Hate (Madison Kate, #1)

by Tate James

It wasn’t until I stood underneath an admittedly chilly stream of water that I even realized my father's gate code spelled KATE.

"Hot outfit, babe. I preferred that see-through tank you had on earlier, though. It

really complimented your black lace panties well."

If I'd been a bigger person, I'd have taken pity on them and made everyone a flat white. What a shame I was petty as fuck.

"I should hope not. But I think you meant to say, an infuriating-ly gorgeous guy whose dick you still kinda want to suck despite his terrible judgment."

How long has this been going on, Kody? How long have you been screwing the goat behind my back?"

"If you so much as breathe on her, I will destroy you."

"Sorry," he murmured, turning to me with concern etched across his face, "I didn't think she'd hit you."

"Stop eye-fucking my mouth and start explaining yourself,"

"Why'd she call me goat?"

"Short for scapegoat. It's what everyone started calling you during the trial. Everyone knew you weren't the one responsible. Anyone with even a quarter of a brain could have told the prosecutor that pretty little Princess Danvers hadn't orchestrated an event like Riot Night."

"But your father let them charge you anyway. He stood by while they put you on trial, never lifted a finger to close the court and protect your identity... then stood up for the mayor during the elections and preached to the people of Shadow Grove how he loved this town so much not even his own blood would be given a free pass. That's what he called it. A free pass to… what? Be released of charges for crimes you didn't commit?"

"It was so painfully obvious what it all was. A publicity stunt. Riot Night needed a scapegoat, and you were it."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Too busy building your superstar career to do the right thing for the girl whose life you ruined. You're just as bad as my father."

"Sometimes, Princess Danvers, we don't get what we want."

"I fucking hate you, Kodiak Jones,"

"At least you're alive to feel that hate, Madison Kate."

"You going to force me into the car like Kody did on Saturday?"

"If I have to, sure."

"Fine,"

"That's a shame," he murmured from way too close behind me. "I was kind of hoping you'd give me an excuse to smack that ass."

“What the fuck are you wearing?” Archer snarled, shoving Bark aside and getting all up in my personal space like he had no right to do.

Then again, Archer definitely had the worst case of BDE—Big Dick Energy—so I should have known it’d be him that had an aneurysm over my tiny pleated skirt, tight white T-shirt, and thigh-high socks worn with high-heeled Mary Janes.

“You look like you just stepped out of a schoolgirl porn video,”

Grasping the hem of my orange juice–soaked T-shirt, I peeled it up and off, tossing it onto the floor at Archer’s feet. My mini-skirt followed, hitting the floor with an audible splat, as every student had their eyes on us, rather than conversing.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

I still had my bra and panties on, despite the fact that my bra was soggy with juice too.

“Try harder next time, Archer,” I advised him, bending over to pick up my backpack and flashing my ass to anyone who cared to look. “Oh, and those clothes are dry-clean only.”

“MK: one, shady fucker: nil,” Bree snickered under her breath as we left the cafeteria with our heads held high. “This is going to be so fun.”

"I know. But all's fair in hate and war, Kodiak. Sometimes there's collateral damage."

Really, how fair was it that the three guys who'd ruined my life all looked like

they’d stepped straight out of my sex dreams?

"She's going out with the Ghosts QB,"

A dangerous look passed over Archer's face,

"Cancel it," he ordered

"No."

"Cancel the fucking date, Madison Kate, or you'll regret it."

"Arch would never beat up some sleazeball for trying to date rape you, gorgeous, because if he hit someone he could be charged with attempted murder. As a professional fighter, his fists are considered lethal weapons."

"So... Arch would never beat up some idiot to warn him away from you..." He cocked his head to Kody, who was grinning like an escaped mental patient. "But we would," Kody finished the sentence, cracking his knuckles menacingly. I shivered, and damn, I wished I could say it was from fear.

Stop it, MK. Stop thinking about how they'd fuck.

"You can ride shotgun if you want, babe."

"Fuck no, she can't," Archer snapped,

"What the fuck are you doing, Princess Danvers?" he sneered at me. "I'm not getting out so your prissy ass can ride up front."

"Suit yourself."

sat my ass directly in his lap.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Riding shotgun, like Kody told me I could before your bratty ass pushed ahead,"

"Getting comfortable, Princess. It's a long drive to the Rainybanks showgrounds, and I don't need your bony ass digging into my leg the whole way."

"You're a pianist?"

"I was. Am. I dunno. My parents had plans to make me into a concert pianist, but it doesn't really gel