Red Night: Special Edition (The Color Series Book 4)
Two Years Ago
Bar by bar, the rendered photo loads like it”s coming off one of those old inkjet printers. Scanning outside my windows, eyes narrowed, I search for a tower, but there’s none nearby. Each pixel’s light causes my palms to form more sweat beads than the one before it, my foot tapping restlessly on the gas pedal.
“Come on, come on,” my voice cracks out, as if the radio waves will obey my command.
Within a minute, the full image appears, brightened but still murky. Dirt, trees, grass… There. Skipping a beat, my heart tries to catch up as I release my breath slowly. Two shovels.
Two.
My full body jerks when the phone buzzes in my hand.
Charley
Get it?
Me
Yep
Charley
And?
Me
I see them. As I suspected.
Charley
Glad I could help. $?
Me
Sent.
Flipping through the apps, my thumb forwards more cash to the man before movement across the parking lot apprehends my gaze. The phone slips from my hand into the cup holder as I slouch down in the seat. Pressing a finger to my bottom lip, curiosity and indifference war for my attention, causing the chaos to rise like a wave within my soul.
Dress so tight, if she was a jar, even I couldn’t open the lid. And I can pry apart the most resistant of knees without even a touch. When she tosses her dark hair back and laughs at something her blonde friend must have said, my hand slips down my pants, tenting the crotch away from my hardening cock.
As she bends over, flashing the tops of her thick thighs, my console lights up with a call. Without diverting my eyes, I answer.
“Yeah?”
“Dude! Where are you? I already pre-gamed…” Every word tumbling from my best friend’s mouth is garbled. We had to spend the afternoon golfing with our fathers, so he’s probably been tipsy since he got to the manor after the round.
“I’ll be there in five.” Pressing the button to start the engine, it hums beautifully, and I toss it in first before whipping out of my hidden spot behind a row of hedges. “And Levi?”
“’Sup?”
“Don’t drive.”
Ending the call, I flip the car around and head toward Theta Rho Zeta to pick him up for the party tonight at Delta. Leaving Marissa Matlock alone…for the moment.
Normally, fraternities don’t invite future presidents of a different brotherhood to their gatherings, but I’m trying to snare Cameron Fletcher’s younger brother, Collin, for Theta next year when he enrolls at Northview. Sure, the Fletchers have a long tradition as Deltas, but it would be helpful to have their family money as our alumnus. And, since I’m not yet in charge, I can take on the role of saboteur by slipping under the radar. Pretend I’m the one thinking of switching it up. Prick’s a total narcissistic douche. Just discussing his basketball stats will earn me some favors.
Despite showing up exactly when I said, Levi’s too wasted to notice. Putting down a window, I yell at a freshman strolling toward the house with his arm around a girl. “David, grab Levi for me. He’s probably in the hot tub, so tell him to throw on some clothes first.”
David’s a good boy and does as he’s told after giving me a quick nod.
While waiting, my eyes scan over the photo on my phone once again. Two means accomplice. Which means my suspicions are likely dead on… I just need to prove it.
Stumbling down the stairs, Levi’s goofy grin spreads across his face. The one he does when he’s trying to pretend to be sober.
“Heyyyy,” he says, as his body spills into the passenger seat. At least he’s dressed.
“You’re going to get me drunk if you keep talking that way. Don’t breathe near any open flames.”
In about ten minutes, the car slides into one of the reserved slots. Everyone knows my vehicles. They won’t ticket Xavier Cardell. Not if their fathers want to keep their jobs.
Levi straightens himself as he steps out and does a great impersonation of a teetotaler as we stroll inside the renovated Mission bungalow. Greeted by slapping hands and pats on the back, the Deltas give us a warm welcome, shoving a few cold ones our way. Levi double fists the bottles. To be polite, I accept one, but will ditch it later. This isn’t a party for me. Tonight, I’ve got a goal to accomplish.
Quickly finding some blonde curves to tease, my best friend occupies himself with his next prey. Before I reach Cameron across the crowded living room, my tight-dressed target shuffles in front of me, the scent of vanilla loitering around her like she just emerged from an upscale bakery. When she stands, a freshman, Trent, I think his name is, shoves off the wall where he’s been staring her down.
I can’t hear the words, but it’s clear he’s spitting his lines, pointing to her beer, and saying it’s tainted, that someone must have put something in it and he’s going to be the white knight to save her the rest of the evening. Rolling my eyes, I await her reply, hoping this reel doesn’t have the same ending it usually does.
But I’m disappointed when she smiles at him, brushes his forearm with her delicate hand, and thanks him with a tilt of her head.
This girl needs help. Can she really be that thick? Sheltered, maybe? Definitely willing to do anything to please. My lower lip finds its way under my front teeth as I think about her obeying… On her knees, begging. Locked in a crate to be used as my pet.
Maybe with the right amount of torque, I can twist that dress right off her curvy frame.