Title: Wicked Saint
Series: Sinners and Saints Book 1
Author: Veronica Eden
Genre: Dark NA High School Bully Romance
Release Date: February 10, 2020
GEMMA
He stole my first kiss… and now he thinks everything else is his.
I said no to the one person no one at this school dares to refuse.
Now I’m targeted by jealous girls, guys that compete to be the first to “break the prude”, and by him. After one kiss, the king of the school hunts me down like I’m a conquest to win. He’ll have to fight harder than that, because I’m no one’s trophy.
They all want a piece of me, but I will not bend or break for them.
LUCAS
No one refuses the king.
One case of mistaken identity and a hasty kiss turned my world upside down.
The new girl refused me. Not only that, she threw down the gauntlet. That won’t stand. No one ever says no to me. This school is mine and she’ll learn her place as a loyal follower or her life is going up in flames.
I’ll make her say yes. She’ll be screaming it before I’m finished breaking her.
I always say this whenever I read a book centered around high school students, but I'm damn glad my high school years weren't this angsty and stressful. I liked that Gemma refused to bow down to Lucas and his crew; she's already having a tough time with her family having to relocate right in time for her senior year of high school, who has time for his shenanigans? All she's about is staying behind the scenes and graduating (who can blame her)? Too bad Lucas didn't get that memo.
Lucas is the undisputed "king" of the school, and as such, whatever he says it taken as gospel, so when he has his run-in with Gemma, it's pretty much game on to make her life as miserable as possible.
Of course we know how these books inevitably end up turning out, but still, the process of getting to a potential HEA is all sorts of nerve-wracking. Gemma is the only one to see past the facade Lucas projects, but there are some events that happen that had me on the edge of my couch yet cringing while I was reading that threaten to derail whatever change in relationship status between them.
I'll admit I wasn't exactly impressed with Gemma's twin brother Alec, who seemed more concerned with his social status than his sister's wellbeing; even after the event that occurred a year prior and prompted the family to move. But, I did like how the book managed to wrap up the story, and I'm excited to read the next book and find out why there's so much animosity between Devin and Blair.
Lucas smiles down at me, but there’s nothing sweet about it. The smile is all hunter, mean and precise. The smile of a hungry predator with its prey in reach.
“Because what I say fucking goes around here. If I want you to come sit in my lap, you’ll do it. Do you need another reminder of who’s in charge around here?”
Who the fuck does this guy think he is?
“Did a football hit you too many times in the head?”
A confused wrinkle appears on his forehead.
“No,” I say slowly, so he understands. “I don’t want to sit with you. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
Lucas tugs sharply on my braid. He literally pulls my hair, like the bullying boys that girls are always warned about.
A scoff of amused disbelief leaves me. “Did you really just…?”
“I’ll give you one more chance, Gemma.”
Lucas’ playful demeanor and big-man-on-campus act has vanished. Now he’s deadly serious as he stares at me.
“Or what?” Sheer astonishment at this whole situation bleeds into my voice.
“You don’t want to know that. You’re either with us or you’re against us, and you don’t want to be against us. Just accept it, like everyone else does, or you’ll face the consequences.”
With us or against us. Consequences. Lucas sounds like some power-hungry mafioso rather than a high school quarterback.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. I said no, you bastard.” My voice raises. “Back off, or I’m going to dump my lunch tray on you! I don’t think gravy stains will go well with your expensive tailoring.”
He drops my braid, but I don’t get the chance to move back before he grips my hips, his fingers digging at my skin through the material.
I mash my lips together to withhold a grimace.
“What is your problem? You can’t just manhandle me into getting your way,” I grumble. “Do you not understand what no means? That’ll get you in trouble with the law someday when your power trip goes to your head.”
Lucas rears back with a shocked look. Then his eyes narrow to dangerous slits.
“Jesus, I’m not a rapist, you little—”
I hoist my tray threateningly and he cuts off.
“Leave me the hell alone, Lucas! I don’t want jack shit to do with you or your lousy friends!”
Hushed mutters breaks out around the room. A few phones are held up, capturing the drama as it unfolds. They’ve got proof of me denouncing their king.
It’ll be all over Snapchat and Instagram stories within minutes, spreading like a fatal forest fire across the school, no doubt.
“You’re going to regret that,” Lucas promises in a rough, dark voice.
Those proverbial gallows feel like they’re snapping around my neck and wrists.
But I won’t bend the knee in fealty to this asshole.
Who would want someone like Lucas? Not me, that’s for damn sure.
“See if I give a shit. Go ahead and throw a tantrum.” I jerk my head back at my table. “I’ll be over there enjoying my lunch.”
Before the spectacle continues, I spin on my heel to end the conversation.
Lucas hooks his foot around my ankle as soon as I take a step and fucking trips me up. I stumble, but I don’t go down. My water bottle is the only thing to topple from my wobbling tray. I meet the eyes of a few people nearby and can sense the hunger for blood.
No one’s satisfied that I didn’t crash to the floor face first into my lunch.
I bend to retrieve the water bottle and when I rise, Lucas is two steps closer, lurking right behind me like an imposing shadow.
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