Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Aspen
As promised, Myles stuck to his word and took me to the club to retrieve my phone and clothes. Not that I hooked up with him for the sole purpose of getting my items back, but because, in the moment, I really wanted to. There was something about him that drew me in, even when it went against everything I stood for. Together, we were electric. An explosion waiting to happen. There was so much history between us. History that used to cause me severe nightmares and anxiety attacks.
When had that changed?
Was it when he tended to my wounds after inflicting them? Or was it when I slapped him and in return, he bit my lip, drawing blood? Maybe it was in the heated way he stared at me from time to time when he didn’t think I was paying attention.
My face heated as memories from the other night resurfaced. His skin had been lava against mine. It was hot, dirty, and so fucking depraved that it made me yearn for his touch all over again. Not that I’d ever admit that out loud. It had to be a one-time thing. There was too much bad blood there, and he was a psychopath. Could he even feel the way I could?
“Do you have everything you need?” Myles questioned from beside me, his hands resting on top of the steering wheel.
I peered out the window, not ready to look him in the eyes just yet. Not after what happened between us. He’d never let me live it down if he saw the emotions flitting across my face, and he was damn good at reading people from what I gathered.
The entire car ride had been this way. Silent with my attention fixated on anything but the man sitting beside me. His woodsy scent invaded the vehicle, making it difficult not to inhale and breathe him all in. He wasn’t forgiven. Not by a long shot. But it was starting to get harder and harder to despise everything that he was.
“Yes,” I replied.
Silence followed, filling the small space with tension and awkwardness. My teeth sank into my lower lip as I focused my gaze on the trees zipping by us.
After several moments of silence and watching the greenery surrounding us, I finally mustered up the courage to glance his way. His blue eyes were focused on the road, his neck tattoo poking out of the collar of his leather jacket. He looked like a fucking wet dream.
“I don’t want to be monitored all the time,” I finally said. “I want space, privacy, to feel like an actual person again.”
A feather thrummed along the edge of his jaw. “That’s not just up to me.”
My eyebrows dipped in confusion. “Isn’t it?” I challenged. “Everything has been up to you since the beginning.” None of this shit would have happened had it not been for him. He was the reason they all came after me. He was the reason I couldn’t wear clothes and had to be tied to them like a prisoner. It was all his doing.
He shrugged, never pulling his attention from the road ahead. “That was before they wanted you too.”
I had no idea what he meant by that statement and wasn’t sure I even wanted to know. “I’m not a possession, Myles. Why do you guys get to decide everything for me?”
His lips tilted up at the corners as if he found amusement in what I’d just said. That only caused my blood to boil hotter. My hands balled into fists within my lap as that familiar rage I’d grown so accustomed to burned through my veins.
Finally, his eyes met mine for the first time in what felt like forever. “I thought you enjoyed being possessed .” He smirked. “Don’t you like being owned, Aspen? Marked? Ours?”
I swallowed thickly, the air around me seeming to thin. My chest felt heavy from the pressure of my heart pounding against it ferociously. Did I like those things? Or was he just being an arrogant asshole per usual?
Chalking it up to the latter, I rolled my eyes, refusing to give him what he wanted. He was still on my shit list, and I wasn’t about to pretend that he didn’t have a hand in trying to kill me. Laxatives were only the beginning of what I had planned for him.
“I’m sure the others won’t put up much of a fight when it comes to getting rid of me,” I hedged, ignoring his previous comment altogether.
Foster hated me. Collin was busy entertaining other girls. Hunter seemed indifferent about the entire thing, and I was sure he hated me just as much as Foster did. Myles was really the only one who seemed to want me around for reasons I couldn’t quite understand. Hadn’t he sworn to make my life miserable? To kill me? I was still alive, and he hadn’t made a single move against me since taking me from the club. What the hell was he planning?
Myles didn’t reply. Nor did I expect him to. The drive back to the academy was filled with silence once again, yet it was more comfortable this time than it had been before. We’d used Hunter’s car so we had a place to put my clothes, rather than having to carry them or stuff them in a bag. Not to mention, it was getting way too cold outside with winter approaching and a motorcycle ride wouldn’t have helped matters.
Once we parked, Myles stepped out first, leaving me to follow. He grabbed my change of clothes from the back, nestling them in his thick arms. An icy gust of wind blew my hair behind my shoulders, nipping at my ears and neck. A shiver rumbled through my body, making me wrap my arms tightly around myself for warmth.
“Who am I chained to tonight?” I asked once we were secured inside the building with the heater blasting.
“Hunter.”
I blew out an annoyed breath. I suppose he was a better option right now than the others, but it still frustrated me.
Myles led the way to the elevator, and I stepped in beside him. My fingers opened and closed a few times as I tried desperately to get heat back into them. By the time we stopped on Hunter’s floor, my hands and ears felt normal again.
My mind drifted back to Monroe and how protective he’d been when I showed up with Collin. He was completely off-limits and that just made me want him more. Not that those words could ever be uttered out loud. Aiden Monroe had made it perfectly clear that nothing would ever happen between us again, and for once, I was trying to respect that. His life was complicated. My life was complicated. It would never work.
Was this what maturing felt like? If so, I didn’t want it.
When we got to Hunter’s room, Myles didn’t even bother knocking, walking in as if he owned the place. I hesitantly trailed in behind him, regretting that decision immediately. Bile burned the back of my throat as my gaze assessed what I was seeing, and my brain worked overtime to process it.
Collin and Hunter were completely naked on the bed with some brunette woman I’d never seen before placed between them, equally as nude. Hunter was buried to the hilt inside of her from behind while her mouth was working up and down Collin’s cock, milking him like he was the best lollipop she’d ever fucking tasted.
It was one thing to hear about Collin fucking other women, but it was a completely different experience to actually have to witness it. Did I even have a right to be upset? Probably not, but I couldn’t turn my emotions off. The female’s moans carried throughout the room, the three of them oblivious to their audience. Hunter’s head tipped back in pure ecstasy as he pounded into the girl roughly.
I’d seen enough.
Turning around, I stalked right back out into the hallway, closing the door gently behind me so they wouldn’t be disturbed. I leaned my back against the wall on the opposite side, my breathing coming out erratic as I tried to calm my racing heart.
“For fucks sake.” Myles’s voice drifted out into the hallway, followed by muffled conversation that couldn’t be heard from where I stood.
I blew out a shaky breath and glanced toward the bare ceiling. I’d never been a jealous person, easily able to get over things that guys did to me. Whether that involved another girl or not. My first thought, when I saw the naked girl between them, taking them both, was that I wanted to rip her away from them and pummel her to death. That wasn’t a reasonable reaction. Why the hell did I even care? They certainly didn’t give a shit about me. Maybe distancing myself from them would be the best for all of us.
The door creaked open, capturing my attention and causing my heart rate to skyrocket once again. I didn’t want them to see how upset that had made me. How weak I’d become.
The girl stumbled out into the hall, her long, brown hair in disarray as she stared back at me, resembling a deer caught in headlights. At least she was fully dressed now. She fisted her denim jacket as she spared me one last look and then sped down the hallway at a quick pace. I stared after her. She was flawlessly beautiful with olive skin and a thin figure. Her hips swayed effortlessly as she walked, revealing a decent-sized ass that only made my jealousy spike.
A heaviness settled over me and the distinct feeling that I was being watched grazed my skin. Returning my attention to the door across from me, Myles stood, leaning against the frame with his arms folded. A single eyebrow shot up in questioning as he watched me, and heat flooded my body. Maybe running out like that wasn’t the smartest thing to do. It made it seem like I cared.
Schooling my features to the best of my abilities, I shrugged nonchalantly—like I didn’t have a care in the world. “Figured they’d want some privacy.” To my credit, my voice didn’t come out nearly as shaky as I’d expected, almost sounding believable.
He stared at me for a long moment, his gaze boring a hole in my face. I hated the way he watched me. It was like if he stared hard enough, he could see into the depths of a person’s very soul, and I hated it.
“Is that so?” he challenged, not seeming to believe me in the slightest.
I swallowed before nodding.
In the car, Myles had called me theirs. Plural. But this just proved how delusional he was. They weren’t mine, and I wasn’t theirs. Regardless of whatever spin he put on it.
“Then why are you still out in the hallway?”
My molars grinded against one another as I fought the urge to snap at him. It felt like he was invading my head. Instead, I blew out a breath and made my way toward him, sending my elbow into his stomach once he’d shifted position to allow me entry. The bastard didn’t even react aside from a sexy laugh that made my knees weaken.
Collin and Hunter didn’t even have the decency to put on shirts, opting to sit on the bed, smoking cigarettes in nothing but sweatpants.
The door clicked shut, announcing Myles’s departure. For some weird as fuck reason, I wished he hadn’t left. Not when the alternative was these assholes.
Hesitantly, I moved forward, sinking down into the empty seat that had been positioned to face the bed. Tension filled the room instantly, but that was probably more one-sided than anything. At least…I hoped. Both of their solid bodies were slick with sweat, which would have turned me on under any other circumstance. This time, it repulsed me. Knowing that they fucked her so hard that they were drenched from it pissed me off.
My hands balled into fists within my lap as I directed my attention anywhere but their direction. Hunter’s room was a little messier than the last time I’d seen it, decorated in mostly gray. Empty liquor bottles surrounded the bed along with some that were half-filled.
“What was her name again?” Collin asked, the question obviously not meant for me, but it made my ears twitch all the same. I knew who he was referring to.
The girl they just had over.
“Peyton,” Hunter replied, taking a long drag from his cigarette. The smoke billowed out around him, making him look even more sexy. I hated that he was attractive. Why couldn’t he be ugly? That would certainly make things easier for me.
I pulled out my phone, glancing down at the screen. If they thought I was eavesdropping, they probably wouldn’t keep talking in front of me, and I wanted to know what Collin was about to say about this Peyton girl. Was he interested in her? Was me screwing Myles a dealbreaker for him? How did that even make sense? He was off fucking Madison without even knowing what I’d done. My head spun with all these thoughts warring inside my brain. Life was easier when my guard was up. Somehow, he'd wormed his way through it just a fraction, and made me feel things I’d never felt before. Just to turn around and be a complete piece of shit the following day.
“Mind if I get her number?” he probed, the desperation in his voice making me nauseous.
My hand tightened around my phone and heat spread through my already hot body. Fuck him. He could have her. I was nobody’s side piece, and I wasn’t about to let him come and go as he pleased. I wasn’t Madison.
Hunter’s smooth laughter filled the room, which equally bothered me. I hadn’t connected with him like I had Collin, but there had been something between us. Or so I thought…
“If you want. She’s in my history class.” The amusement was still evident in his voice. “You trying to finish what we started?”
“Fuck yeah. We got interrupted right when I was about to cum again. She was tight as hell.”
Ouch.
The heat in my body spread to the area behind my eyes. I kept my head bowed; afraid they’d be able to notice it. I’d think they were doing this on purpose if it weren’t for the fact that the fan was blowing, and they were keeping their voices relatively low. Almost like they were trying to prevent me from hearing them at all.
I’d experienced heartache before. When I lost Avery, I was broken beyond repair. But this was a different kind. Glancing down at my phone screen, I debated on who to text, knowing I couldn’t stay here any longer. The pain was too raw and there had been no time to process before being thrown headfirst into the lion’s den.
Monroe and Rocky weren’t an option. They’d already done so much for me, and they’d specifically warned me to stay away from these assholes.
I clicked on my contact icon before carefully reading through them. A small, watery smile graced my lips as I saw the guys names added, knowing it had been Myles’s doing, and I was eternally grateful for it right now. A lone tear slid down my cheek, burning the very skin it sat against. I quickly swiped it away, hoping it hadn’t been noticed.
The urge to let out all of these pent-up emotions was becoming crippling. I needed an outlet but had nowhere to go. Myles had seemed like he was in a hurry to be anywhere else, and I was sure that a psychopath probably wasn’t the best place to turn. That left one other person. He might not have been ideal, but it was much better than being here. Anywhere was better than here right now.
I clicked on Foster’s contact and quickly began typing before I chickened out.
Aspen
Hey. It’s Aspen. Can I stay with you tonight instead?
I blew out a loaded breath, placing my phone on my lap as I anticipated his reply. Within seconds, my phone vibrated, and I urgently picked it back up, reading over the new text message.
Foster
On my way.
Relief flooded through me, and I immediately rose, not wanting to be in here a second longer. They guys looked at me with varying looks of confusion.
Clearing my throat, I lifted my chin, hoping they wouldn’t see right through me. I’d never been one to run from my problems, but this was something I couldn’t handle. At least not right now, anyways.
“Where are the clothes that Myles brought in?”
Hunter gestured behind me to his dresser. “Last drawer.”
I could feel their eyes on me as I bent and retrieved my belongings, cradling them in my arms. Without another word, I made a beeline for the door, letting it slam shut behind me.
My heart thudded against my chest cavity angrily as I leaned against the wall nearest to the door. When I was certain that they weren’t coming after me, I allowed the first set of real tears to fall. A hiccupping sob tore from my throat and I buried my face into the bundle of fabric, hoping to quiet the sound.
God. I truly was pathetic.
Getting jealous because two of the guys who tried to murder me were fucking another girl and then boasting about it. Maybe I needed a psyche evaluation.
I didn’t understand why I was having these feelings, or what they even meant. Truthfully, I didn’t want to dwell on it either.
It felt like I’d cried for an eternity, yet the tears kept coming, refusing to stop. My cheeks were becoming raw. When was the last time I’d cried this hard? It had been a while. I was used to bottling everything up, only to explode at a later time. Maybe that’s what was happening now.
“Aspen?” Foster’s voice carried over to me, concern dripping from his words.
Immediately, I turned my head in the opposite direction, hoping he didn’t see the pain-induced tears all over my face. Swiping my hand over my sore eyes, I disposed of the evidence to the best of my abilities.
His presence loomed over me once he approached, yet I still refused to look in his direction even though I could feel the heat of his stare boring into me. He reached out, gripping my chin between his fingers before forcing my head his way. His touch was electric, which was another thing I didn’t understand.
“What happened?” he growled, his gaze darkening with fury.
My tongue jutted out, swiping along my chapped, lower lip. “N-nothing.” It was a lie and we both knew it.
“Aspen, I swear to God. If you don’t tell me who the fuck did this to you, I’m going to lose my shit.” His grip around my chin tightened, holding my head firmly in place as he stared into my—probably—bloodshot eyes.
I shook my head slightly. “It was stupid. Collin—” He released me instantly, murder shining back at me through his irises.
My heart pounded to a deadly tune as I watched him shove through the door beside me, slamming it behind him with as much strength as he could muster. The wall vibrated from the impact and the noise made me wince.
The sound of shouting bled out into the hall. Their voices were so loud and filled with anger that it was hard to focus on what was being said, especially when they started talking at the same time. This was humiliating. I just wanted to leave and forget this ever happened, now everyone was going to know what a little girl I was beneath all this rough exterior.
Glass shattering ripped me out of my head and my breath caught in my throat. Next, a loud thump followed. What the hell was happening in there?
As much as I wanted to know, there was no way in hell that I was stepping back into that room. My emotions were all over the place and I hated it. Running my hands through my long, purple strands, I leaned against the wall. Why did these guys affect me the way they did? These feelings were foreign and unwelcomed.
Collin was a master manipulator. He had a way about him that made him seem so trusting and genuine. At least the others never pretended to give a shit about me only to tear my heart to pieces the following day once they’d gained an ounce of my trust.
The door opened again, sending my heart into my throat. Foster stormed out, his hair disheveled and a small cut on his lower lip that was still dripping blood from how fresh the wound was. He didn’t bother closing the door, instead opting for the crook of my elbow. His grip was unnecessarily tight as he pulled me along, causing me to stumble.
His movements were erratic and quick, his gaze pinned on the elevator at the end of the hallway. Why was he so angry?
I’d never seen Foster’s anger directed at anyone but me before. It was different…
He didn’t release me until we were secured inside the elevator, headed for his floor. A small breath of relief escaped my lungs. Being away from them gave me more time to process and think, rather than having my emotions consume me whole. Once the urge to bawl my eyes out faded, I looked at the tall guy standing beside me. His arms were folded over his torso, the veins in his biceps poking out beneath his shirt sleeve.
“What happened to your lip?” I asked lightly, afraid that he’d turn that anger toward me if he didn’t like what came out of my mouth.
His eyes closed for a moment, and he sucked in what I assumed was a calming breath before he finally glanced in my direction. “Nothing you need to worry about.” His gaze searched mine for a moment longer, before he spoke again. “Are you okay?”
The question caught me off guard. I was used to him hating me. Not asking about my wellbeing. What had changed since the Halloween party? The wheels turned inside my head as I tried to figure that out, but as expected, I came up blank.
“Yeah. I think I’m just being hormonal.” It was a lie. I’m pretty sure we both knew that. When his eyes narrowed, I released a heavy sigh. “I can’t be around them anymore. At least not those two.”
It felt weird opening up to my enemy. He had the power to use everything I said against me. Somehow, deep in my bones, I knew he wouldn’t do that. At least not while I was vulnerable.
To my surprise, he nodded. Instead of fighting me on it, or making the decision for me, he accepted it. For some reason, that made me respect him a little bit more.
When we reached his floor, I followed alongside him until we were standing outside his door. He pushed it open, gesturing for me to go in first. Once inside, I placed my clothes on his chair and proceeded to stand in the middle of his bedroom awkwardly.
“When are you enrolling in classes again?” he asked me, closing the door behind him.
“Tomorrow.”
Maybe school could give me the distraction I needed. Distance definitely would. Speaking of which…
I strolled over to Foster’s massive bed and settled in on the side he didn’t occupy when he slept. Kicking off my shoes, I nestled into the headboard, the soft cushion providing my back with a comfort I was growing to enjoy.
When the owner of this bed made no move to join me, I patted the empty spot by my side. Hesitation wove its way into his features as if he thought being near me wasn’t a smart idea. If that was the case, why the hell did he accept my plea and bring me here? He could have left me there to fend for myself. I wasn’t in danger.
“I just want to talk.” I breathed out, my nerves spiking from the weight of the conversation looming overhead.
He was acting weird as shit.
We’ve had two intimate encounters. He defended me against Collin and had even made sure I’d been okay. Today, he defended me against Collin again. Now, he was acting like I’d burn him if he got too close.
With reluctance, he moved to join me on the bed, kicking his shoes off in the process. Once he was settled, he turned his ice-blue eyes on me, curiosity swirling within them. I was used to him glaring at me, looking at me like he wanted to murder me. I was used to seeing hatred in his orbs, nothing else. He watched me expectantly, waiting for me to speak.
Initially, I knew exactly what I wanted to say. But it was a little more difficult to gather my thoughts with him sitting this close to me—something I hadn’t considered would be an obstacle before now. Blowing out a breath, I did my best to gather my racing thoughts.
“I talked to Myles when he took me to the club earlier,” I began, preparing a similar speech to the one I’d given only an hour before. “I don’t want to be tethered to you guys anymore. I want to be in control of my time and how I spend it.”
Silence stretched between us as he processed that. His expression was unreadable as usual, causing my heart rate to increase. They had so much control over me and here I was, giving Foster that control once again. All he had to do was say no and I’d probably relent. Fighting them tooth and nail never got me anywhere. I was so tired of fighting.
“What did Myles say?”
“That it was up to you guys.”
He nodded thoughtfully. Hope blossomed within my chest at the prospect of being able to live my life again without the threat of these assholes hanging over me. I’d stay out of their way this time, focus on school, and find my sister. Fuck revenge if it gave me my life back.
“This is what you truly want?” he asked, searching my face for any sign of a lie.
I reeled back, furrowing my eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t I?” It was exactly what I wanted since they put a target on my back. Who wanted to be tortured and controlled constantly?
He didn’t bother to elaborate, shrugging instead. “Fine. Once you enroll, you’ll be free to do whatever you want,” he agreed.
As much as I wanted to be thrilled, it was difficult. Especially upon remembering my conversation with Myles earlier. He made it perfectly clear that it had to be agreed upon by all of them. Or at least…the majority.
How had it come to this?
I was slowly morphing into someone I didn’t even recognize. Finding excitement in things that should have horrified me. Letting them control me when that’s the one thing I’d always loathed. The things they made me feel, whether that was emotionally or sexually. It was a relief to know that there was a potential end to all of this in sight. I’d get over this weird connection. I just wanted to move on.
“What about Hunter and Collin?” I hedged, shifting uncomfortably as their names left a bitter taste in my mouth.
He scoffed, glancing away. Almost like he couldn’t stand the sound of their names either. My gaze drifted to his mouth, eyeing the cut on his lip from his recent brawl. It made him look even more attractive.
“They lost the right to vote,” he confirmed, meeting my gaze again.
Excitement burrowed through me, and I couldn’t fight the smile from splitting my face. I’d be able to see Gia again and eat with her like old times. I’d get to sleep in a bed that didn’t have an asshole occupying the spot next to me. These were things that most people didn’t have to worry about, and it made me feel a little silly.
“So…after tomorrow, you’ll leave me alone?” I asked hopefully.
“It goes both ways, but yes.”
I wasn’t stupid enough to put myself back in this situation. I’d definitely be leaving them alone. I needed to get back to work, to fill Gia in on everything, assuming Rocky hadn’t spilled everything to Jax by now. I knew he told him some things. Just wasn’t sure how much.