Pretty Vile

Pretty Vile THE RUTHLESS BOYS OF RIDGEWAY R.A. SMYTH Pretty Vile Copyright © 2023 R.A. Smyth All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. ASIN: B0BFGG81CW Cover by Vicious Desires Design Editing by Lunar Rose Editing. Paperback Interior Formatting by Nikki Epperson I’ve been dead inside for such a long time that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be alive… Until I met her. Emilia Harrison. The woman I swore to protect. The one putting cracks in my walls and threatening to undo all my hard work keeping the ghosts of my past at bay. She was only meant to be a job. I never anticipated that everything would get so complicated, but there’s no denying the effect she has on me. One kiss had me coming undone, feeling alive for the first time in years. I was finally ready to put the ghosts that haunt me to rest… Except, now she’s missing. Surely, fate can’t be so cruel as to deal me the same hand twice? I won’t lose her. Not now when she’s finally working things out with Hawk, and she and Wilder still have so much left to resolve. The pain of my past hasn’t been this raw and exposed in a long time. I thought I’d come to terms with what happened, but I won’t survive this a second time. TRBoR Playlist DiE4u – Bring Me The Horizon Voices In My Head – Falling In Reverse Stitch Me Up – Point North Misery – Memphis May Fire Empty – Letdown Take Me Away – New Medicine Erase You – Point North All The Ways I Could Die – Arrows In Action Hell And Back – Self Deception Damaged People – Connell Cruise Only Place I Call Home – Every Avenue Reflections – We Are The In Crowd Shapeshifting – Taylor Acorn Blacklist – Lost Stars Play Now Tropes SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE FRIENDS-ENEMIES-LOVERS FORCED PROXIMITY BEST FRIENDS BROTHER SECRET SOCIETY STALKER COLLEGE ROMANCE FAKE DATING EX-MILITARY / BODYGUARD Trigger & Content Warnings This is a dark romance, and as such may contain uncomfortable content. Please ensure you are comfortable with the below list of possible triggers before going any further. Kidnapping Noncon (not by harem and only kissing) Stalking Mind fuckery Graphic sexual scenes Violent content Dark themes Several of the characters have traumatic pasts which are discussed This series is a reverse harem, meaning the FMC ends up with more than 1 love interest The Ruthless Boys of Ridgeway is a spin off series to Pacific Prep. Characters do overlap, however the series can be read independently of Pacific Prep. If you wish to read Pacific Prep first, you can do so here. If you aren’t interested in reading Pacific Prep but want to read Emilia, Hawk, and Wilder’s origin history before going further, you can read their novella here. It is not necessary to have read either Pacific Prep or the novella before starting into this book! This is a 3 book series that will ultimately end in an HEA. Join my reader group, Rachel’s Rebel Rehab, for exclusive bonus content. Sign up to my newsletter to read the first chapter of book 3. Contents Prologue Chapter 1 Kai Chapter 2 Emilia Chapter 3 Wilder Chapter 4 Hawk Chapter 5 Emilia Chapter 6 Emilia Chapter 7 Emilia Chapter 8 Emilia Chapter 9 Wilder Chapter 10 Emilia Chapter 11 Emilia Chapter 12 Hawk Chapter 13 Kai Chapter 14 Emilia Chapter 15 Wilder Chapter 16 Emilia Chapter 17 Emilia Chapter 18 Hawk Chapter 19 Emilia Chapter 20 Wilder Chapter 21 Mel Chapter 22 Kai Chapter 23 Hawk Chapter 24 Emilia Chapter 25 Wilder Chapter 26 Kai Epilogue Important Links Stalker Links Acknowledgments Also by R.A. Smyth About the Author Broken Trust (Pacific Prep #1) Prologue ANONYMOUS "Cappuccino!" the young woman behind the counter yells. Since I entered the room, I haven’t been able to stop staring at her. I’ve never been a huge believer in fate, although I’m starting to reconsider it now. I've been wandering around aimlessly without a specific destination in mind since leaving my asshole family behind on the East Coast, until today. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I had found what I was looking for. That broken look in her eyes beckons me. The beast within me hears her cries for help and rattles its cage in response. Obviously, I have no interest in helping her. After all, why mess with perfection? As I approach the counter, I reach for the awaiting coffee. "Thank you," I say, my gaze falling to her name tag, "Emilia." She gives me a weary, professional smile. "You’re welcome. Have a great day." Instead of leaving with the coffee as intended, I settle into a seat at a table at the back of the busy cafe and observe her for the remainder of her shift. When her shift is over, I sneak out the door as she goes to grab her belongings and clock out of work. I keep my distance when she finally emerges, stepping outside into the balmy summer evening and strolling down the street. Since I was only passing through when I stopped for coffee, I have no idea where we’re headed. Hell, I don’t even know the name of this place. As we approach a college campus, I look up to read the name of the university inscribed above the metal gates. Halston University. I make a mental note to Google it as I follow her across a deserted campus. I wonder why she’s staying here? It’s gotta be three or four more weeks before classes start for the semester. I follow