Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Hunter
“How’s Collin?” I asked, striding into the room, and closing the door behind me. My gaze moved over to Aspen who was still passed out on Foster’s bed. Her breathing was even as she laid there, a peaceful look on her face which was ironic given the circumstances.
Foster ran his hands through his hair, his body coiled tight with tension. “He’s hurt pretty badly. Can’t even walk now. She got him good.” He glanced over his shoulder at the sleeping girl before returning his attention to me.
“She’s a fighter,” I agreed. “Saw a weakness in him and went for it.”
I still couldn’t believe this was real. When Collin mentioned seeing her at the hospital, I saw how desperately he wanted someone to believe him. Against my better judgment, I did just that. It still felt…insane to me that she was actually alive—that he'd been right.
Foster grunted, turning on his heels and making a beeline for his dresser. He reached into the top drawer and pulled out a pack of cigarettes along with a lighter. He plucked one out of the box, placing it between his lips and then lit it before offering me the pack.
I didn’t hesitate. Tonight was an insane one for all of us. Lifting a cigarette to my lips, I lit it and handed it back to him. Inhaling deeply, the smoke burned my lungs before it expelled out into the open air.
“What are we going to do with her?” I asked, moving over to the chair in his room and sinking down. Fear gripped me in its clutches as I contemplated his answer. “You still want her dead?” I probed before he had the chance to respond to my first question.
He sighed, taking a long drag before the smoke bellowed from between his lips. “I don’t want to. It would fuck Collin up all over again, just when he was starting to get better.”
“Starting to get better?” I scoffed. “He let Rocky fucking obliterate him.”
“Yeah. I guess that’s true. If she wanted to snitch on us, she would have already done it. She’s definitely had the opportunity. I don’t think killing her is necessary.”
Relief bubbled up inside me. Thank God for that. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to go through that mess again. The pills and drugs helped some, but it was only a distraction that led me right back to square one when the come-down happened. Maybe I’d felt guilty because it was unwarranted. I’d been pissed at her for something so stupid and I treated her like shit over it. Then she was gone. Hell, even Raven would have survived had she not threatened to take her so-called evidence to the authorities. We couldn’t risk it. A part of me wondered if she ever had hard evidence in the first place, or if she was just trying to get us to admit to something she thought we did.
My mind flashed back to the club and a grin worked its way across my face. “I can’t believe you touched her.”
He grunted in response, his jaw tightening once more. “Me neither. I was pissed off and turned on at the same time. Makes for a deadly combination,” he admitted. “I’d still never put my dick anywhere near her though.”
“It was hot as fuck.” Watching her come undone at Foster’s hand of all people sent a thrill through me. He was probably the person she hated the most. Well…maybe it was a tie between him and Myles. They did have history after all, and he had been the one to kill Raven.
As if we summoned her, Aspen groaned from within the bed. It had been a few hours since the club now. I’d gone directly to my room to shower right after and popped some Xanax while scrolling through my phone for a while. Once my head was calm, I came here. My gaze cut to where she laid, her body tossing and turning beneath the sheets before her eyes snapped open.
I took one last pull of my cigarette before snuffing it out in the ashtray on the side table nearby. Another groan erupted from her as she clutched at her forehead, her eyebrows dipped in confusion. She still seemed out of it for now, but that wouldn’t last for long. Myles hadn’t given her a strong dose. Just enough to knock her out for a little bit so we could transport her without any problems.
She sat up abruptly, her eyes wide and alert as she took in her new surroundings. When her gaze landed on us, the horrific realization settled in. “No no no no no,” she repeated over and over again, climbing out of the bed. Her legs shook as she moved across the room wearing nothing but Foster’s T-shirt and her thong.
Foster stepped forward, cutting off any exit point she may have had. I watched with interest as her face morphed into one of pure rage. “Let me out of here right the fuck now,” she growled. When he didn’t budge, she raised her tiny fists and started hammer-hitting him in the chest and abdomen.
“Are you sure you want to piss me off right now?” he questioned in a dangerously low tone. Her fists didn’t relent, giving him the answer he wanted. Sighing, he placed his palm against her forehead and pushed, making her trip over her own feet and land right on her ass.
A bark of laughter ripped from my throat, amusement settling inside me. This seemed to piss her off even more, though, because she shot us each a scathing glare.
She stood and folded her arms over her chest. “Let me go,” she said again.
Foster leveled her with a hard look, annoyance flickering within his gaze. “You sure are ballsy for someone who’s supposed to be dead.” He arched an eyebrow before bringing his cigarette to his lips again.
Fear flashed across her face at his words, her eyes growing distant as if she was reliving something. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what that was. We went too far with her and now she was suffering because of it.
“What do you want from me?” she asked defeatedly—her voice small. “It doesn’t make sense to keep me around. I’ve been out of your hair, I haven’t gone to the police, why am I here?”
“Because we want you to be,” I spoke up, causing her gaze to slide to me. I didn’t know what Foster’s plan for her was, but for me, it wasn’t about hurting her anymore. There was so much guilt and so much regret clawing through me.
She scoffed, shaking her head. “Why?”
I looked at Foster, unsure of how to answer that question. My reasonings for wanting her here weren’t solid ones. Maybe he had a better one. Truthfully, I didn’t give a shit if she went back to wherever the hell she was staying. Just knowing she was alive was enough for me.
Foster released a sigh, striding over to the bedside table next to his bed, he put out his cigarette and returned to her, his expression unreadable. “Why do you want to go?” he asked, catching me off guard.
“Where do you want me to start?” she muttered. “Because I have a long ass list of reasons why I don’t want to be anywhere near you.”
He advanced on her, looming over her. His arms folded across his chest, the muscle thrumming along his jaw. “The hatred you have for me is mutual,” he replied smoothly. “I don’t like you either. But this isn’t just about me. Collin and Hunter did what was demanded of them. Frankly, I think you need to speak to Collin. He actually gave a shit about you.”
She swallowed nervously, her hands twitching at her sides. “Do I have a choice?”
“I’ll tell you what,” he began. “Come back to the academy and we’ll leave you alone. As long as you stay out of my way, I won’t hurt you.”
Her eyes darted to me before they settled back on him, unease flickering in her green eyes as she contemplated his offer. “What about Myles? He’s the reason all of this started in the first place. He isn’t just going to leave me alone.”
That was probably true.
Foster nodded thoughtfully. “Myles isn’t going to kill you. If you haven’t figured it out by now, he’s obsessed with you for whatever reason. If it’s your life that you’re worried about, don’t.”
“Why do you guys even care?”
He snorted in response. “I personally don’t give a shit. You could have stayed dead for all I cared. Plus, I think you owe it to Collin after you hurt him the way you did.”
A grimace captured her features, and her lips drew into a tight line. “Fine. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” Her gaze slid to mine, her lip curling as she took me in. I’d expected her to hate me. Not only did I lead Raven to the slaughter, but I treated her like shit too. My emotions were all fucked up when it came to Aspen Palmer. On one hand, I wanted her. On the other, I was with Foster. Sliding her gaze back to Foster, she released a frustrated breath of air. “Can I at least shower?”
He nodded, not bothering to look in her direction as she made her way to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. With her out of the room, the tension in his shoulders eased and he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
My mind drifted to the events that had taken place at the club. Aspen seated on Foster’s lap while he fingered her so hard until she shattered. My dick stirred to life within my pants making me ache. This girl was going to be the death of me.
“I should probably get some sleep,” I said, rising to my feet. It was already well after three in the morning, and I didn’t want to miss classes. I’ve missed way too much this school year and if I wanted a chance at graduating, then that had to stop. “Are you going to be okay? You know…with sleeping in the same bed as her.” He’s slept beside her before, wedging pillows between the two of them so she didn’t accidentally touch him in his sleep and freak him out, but I know that even then, it had been a huge leap for him.
Foster grunted in response, his gaze sliding to the bathroom door where Aspen had retreated to moments before. The faint sound of the water running echoed through the room.
“I’ll just do what I did last time.” He glanced back over at me, his expression unreadable as always. “It’s just one night,” he continued. “She’ll be Collin’s problem tomorrow.”
“Collin?” I bristled, widening my eyes. “You really think he’s in any condition to watch her after what happened earlier?”
“I don’t think she needs to be watched.” He shrugged. “Just entertained until we figure this shit out. She isn’t going to run.”
I swallowed, contemplating his words. “How do you know for sure?” I pressed. I didn’t care if she left or not. But Collin would. Myles probably would too.
“I just do. Now go get some sleep. I might need you tomorrow.”
I nodded before making my way to the door, my head a mess. It didn’t take long for me to reach my room, and when I did, I closed myself inside and sat on the edge of my bed, not bothering to turn on the light. Laying down, I peered into the darkness while my mind continued to race.
It was no secret that Aspen was beautiful. I’m sure we all saw the appeal. However, I didn’t want her. Collin was the most broken over her disappearance . He’d actually given a shit, and for that, he was the one who should be with her. Assuming she’d ever give him the time of day again after everything that had happened. Foster couldn’t stand her, but for some reason, still couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Myles was just obsessed with owning her, and that would probably end up doing her more harm in the end.
Her pleas echoed around my skull from the night at the cliff. The sheet clung to her small figure with Raven’s blood seeping through the thin material. Her green eyes were widened in horror as tears tracked down her face, her gaze pinned on Foster who was steering her backwards to the edge of the doom that awaited her below.
I remember my heart racing in that moment. I’d been so torn between trying to save her and just letting her crash into the abyss. Myles had to hold Collin back, whispering words in his ear in an attempt to stop him from making a mistake. In reality, it wasn’t him who would have made the mistake. It was the rest of us.
The scream she let out right as she was shoved made my chest tighten. I didn’t know her well enough to like her, but the whole situation had been fucked and even then, I knew it. Why didn’t I do something?
Sighing, I rubbed at my burning eyes with the palm of my hands. Maybe all of this was supposed to happen. At least Foster wasn’t hellbent on hurting her anymore. All she had to do was piss him off again and that would change.
A yawn tore from my throat as sleep inched its way inside me. Before I knew it, my eyes were fluttering until darkness finally encased me.