Chapter 2 – Betsy
CHAPTER TWO
BETSY
I ride into the Sanctuary later that morning. After not being able to get back to sleep after that nightmare, I waited until the house went quiet before I got on my bike and sped off, wanting to avoid them.
As I walk inside, I head straight for my room, unlock it and walk inside, thankful for not seeing anyone.
I said I wasn’t going to be in today, and if they spot me, I know Mor and Eden will be full of questions.
Once inside, I sweep the empty takeaway cartons off the pull-out couch and flop down face first. I yawn and close my eyes, feeling my body finally relax.
My peace doesn’t last long as the door to my room swings open.
“Leave me alone,” I groan.
“I thought you weren’t coming in today?” Eden asks as she walks straight in.
“You ever heard of knocking?” I mutter with my eyes still closed.
“Yes, but if I had knocked, you wouldn’t have let me in,” she answers.
“Exactly, so leave me alone. I want to sleep,” I moan.
Eden takes a seat next to my feet. “Why couldn’t you sleep last night? Are you having those night terrors again? Do you want me to contact the therapist and make you an appointment?” Eden rushes out, her voice laced with concern.
“No, it was nothing like that,” I assure her.
“What was it?” Eden presses.
I let out a long huff, opening my mouth to tell her, but before the words can leave my mouth, Morrigan walks in dressed in one of Nyx’s T-shirts.
“Eden, have you seen the peach-scented lube?” She stops in her tracks as she spots me. “Oh, why are you here? I thought you wanted the day off?” she asks in confusion.
“Peach lube?” I counter, raising my brow.
Mor grins. “Peach for my peach.” She winks while doing a little twerk.
I smother my face with the pillow. “Why did I even ask?” I wail. I feel Mor sit next to my head, and it instantly makes me jerk upright. “Jesus, Mor. I don’t want your bare ass next to my head,” I complain.
“It’s clean, so calm the fuck down.” She waves me off.
“Stop diverting the conversation and tell us why you are here,” Eden demands.
“I wasn’t diverting the conversation. Mor just walked in here asking for peach lube,” I argue. Eden doesn’t respond. She just sits there staring at me, arching her perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
I roll my eyes before rubbing them. “Fine. The frat house next to me was partying all night, and when I went to ask them to keep it down, they were mean to me, and I fell in their pool,” I state.
“You can’t swim,” Mor states on a growl.
“I am well aware.” I sigh.
“They got you out though, so who helped you?” Eden asks.
“No, I’m still there now,” I answer sarcastically. Eden glares at me, not appreciating my tone. “They all pointed and laughed, except one, Archer. He jumped in and essentially rescued me.” I shrug.
Mor stands up abruptly. “I will be ready to ride in ten minutes,” she states. Eden nods as she also gets to her feet.
“No, seriously, guys,” I try to protest, but it’s too late. They have already stormed out of the room. “Ugghh,” I groan and flop back down. I just want to sleep.
“This is a bad idea.” I yawn as I stand on the porch of my neighbours, the asshole frat boys. Fart boys, more like. I snort a laugh, and Eden and Mor turn their gaze on me. “Inside joke.” I smirk, tapping the side of my temple.
“I’m surprised Nyx didn’t join us,” Eden points out.
Mor gives her a look. “This is club business. I will only include him when it is necessary,” she answers firmly.
Eden’s lips twitch in a smile. “I bet he took that well.”
“He didn’t at first, but I coaxed him around.” Mor winks.
“Jesus, I don’t want to know,” I protest.
Mor chuckles, as does Eden. That’s when the door is yanked open, and a sleepy-looking Brady is standing on the other side looking grumpy as shit.
His eyes land on Mor, then Eden, then me.
He blinks a few times before straightening, and as he runs his hands through his unruly bedhead, he clears his throat.
“And what have I done to deserve a visit by you beautiful angels?” he asks with an arrogant grin on his face.
I roll my eyes. It’s always the same with men around Mor and Eden. They literally drool over them. I push my glasses up my nose and fold my arms across my chest, waiting for Eden and Mor to shut them down like they normally do. It’s amusing to watch.
Eden takes a step forward, so close her body is practically pressed against his. His eyes alight with delight and arousal as he drinks her in. “You feel that?” she whispers seductively.
“Oh, baby. I feel that,” he breathes.
“Good, that is my taser pressed against your junk,” she warns, flicking it on. The sound of it fires up. “If I press the trigger now, it fires up to 50,000 volts. Just imagine what that will do to your junk,” she says with a saccharine smile.
Brady’s face pales, and he anxiously swallows. “Archer, Brody!” he yells, his voice breaking and taking on a hint of full-on panic. When they don’t respond right away, he tries again. “Archer! Brody! I need you now!” he screeches.
A giggle escapes me, and Mor gives me an amused glance. “Your friends don’t appear to be coming. Let’s step inside, shall we?” Eden gestures sweetly, pushing forward while still keeping the taser pressed against his dick.
We walk into the house, and while Eden keeps Brady pinned against the wall with the taser, Mor looks around.
“Now, what would get their attention?” she muses.
That’s when her eyes fall on the ridiculously large TV mounted on the wall.
She walks slowly over to it and picks up a baseball bat that’s resting against the wall. “No! Please no!” Brady begs.
Mor pauses, looks at me and holds out the bat. I walk over and take it from her. “How many hours of sleep have they taken from you? Let that anger out,” Mor says with a grin.
I smile back and take a swing, and just as the bat is about to connect with the TV, a voice bellows from behind me.
“Stop!” I pause and whirl around to see Archer storming into the room in nothing but a pair of low hung grey sweats.
His muscular tattooed body is on full display, and his green eyes glare at me through his dark lashes as he strides across the room towards me.
I brace myself, holding the bat ready to fight him.
His eyes sweep over me, taking notice of my change in stance, and he stops as if remembering what I am capable of.
He doesn’t say anything as he stands there glaring at me.
“Archer, what the fuck? Help!” Brady whimpers like a pathetic little puppy.
Archer turns and looks at Brady, Eden, and Mor before looking back to me. “You put your friends up to this?” he asks.
I open my mouth to answer, but Mor moves to my side. “She didn’t put us up to anything. When someone tries to drown our sister, it kind of makes us upset,” Mor sneers.
Archer’s eyes flicker to Mor, looking her up and down. I sigh. There goes another. Seriously, men are pathetic. “Are you some kind of feminist rights group?” Archer asks, looking back to me.
“Dude, don’t piss off the bitches. I have a fucking taser pressed to my dick,” Brady pleads.
Archer’s gaze flickers between each of us as Brody shuffles into the room, yawning while scratching his bedhead. “What’s all the noise? I was trying to sleep.” He yawns again as he looks around the room. “Shit, you hired strippers?” he asked.
“We are not strippers!” I snap.
Brody’s eyes land on mine. “Oh yeah, I know you aren’t.”
Mor storms across the room to Brody and takes him out.
He lands on his back with a thud, and she quickly presses her heeled boot over his crotch.
Brody’s eyes go wide. “I suggest you stop talking now, or I’m going to start leaning all my weight on this leg,” she threatens, applying just enough pressure that it starts to hurt.
“Ow, fuck. Okay, easy!” Brody yells.
I feel Archer’s gaze on me, and as I look at him, I can feel myself shift under his scrutinising stare. “What are you going to do? Your friends have both of them by the balls. That leaves just me and you,” he presses, folding his arms over his chest.
I force myself to keep eye contact with him, keeping my face stern. His lips tip up at the ends, fighting a smile.
So, he thinks I’m the weaker one and that I will just back down and walk out. I will show him.
I lift the bat and swiftly turn, slamming it into their TV.
A loud crash echoes around us, and the screen splits and cracks.
I grin and turn around to face Archer. “Keep me awake again, and I will find something else to smash,” I threaten, dropping the bat to the floor before I walk confidently towards the door, not looking back.
I hear Mor and Eden make their way behind me as I step out of the front door, ignoring Brody and Brady practically crying over their destroyed TV.
“Holy shit, Betsy. That was badass,” Mor mutters quietly enough for just me to hear.
I keep my head held high and my shoulders back as we make it to our bikes.
I turn, swinging my leg over mine, and as I lift my helmet to put it on, my eyes land on Archer standing in his doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest, watching my every move.
I look away, focusing on fastening my helmet and starting up my bike.
We pull off, and I allow myself one last glance at him as we ride off.