Chapter 15
Wynter
“Gotta get to church, baby.”
I turn onto my side and stretch, still groggy from sleep or the lack thereof. He tortured me with his tongue for hours last night. Tied me to his bed then had his way with me. By the time he was done, my body was bone-tired.
“You guys pray?” I ask. They don’t strike me as the religious types, but maybe they go confess their sins. Ask forgiveness for all their criminal endeavors. I’d still love to know if any of them has ever killed a man, but Vale won’t tell me anything.
His smooth chuckle rumbles right over me as he tugs me to him, nuzzling into my neck. He manhandles me like I’m his little doll—and I love it.
“No, baby. It’s what we call our gathering to go over business. I should be back in a couple hours. Then I thought we could go for a drive on my bike. Maybe head into town for some food.”
“That’s sounds like a date, Vale.” We’ve only left the compound once since I’ve been here. Every day he gets up and goes to work while I study, then when he’s done, he locks me in his room and plays with my body for hours.
“That’s because it is a date. It’s about time I let you out of my room,” he teases. “Plus, I can’t wait to kiss my stepsister out in public.”
“Scandalous.” I smile. But in all honesty, it would be nice not having to worry about someone catching us.
“All right, babe. I have to run. Gotta go pray to the big guy upstairs and make sure he knows how grateful I am for my little stepsister. Then I’ll be back so you can make a sinner out of me again.”
I whack him with my pillow, and there he goes, chuckling his way out the door. I can’t remember a time when I felt this light inside. And ever since the first night I arrived, I haven’t had a single nightmare. This new me is definitely a feeling I could get used to.
“You should go back into your ivory tower, brat. No one wants you out here.”
The bitchy voice is coming from Cherry. Out of all the sweetbutts, she’s the nastiest. Her target right now looks to be the club princess: Rory, and I’m shocked she feels like she can speak to the girl that way.
Then again, because Cherry is Ripper’s favorite whore, I think she feels like she holds some power in this place. Allow me to put the bitch in her place.
“Why don’t you try saying that to her when her father’s around?”
Cherry’s head whips in my direction, looking shocked that I’m even speaking to her.
Other than Vale and Cage, I keep to myself.
I study during the day, go for walks down to the lake, do a quick workout in the gym, then spend the rest of my time with Vale.
On the few occasions we’ve hung out with the crowds, I haven’t been impressed by what I’ve seen.
In fact, the sweetbutts just downright piss me off.
“Did you just say something?” She shoots me a nasty look. I don’t understand what Ripper even sees in her. It’s not like she’s drop-dead gorgeous or anything. Rory is the pretty one. Which I’m guessing is the source for Cherry’s jealousy. That and the attention she gets from Ripper.
“Are you hard of hearing?” I ask. “I said you should say that in front of her dad. But I’m guessing the reason you don’t is because you’re scared. If I were you, I’d be careful not to bully the President’s daughter. He’s liable to put a bullet between your eyes.”
He probably would too. I’ve seen how protective King is of her. He has two guards stationed on her even when she’s locked on the compound. Talk about overprotective.
“What? Are you going to rat on me? I have secrets I could share too, brother fucker.”
I try not to show a glimmer of my nerves, not wanting her to think that she’s landed her strike. Once she smells a weakness, she’ll attack harder and I’m not in the mood to have to face the drama.
“I would tread lightly, Cherry. I’m considered family.
And you”—I run my eyes down her frame, making sure she feels the burn of my disgust—“are nothing but a whore. Now, you should run along and pick up all those cigarette butts before the guys get out of church and see that you haven’t done your job. ”
I know I’m a bitch, but she fucking started it.
Her shoulders stiffen and she lets out a growl before she turns and huffs off. She’s like a petulant child not getting her way.
“Thank you.”
The soft voice comes from my right. Rory’s a sweet girl. She reminds me of one of the Disney princesses with her melodic voice and her big blue eyes and that blond hair, which hangs in loose waves. She’s gorgeous.
“Cherry’s a bitch. Don’t let her get to you.”
“Hey! Mind if I bum one of those?” She tips her chin to the cigarette in my hand. I’d almost forgotten I was holding it.
“Am I gonna get shot if I give you one?” I’ve seen her two guards and would never want to have to face either of them. Nor would I want her dad getting pissed at me for letting her smoke.
“I’m eighteen despite how they treat me. But I won’t tell.”
I hand her a smoke along with my lighter, and she checks her surroundings. Poor girl doesn’t get a say in her life. Kind of sounds familiar.
“Thanks.” She hands me back my lighter. “You want to take a walk with me?”
“Sure.” I’ve got nothing else to do but kill time until Vale is done. She starts leading me down the path that leads to the lake, and the air gets fresher the closer we get to the water. It’s truly an amazing place.
“How come your guards aren’t with you?” I ask. Don’t think I’ve ever not seen them by her sides.
“Church.” She blows out a drag of smoke. “Everyone except for the prospects has to attend.”
“What do they discuss in church?” Being the Prez’s daughter, she surely knows something. Vale won’t tell me anything. He says that what’s discussed in church stays in church, which to me translates to “illegal dealings.”
“I don’t know. Nothing ever leaves that room. And Ripper and Raid never discuss anything in front of me.”
“How come they have to watch over you?”
“My father did something to piss off some big-time drug lord and now he’s out for revenge. That’s why I’m not allowed to leave the compound.”
She’s not allowed to leave?
“As in ever, or just without your guards?”
“Nope.” She takes another drag, blowing it out slow. “The last time I was taken out was on my sixteenth birthday. Since then, I’ve been grounded to this place.”
I suppose that’s what it feels like. Being grounded.
“Wow. That seriously sucks.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Here.” I hold out the pack of smokes for her. “Sounds like you need these more than me.”
“Thanks, but I’ll get in trouble if I get caught with those.”
Jesus, she’s like a prisoner.
“So then what do you do for fun up here?”
“I’m in school most days, then spend my nights surfing the web, living vicariously through everyone’s reels. Some nights, I’ll hang with the guys and play pool or poker. Raid will play war with me. And then sometimes I come out here with Ripper and swim.”
To her it’s probably a boring existence, but I’d give anything not to have to face the world. People can be cruel.
“So, what about dating?” I ask.
“No,” she says it with a bite. “My father would kill anyone who tried to touch me.”
That means she’s trapped up here with all those hormones surrounded by all these hot men and she can’t do anything about it. I’d probably have run away by now. Either that or secretly bribed someone to fuck me.
“So, you’ve never had a boyfriend?”
She shakes her head. “Fucked up, right?”
Yeah, I’ll say. “Have any of the guys even tried?” She’s so beautiful, I’m shocked no one has tried to sneak a kiss or have a secret relationship with her.
“Ripper would kill them if they even looked at me wrong. No one would dare. It’s my dad’s most sacred law.”
Geez. And here I thought Vale was overbearing. This girl is living like a nun.
“So, you and Dag?” she asks, and my entire body freezes under her question. She obviously heard what Cherry had to say back there. “Don’t worry. My mouth is sealed, but you should know these walls are very thin. Cherry isn’t the only one who’s heard.”
I need another cigarette to process that fun fact. Here we thought we were being sneaky, and now everyone seems to know. I don’t know how Vale is going to feel about that. There’s more at stake for him to lose. Though, no one has seemed to be treating him any different.
“It’s not like we grew up together,” I tell her. “We only lived under the same roof for three years.”
“You won’t find any judgment from me. I have feelings for a man who’s been like a father to me my whole life.
Clearly, I have some serious issues.” I wonder which one of her bodyguards she’s into.
My money would be put on Raid. He’s the nice one.
Ripper is just downright scary. “So, do your parents know that there’s something going on with you two? Is that why you moved out here?”
“God no! They would shit themselves if they found out.” But I don’t really care what they think. I know Vale does though. He and his dad actually have a good relationship. “Things just started between us, and I honestly don’t know what we are.”
She nods, looking thoughtful. “Do you love him?”
That’s a heavy question. It makes me nervous thinking about the way I feel. I’m almost terrified to admit the truth.
“He’s the first guy I’ve ever had feelings for.”
“You know, he always talked about you.” She holds out her hand for another cigarette.
“He’d come out here sometimes and chat with me.
Tell me how much he missed you.” She pauses to light up.
“Don’t be mad at him. But one night he let it slip about your dad being arrested.
I was mad at my father for all his rules and for keeping me prisoner up here, but Dagger told me I was lucky to have a dad who cared so much about me.
” She is. “He said some kids have dads that hurt them. Did your dad hurt you?”
I don’t usually talk to strangers, but Rory is different. She feels safe. And who is she really going to tell?