Thirty
SCARLETT
W e arrive at the Silver’s residence at a quarter to eight and the party is already in full swing. Stella’s uncle Stephan and his wife Eliza, who is Beckett’s mom, are away for the weekend, leaving the mansion under Sebastian’s control. Which means this party is going to be unlike any of the ones I’ve attended.
Stella mentioned Bass had rented out over fifty kegs, a whole taco food truck, as well as an In N Out Burger truck, and surprise entertainment. All to celebrate the eighteenth birthday of the eldest of the four kings, Beckett Masters.
The Silver’s estate is equally impressive and massive as the Servite’s, but whereas Ace’s house was dark, old-fashioned, and ominous, Bass’s is white, modern, and elegant. Floor to ceiling glass windows surround the entire first floor and a large fountain sits in the middle of the walkway to the front door. The house is stark white with large, marbled columns outlining the entrance .
We stand at the front edge of the large circular driveway having just gotten dropped off by the Uber we took here from the academy. I instantly spot Ace and the Horsemen, minus Beck, as they pull into the driveway, quickly jumping out of Ace’s matte black Mercedes Benz G-Class and heading straight to us.
Ace looks angry as he rushes toward us, but his glare softens as he reaches me. His gaze is still on mine when he reaches his finger out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. A subtle but caring gesture that throws me slightly off balance.
“I thought we agreed I’d pick you up?” he whispers in that deep raspy voice that moves me.
“You said you would pick me up. I never agreed to it.”
“Thought it was implied.”
I chuckle lightly at his comment. “One thing you need to know about me, Ace, don’t make assumptions. You want me to know something, you better tell me straight. I’m not into playing games. Life’s too short to be spent making guesses and wondering ‘what if’. I lay things out in the open. What you see is what you get. You don’t like that, then that’s your problem, either way I move on.”
He grins widely at my statement, and it makes something inside of me flutter.
Of course, he looks sexy as hell, no surprise there. But today he’s dressed in black jeans and a dark blue button-up shirt that fits him like a second skin. He’s left the first three unbuttoned, displaying his smooth, perfectly inked chest and his dark blonde hair lays in soft waves atop his head. The dark blue of his shirt mirroring his gaze makes those ocean eyes of his look like deep pools of sapphire. Ace wraps an arm around my waist pulling me into him and I close my eyes, inhaling a deep breath as the scent of him overpowers my senses. A mixture of cedar-wood, bergamot, and the ocean waves.
His voice, a husky lullaby to my ears. “Oh, I see everything, baby,” he says, bringing his other hand behind my neck. “And I like what I see, what I feel.” He tugs my head back slightly, bringing his lips to mine and softly kisses them whispering against them, “But one thing you need to know about me, baby, I don’t play games, I win them.”
Ace escorts me through the Silver’s mansion, Jade and Stella following closely behind us. Immediately I notice the stares, glares, and shocked faces of all those in attendance, and of course they are directed toward me and the way Ace has his arm draped around my shoulder.
Whispers sound all around us as the loyal subjects question their king’s sanity. I turn my gaze toward Ace, who grins widely, winking at me as he continues to lead us out to the back of the property. Outside is a vast deck, at least two hundred feet in size, that covers the yard and surrounds the large pool. To the left is a basketball court that is serving as a dance floor, as well as tables all around with drinks and the beer kegs. The pergolas above are draped with twinkling lights and large lamps illuminate the entire outdoor space.
“This is some party,” I say, barely able to hear my own thoughts as the loud music on the speakers drowns out my words.
“Only the best for my man Beck,” Bass says as he walks up behind us.
We walk over to a separate area to the right side of the yard that’s blocked off by a large red velvet rope, like those you’d see at a club or red-carpet event. On the other side of the rope are three large, plush couches circling around a fire pit, a full bar set up to the right.
“This is where we’ll be. The VIP area,” Ace tells me, as if that explains why we’re standing here. “Remember, Red, you’re mine now, and after today everyone will know,” he adds, answering the silent questions turning in my mind.
It’s unnerving the way he seems to know everything going on inside my mind. I shake my head walking in when a guy standing at the end of the rope unclips it and motions for me to enter. Once inside, I head over to the couch on the right, beside the makeshift bar. It looks like having quick access to alcohol is going to be the only way I can make it through tonight. Ace walks over to the bar with Bass, while Stella and Jade come over sitting beside me on the couch.
“So, looks like it’s official now,” Jade says, looking over to the boys standing at the bar. “This must be how the other half lives. Looks like you’ll be basking in the VIP treatment from now on. Don’t forget about us humble kids.”
I roll my eyes at her, deciding to ignore her petty comments.
“This could be you too, Little Wolf,” Bass says as he sits on the couch armrest beside her handing her a drink.
She glares up at him, raising a brow and taking the drink he hands her. “Please, like you’d be able to handle all this, bloodsucker,” she challenges him.
“Bloodsucker?” he asks, confused.
“Yeah, a wolf’s number one enemy is a vampire, everyone knows that.”
Bass laughs wholeheartedly, caught off guard by her sass. “Well, I can assure you there’s something of yours I’d like to suck on. Many things actually.”
That causes Stella and I to laugh, and Jade glares over at us, a slight blush coating her cheeks. She turns back to Bass whose face is now directly in front of hers.
“Keep dreaming, Sebastian. But you’ll never suck on any of this,” she says, standing and doing a slow-motion twirl shaking her ass in front of him, gaining a quiet groan from him.
“Never say never, Little Wolf,” he says, licking his lips.
Jade laughs and sits back down beside me, as Ace walks over handing me a drink as well.
“Did you spike it?” I ask, jokingly.
“Baby, I wouldn’t have to drug you to take what I want. Trust me, you’ll give it up willingly.”
I roll my eyes, knowing damn well he’s right as Stella stands, moving over to the couch beside us. I glare at her silently asking why she’s moving.
“You don’t have to move to the other couch, little Silver. I’ll just sit my girl up on my lap,” Ace says.
“No thank you, don’t want to be near all this,” she says, shaking her head and motioning between us.
“By the way, what the hell are you wearing, Stella?” Bass asks her, once again clearly irritated at his cousin’s choice of clothing. Jade elbows him and he lets out a small cry as he scowls at her. “Ouch, what the hell was that for, Wolf?”
“Leave her alone, she looks hot. Besides, that’s my outfit,” she says.
“That’s exactly the problem. I don’t want to see my cousin in something I can imagine you in. Or better yet, in something I can imagine slipping you out of,” he says with a flirtatious wink.
We’re interrupted when Beckett and Alek join us in the VIP section. I look over to them and Beck smiles at me, but Alek clearly doesn’t like that I’m here at his king’s side. Since the first day we arrived here at Servite, I’ve felt a particular dislike from Alek Smoak. Maybe it’s the fact that I called them dogs. Either way, he’s not keen on the idea of us poor kids mixing in with the elite.
“Happy Birthday, Beckett,” I say, smiling softly at him.
“Thanks, love,” he says in an accent I hadn’t noticed, having rarely spoken to him before, and it's the first time I realize Beck’s British.
“Eighteen, what’s it like to be an adult now, Beckett?” Stella asks, taking a sip from the drink the guy working the bar handed her.
“Well, here in the States nothing, but I’d be able to do all of this legally back in England.”
We all laugh at his remark, but it’s cut short when the diabolic queens make their appearance.
“Well, looks like you brought a toy with you tonight, Ace. Or is she Beck’s birthday present? I mean he is old enough now to go down to Vegas and hire himself a whore for the night.” Carrington’s dressed in a skintight red dress that ends just beneath her ass, her long blonde hair falling down her back. I know one thing. It may be early November, but the bitch must be freezing.
“Fuck off, Carrington,” Beck says as Ace stands, his hands in fists at his side.
“Just wondering why she’d be here in our section,” Carrington says, flipping her hair back in an awfully calculated motion revealing her perfectly, and surgically, placed cleavage.
“This isn’t your section tonight, Prescott. As you can see it’s full, so you and your girls will need to entertain yourselves elsewhere,” Ace says.
Carrington’s face pales, her jaw nearly hitting the floor, while Kinsley gasps beside her. “You’re kidding me, right?” shouts Kinsley.
“Haven’t you heard, sweet Kins, Red here,” I turn to glare at Bass as he speaks. “My bad, Scarlett, is Ace’s new girl. They made things official tonight, so I can see why you’re a bit confused.”
At his declaration, the four queens instantly pale looking like they’re about to pass out. They’re at a loss for words, unbelieving Bass's statement. Carrington looks over to Ace who smirks at her.
“That can’t be,” she mutters softly.
“But it is,” Ace says, wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing my lips gently. I know it’s all for show, but something about the affectionate gesture leaves me wanting more. His lips delicately take mine and I’m lost in the feel of him, the taste of him. I reach over, wrapping my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss, losing myself for the moment.
“Hmm.” Someone clears their throat and Ace releases my lips. I slowly open my eyes, looking up to him with a lust filled gaze and lick my lips, backing away when I notice Carrington and Kinsley are now gone but Wynter and Drea stand before us.
“Well, that was quite an unnecessary show, brother,” Wynter says, scowling directly at me when she speaks. I haven’t really ever spoken to her but something about the way she looks at me gives me the impression she doesn’t like me very much. They both move around us heading over to the bar.
The party drags on for the rest of the night and the three of us remain here in the VIP section with the guys, only leaving to use the restroom, or get some food. I tell myself I’ve stayed put to avoid the glaring stares and annoying comments from my fellow classmates, but in reality, I think I’m terrified of running into Drake and the guys, or worse, Ruby. Ruby and I have purposely avoided each other at the quarter. She’s rarely home and when she is, I stay locked in my room. I don’t know when I’ll be able to face her after all the horrible, hurtful things I said to her. She’s right to hate me, they all are. And avoiding Drake means also avoiding Jax who wants nothing to do with me, and Kai, who is staying away to give me the space I need to see this through.
The only bit of excitement tonight has been when Bass’ entertainment, dancers from a strip club nearby, graced the stage dressed in Vegas showgirl outfits, topless of course. Ace stayed in the VIP section with me while the rest of the group went over to get front row seats, Jade included. Stella comes over and sits beside me as Ace heads to the bar grabbing us another drink.
“You know, I don’t judge you, right? I never will,” she says, as I turn to face her.
“You’d rightfully be doing so,” I say.
“Scar, what you did was out of love. Love for Ace. You unknowingly pushed Drake away because you knew your feelings for Ace were growing stronger, more real. You didn’t want to hurt him.”
“And now look at what I’ve done.”
“He’s just as guilty for pushing you into a relationship you weren’t ready for.” She fidgets slightly, seemingly uneasy.
“Stella, why are you telling me this?” I ask, just as Ace returns with the drinks .
“Well, well, looks like our Dragon is back in business. That didn’t take long.”
I gaze toward Ace, rapidly turning and looking in the direction he’s staring. And my heart instantly drops at the sight before me. Drake is standing in the middle of the dance floor, clearly drunk off his ass, with a blonde, dimwitted bimbo wrapped around his arm. My stomach falls, as bile rises at the sight of her arms around his neck, their lips almost touching. I grab the drink from Ace’s hand and swallow it down in one swift gulp. He can’t be, not with her. I know I have no right, not after what I did, after how I ended things, but please Dragon not with her.
“I guess I’ll go get another one for you,” Ace says, retreating to the bar.
“He’s hurt, Scarlett, he’s drunk and lashing out the only way he knows. By trying to make you hurt as well,” Stella says.
“That’s the thing about Damon Drake, Stella,” I say, grinning slightly. “He’s never drunk. He’s always aware of what he’s doing, and his motives here are clear. He wanted revenge, and like you said he knows exactly how to get it. Us fucked up, troubled teens never do anything without thinking twice, deep down our intentions are always clear. I slept with Ace, and despite what I’d like to believe, it’s exactly what I wanted. I used him, and by doing so I hurt my best friend. And now he’s doing the same. I guess Jade was right. Drake and I are one and the same.”
She looks toward Ace and then brings her attention back to me.
“When Monday comes around things are going to be different,” she whispers. I look up to her nodding my head. “Other than Carrington, Ace has never had a girlfriend. And honestly, I don’t think they’ve ever been official,” she says, looking over to Ace once again, making sure he can’t hear.
“That means nothing to me, Stella,” I tell her.
“Yeah, well, I’ve also never seen two people kiss each other as passionately as you two just did. I mean, you could feel the heat radiating off of you and floating in the air when you two kissed. It left everyone around you speechless, and if I’m being honest, a little turned on.” I laugh as she fans herself, a light blush creeping along her cheeks.
“None of that matters to me. Do I find him attractive? I’m alive, aren’t I? Is he a good kisser, a magnificent lover? Hell yeah, I won’t deny it. But Ace means nothing to me. He’s a means to an end. A bridge to get to what I really want. You know why I’m here, why I’m doing this,” I say, but she doesn’t look convinced.
“Yeah, I know. I just hope for your sake, you do too.”