Chapter 15 – Ava Jade #2
The last time a school forced me to see a counselor I lasted a full five minutes before vowing to never subject myself to that again.
I mean, Dom went to therapy and she said it helped her and that was great and all, but when people asked me prying questions, my first instincts were to either stab or run.
The counselor at Lennox high was lucky I’d decided on the latter.
The bell rang just as my hand closed around the handle of the door, and I stepped through before it finished ringing.
“Cutting it a bit close, Miss Mason?” the teacher drawled, peering at me from the corner of his eye while he sat atop his desk, hands folded over a knee.
“Sorry, sir,” I bit out. “I was?—”
“Don’t care,” he said with a strained smile, and I braced myself, my blood flooding with enough adrenaline to make me shiver as I turned my attention to the class, making my way slowly to my seat.
What was this?
I caught the briefest glimpse of Corvus’ smirk before he dropped it in favor of his trademark scowl. He was fucking pleased to see me. The bastard. He knew I wouldn’t run. His shoulders flexed beneath the leather of his jacket, making an audible creak.
Rook stared openly from beside his adoptive brother, leaning over his desk like he might launch an attack at any given second. His dark hair shadowing his even darker eyes. His knuckles popped as he cracked them into his palm one by one, the tattooed letters spelling his name moving like a wave.
Grey slouched back in his chair, running a thumb over his lower lip as his eyes scraped down the length of me inch by inch.
He had his tattoos on display today in a short sleeve V-neck that showed off a lot of muscle I hadn’t paid proper attention to before.
Not to mention, the bandage still in place over the cut that was no doubt crusting over into a good scar by now.
Their interest wasn’t missed, not by anyone in the class, but least of all by motherfucking Brianna Moore.
I took a good long look at her, sitting at the other end of the classroom , before I slid into the one vacant seat, directly in front of Corvus. Like he planned it that way. For all I knew, he did.
I smiled to myself as I set down my books and settled in to listen to the drone of the teacher prattle on about some shit that he prefaced by saying wouldn’t be on a test—which basically meant I didn’t care at all what he was saying.
Good, because I was too busy replaying the epic visual of Bri in my head and biting my lip to keep from laughing.
No amount of makeup could hide the two black eyes, and man did she look absolutely ridiculous in that nose splint. I was surprised she came at all, though I had to assume it was to host her very own pity party.
But to sit all the way on the other side of the classroom? To not even give me a good glare when I came in?
Had I scared her that much?
Huh.
If a little threat was all it took, then I’d have done that to start with. Avoided this whole mess of bullshit drama.
“Find what you lost?” Corvus asked in a rumbling whisper behind me, and I wriggled in my seat, not liking what the sound of his voice was doing to me.
I really needed to get laid…
“You mean, what you lost, jackass?”
An intake of breath from someone nearby made me smile to myself.
“You owe me a new blade,” I reminded him when he didn’t reply, and got a pointed look from the teacher that I studiously ignored. I got what I came for, he could kick me out now for all I cared.
I missed the peace of detention with Ms. Wood.
Though, I really didn’t relish the thought of having to explain myself to my aunt again. Yeah, fuck that.
“Is that so?” came Corvus’ delayed reply, and I stiffened, feeling his fingers brush against my back and curl into my hair. For a heart stopping moment, I thought he might jerk my head back right there in the classroom, punish me for daring to speak like that to him. Right in front of everyone.
He might’ve even gotten away with it.
But he didn’t, and I let out a breath as his fingers retreated, shivering. Telling myself I’d have had his hand nailed to the table with six inches of sharpened steel if he tried it.
“Yeah,” I said, wetting my suddenly dry lips. “And it better be a nice one. The one you so rudely stripped me of was a gift.”
He grunted as though amused, and I sensed more than heard him sitting back in his chair, leaving the conversation only half finished. If he thought I was kidding, though, he was dead wrong.
Not wanting to incur the wrath of the teacher and earn myself another week of detention, I decided not to poke the bears any more than I already had. At least for today. Surprisingly, they seemed keen to just lounge in their chairs and stare at the back of my head.
I had to admit, it had me feeling a little... special?
No, maybe that wasn’t the right word.
Powerful.
Yeah, that was the one.
I’d hardly done anything to warrant it, but apparently speaking your mind and not letting bullies push you around was enough to make the notorious Crows sit up and take notice.
It’d be easier for me if they didn’t take notice. I knew that, but taunting them was kind of...dare I admit it?...fun. I hadn’t felt this alive since what happened to Dad. Maybe longer than that if I were being honest. Maybe all the way back to that night at the train tracks.
Run, the rational part of my brain demanded, at war with the dominant part that whispered to push them to their edges and see what they did when they fell.
Like a cat pawing a glass of water, nudging it to the edge of a countertop. Unable to help myself. Wanting to crouch down and peer over the edge to see the broken pieces after it fell. Tail flicking with satisfaction.
Stupid? Definitely.
Tempting as fuck? Hell yes.
I gathered my books and left before the teacher was through speaking at the end of class, not wanting to linger there with them barely a step behind me. Not trusting myself enough to not say anything more than I already had.
Be good, I reminded myself, mentally fighting those dominant urges. Just one fucking school year of this bullshit and I would be free, but only if I followed Female Hitler’s rules.
I got to the front atrium, almost to the stairs when I was jolted to a full and complete stop by his voice alone.
“Hey, Sparrow,” he said, his voice booming in the cavernous atrium, drawing a lot more attention than just mine.
I gritted my teeth as I turned to find him standing in the elevator, Rook and Grey behind him. Students scurried past the gaping metal doors as he thrust an arm out to hold them open.
They cast me worried and curious stares as they went.
“Join us,” Corvus said. Not a question. Not a command. But somehow both at the same time.
“I’m good,” I replied, sending him a beaming smile I hoped screamed fuck off as loudly as I was screaming it in my own head. “But you boys have fun in your little box of privilege. Wouldn’t want to spoil your VIP sausage fest with a street taco.”
Corvus lifted a brow as a dark grin pulled at his mouth. “It was good enough for you on Friday,” he said, and my lips parted but no sound came out as I choked on another sarcastic reply.
How had he found out? Who the fuck told him?
Reflexively, my gaze swept the atrium, hunting for the telltale red glow of surveillance camera lights. But I found none.
This was so fucking stupid.
Corvus stepped out of the elevator and Rook held the door as his brother crossed the floor to me. All six-foot five of him radiating the kind of smugness that only came from an overabundance of power.
The VP, Mrs. June, stepped out of the office for a moment but turned around the instant Corvus locked his eyes on her. He hadn’t even needed to say a word and she was gone. Closing the door behind her and averting her stare.
Maybe I’d underestimated these three just a smidge.
“Get in the elevator, Ava Jade.”
I clutched my books tighter to my chest, wondering how hard I’d need to swing them at his head to knock him off balance long enough to get away. If it would be worth the fallout afterward.
“Or what?”
Fuck!
I scolded myself as the air left my lungs, forced out by the pressure of his shoulder as he easily tossed me over it, scattering my books on the floor. I could’ve stopped him , I told myself, face heating.
“Put me the fuck down,” I snarled, pounding on his back, helplessly unable to reach the two blades strapped to both of my ankles in this position.
“Stop squirming,” he growled, locking me in place with his biceps and holding my legs down with his other arm. “Grab her books,” he said, and footsteps sounded on the parquet floor. I got an upside-down view of Grey collecting my books from the floor before he followed Corvus back to the elevator.
He all but threw me down as the elevator door shut, leaving me to wobble unsteadily for a second before I was able to find my footing, my face burning from all the blood rushing to my head.
Corvus jammed the emergency stop button, and
I dove for my blades.
“ Whoa ,” Rook said from behind me, and I spun in the enclosed space, blade drawn. “No need for that. We just want to talk.”
The bell rang, signaling that I was now late for class. Great.
I pressed my back to the elevator wall, holding my blade out in case any of them dared come closer. “Don’t think I won’t use it,” I warned. “I can have the three of you on your asses and be halfway to Canada by morning.”
Rook pointed at me, giving Corvus a told you so look that made me think I was missing out on some private joke between them.
“I know you could use it,” Corvus replied, sliding his gaze stealthily to Grey and the arm I’d sliced open just a few days ago. “But I don’t think you will.”
Cocky fucker.
“What do you want?”
He lifted his brows as though affronted by my question. “It’s not what we want, Sparrow. It’s what we can give you.”
My face must have pinched up because his smugness intensified.
“Brianna Moore,” Grey explained. “You wonder why you weren’t hauled off by police Friday night? Why she hasn’t retaliated?”
I had to admit, I was wondering that, but the idea that they had anything to do with it just infuriated me even more.
“It’s because we paid her a visit before she returned home to daddy dearest,” Rook whispered huskily, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Saw to it that she wouldn’t speak a word about her little accident at the docks.”
“And why would you do that?”
It dawned on me as soon as the question left my lips: to bring me under their control.
They were offering me a life vest, a ticket out of the mess I made Friday night, but in exchange for what? I had to admit having queen bitch off my back permanently would make finishing out this year and getting my sweet, sweet freedom so much easier, but at what cost?
Corvus shrugged. “Call it a gesture of goodwill.”
“Everything has a price.”
He licked his lips. “Well, now that you mention it, there is one thing we all agreed would be a fair trade for our services.”
“And what’s that?” I spat.
Corvus’ icy blue eyes flicked to both of his brothers before settling back on me with his reply. “Your obedience. You fall in line. Do as you’re told. We say jump, you ask how high.”
Unable to help myself, I barked a laugh, so caught off guard that my hold loosened on the blade for just a second.
Hot tears stung my eyes and I flicked one away before it could fall, sniffling at the absurdity of it all.
“Oh my god,” I said once I settled down, seeing that none of them looked even the least bit joking.
“You’re serious? You want me to be your little bitch girl, is that it? At your beck and call?”
Corvus’ brows drew together, his stare turning deadly instead of just spiteful, but he didn’t deny that was exactly what they were after. They hated that they didn’t control me. Couldn’t fucking stand it.
“That’s not exactly it,” Rook deadpanned, and I turned my blade on him, but that only perked him up. “But I’ll accept your full surrender if you’re offering. I’ve never tried Lennox pussy.”
He licked his lips, stepping forward until the tip of my blade was at his throat, just above the edge of a tattoo peeking out from beneath his black t-shirt. He pushed harder, until the freshly honed edge drew a droplet of crimson from his flesh.
My breath rushed out through parted lips, and my traitorous cunt throbbed beneath my jeans as Rook devoured me with a single look.
“We’ll keep the bitch at bay,” Corvus explained, placing his hand against the flat side of my blade to push it away from Rook’s throat before he could impale himself on it. “But in exchange, you will belong to us. You will do as you’re told.”
“I’m not a fucking possession. You can’t own me,” I scoffed.
“I can, and I will. Whether you agree to it or not. This way’s easier, Sparrow. Don’t fight it.”
He reached out a hand like he might try to smooth out the sour pucker tightening my lips, but I knocked it aside with a scowl.
“Hard pass,” I hissed. “I can handle my own shit. I don’t need your help.”
His smug look faltered and pure satisfaction raced through my veins, bringing a smile to my lips.
“Fine,” he seethed through a false smile. “Have it your way.”
Corvus jammed the emergency stop button again and the elevator completed its trip to the second floor. The doors pinged open as he stepped out of my path, but he stopped me before I could leave. His hand curled around my upper arm.
I let him have his moment of control, even though if I’d wanted to, I could’ve sliced his fingers clean off his palm.
“Don’t forget your books,” he said, and Grey passed them to Corvus, who held them out to me, releasing my arm. “Last chance, pretty bird. All you have to say is yes and you can be living on easy streets for the rest of senior year…”
I snatched my books, burying my blade between the pages as a student ducked her head and scooted past the open elevator door. “I’d rather die.”
Corvus nodded, pursing his lips as he pressed another button inside the elevator and the doors began to close before Grey slipped out.
“Walk you to class?” he offered with an entertained gleam in his eyes as the elevator whisked the other two away.
I groaned, frustrated heat licking up my back as I stormed away.
The sound of his muted laughter followed me to class.