS OF RIDGECREST HIGH #4 BELLE HARPER CONTENTS 1. Jace 2. Mila 3. Roman 4. Roman 5. Mila 6. Roman 7. Hunter 8. Mila 9. Asher 10. Mila 11. Hunter 12. Mila 13. Jace 14. Mila 15. Jace 16. Mila 17. Jace 18. Mila 19. Asher 20. Mila 21. Hunter 22. Mila 23. Mila 24. Hunter 25. Jace 26. Mila Get Bonus Arrow and the Princess Belle’s Books About the Author ONE JACE When shit hits the fan, I can always rely on Hunter to keep a level head. Roman’s quiet and unpredictable. When something goes down, he switches to fight mode. He has for as long as I can remember. I’m more than happy to run my mouth. I lose myself, drowning in my thoughts, before unleashing an anger that explodes over everything I touch. It’s something I need to work on. I haven’t always been like this. But Hunter. He always thinks rationally, analyzing and thinking things through. Makes a small joke to keep me grounded. Holds Roman’s fight at bay long enough to figure things out. Or just stands by our sides when we need him and the fight is inevitable. Over the years, this is just how we’ve been. I’ve relied on Hunter to always keep it together. To be the one in control. But as I watch his fists fly, his mouth spewing anger, I realize he’s only able to keep it together for so long. I’ve seen him fight. Hell, we’ve had our fair share of fistfights. But this is a side of Hunter I’ve never seen before. It scares me. If he’s lost, then what hope do I have of keeping the darkness at bay? What hope do we have of stopping Roman from losing it completely? From sinking back into that dark place that took us from him when Mila first left. One that we worked so hard to get him out of. But he never fully came back to us until Mila returned. I can’t do this again. The only person who can help isn’t here and is the reason this is going down. Fuck. “Stop,” I yell at Hunter. He looks at me, his eyes dark and full of sadness. I feel for him. Fuck, I feel the same way. He pauses for a split second, watching me, before turning back and slamming his fist into Asher’s mouth. Fuck. I have to stop this. Need to be the one with the level head. I have to keep us together while Mila’s not here. I rush over and grab Hunter, shoving him back before he takes another swing. Asher scrambles back, trying to get away, bleeding from a gash on the side of his head. His eyes are wild, full of hurt and misery, the same as the rest of us. We all feel this way right now, and it breaks my heart to know this isn’t something we can just go fix for our girl. One fucking day. That’s all it took for Hunter to flip and go after Asher. We found out what happened with Mila from Asher. He told us about her stepdad—how she’s been taken into custody—and rushed over here as soon as we could. Only, I thought we were here to talk about what to do next. How we can help her. But as soon as Hunter saw the look on Asher’s face, he lost it, unleashing hell on Mila’s almost-stepbrother. And Asher took it, not fighting back. Which only angered Hunter more. Hunter lets out a strangled scream as Roman holds him back. He bucks and thrashes, but Roman doesn’t let him go, just standing there and taking it all as Hunter slowly wears himself out. Until he’s barely standing and Roman’s holding him up. “I’m sorry, Hunter.” I turn to see Asher. His eyes are full of unshed tears, and I shake my head. He doesn’t need to be sorry. This isn’t his fault . . . well, it partially is. But I can’t blame him for that. God, when Mila is finally mine, I’ll do the same. Only, I won’t be stupid enough to get caught. “Let me go, Roman. I’m gonna fucking kill him.” Hunter’s voice is hoarse from all the screaming he’s done in the past ten minutes. He’s trying everything he can to get out from Roman’s grip again, and I release a deep breath and run my hands through my hair. “Fuck. Hunter, just give it up,” I call out to him, and he stills. His eyes are still on Asher, but I can see the hurt now. He hates fighting; he’s the one to kill someone with love rather than fists. And I know he’s going to feel guilty for what he did to Asher and then will spiral hard. Roman lets him go, and Hunter stumbles a little. I reach my hand down to Asher, who eyes me wearily for a moment before taking it. As I help him off his front lawn, I can’t help but think the neighbors must be having a field day with this drama. Thank God James and Kate aren’t here. They’re on their way to New York for Mila. “Thanks.” Asher nods at me and I grit my teeth. Don’t get me wrong—I want to slam my fist into his mouth just as much as Hunter. But I know Mila wouldn’t approve of me beating up her boyfriend, especially since I’m still not one of them. Not officially, anyway. I want to be in her good graces when she comes home. I’m not going to let her get away with toying with me anymore. She will be mine. I know she didn’t kill her stepfather. She hates her mom, not him. She told me he wasn’t a bad guy. Just dumb for marrying her mom. I don’t give a shit what the news is broadcasting; I know she wouldn’t have. It’s just a matter of time until they find