Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Rocky
Running my hands through my hair for the billionth time today, I stared down at my phone screen. Aspen was angry with me, and it was nobody’s fault but my own. My intention hadn’t been to lead her on, but looking back on it, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
Regardless, I kept my promise to her. Any chance I had, I was following one of the three assholes, trying to gain some insight on what their weaknesses were. It wasn’t easy; none of them talked about important shit publicly.
A light bulb suddenly went off as the thoughts slithered through my brain. It was a long shot, but there were two other girls that might just know something I didn’t.
Pocketing my phone, I made a beeline for Jessica’s room, knowing she’d be the more likely one to talk out of the two. Tapping my knuckles against the door, it opened almost instantly. A gasp got lodged in my throat as I took in her appearance. The girl was void of any makeup for once, red rimming her eyes like she’d been crying. A baggy sweatshirt hung off her exposed shoulder, followed by some ugly sweats. Even her dark hair looked dull, tugged into a knot on the top of her head.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped, narrowing her eyes at me.
“I have a proposal for you. Can I come in?” I motioned toward her room in which she reluctantly agreed, stepping aside to allow me entry.
The room was pretty much what I expected. Purple silk comforter decorated the unmade bed. A shelf full of jewelry boxes adorned the wall and a large TV was mounted to the wall facing her bed. Even her roommate’s bed was made up with its own set of purple comforter.
The door shut behind me, causing me to turn in order to face her. “Make it quick,” she snipped. “I have shit to do.”
“Then I’ll get straight to the point,” I agreed. “I need to know what Hunter’s weakness is.”
A look of utter confusion contorted her features and surprisingly, a hysterical laugh bubbled out of her. The sound was like nails on a chalkboard, and it took great restraint not to cover my ears.
When she finally managed to compose herself, she continued to look at me like I was delusional. “Why would I help you with anything?” she demanded, arching an eyebrow that was in serious need of waxing.
I was used to seeing her completely dolled up. Her hair was always done nicely, nails always done, makeup always done, clothes were always nice. This version of her wasn’t one I was used to.
Shrugging, I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m not your enemy, Jessica. Never have been.”
She was quiet for a moment while she thought on that. Finally, she released a defeated sigh and leaned against the door. “What do I get out of it?”
A slow smile stretched across my features, knowing damn good and well that I just reeled her in. Rumor had it that Jessica and Hunter were no longer an item, and her change in appearance just confirmed that—not to mention, they haven’t been spotted together in over a month now.
“You tell me all of Hunter’s weaknesses, and in return, you get the revenge you’ve so desperately been wanting.” I smirked.
Tugging her bottom lip between her teeth, she scrunched up her nose thoughtfully. “Weaknesses in the ring?” she questioned. “I barely went to any of his fights, I wouldn’t?—”
“Not in the ring,” I confirmed. “Things that Hunter keeps private. What are his fears?”
I wasn’t sure if she even knew. They might have dated, but from where I stood, he didn’t seem to like her much. He also didn’t strike me as the kind of person who was very forthcoming with his feelings.
Sighing, she tore her gaze away from me and moved it toward the ceiling. “He’s terrified of losing his friends. They all are. Well, Myles might be a different story. He doesn’t seem to care about anything.” She scoffed with an eye roll. “He’s also scared of long-term commitment. Hunter freaks out when things begin to feel too serious. He hates snakes, he’s scared of failing school, Foster is too.” She brings her gaze back to mine, a sheen of water coating them like she’s trying her best not to break down.
I nodded, my chest feeling tight. I hated seeing women cry. Jessica might not have been a very nice person, but no one deserved to feel like this. Making mistakes was in our nature, and we were all here for a reason.
“Are you okay?” I inquired, unable to help myself.
Her expression changed into one of surprise, but she schooled her features immediately, almost making me think I had imagined it. “You don’t have to pretend to care. I’m already telling you everything you want to know.”
“I’m not pretending. It’s a simple question.”
Jessica released a sigh before shaking her head. “Well, no. But I will be,” she said with determination, a fire blazing behind her dark orbs. “I have every intention of making him pay for the hell he put me through.”
“Good.” I smiled. “So, what else do I need to know about him and his friends?”
I’d gotten quite a bit of information from Jessica, so talking to Madison didn’t seem necessary. Aspen still wasn’t speaking to me, so I was currently on the way to her place. Well, Monroe’s place. It was still weird how often I had to see him now. The dude went from hating my ass with a burning passion to cooking me dinner and inviting me into his home.
Pulling up into the driveway, I parked behind Monroe’s car. My heart stuttered within my chest as anxiety rippled through me. Aspen was a stubborn girl who never did anything she didn’t want to do. It was going to be difficult trying to talk her into hearing me out.
Sighing, I pushed those thoughts into the back of my head and unfastened my seatbelt. Stepping out onto the pavement, I made my way up to the door and knocked twice. Monroe already knew I was coming, but it still didn’t help to lessen my nerves.
When the door swung open, Monroe narrowed his eyes at me. “Get inside before someone recognizes you,” he barked.
“Your yelling isn’t helping matters,” I retorted, side-stepping him and venturing into the living room.
The door closed behind me and before I knew it, Monroe’s grip was tight around my bicep as he steered me toward the couch. I could have easily gotten out of his hold if I’d wanted to, but I didn’t come here to fight.
Sinking down onto the sofa, I lifted my head to look at him. The frustration etched into his features was evident. Aspen must have informed him of my whereabouts yesterday.
“Where’s Aspen?” I probed, raising an eyebrow.
He rolled his eyes and stepped around the coffee table, moving to sit on the couch beside me. “Are you sure you even care?” he challenged. There was a hardness to his voice as he spoke, leading me to believe that Aspen had already filled him in on what took place at the club.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Monroe’s eyebrow arched with accusation, his lips thinning like my response wasn’t one he was looking for. “Let’s get one thing straight,” he began in a low tone. “I allow you to come over because you saved her. She seems comfortable around you for reasons I may never understand, and you’ve played a vital part in helping her heal. But if you start causing more damage than good, you can forget about it.”
Before I could process what he’d just said, her bedroom door closed, and the sound of footsteps padded across the hardwood.
Aspen entered the living-area shortly after, freezing once her eyes connected with mine. Her expression was unreadable, but by the rigidness in her posture, she was clearly on edge and not at all prepared to see me just yet.
Her long, purple hair was curled loosely and fell all around her slender frame. Dark makeup painted her eyes, giving her a seductive look, which went perfect with the dark, purple lipstick she wore. My gaze traveled down her body, taking in the revealing outfit she wore. A thin, black dress hugged her curves and halted right above her thighs. The gown glittered with each shift she made and the only thing holding the dress together was a thin strap around her neck. It was low cut, leaving little to the imagination.
“Where are you going?” I asked, unable to help myself. My eyes drifted down her pale legs until a pair of black heels came into view.
The only time I’ve seen Aspen dress so provocatively—or wear so much makeup—was at the Halloween party. This time, she seemed to be more herself.
“My first shift starts tonight,” she said dryly.
My eyes widened a fraction. “Wait. You’re actually going through with this?” I demanded, rising from the couch. “You can’t be serious.”
There was nothing wrong with strippers or prostitutes, but Aspen was better than that. She could do anything she wanted if she set her mind to it. Not to mention, Foster and his goons frequented that place every other weekend or so. That’s where they got their fucking supply for deals. Once you got sucked into Talissa’s world, it was nearly impossible to get out of.
Aspen lifted a bare shoulder. The tattoo on her chest poked out of the dress, capturing my attention. “The money is great,” she admitted. “I couldn’t pass it up. Plus, considering you were there, I don’t think I’ll be needing your advice on the subject.”
I shook my head, my gaze searching hers as desperation filled me. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Why are you here, Rocky?” she demanded, changing the subject.
It was obvious that I was one of the last people she wanted to see right now, but I didn’t really give a shit. Striding toward her, I didn’t stop until her minty scent invaded my nostrils and her body heat drifted from her and onto me. There was something about this girl that made me want her. Aspen was strong, loyal, and had a big heart even if she tried to hide it. But I saw it. I saw her .
Craning my neck to stare down at her, a mixture of emotions rippled through me. Part of me wanted to kiss her, to show her that this connection wasn’t one-sided. But then the other part of me didn’t want to mess with her head like that when I knew we couldn’t be together. I couldn’t be what she wanted—what she needed.
Clearing my throat, I chose my next words carefully. “I talked to Jessica today,” I said. “She was more than willing to give me intel on Hunter.”
Anger flashed within her eyes and her painted lips tilted into a scowl. “You what ?” she demanded, taking a step toward me despite there not being much space between us to begin with. “Tell me you’re fucking joking, Rocky. Jessica has the biggest mouth at the academy. I should have known better than to trust you.”
Her words sliced through my chest, cutting the organ that had been reserved for my closest friends and family. With as much strength as possible, I shoved those unwanted feelings away.
“I didn’t tell her about you,” I growled. “If it backfires, it backfires. But I don’t think it will.”
“Why would she even agree to help you? Isn’t she in love with Hunter or something?” Her jaw ticked with frustration, and I couldn’t help but notice how her hands were now balled into fists at her sides. She was still pissed at me, and maybe I deserved it, but I wouldn’t do anything that could potentially hurt her.
Sighing, I reached forward, taking her hand in mine. Aspen immediately tensed up, unsure of her own emotions. After a few seconds, her posture relaxed, and she allowed my fingers to slide through hers.
“From what I gathered; Hunter rejected Jessica. Now she wants revenge.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “He rejected her?” she asked again, though it seemed to be a rhetorical question. “After all the shit he gave me for interfering with their relationship, he doesn’t even want her?” I remained silent, watching her intently as her face morphed from surprised to enraged within seconds. “I’m going to fucking kill him,” she snapped, a crazed look in her green eyes. “And then I’m going to dance on his goddamn grave.”
The events at Monroe’s kept replaying on a loop within my mind. Aspen was mad at me, but at least she didn’t seem to completely hate my guts. She mentioned murdering Hunter, and if anyone else had made a comment like that, I’d assume it was an exaggeration. Somehow, I doubted it was the case for her. These guys destroyed her, belittled her, tried to kill her, sexually assaulted her, and probably more that I didn’t even know about. If she wanted to murder them, she’d take the steps to make it happen. I wasn’t even sure if I’d stop her or not.
Jessica had given me some decent intel on Hunter, but I wasn’t sure if it was enough to cause major damage. He deserved to suffer for the things he’d done. Toying with him after everything he did seemed amateur. If we really wanted to make him pay, then we’d have to exceed our comfort zone.
“You okay, man?” Jax questioned from the seat opposite me. “You’ve barely said a word since we got here.”
I had him meet me in the library with the intention of asking his opinion, but now that we were here, I wasn’t sure if it was a good move. It wasn’t that I couldn’t trust him, but I’d made a promise to not only Monroe, but Aspen too. It was a promise I didn’t want to break.
Gripping the edge of the table, my eyes zeroed in on the chipped pieces of wood between my fingertips. Finally, I let out a slow breath and brought my gaze to his.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. I’d never been in a situation like this before. How did I know what the best course of action was?
His eyebrows pinched together as he mulled over my response. “You know you can tell me anything, right?” he probed. “I would never stab you in the back.”
I huffed a breath of laughter. Of course, I knew that. Jax was one of the most loyal people I knew aside from Dixie. “It’s not my back I’m worried about. This honestly isn’t even my secret to tell, but I’m at a loss.”
He was silent for a moment, his blue/gray eyes searching mine. He was one of the first people I connected with when I joined the academy. At first, it was a mutual physical interest. After some time, we bonded as friends. Anything I’ve ever told him has stayed between us and vice versa. But this secret I was keeping was huge and didn’t only affect me.
“If it’s bothering you, just spill. I’ll do what I can to help.”
As much as I wanted to tell him, I wasn’t sure if I could. Aspen trusted me, and I’d already upset her by mentioning it to Jessica. If she knew I was even contemplating on telling Jax, she’d probably go ballistic.
“I-I can’t.” I sighed. “I’ll have to talk to Aspen about it first.”
“Aspen?” he hissed under his breath. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Shit.