Chapter 2 Letty
AGE SEVENTEEN—
“This food sucks,” Ava declares, moving around the overcooked fries, stale bun, and lumpy sauce that’s supposed to be a sloppy joe on her tray. “It should be illegal to serve this shit to us.”
“It’s terrible,” I agree, which is why I chose fruit, yogurt, and chicken nuggets. I ended up skipping the nuggets after the first bite. “I won’t miss this place when we’re gone.”
“Me either.” She sighs and shoves her tray across the table out of reach. “I can’t believe we’re seniors this fall.”
“And out of this hell hole soon,” I add.
Ava opens her mouth to reply, then shuts it, shooting a glare at someone behind me. “Get lost, Theo.”
I never heard him approach.
“I’m not here for you, Ava.”
She flips him off, leaving her finger hovering in the air as he chuckles.
He’s quick to dismiss her, turning his attention to me. “Hey, Letty.” Theo’s hands rest on my shoulders, and I can feel him leaning to apply pressure. It’s one of his tactics to make me feel intimidated and weak.
I shove off his hands and push away from the table, putting space between us. “Don’t touch me.”
He smirks, lifting his hands. “Feelin’ sassy today, huh?”
“She’s just afraid to admit how much she loves her stepbrothers,” Liam adds as he joins us, leaning against the wall to stare in that creepy, hyper-focused way that makes my skin crawl.
It’s nothing like the buzz of energy I feel when Gage stares at me, especially when he licks his lips. My knees weaken with his presence.
This is different. My knees lock in place like I’m unconsciously bracing against an attack. Liam and Theo are assholes. Gage’s brothers, err, half-brothers, are nothing like him. Sure, they’re all sons of the same wealthy man, and they’ve all hurt me. But things have changed.
Gage is gone. He left a year ago, and I haven’t seen or heard from him since he moved out. I don’t know what to make of his promise at the wedding reception, but I’m not holding my breath.
Theo and Liam? They’re still in high school, still tormenting me, and I can’t escape it because I live in the same house. They seem to enjoy messing with me whenever they get the chance, which confuses me. What’s the point?
The problem is that they’ve both become physical. It’s not just cruel or taunting words anymore. I get shoved or pushed into walls often. I’ve been tripped on the stairs more than once and nearly lost my balance. They’re escalating, and that scares me.
Bravely, I lift my chin, staring back at Liam. “Let’s go, Ava.”
She links her arm through mine and steers me away from the table. As we head toward the cafeteria exit, I know the Blade brothers are still watching me.
“I really don’t get their obsession with you, Letty. It’s fucking weird.”
“I know.”
We walk outside to the grassy area beyond the picnic tables and find a tree with ample shade. The sun is bright overhead, and I reach for sunglasses in my purse, slipping them over my eyes. That’s when a sigh escapes my lips.
“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?”
Ava knows everything that happens because I call here whenever Liam and Theo corner me. It’s nearly every night.
“Do you have to ask?”
She shakes her head and reaches for my hand. “Come live with me. Get out of that fucking prison and stay at my place. My parents won’t care. Dad is always working, and Mom has her floral shop. They’re hardly home.”
I wish I could. “I can’t.”
“Because of Cynthia.”
“I can’t leave Mom in that house alone. Mifflin is cruel. He’ll take it out on her.”
“This sucks,” Ava snarls. “What can we do? Who can we tell?”
“No one,” I admit.
For the first time in months, I let my thoughts wander to Gage.
It’s like she can read my mind. “What about Gage?”
“I don’t know where he is or how to get hold of him,” I remind her.
“But you know he’s one of those bikers now. He’s in that club with the Vipers.”
I suspected it. “That’s not confirmed.”
“What if you go to their clubhouse? Ask for help?”
“Do you even know what you’re suggesting, Ava? That’s dangerous.”
“Worse than Mifflin and his asshole sons?” She fires back.
I flinch. “I don’t know.”
“Babe.” She squeezes my hand before releasing it. “I think you need to tell someone. Your mom isn’t equipped to handle this. She’s too afraid, Letty.”
I understood my mother’s fear. Mifflin controls everything. He bought out her interior design company. Has his name on all her accounts. He owns her. Mom can’t do anything without his approval. “I’m sure she’s closely monitored. He probably has someone following her around.”
“Which means we’re on our own.”
Us. Not just me. “You’re too good to me, Ava.”
“Girl, I’m your sista from another mista. We’re in this together.” She lifts her hand and holds out her pinky.
I snicker and loop my pinky around hers. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I know I am.” She glances at the front of the building. “There’s no staff outside. I say we ditch the rest of the afternoon and go to the Vipers clubhouse.”
“I don’t even know where it is.” This is crazy.
“I do.” She winks at me and drops her hand. There’s a devious gleam in her eyes, and I wonder what secret she’s keeping. “I may have hooked up with one of the prospects recently.”
“Ava!” I blurt with shock.
“What? He’s sexier than any of the boys in school.”
I bite into my lower lip, considering her plan. It’s not foolproof, but it’s also better than my current circumstances. “Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s do it.”
Before anyone can spot us and say lunch is almost over, we jump up and run toward the parking lot. Technically, we’re allowed to leave. They just don’t know we won’t be coming back.
As we pull out of the parking lot, I shoot a glance at the school. Liam and Theo exit and head for the lot, probably to ditch the same as us. Neither one looks our way, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t want anyone following us.
“His name is Ryker.”
I blink at Ava, swiveling my head to look in her direction.
“The prospect. He should be working the gate. I’m pretty sure he’ll let us in.”
Wow.
I bob my head in a nod, suddenly consumed with one thought: Will Gage be there? And if he is, will he want to see me?
It’s stupid. I’m still angry with him. He’s arrogant, rude, and manipulative. Gage Blade makes me feel things I don’t want to acknowledge, especially attraction.
I hate him for ruining my life. . . but I also know I can’t blame him for Liam, Theo, or the gossip at school. It’s not his fault that his father is a controlling bastard. He’s not accountable for what his family says and does to me.
Gage won’t be okay with Theo or Liam hurting me. Or anyone else. If I can count on anything, it’s that he’ll handle his brothers once he knows what’s happening. Even if he doesn’t want anything to do with me, I’m sure he’ll confront Liam and Theo.
It’s a long drive out of town to the Vipers clubhouse. Ava told me it was on the edge of Summit Hill, and she wasn’t lying. It’s a huge collection of buildings on the other side of a massive gate. Razor wire rims the top perimeter.
There’s a biker at the entrance, and he frowns as we pull up. His gaze is sharp, sweeping the interior of Ava’s car before he looks at her. When he does, his features soften, and a crooked smile appears. “Hey, Ava.”
“Hi, Ryker.”
Ryker is wearing the same leather vest that members of the club always wear around town. His patch reads PROSPECT. No name. I used to see Gage wearing the same vest. I wonder if he’s a regular member of the club now.
It wouldn’t surprise me.
Ryker ticks his chin toward me in greeting. “Letty.” My face must betray my confusion because he smirks. “We all know you’re Ava’s best friend.”
We? Does that mean the whole club?
He doesn’t answer, so I don’t think I’ll ever know.
Ryker’s amusement fades as he glances between us. “What’s going on, Ava? You both okay?” He instantly tenses when she shakes her head. “Tell me.”
“It’s a delicate situation, Ryk.” She looks up at him with pleading eyes that hold a little too much worry and fear. “We need to see Storm.”
“Shit,” he curses. “I’ll let you inside the gate, but you gotta give me a few minutes to get another prospect out here. Don’t even think of walking inside without me.”
Ava nods. “I won’t.”
Ryker opens the gate, and I watch as it opens, clearing the way for us to drive through.
Bikers pause as our car approaches. Some are working on motorcycles in the open bays of an enormous garage.
Others stand around under an awning that’s been erected over a concrete slab that houses a collection of picnic tables and chairs.
Beer bottles and ashtrays are spread over the surfaces.
It takes Ryker a few minutes to switch places with another prospect. We’re monitored the entire time. It’s not hostile, but I can tell our presence disrupts the normal flow. I’m sure that’s true. How often are a couple of high school girls showing up on a Friday afternoon?
When Ryker finally join us, he seems less tense, but still on edge. I don’t know him well enough to know for sure. I can ask Ava, but it’s not the right time. She keeps glancing at him until he reaches for her hand. She takes it, moving closer to his lanky frame.
My best friend is right. He’s definitely sexy. That bad boy look only bolsters his dark, attractive features. He’s got longish dark hair, thick and wavy, hazel eyes, a lean, muscular frame, and a smile that’s playful when it’s directed at Ava.
When we enter the clubhouse, it immediately opens into a bar.
I assume it’s because most of the guys want to reach that location first. There are more bikers seated around it, facing a long mirror.
Rows of liquor bottles on shelves reflect their surface along with most of the bar.
Above the mirror is a sign that reads SUMMIT HILL VIPERS in neon.