Fifteen
Bianca
Y ou look tired.” Aubrey peeked at me from the corner of her eye and bit her bottom lip.
“I am.”
“You’re never around it seems. Is Hail really that fun to hang out with?” she ventured.
I could tell she was trying to be delicate. I knew what she meant though. Hail was toxic as hell. It took a certain kind of person to tolerate him. I groaned inwardly at the thought of how I was going to get out of this. My time was almost up. I had to give Dominic my answer soon.
“Hail is an asshole.”
She let out a laugh. “Oh, thank God you think so. I was worried you were really hung up on him and would defend him. I mean, you are his girl and all.”
I snorted. “I’m no one’s girl. As soon as I can break free of this mess, you can bet your ass I will.”
We stopped outside our rooms. It was a Friday night.
Dominic needed my answer by midnight tomorrow.
The text I’d gotten from an unknown number said I had to see him in his dorm room, regardless of my choice.
I had a feeling once I got to his room—choice be damned—I probably wouldn’t be leaving it without some sort of scars whether they were emotional or physical because I’d seriously beat his ass if this was a setup.
“Is it bad?” She frowned at me, her gaze raking over my face.
I licked my lips, contemplating my answer. “Hail and his goons are piranhas, and I’m a girl who can’t swim.”
“Does he hurt you? He dated Amberly Westcott sophomore year. She said he hurt her.”
I swallowed thickly and looked down. “He’s not a nice guy, Aubrey. I-I’m scared if I don’t get away, he’ll end up killing me.”
“Oh, Bianca.” She sighed, pulling me in for a hug. “I’m here for you, OK? Anything you need, even if it’s just someone to talk to or a place to hide out. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, giving her a slight squeeze.
“I’ve hated Hail since the day I met him. He grabbed my ass and called me a slut.”
“Sounds like him.”
“He needs to be taken down.”
I nodded, thinking about my moment under the bleachers with the kings.
I really didn’t want to have to make a deal with them, but I really didn’t want to be under the lords’ thumbs either.
I couldn’t shake the way my body felt when I thought of Dominic.
Hell, how it felt when I thought of any of them, even the asshole Levin.
I pushed away the embarrassing thoughts.
“What happened to Amberly?” I asked, going to my door.
“She died.”
“What?” I stared at Aubrey, my heart thudding fast.
“Yeah. Story goes she went to a party with Hail during summer break between sophomore and junior year. There was an accident. A fire. They said it was faulty electrical wiring, but she was the only one who died. Hail and the lords were there.”
“It wasn’t investigated?”
Aubrey shook her head. “Not past that. The Ivanovs have their hands in lots of pots, Bianca. Just be careful.” She glanced down the hall and shrank against her door. “He’s coming.”
I peered over my shoulder to see Hail sauntering toward us.
Shit. I looked at my phone, frowning. I wasn’t late. He’d come to find me anyway.
“Ladies,” he greeted us, kissing me quickly. “What’s the word?”
“Nothing. We’re talking about our trig assignment.”
“I see.” Hail leveled his gaze on Aubrey. “I heard Larson didn’t assign homework tonight. Fallon is in your class.”
Aubrey’s face reddened.
“Maybe Fallon wasn’t listening,” I snapped, angry he was trying to intimidate my only friend.
Dark promises laced through the brittle smile he gave me. “Then I suppose I should fact check, huh?”
“Probably wouldn’t hurt. Wouldn’t want Fallon to miss an assignment.” I peeked at Aubrey who visibly trembled. “Aubrey, I’ll see you later, OK? We get an open weekend, right?”
She nodded wordlessly.
“We can check out that boutique you were talking about off campus. I could use some new heels. The ones I have kill my feet.”
“Sounds good.” She offered me a tight smile.
I knew she wanted to be free of Hail’s intimidating presence, so I waved her off. She gave me a look of relief tinged with worry before darting into her room.
“We need to talk. Now.” Hail grabbed my bag and tossed it into my room before closing my door and pulling me down the hall.
“Hail, what the hell—”
“Bianca, keep your mouth closed. I’m so pissed right now.”
My heart raced. Did he know I’d met with the kings? Had those assholes betrayed me already?
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
He shook his head as we got into the elevator.
“Come here,” he murmured, tugging me to him.
I flinched as he breathed me in, his hands on my waist.
“I need you right now.”
I tensed, unsure of what the hell was going on with him. I figured he’d have me by my throat, yelling obscenities at me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked again.
He answered by kissing me. “I want you.”
“You promised we could wait.”
“I know. What do you need from me?” He kissed along my neck.
The elevator dinged, signaling we’d made it to the lobby. He ushered me out, his arm around my waist.
I had to speed walk to keep up with him as he led me down the path to his dorm. Luckily, he was only one building over. When we reached his floor, Dominic and Levin were standing in the hall.
“In a hurry?” Dominic called out as we passed.
“What do you think?” Hail answered, dragging me along.
I locked eyes with Dominic as I peeked over my shoulder. He took a step toward me, but Levin reached out and stopped him.
I knew I was in trouble. Whenever I was with Hail it was trouble. I only hoped he didn’t have his thugs waiting for me in his room.
“Hail,” I called out.
We stopped just outside his door.
“Make it fast,” he grunted, staring down at me.
“Can we get something to eat? I’m hungry.” Anything to stall. “Can you take me out? I know we can’t leave campus until the weekend, but maybe something from the kitchens at dinner? We could eat it on the lawn—”
“Aw, you’re cute when you’re nervous.” He jerked me against him.
“Please, Hail?” I had to stop us from going into his room. “If we’re going to be married, you’ll need to do things like this to make me happy.” I had no clue what I was saying to him. All I knew was I needed to stall whatever he wanted.
“Bianca, I had a very long, very bad day. What I need from you is for you to open your pretty, little mouth and let me fill it. That’s it.” He brushed his lips against my temple.
I chanced a glance to see Dominic and Levin still down the hall. Outwardly, they didn’t seem like they were paying attention, but I knew they had to be.
“Tate loved watching you that day.” Hail kissed along my jaw. “You did so good.”
“You hurt me,” I whispered.
“You made me,” he returned. “Be a good girl for me, Bianca, and that won’t happen. Be a bad girl and make my day.”
I shivered against him, desperate to escape.
Dominic’s words from the other day tumbled through my mind.
Give it to him and they’d protect me. It was a stupid idea.
Completely crazy. I didn’t even know if I could trust them.
What if I agreed, did it, and then they told Hail?
I’d die for sure. I’d never get my mom free, and I’d never find my dad.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous. These perfect tits.
These legs.” One hand cupped my breast while the other moved beneath my skirt.
“Do you have any idea the shit people are saying about you? I’m a fucking god here because of your hot, little box.
No one can compete with you. With us. Just let go for me, so I can have everything.
” He sucked the delicate skin against my neck.
I locked eyes with Dominic. Anger crossed his features.
Dominic might get me killed. I couldn’t. . . It was a bad idea. I’d been off my rocker to even approach the kings. I was running out of time though.
“Just give me time, Hail. I promise it’ll be worth it. I want it to be special. It’s my first time.”
I was full of shit. It wouldn’t be worth anything. All I knew was I didn’t want any part of Mikhail Ivanov. But I could play the part if it kept my panties on. I ran my fingers through his hair and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Please?”
“Fuck,” he growled against my ear. “Fine. But you’d better be worth the fucking wait. Let’s get you something to eat.” He pulled away.
I let out a breath of relief as he took my hand and led me back down the hall.
“Couldn’t close the deal?” Dominic called out in a hard voice.
Hail chuckled softly as we slowed near Dominic and Levin. “Jealousy looks better on bitches, but then again. . .”
Dominic took a dangerous step forward. “Your life isn’t as good as you think it is.”
“Well, I’d say I’m doing pretty damn well for myself, De Santis. By the way, where’s your girl? Or you gonna keep to sucking off Seeley?”
It wasn’t Dominic who came forward this time. It was Levin. He shoved Hail so hard he dropped my hand and stumbled backward.
“Your bitches aren’t here to protect you now, Ivanov,” Levin snarled.
I knew this would end badly, and I’d catch the shit for it. The last thing I needed was for an evening with a pissed off Hail. So I did the only thing I could as Levin charged at Hail.
I dove between them.
Levin’s body crashed against mine. He caught me before I fell backward, his large hands firmly around my waist as Hail smashed into the wall behind us. Levin’s warm breath blew across my face as I stared up at him wordlessly. Something flashed in his eyes as he returned my gaze.
“No,” I whispered. I let my voice drop further so only he could hear me.
His hands tightened on my waist.
“I’ll pay for it later.”
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Hail shouted, moving forward and shoving Levin away from me.
Levin didn’t fight back even though I could see the fury dancing in his eyes. Dominic grabbed his arm and tugged him back.
“Watch your back, Ivanov.” Dominic’s eyes glinted with darkness, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Watch yours, De Santis.”
Dominic and Levin watched us go as Hail dragged me down the hall. I cast a quick peek over my shoulder to find both guys eyeing me like hungry wolves.
Something about it should’ve frightened me. Instead, it lit a fire in my belly I knew only they could quench.
But at what cost?