Believe In Us (Servite Academy #3)

Chapter 37

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

JADE

C lowns. I fucking hate them. Creepy clowns named Bubbles who show up to kids' birthday parties with their stupid magic tricks, killer clowns who lure children into sewers with red balloons, and even the psychotic criminal masterminds, who despite looking badass, are still the source of my nightmares. They scare the shit out of me, yet here I am running straight into their threshold. That’s how much I need to get away from the true monsters that keep showing their faces.

He’s not going to prom with the likes of you. Not if daddy has anything to say about it, and you know when it comes to these boys, daddy’s word is the law.

Fucking bitch. God I hate her.

Everything about the stuck-up, pompous princess irks me to my core. Even if she didn’t have her eyes set on my man, there’s no way we’d ever get along. I don’t like fake and this bitch is damn near plastic .

Sebastian assures me every day that he has no interest in her, claims she’s old news and has been disregarded like the unwanted trash she truly is. Yet when it comes down to it, when she’s standing before us spewing her venom and trying to get a rise out of me, he doesn’t do shit about it. How am I supposed to trust him if he never shows me that what we have is real?

I’ve never been one for labels, hell I don’t think I’ve ever had an actual boyfriend, but baby daddy doesn’t have the same ring to it. He’s never proclaimed what we are to one another, other than claiming I’m his, but frankly that’s just to keep others like Liam away. I’m not asking him to put a ring on it, but I’d like to know if this, whatever we have, is the real thing.

Because right now, as I creep through the Hill Town Fun House, nothing feels real.

Distorted mirrors, shifting floor boards, dark corridors, and spine-chilling cackles at every turn. This is my nightmare come to life. I’ve been running in circles for over fifteen minutes, and of course like in every scary movie, my phone has no fucking service.

“Where is everyone,” I murmur, into the darkness, feeling droplets of sweat dripping down my chest. There was a long line wrapping around the outside when I cut to the front, but now there isn’t another soul in sight. This is not good.

An eerie sensation crawls over my skin, raising the hairs on my back as the lights suddenly flash on before shutting back off again. They incessantly flicker on and off, as carnival music begins to play from the speakers above. “This isn’t funny,” I yell, my frightened voice echoing in the distance. “Please turn on the lights, I can’t find my way out.”

A sinister cackle rings loudly in my ear as a gust of wind blows through the air vents almost knocking me on my ass, the floor beneath me shifting just like those revolving staircases in Harry Potter.

“No need to be frightened, this is all just an illusion” a distorted voice calls out from the speakers above. At least I think it was from the speakers.

“Okay then turn on the lights!” I cry out, suddenly more afraid than anxious. I’ve never been afraid of the dark, usually bask in it, but something about this situation is making me extremely claustrophobic.

“Why don’t we play a little game of cat and wolf, it’s one I made up just for you little girl. You are the kitty and I’ll be the big bad wolf,” the voice shrieks, sounding dangerously close by, “better run and hide,” they whisper, as a hot mouth breathes against my neck.

That does it. I run as fast as I can away from the voice behind me, crashing into everything in my way. “Here kitty, kitty,” he calls out. I run with nowhere to go, tripping over one of the raised floorboards and landing on my hands and knees.

“Fuck,” I curse out in a muffled whisper, grabbing my knee and wrapping my hand over a large scrape, wetness coating my hands. I’m bleeding great. I crouch down, crawling toward a large pillar covered in foam spikes, and move behind it to hide, hoping whoever is after me passes me with ease.

“Come out, come out wherever you are,” the eerily dark and familiar voice calls out. A strange chill comes over me, like someone is watching from nearby when suddenly strong hands grip my shoulders pulling me to stand, my knees buckling as I step, applying pressure on my ankle and making me wince in pain.

“Shit, let go of me,” I cry out, as my attacker tightens their hold on me.

“There you are,” the man calls out as the lights flash on, bringing me face to face with sinister eyes that have appeared in more than one of my recent nightmares. “Well hello there darling.”

My heart begins to thump fiercely, my stomach churning in fear as I stare at the sick pervert who’s garnered an unhealthy obsession with me in recent months. “What the hell do you want now Skeet?” I ask, spitting out at him, my saliva coating his scarred face .

“Oh nothing, just to see how my favorite girl is doing,” he mocks, both he and his friend, who appears at his side, chuckling loudly. “Nah, I’d have come to you sooner if he’d allowed it, but Boss Man says I got to keep away from you. Frankly I just think he doesn’t want to share you with us.” Skeet’s eyes roam over my body, a manic and lustful look in his eyes as he sees me, covered in my own blood. He licks his lips, making my stomach churn in disgust.

“I’m not his to fucking share, you asshole! Tell him that I’m nothing to him, and he better stay the fuck away from me. All of you.” I instantly regret my remark when Skeet steps forward, bending down to grab my knee, his fingers digging their way into my cut, making me cringe in pain, before bringing his blood coated fingers to his mouth to suck. “Why don’t you tell him yourself, little girl.”

I swear the temperature of the room drops into the negatives as the sanctimonious leader of The Order struts toward me appearing from behind the distorted mirrors. They were in here this whole time, waiting to strike, surely laughing at my attempts to escape, and watching me go into full blown panic mode when I realized there was no way out.

“We meet again Jade Wolfe.” The way Kane Dalton utters my name, in his smooth and silky staccato should sound alluring, yet coming from his pious lips it sounds like a sugar-coated insult. As always, he’s elegantly dressed, his entire outfit costing more money than I’ll probably ever see in my lifetime. Though on him it just looks overly pretentious, like he purposefully wears it just to show how much he has. Sorry Kane, I’m unimpressed. I rather my men wear sweatpants or low-rise jeans.

“What did I do in my past life to warrant so many run-ins with you?” I scoff, turning away from him, trying my hardest to avoid eye contact with his intense cat-like-eyes.

“Surely something sinful. After all, we don’t keep meeting because of who you are dear, it’s those you surround yourself with who are the problem. I’m just here to guide you down the correct path.” He crosses his arms over his chest, his knuckles, covered in silver rings and tattoos, wrap around his bulging biceps, the shimmering diamonds on his Rolex blinding me. I notice the word ORDER is tattooed on both of his knuckles.

“Hah,” I chuckle, rolling my eyes at his self-righteous attitude, “Down the sacred path...”

“Down the path of least resistance.” He corrects me, looking behind me toward Skeet’s friend, signaling for him to release me. The fucker does, letting me go and dropping me down to the floor as I lose my balance, wincing in pain.

“Shit,” I groan, just as Kane squats down and kneels before me, also dipping his fingers into my cut, and rubbing the blood in between his two fingers. Though instead of sucking them into his mouth like the creep Skeet, he reaches out to grip my chin, marking me with my own blood. His thumb grazes my mouth and I instinctively stick my tongue out to lick the wetness upon my lips. I cringe as the metallic taste of my own blood coats my tongue, instantly realizing what I’ve done, and spitting out at the ground.

Some of my bloody spit splatters over Kane’s face, a wicked smirk appearing over his calm facade when he wipes his face with his blood-stained fingertips only spreading it more. “I heard you’ve been causing some trouble Little Wolf,” he says, his smirk widening into a full ear to ear grin. “Word around town is you’ve caught the eye of a certain self-proclaimed king, a Horseman.”

“Cut the bullshit Dalton, ask what you want to know,” I boldly, or stupidly, shout out not being able to bite my tongue.

“You’re a plucky little one aren’t you...”

“Plucky is just another way of saying I have more balls than the three of you combined.”

“Oh you sure about that darling, I’ll show you if you still doubt it,” Skeet sneers, but one vicious look from Kane is all it takes to shut him up.

“I’m just here to chat a little love, no need to get all defensive. Friend to friend, just wanting to give you a bit of advice. Sebastian Silver isn’t for you darling, you could do so much better.” He reaches out to cup my cheek, but I’m quick to smack his hand away, causing him to laugh as he stands. “You know you and I would make a great team,” he mutters, reaching a hand out for me to take. I don’t want to but I’m tired of being on the floor at their feet and frankly need help getting to mine.

I grab his hand and he pulls me up, his arms wrapping around my waist to steady me. I freeze in his hold, curving back away from him. “I won’t hurt you my dear, not unless you give me reason to, and as of right now,” a hand traces down my face, “I see you as an ally not the enemy as others make you out to be.”

I look up and gaze directly into his eyes, the clear, crystalized irises hypnotizing me as his dark pupils dilate with desire. “Sounds an awful lot like a threat, Mr. Dalton. Last I checked, we have nothing in common. What could possibly give you the impression I want anything to do with you and your people,” I murmur, looking at a furious Skeet who watches his boss with his hands all over me. I almost feel like allowing Kane to keep his hold on me just to piss off the creep but decide it’s not worth the risk of angering the sociopath.

His fingers continue to descend, tracing the exposed skin of my neck and chest, his eyes following their trail down to the cleavage of my new, full tits. “All in good time my dear, you’ll come to realize how much having me on your side will truly be worth.”

“Get your hands off of her!” A gravely familiar voice shouts out in the distance. I turn and find the last person I ever expected to see today, nonetheless the one I’m most grateful for.

Roman.

“Aaah yes I forgot you two are very close,” Kane utters sarcastically, surely knowing my brother and the current state of my relationship with him.

“I said get the fuck away from her Dalton!” Roman shouts, running toward us.

“Maybe she doesn’t want me to Wolfe, did you ever stop to think about that?”

“Please,” I whimper, pleading with Kane to let me go.

He looks back at me, not releasing me but holding me with one arm still wrapped around my waist. “Until next time my darling, I’ll be watching. Like I said, it’s not in your best interest to hang around Sebastian Silver. Those closest to him seem to somehow always come to harm.”

“Are you threatening my sister Dalton?” Roman asks, coming to stand directly behind Kane, but Skeet and his friend immediately step forward warning Roman away.

Kane releases me, his gaze not leaving mine as he speaks to my brother, “No, Jade and I are becoming quick friends, you know I take care of my friends, Wolfe.” The change in his tone of voice leaves me wondering if Roman lied about how well he knew Kane. Of course he did.

“Stay the hell away from her Dalton, I’m warning you.” Just as Roman throws his insult, Skeet, and his goon step closer, standing protectively at Kane’s side, their arms crossed, chests puffed out, acting like the lap dogs they are. “I may not have the man power you do with these two idiots at your side, but don’t fucking underestimate me Kane. This is my little sister you are threatening, I will burn hell to the ground to keep her safe and you know he will too.”

I’m at a loss for words as Roman speaks to Kane, explaining to him how much I mean to him. My heart beats at full speed with his confession, tears aching to break free.

Does my brother really care about me, or is this all for show? Though I’m not sure what Roman gets out of lying to Kane.

The moment the air hits my face, I hurl forward puking into the bushes located right outside the exit of the fun house. There goes the fucking deep fried Oreos. “Jade,” Roman calls out, coming beside me but not daring to touch me. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice low and gravelly.

Once I’m done. I straighten, wiping my mouth with the hem of my shirt, and turning to face a worried looking Roman. “I’m fine,” I stammer, turning and heading toward the parking lot of the fair grounds. I’ll need to figure out a way home, I wonder if Sebastian’s still around here looking for me.

“Wait,” my brother calls out, reaching out to grab my arm pulling me back to him. I see him for the first time tonight, fully see him in all his bad boy glory. Black jeans, a white V-neck shirt, and a tight-fitting black leather jacket, hiding the ink covering his arms. His hair is cut short on the sides yet slightly longer up top, the gold silk like strands glowing under the lights above us. He’s beautiful, just as he’s always been, though in the depths of his green eyes, I don’t recognize the man staring back at me.

“I’m leaving Roman, thanks but I could have handled Kane on my own.”

“What the fuck Jade, what are you doing? You shouldn’t be handling Kane at all,” he shouts out, seemingly overwhelmed by my ability to get into trouble. I shake my head, laughing at the turn of events. What was one of my favorite pastimes has now become another tragic event.

“It’s not like I’m out here looking for him, Roman, he keeps coming to me. At least that fucking creep he has working for him does. He appears everywhere.”

“Skeet?” he asks in horror. “Jade you need to stay the fuck away from that sociopath. Kane only keeps him around because he’s a ruthless killer, but he’s so fucking screwed in so many ways.”

“No shit Roman, I thought he was just a friendly guy from the neighborhood watch. Besides I don’t even know why they were down here in Pleasant Hills, it sure is a long way from Galen Grove.”

“The Order is everywhere Jade, don’t ever doubt that. Besides they do business with The Cobras, Zeke and Kane go way back.” It’s no surprise that the criminals in all the neighboring towns seem to keep things friendly, however The Cobras are supposed to be a rival Motorcycle Gang, although The Order isn’t patrolling the street of Galen Grove in Harleys but rather Bugatti’s, that doesn't mean it isn’t how they started.

“Zeke as in Zeke St. Germain?” I ask, referring to Kai’s uncle who has been part of The Cobras for longer than I’ve known Kai. His father’s older brother is the only person, other than the six of us from The Grayson’s house, Kai talks to. However, I know Kai still holds some small ounce of resentment toward his uncle Zeke, because he refused to take him in when Kai was removed from his father’s care. I know it’s because of his involvement in the Cobra’s that Zeke felt it wasn’t ideal for him to have guardianship over Kai. Nonetheless, Kai has spent more time in Killian’s Billiards & Bar, The Cobras official clubhouse, than anywhere else.

“Yeah Zeke’s in charge now after his old man kicked the bucket a couple years ago.”

“Kai never mentioned it, wait how the fuck do you know?” I ask, realizing there is no way Roman would know about Zeke or his relationship to Kai, unless…

“I’ve told you I’ve been around here a while Jade, and I’ve been watching closely, keeping an eye on you and the kinds of people you are surrounded with. Besides working for Wesley, on multiple occasions I had some business to attend to with The Cobras as well as The Order.”

“You told me you didn’t know Kane, personally, Roman.”

“No one really knows Kane, Jade, doesn’t mean I’ve never dealt with the fucker.”

“Jade, there you are!” Sebastian shouts, out of breath as he runs toward where Roman and I stand in the parking lot just outside the fun house. The look in his eyes has me trembling in my boots.

“Bass,” I stutter.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Bass growls, turning to my brother who is standing beside me. I reach out and stop him as he rushes toward Roman but am nearly knocked on my ass by the massive asshole.

“Fuck off Silver, you lost her. So much for keeping my sister safe,” Roman barks out, pushing into him.

Bass meets him with a shove of his own, “I wouldn’t have lost her if she hadn’t run away.”

I step forward, coming in between the two of them and smacking Sebastian on the arm. “I wouldn’t have run away if your fucking whore would keep her hands to herself, and if you’d be man enough to put the bitch in her place.” Behind Bass, I see Liam appear, watching me with a worry flashing in his eyes.

“Fuck Jade,” Bass shouts, running his hand frustratingly through his hair, “I told you I’ll handle fucking Kinsley, she is nothing to me but some leech I can’t get rid of.”

“That’s not what she insinuated,” I add, with a nervous laugh.

“And you believe her over me? After all we’ve been through Jade, I’d have thought you had a bit more trust in me.” The sorrow in his eyes makes me ache to reach out and comfort him, but his actions pain me even worse.

“Why the fuck would she trust you Silver?” Roman interjects.

I nod in agreement with my brother, “Roman’s right, what if daddy has other plans for you? You haven’t been able to stand up to him before, why would you now?”

“He won’t get a choice in the matter, besides since when do you give a fuck what this idiot says.”

“Since he…” I freeze, not wanting Bass, or anyone else to know about my less than friendly running with Kane and his men. I look to Roman, who understands my silence, nodding his head as if to say your secret is safe with me. I guess we still have that sibling telepathy.

“Since what Jade, where have you been? Liam said he saw you run into the fun house, and then they closed it for over twenty minutes after you entered. Were you in there this whole time? ”

“She was with me,” Roman blurts out, saving me once again, “I found her when she came out of the fun house, crying I might add, and we’ve been hanging out and clearing things up this whole time.” I nod my head in agreement with Roman, but Bass doesn’t seem to buy it.

“Bullshit, you two didn’t look like you were having a friendly conversation.”

“Well we were.”

“Whatever, you guys are done now. Jade let’s go, we have to talk and I would rather not do it here in front of him.” Anger boils in me once again at Sebastian's dismissal of my brother. I may not have cleared everything up with Roman, but after tonight, I realized I do want my brother back in my life

“She’s coming with me Silver.”

“Like hell she will, I don’t want you coming anywhere near her.” Bass quickly pushes against Roman chest, making him falter back slightly, but he’s quick to recover.

“Get the fuck away from my little sister Silver, she’s too good for you. You and your world will do nothing but destroy her, just like you guys almost did to Scarlett.”

“Too fucking late for that.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Roman asks, and I feel my stomach drop to my feet. No, no, fuck no. Please this can’t be happening.

“Because she’s fucking pregnant!” Son of a fucking bitch.

I see red, blood fucking red looking back and forth between Sebastian and Roman who both have equally shocked and furious expression locked on their faces.

“What the fuck do you mean she’s pregnant?”

“What the hell do you think it means idiot. Jade is pregnant, as in she’s having a baby, my baby.” Sirens blare in my ears as my vision turns spotty, Bass, Roman, and an equally horrified Liam, coming in and out of focus. How fucking dare he blurt it out loud, not to mention to my own brother .

“You son of a fucking bitch!” Roman roars, as he charges toward Bass, tackling his ass to the floor. I’ve never seen anyone drop him down that way, then again I remember the story he told Scar about Wesley finding him beaten near death outside an illegal cage fighting club. “You got my little sister pregnant!” Roman continues slamming his fists once, twice, into Sebastian’s jaw. Blood splatters out of his mouth before he reaches out to catch Roman’s third punch midair, twisting his arm and spinning him into a headlock position.

Now Sebastian’s on top, choking the hell out of my brother. My yells are violently high pitched, though I don’t think anyone can hear them. Suddenly Ace, Scar, the Horsemen, as well as my foster brother’s all show up running over to stop the brawl between the two men in my life. The two men that will surely drive me to an early grave.

“Enough! Both of you please stop!” I cry out, tears springing from my eyes. Something in them snaps, both of them turning to face me with sorrowful gazes. “Just please stop. I’m done with the violence for tonight. I just want to go home.”

“I’ll take you home,” both Bass and Roman say in unison.

I shouldn’t go home with either of them, but although I need to explain to Roman what Bass meant and tell him about my pregnancy and relationship with him, I promised myself I would try and make things work with Sebastian. And tonight, all I’ve done is run and hide at the first sign of conflict. I need to fix this, hear him out, work things through, if not for my sake then for my Little Monster.

I walk over to Roman, who’s left eye is already swelling and turning a darker shade of purple, “Look Roman, I’m sorry you found out this way, trust me this is not how I would have done things,” I turn and glare at Sebastian, who intelligently lowers his head staring at the ground at his feet. “But it’s true. I’m pregnant, it’s his, and I’m having this baby. I know we need to talk, work things out, talk about all of this, but tonight, I need to figure this out with Bass.”

“Jade…”

“No listen please, I’ll come to your place next week, we can fix this. I miss you Roman, and by the looks of it, I could really use my brother.”

Immediately Roman wraps his arms around me tightly, embracing me in a long overdue hug. I melt in his hold, tears surely ruining his leather jacket, like acid as I bury my face into his chest. “Gia, baby,” he says, calling me by a nickname I haven’t heard in years. “I miss you so fucking much. I’m here my sweet girl, always. I’m so sorry for everything.” I nod, unable to speak as he holds me for a full five minutes, no one speaking, no one rushing us.

After a moment, I pull back, looking up to face him, “Thank you Roman, for tonight. For being here, for coming to,” I stop not wanting to divulge what he rescued me from, “For knowing when I needed you.”

“I’m holding you to it Jade, next week, you and me.” I nod as he gazes into my eyes, the most genuine smile and tenderness flashing before his green eyes as he lowers his gaze to my stomach. He brings a hand forward, with his gaze silently asking for the go ahead, and I nod in approval. His hand rests upon my stomach, my big brother touching my Little Monster. I hear Scar gasp behind me, and I know she’s sobbing just as much as I am.

“I guess right now wouldn't be the best time to tell you Scarlett’s also pregnant,” I mutter, in between snotty sobs, and his eyes instantly bulge out in terror looking behind me at where Scarlett stands with Ace wrapped around her.

“What the fuck,” he murmurs, running his hand through his hair as he looks back at them. “You two are going to be the death of me. Fuck, if mommy and daddy could see us now.”

“They're rolling in their grave at the mere fact that we are finally finding some ounce of happiness.” I know Scar says it as a joke but no doubt it’s factual.

“I’m certain they are sis,” Roman says, laughing as he turns to me, “Though I know momma would be proud Jade.” Now it’s me who gasps out loud at the mention of my dead mother. “Not only of the woman you’ve become, but of the mom I know you’ll be.” I never met her, but Roman was about three years old when she died, and it means everything to me to hear him say that.