“Dani: Crank it up. Lets get this party started. *I hand Dancer my iPod.* Lor: What is this crap. Where the hell is Hendrix on this thing?Jo: Did you get any Muse?Dani: Muse is something you doJo: Distrubed is something you areDancer: And Godsmacked is something you getLor: Don't you have any Motley Crue or Van Halen?Christian: How about some Flogging Molly?Ryodan: Whats the deal with all the Linkin Park, for fuck's sake.Dancer: Mega has a crush on ChesterJo: You got any Adele?Dani: Got some Nicki Minaj.Ryodan: Somebody kill me now.”

“Dani, Dani, Dani."I flinch. I've never heard anyone say my name so gently. It creeps me all kinds of out.He's towering over me, arms crossed over his chest, scarred forearms dark against the rolled-up sleeves of a crisp white shirt.Heavy silver cuffs glint at both wrists. The light is smack behind his head, as usual."You didn't really think I'd let you get away with it," Ryodan says.”

“Turn it off," Ryodan says without even looking at me. "You're distressing Dani. No one distresses Dani but me.”

“There are men you build a future with, Dani. And then there are men that you know, going in, that you're only making a memory with. I know the difference..Some memories are worth the price. I'll deal with it.”

“And Mega has a crush on Chester.""I do not!""Do too, Mega.""He's like, old!""How old, Christian says.""Like at least thirty or something."Lor laughs. " Fucking ancient, ain't it, kid?""Dude," I agree. I like Lor.”

“What does somebody like you want? More power? More toys? More sex?""All of the above. All the time.""Greedy bugger.""Kid, let me tell you something. Most people spend their short time in this world less than half alive. They wander through their days in a haze of responsibility and resentment. Something happens to them not long after they're born. They get conflicted about what they want and start worshipping the wrong gods. Should. Mercy. Equality. Altruism. There's nothing you should do. Do what you want. Mercy isn't Nature's way. She's an equal opportunity killer. We aren't born the same. Some are stronger, smarter, faster. Never apologize for it. Altruism is an impossible concept. There's no action you can make that doesn't spring from how you want to feel about yourself. Not greedy, Dani. Alive. And happy about it every single fucking day.”

“Ryodan doesn’t like Mac. He never has. She got between him and his best boy-bud. I give him a look. “I’ll tell you a secret, Ryodan. You mess with her, Barrons’ll kill you.” I drag a finger across my neck. “Just like that. You aren’t all that. Barrons’ll stomp your ass, hand’s down.”He smiles faintly. “I’ll be damned. You have a crush on Barrons.”“I do not have a crush—““You do, too. It’s all over your face. Anybody could see it.”“Sometimes, boss, you’re just wrong.”“I’m never wrong. You might as well take out a billboard. ‘Dani O’Malley thinks Jericho Barrons is hot.’ My offer to teach you is still open. Save you from future embarrassment. If I can see it on your face, he can, too. ”“He never figured it out before,” I grumble then realize I just admitted it. Ryodan has a tricky way of wording things that makes you say things you didn’t mean to say. “Maybe I’ll ask Barrons to teach me,” I mutter and turn away from the stairs, heading for his office. I run smack into his chest. “Dude, move. Trying to get somewhere here.”“No one but me is ever going to teach you, Dani.” He touches me before I see it coming, has his hand under my chin, turning my face up. My shiver is instant and uncontrollable.“That’s non-negotiable. You signed a contract with me that grants exclusivity. You won’t like it if you try to break it.”