Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Aspen
It was that time again. Time for another pointless party. Seeing as how the last one didn’t go so well, to say I was nervous would be a massive understatement. Every year, right around this time, it was hard for me. Christmas was about being close with your friends and family, and while I didn’t necessarily believe in what was being celebrated, I’d enjoyed the holiday as a kid—until…I didn’t. Avery was a sucker for Christmas when we were little. She enjoyed all the traditions of the holiday. Presents, singing around the tree, decorating the tree, watching the movies, drinking hot chocolate, and waking up early.
I was more of a Fall person. For me, I enjoyed haunted hay-rides, haunted houses, pumpkin carving, decorating with spooky things, horror movies, pumpkin picking, the festivals, everything . Avery hated most of those things. She hated being scared, but it created a nice balance between the two of us.
A sad smile tugged at my lips as I peered into the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, taunting me as if to say: Look at who you’ve become.
Now I was alone. Someone who got paid for sex and danced for hungry men all in the sake of feeling independent. I still tried to convince myself that it was for her, that my reasons were justifiable when they really weren’t.
“Do you have anyone coming to see you tonight?” Gia asked from beside me, painting a shade of dark red on her lips.
I sighed and shook my head. “No. Do you?”
“My parents come every year.” She smiled sympathetically. “I think it’s their way of justifying throwing me in here after what happened.”
A grimace captured my features. That was right. She’d been through hell, forced into the trade as a child and the horrors of what she endured changed her. I still didn’t think it warranted them throwing her in this place, though. Parents sucked.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked.
We were holed up in the bathroom alongside a few other girls. I’d curled my hair down my back and was dressed in a thin, sparkly red dress that glittered and reached the top of my thighs. My backpack rested by my feet, containing my dance wear that I’d be wearing tonight at the club. The plan was to hang out at the party until it was time for me to leave. My leather jacket and combat boots completed the look, giving me that edgy look I’d grown to love over the last couple of years.
Reluctantly, I nodded. The last party I subjected myself to, my friend died. While things seemed different now, it didn’t stop me from worrying that those assholes might have something else up their sleeve.
I grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder and we made our way out of the bathroom and into the hallway.
Gia was wearing a black leather skirt, paired with a matching halter top and a leather jacket of her own. As usual, her dark hair was separated into two long braids that rested over her chest.
I’d used up some of the money in my savings to splurge on a gift for her, something I hope she liked. I even got stupid Rocky, Collin, and Monroe something.
When we made it to the gymnasium, the place was decorated into a winter wonderland. Fake snow blew from four large fans that were positioned near the ceiling. The bleachers had been removed and a large rug covered the floor. Two policemen stood near the entrance, giving us curt nods as we walked past them.
Gia and I exchanged surprised looks. They were probably here because of the bodies being located and Raven’s disappearance.
A bunch of family members stood with their kids, laughing and greeting them with hugs and praise.
Tables littered the back area of the gym with white cloth, snacks and drinks residing on them. A Christmas tree took up the left side of the room with a variety of gifts overflowing around it.
“Aspen,” a familiar voice called out.
My movements paused and I turned to face Rebecca. Her brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail and she smiled warmly at me. Gia gave my arm a reassuring squeeze.
“I see my mom and dad over there.” She pointed across the room to a couple with matching complexions similar to hers. Her gaze bounced back to my social worker with a hint of confusion. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
I swallowed thickly and nodded.
I waited for Gia to walk away before turning back to Rebecca. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Figured it would be nice for you to have someone here. I brought you something.” She reached into her purse and retrieved what appeared to be a photo. “Before I give this to you, I need you to promise that this stays between us. This could get me fired—not only that, but I could lose my license completely.”
My heart thumped wildly within my chest. I didn’t know how a simple picture could ruin her life, but the fact she was giving me something so important that it had that power, made me nervous.
“I promise,” I assured her, not bothering to hide the confusion from my face.
Blowing out a shaky breath, she extended her arm, offering me the photo. I took it without hesitation, glancing down at the image.
A girl with blue eyes and light brown hair stared back at me, a genuine smile curling the corners of her mouth. Her olive complexion was so different from my pale one, but I knew instantly who this was.
Avery .
Flipping the photo over, I realized an address was scribbled on the back in neat handwriting—Rebecca’s handwriting.
“I-Is this what I think it is?” I asked, tears beginning to blur my vision.
“That’s where you can find your sister,” she confirmed.
I carefully put the photo in my bag and turned to face her again. “Thank you. You don’t realize how much this meant to me.”
“I might have an idea.” Sympathy flashed within her gaze, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. Her eyes widened as she stared at something behind me, looking like she’d seen a ghost.
Confusion swept over me, and I turned, coming face to face with Myles. He shot her a sinister smile, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me close to him possessively. I released a huff of annoyance and elbowed him in the ribs, but he only tightened his grip.
“Long time, no see, Becca.” He smirked. “I see you’re still keeping tabs on my girl.”
“I am not your girl,” I retorted with an eye roll.
Rebecca glanced between the two of us with uncertainty. She was there when Connie called her to come get me. I wasn’t sure what all was said about the situation, but by the look on her face, it was probably the truth.
“Are you okay?” She asked sincerely, staring me directly in the eye.
Before I could even think of working up an answer, Myles beat me to it. “She’s more thank okay.” He grinned maliciously, dropping his hand to the hem of my short dress. His fingers brushed against my bare thigh, sending sparks flooding through me. “Isn’t that right, Dove ?” His hand inched up beneath my dress and heat warmed my face.
“Quit being a dick,” I hissed, shoving his hand away from me.
He released a dark chuckle, but dropped his hand, settling for holding me by his side instead. Embarrassment filtered through my body. He was such an asshole.
“Are you planning on staying?” I asked, hoping she wasn’t. I wasn’t sure if I could explain away having to leave campus when we were supposed to be locked inside the gate.
She shook her head. “I only came to see you for a moment and drop off your gift.” Her lips drew into a tight smile, and she glanced over at Myles again, clearly sensing the danger that lurked beneath his skin. “Be careful,” she warned, shooting a pointed look in my direction. Before I could respond, she was already walking away, making her way across the room and slipping out of the two double doors.
My shoulders sagged with relief, and I spun to face him, glaring. “You do realize that she has the power to pull me out of here, right?” I snapped.
His hands moved to grip my hips, and he tugged me into his body. His heat radiated off him in waves, giving me a false sense of security. There was nothing secure about Myles Patterson. He was a wolf, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.
He scoffed in response. “I’d kill her before that ever happened.”
A chill swept down my spine. I wanted to believe he wasn’t serious, but I knew him better than that. “No you won’t. Because if you even think about hurting her, I’ll return the favor.”
His eyes lit up with excitement and he tugged me flush against him, our chests pressed against one another. The steady beat of his heart echoed through his body, and I hated to admit it, but it was soothing.
“Who’s to say I’m not thinking about it right now?” he challenged, dropping his tone. “Picturing her blood running through my fingers, reveling in the warm feel of it as it clings to my skin. Knowing that I killed someone who threatened to take you from me.”
My breath hitched, something foreign stirring deep inside of me. Something I had no business feeling. Why did those words turn me on? He was talking about killing someone for my benefit, and I didn’t entirely hate it.
As if sensing this, he smirked down at me again. “We’re more alike than you think, Aspen Palmer. I can sense it. Your darkness calls to mine. Open yourself up to it; stop hiding from who you truly are.”
He leaned forward, brushing his lips against the top of my head before pulling away completely. Without another word, he made his way across the room to his family. His sister was taller than I remembered. Hell, so was Vincent. They smiled widely at their older brother, running up to him and hugging him tightly.
A smile graced my lips. Despite all he’s done, they loved him unconditionally. I yearned to have a love like that. It was what family was supposed to be like.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I made my way over to the tree and discarded my bag from around my shoulders. I carefully sat Gia’s, Monroe’s, and Rocky’s gift beneath the tree and turned, hoping to see Collin somewhere so that I could hand deliver his.
When we talked the other day, he’d given me a lot of reassurance. While I was still skeptical when it came to trusting him, I was willing to try my hardest to give him a genuine chance to prove himself. Everyone deserved at least that .
Spotting him across the room, he stood side by side with Foster. Their mouths moved interchangeably as they talked. That worked well for me, because I needed to speak with Foster, too.
I headed in their direction after returning my bag to my shoulder. They both looked in my direction, their conversation halting on my account.
Cradling the small, carefully wrapped package in my hand, I offered it to Collin. He glanced at me in surprise, taking the gift and staring down at it wearily.
“This isn’t a bomb or anything like that, right?” he queried suspiciously.
I rolled my eyes. “Ha-ha. Just open it.”
He obeyed and started unwrapping the gift. When he managed to get all of the paper off, a look of confusion crossed his features. A small book rested in his hand resembling a photo album, but it wasn’t that at all. Not even close.
Opening it, his eyebrows shot into his hairline and an arrogant smirk started tugging at his lips.
Within it, were a series of coupons I made. Some were very, very sexy. While others resulted in me having to do his homework or make him food in any choice of clothing he desired. He was only allowed to use one coupon a week.
“If you wanted to fuck me, all you had to do was ask.” He winked.
“Merry Christmas, asshole.”
I turned to Foster. “Are you busy right now?”
“Do I look busy?” he countered.
I rolled my eyes. For all I knew, someone could be on their way to come see him. I didn’t want to ask if that was the case, but Myles was with his family and Monroe was busy chaperoning. I didn’t even know where the hell Rocky or Hunter were.
“Can you give me a ride to the club?” I asked at last. “I have to work tonight.”
He was silent for a moment, his eyes giving nothing away as usual. Finally, he drew in a breath. “And if I don’t?” he arched an eyebrow.
“Then, I’ll walk.” I shrugged. “But I’m getting there somehow.”
He rolled his eyes. “I have to go there anyways. Do you have everything you need?”
Collin perked up. “Care if I tag along? This place is a fucking bust.” He glanced around the room, sweeping across the other students with their family members.
My heart sank. I remember the story he told me about his home situation. This must have been hard for him, too.
“Sure.” He shrugged. “Aspen. I’m going to ask you one more time before I leave without your ass. Do you have everything you need?”
“Yep.”
Visions of him between my legs assaulted my memory, making my heart rate pick up. The dirty, degrading things he said had been my undoing as he pounded into me ruthlessly. Swallowing, I willed those thoughts away, clenching my thighs together unintentionally.
Foster, being the observant asshole that he was just smirked at my expense, a hunger entering his blue eyes as if the same thoughts invaded his mind, too.
I blew out a breath. “Let’s go.”
Collin was the first to move, starting for the exit on the other side of the room, leaving us to trail behind him.
The drive to the club was relatively quiet. Collin and Foster talked amongst one another, leaving me with my thoughts for the most part. I couldn’t shake Talissa’s earlier warning, when she told me that Collin was bad news. How would she feel if I showed up to work with him in tow? It wasn’t really any of her business. While I appreciated her looking out for me, it wasn’t her place. She didn’t even know them, not really.
Foster parked near the front of the building. I grabbed my bag from the floorboard and stepped out of the vehicle. The guys followed, Collin’s arm snaking around my shoulders. A sigh of content escaped me, loving the way he felt against me. Being near him brought me a comfort, despite the things he did.
We made our way inside, the assistant not even bothering to card the guys. As we worked our way past the dance floor, a sense of unease trickled through me and settled in the pit of my stomach. Something felt off.
When we neared Talissa’s door, I shook Collin of me. Just as I started to walk over to the clock-in station, Foster grabbed my wrist, jerking me back toward him.
I stared up at him in confusion. “I’m not going in there,” I protested. “I have to clock in.”
“No need. You’re quitting tonight.”
My lips parted in shock, annoyance bubbling up inside me. But just as I opened my mouth to rebuke that little statement of his, he was already shoving through her office door, pulling me with him.
Carlos and one of her other guards were positioned near the door, which I found strange. She usually didn’t call them in here unless there was a threat, or if she needed their assistance. With one sweeping glance around the room, it didn’t seem like there was any assistance to be needed.
Talissa stood from her seat, dressed in a pantsuit with a dark blazer to match. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me in between the two guys, but she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she moved across the room, stopping once she reached us.
“Are we doing the deal, or what?” Foster questioned dryly, tightening his grip around my wrist for some reason.
She reluctantly nodded. “Yes, but not here.” Turning to me, she said, “I assume you’re a part of their little group now?”
I didn’t miss the judgement in her tone. “I just needed a ride.”
She hummed in response. “Very well. The inspector is here today, so we’ll have to do it somewhere else. Follow me.” She walked around us, stepping out of her office.
Foster and Collin exchanged skeptical looks, but neither of them said a word. Apparently, they usually did the deals within her office. The two guards walked behind us, making the hairs on the nape of my neck rise.
Near the back exit of the club was a metal door I’d seen on numerous occasions, but never thought anything of it. When we reached it, Talissa stopped and turned to face us.
“It’s a small room, so only two of you may enter. Choose wisely.”
I swallowed thickly, my nerves getting the better of me. Chalking it down to being a pussy, I willed those feelings away the best I could.
“I can wait out here,” Collin offered. “This is Aspen’s work, and you’re the one who handles the deals.”
Foster nodded reluctantly.
“Is that your final decision?” Talissa questioned, looking between the three of us like she expected us to change our mind.
“It is,” Foster agreed.
“Micah, wait out here,” she told the other guard. “Make sure one of the inspectors doesn’t try to get in. Call me if you have any problems.”
The guard grunted in response.
Finally, Talissa turned back to the door and typed in a code. I didn’t know how an inspector would be able to get in this room considering it was secured, but what the hell did I know? Maybe they had the code, too.
The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, motioning for us to follow. Foster took the lead, leaving me to trail behind him.
The door clicked locked behind us, dim lighting casting a glow around the room. Confusion deepened my unease when I glanced around, noting that it was even larger than her office. Foster seemed to notice this too, because his head whipped around, his eyebrows drawn together.
The woman in charge made her way to a large metal table that was positioned in the center of the room, a suitcase resting on top of it.
“I tried to be nice,” she tsked, the energy around us seeming to change into something ominous. “I bought you things, let you work here, cared for you in the only way I knew how, and even warned you to stay away from him. But you just don’t listen.”
Realization dawned on me, rattling me to my core. She warned me to stay away from Collin. She didn’t bring us in here to do a deal.
Glancing behind my shoulder, I met Carlos’s gaze. He stood beside the door, blocking the only exit we had. My hand curled around Foster’s arm for support, panic barreling through my body.
When Talissa pulled her hand from the suitcase, there was a gun resting in her palm. She flicked the safety off and pointed it right at me.
My breathing thinned and my heart skyrocketed to dangerous levels. I was frozen in place, too scared to move as I stared my upcoming death right in the face.
Foster cursed, shoving me behind his back to hide me from the potential bullet that might or might not have been about to disengage.
“What the fuck, Talissa?” he growled, his breathing uneven as he stood in the way of the gun now.
My hands curled into the back of his shirt, fisting it like it was supposed to somehow save us both. Why did everyone want to fucking kill me? I didn’t care how dramatic that was, that’s what it felt like.
Instead of responding to him, she glanced behind us at Carlos. That was all it took to get the big bastard moving to obey her silent order. This was obviously pre-planned. Had Foster not had a deal today, would she have still tried to find a way to get me in here? Did she suspect that Collin would choose to lurk outside, or did she not care either way as long as it put me at her mercy somehow?
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind, and I was ripped away from Foster without a chance to even think about fighting back. Carlos wound my arms behind me, holding me in place and making me vulnerable again.
“Let her go,” Foster growled.
This was an interesting change in events. The guy who tried to murder me was now trying to protect me.
Talissa smirked devilishly. “I don’t think I will.” She moved her arm, pointing the gun in my direction once more.
I ducked my head, doing my best to shield myself from it. If she did shoot, it couldn’t be any worse than drowning, could it?
“This could have gone in a completely different direction. All you had to do was listen .” She shook her head. “I don’t want to kill you, Aspen, But I will if that’s what it takes. I?—”
Her sentence stopped short, and I peeked through the gap in my hair, trying to figure out why she stopped all of a sudden. Horror spiraled through me as I watched Foster run toward her, and a desperate plea got lodged in my throat.
She turned the weapon on him and pulled the trigger.
My knees buckled and a scream tore from my lips as the loud bang reverberated through the room. Foster buckled to the ground, hitting it hard, and after a few seconds of heavy breathing, his body went still.
Tears trickled down my face and I started thrashing against Carlos violently. I needed to get to him—to see if he was okay. He had to be. He wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be. My efforts to get away were pointless. Carlos was much bigger and stronger than I was.
“You stupid fucking cunt!” I roared, rage fueling me in ways it never had before.
Talissa smirked and slowly started moving toward me. “Guess it’s a good thing that the one you care about is waiting outside, then, huh?”
“Go to hell.”
She tsked, bringing the gun to my temple. “Now is that any way to speak to your mother?”
My head spun as her words bounced around my mind. But any thought I may have had went blank as she knocked the butt of the gun against my temple causing pain to splinter through my skull and everything went black.
KEEP READING FOR A SNEAK PEAK AT BOOK 3: VICIOUS DESIRES