Chapter 68 The First Shot
The First Shot
Harper
Hope is such a fickle bitch. A few days ago, I had hope this might be something more, and now it’s gone. Now they’re just the assholes who own me. Who toy with my heart whenever it helps them get what they want. I’m on my own.
Today is just another day. I wake up, shower, and get ready for school… alongside three guys. Who, while they aren’t being grabby this morning, are definitely touchy. I’m sore, which isn’t surprising given how many times they fucked me last night.
There’s this dull ache inside, and my heart hurts, but I can’t let them know I’m a little broken today. Jack doesn’t mention me crying last night to the others.
Caden keeps giving me dissecting looks, but Jack maneuvers me away from him. We didn’t finish what we started last night. I apparently checked out before he got what he wanted. Though I wouldn’t have given him those words.
I didn’t do anything wrong. They’re just controlling asshats who need to know my every move. And I was doing it to protect him. Fuck that.
Luke is almost pleasant this morning, which is kind of freaking me out. It’s little things, like handing me a towel and caressing my hip. Though everyone had plenty of orgasms last night, so maybe he’s just satisfied. For now.
He watches me like any moment I’m going to break. It’s disconcerting.
“Come on, sweetheart. You’re beautiful.” Jack leans in the doorway while I finish putting on my makeup.
I’m wearing Eli’s jersey and a skirt I wish was jeans right now.
This is the problem with packing before knowing what the evening would bring.
I wish I had a chastity belt instead, because I have a feeling this aching pain won’t go away anytime soon.
My gaze locks with Jack’s in the mirror. I swallow at the kindness in his eyes. It’s a lie. This is all a lie. I have to keep telling myself that. I have to make myself believe it.
Grabbing my stuff, I pack my bag. Tonight, I’m sleeping in my bed. If they want to camp out in my house, so be it, but I’m sleeping alone.
Jack’s hand catches my hip as I try to slip past him. I stop and wait for whatever he’s going to do. He tips my chin up and searches my eyes.
“You okay?” He says it so softly tears choke me.
I swallow them down, refusing to cry anymore. Even as this emptiness threatens to consume me whole, I force a smile. “I’m good.”
His thumb rubs my jaw, and his eyes narrow like he can see through my bullshit.
“Let’s go,” Caden calls out, breaking Jack’s attention.
I walk past him into the bedroom and head toward Caden’s voice. His house is still a maze, and I swear I’d get lost if one of them didn’t direct me.
Luke waits for me in the hallway and walks next to me. His hand falls on the small of my back, and he guides me the correct way to the kitchen. I ignore the sparks dancing through me from his fingertips. My messed up hormones make me want to lean into him and take comfort. From Luke.
That’s pretty fucked up.
Caden sits at the large table with a breakfast spread that would feed a small army.
He kicks out the chair next to him. I’m tempted to go around to the other side and take a seat there. Just to be stubborn. But Luke doesn’t let me veer off course.
I drop into the seat and look at the various baked goods set out. My stomach growls angrily, but I don’t reach for anything. Luke sits next to me and grabs a few things for his plate before setting a couple on mine.
Sighing, I relent to my stomach. When I look down, what’s on my plate is exactly what I would have chosen.
My heart bursts with a weird feeling of warmth, but I don’t let my surprise show.
So what if Luke paid attention when we’ve eaten together before.
He’s a smart guy. That doesn’t make him a nice guy.
Jack drops into the chair across from me. He’s dressed for school in clothes I know he didn’t bring here. My lips part to ask, but instead, I shove a Danish in my mouth. It’s none of my business. I’m just a toy to them.
“You’ll tell us everything he says to you.” Caden’s voice is rough. “If he touches you, even accidentally, you tell me.”
Caden reaches out for me, and I flinch. I didn’t mean to. My eyes widen as I lift them to his. His brow furrows, and I swear hurt flashes in his green eyes. He withdraws his hand and sets it on the table between us.
Fuck, why did I do that? I’m not afraid of him. I swallow the delicate pastry like it’s a lump of coal. My appetite is gone. “Can we go to school now?”
Luke stands. “You ride with me, princess.”
Nodding, I rise and avoid looking at the others as I grab my stuff and follow Luke out of the house. Today is going to be hell.
I don’t know if people can sense not to mess with me today, or if the guys make them stay away. Either way, I’m glad that, for once, I can focus on school.
Unfortunately third period comes way too soon. Caden walks me to class, but Tanner isn’t in the classroom yet.
Caden tips my chin up and blows out a breath. “I don’t want him to hurt you, little nympho.”
His green eyes are soft as they search mine. Tanner hurt his sister. I’ve never forgotten that fact, but I’m not his sister. I’m not young and naive enough to believe Tanner’s bullshit.
“I won’t let him, War.” My voice is low and soft.
He leans down, and my breath catches in anticipation of his kiss. He’s still searching me, still trying to get inside me. I need him to know I’m not afraid of him. I lift on my toes and press my lips to his.
When I pull away, his hand grabs the back of my neck, and his mouth claims mine. He aims to conquer me, claim me, make me his. As his tongue slides against mine, my traitorous body softens, melting into him. I grab his shirt to keep him close.
A low growl rumbles in the back of his throat as he presses me up against the lockers. The noise of people chatting and racing to their next class disappears in a haze of desire I’m not strong enough to fight off.
“Caden?” Ms. Sullivan’s voice breaks the spell woven around us.
Caden lifts his head. Our eyes lock for a second, and his longing makes my insides clench. A dull ache thrums through me, reminding me of last night. He turns to Ms. Sullivan as his grip loosens on me.
“Ms. Sullivan.” Caden doesn’t turn toward her, probably to conceal the erection pressing into my hip.
“We miss you in art.” She smiles like he isn’t the fiercest guy in school. She also doesn’t acknowledge we’re still wrapped tight together.
“If I could have fit it in my schedule…” He gives her a half smile.
“It’s a shame.” She shakes her head. “We miss your energy.”
Now it’s my turn to look at Ms. Sullivan like she’s lost her marbles. Dark, growly energy? She misses that?
“I should get into class,” I say. Caden lets his hands fall.
Ms. Sullivan gives me a smile like she just noticed me. “You two would have made great partners on this project. Your creative energies complement each other.”
Caden’s eyes turn thoughtful as he watches me walk backward into the classroom. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but it makes my chest tighten.
“See you at lunch, Harper.” Caden turns to talk with Ms. Sullivan, but I’m out of hearing range now. I turn and see Tanner sitting at our table. Fuck.
He must have passed Caden and me kissing. It’s not a secret the horsemen own me or that they kiss me. Everyone in school must know that by now. But it’s still a little unnerving he walked right past us and I wasn’t aware of it. Was Caden aware?
Shaking the thoughts from my head, I sit in my chair and pull out my sketchbook.
“Enjoying being their whore?” Tanner’s voice is low enough I’m the only one who can probably hear him.
I glance over at Nico, but Angela has him distracted. Good, I don’t need him running off and telling the others what Tanner says. Especially when he’s trying to provoke them.
“Do you miss being beaten up?” I turn to him with a curious look. “I mean, you’re pretty enough without bruises discoloring your face, but if that’s what you want.”
I shrug like it doesn’t bother me. Tanner is a pest.
“It won’t last. Your pussy won’t be enough to keep them from straying.” He opens his sketchbook to a nude woman he’s working on.
I roll my eyes. “Why do you care?”
Honestly it shouldn’t matter to anyone how long the horsemen decide to keep me. I’m not permanent. Eventually they’ll tire of playing with me and move on. So what? Tears well against the back of my eyes.
Fuck, not this shit again. I refuse to cry in front of this particular asshat, so I choke the tears down the best I can. It’s what Jack called subdrop. The emotional letdown from the euphoria. I can handle it.
“I don’t care if they drop you. But while you’re theirs, I can fuck with them by fucking with you.”
My gaze collides with his devious blue eyes. He smiles like the cat that ate the canary. A shiver of dread rolls through me. Maybe I should ask my mom for that Taser.
“I’m going to be honest with you, Harper.”
“That would be a change.”
His chuckle is dark. “I don’t care what it takes. I want to destroy them, and you’re the tool I’ll use to do it. It won’t matter how they try to protect you. I’ll hurt you to hurt them.”
Evil. That’s what I get from Tanner Lewis. Pure, unadulterated evil. A chill races down my back, knowing I’m the target of all that hate.
The door slams, and I jump. Ms. Sullivan comes into class.
Tanner returns to his drawing and acts like he didn’t just drop a bomb in my lap. Here’s the thing. He wants me to take that back to the guys. He wants them on high alert. I don’t want to give him that satisfaction.
But I know I can’t handle him on my own. I need to figure out a plan to deal with whatever Tanner throws my way without involving the guys. As Ms. Sullivan begins her lecture, I can’t help thinking why.
Why am I protecting the horsemen? Maybe Tanner distracting them is a good thing. It would definitely make them let up on the constant attention and give them someone to fight instead.
They want to know everything or they’ll punish me. A little thrill rushes through me at how well they punished me last night, but I ignore it. Tanner wants a war. Fine, I’ll give him one.
Eli
When Caden draws Harper down on his lap at lunch, she winces and doesn’t relax into him like she usually does. Her punishment last night probably did more harm than good. Physically and emotionally. She’s a seething kitten.
I hold out an apple to her.
I get why the others wanted to fuck her wearing their jerseys. I’ve been hard every time she’s near me in mine. But I’m sure her cunt is sore today. Still, a little extra pain doesn’t bother me. I can use it.
She takes the apple without fussing and sets it down beside her hot lunch Caden bought for her.
“Hey.” Nico falls into the seat next to me. “What did Tanner say to you in art, sunshine?”
Her brown eyes are cold when she lifts her gaze to him. “That he’ll use me to get to you guys.”
The shift in expression on Caden’s face is so subtle, I doubt anyone but us noticed. His gaze scans the lunchroom, but Tanner doesn’t come in here. He’s not stupid enough to face us together.
“That won’t happen.” Luke leans back in his chair. “He’s one guy, and as long as he doesn’t have access to you, he won’t be able to make good on his threat.”
“What exactly did he say, kitten?” I prop my elbows on the table while I search her eyes.
“That he wants to destroy you, and I’m the tool he’ll use.” She shrugs as if it isn’t a big deal and picks at her food with her fork. “He plans on fucking with me, so that sounds exciting.”
Tanner Lewis was supposed to fade into the background after we eliminated him as a threat and took away all his power. We never underestimated him, but we didn’t know we’d be claiming a girl like Harper.
“We can discuss what we need to do tonight.” Luke gestures to our food. “Eat.”
Strategy, we need one for dealing with Tanner. Harper picks at her food before setting her fork aside after a while. Her gaze wanders the cafeteria, taking in everything. When her brown eyes clash with mine, I stand.
“Come on, kitten. We have business to attend.”
She cocks an eyebrow, but Caden sets her on her feet. When she reaches for her backpack, Caden stops her.
“I’ve got your bag, little nympho.”
I hold my hand out to her, and she draws in a breath before coming around the table and taking it. I briefly meet Ashley’s angry eyes as I lead Harper out of the cafeteria. There are plenty of places to disappear in the school, but I won’t take Harper to any of the ones Ashley might know.
She’s becoming a thorn in my side, and if she doesn’t get in line, I may have to pluck her out.
Jack follows us out of the cafeteria. Harper glances over her shoulder at him. When we get to the closet we lured her into before, I open the door and gesture for her to go in.
She hesitates, and her cheeks flush red. “I’m sore.”
I close in on her and tip her chin up. “A little pain doesn’t scare me, kitten.”
When I back her into the closet, Jack closes the door for us. Now it’s just me and my kitten. Her breathing is loud in the dark space.
“Do you remember how it felt to have us surrounding you?” I whisper as I wrap my hand around her throat and press her against the wall. My other hand trails up her thigh under her skirt.
“Yes,” she whispers. Her voice trembles slightly, giving me that edge of fear. My cock hardens painfully.
“Next time we bring you in here, we’ll fuck you to climax and leave you dripping with our cum.” I slide my fingers over her panties and feel the damp heat of her pussy. “But right now, kitten, you belong to me.”