Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Violet
I slam my bedroom door shut behind me, walk to my bed, pick up the closest pillow, and scream into it. I’m not all that torn up about James breaking up with me. I’m surprised I’m not a crying mess, but nothing—and I can’t explain why.
What does annoy me is that I know those three morons had something to do with it. Landon comes back, and a week later James breaks up with me? It is not a coincidence. I don’t know what they did or how they did it, but I will work it out.
After about an hour of just staring at the ceiling, trying to think of a way to prove they were involved, I hear the front door open. Either Mum and Xavier are home, or the guys have left. I’m not feeling lucky, so I’m assuming the three stooges are still here.
A soft knock at my door is followed by a creak as it is opened, allowing Mum to enter. She looks solemn as she walks over to my bed and sits on the edge. In an overly sweet voice, she says, “Hey darling.”
By the grace of the gods, I manage to contain my eye roll, “Mum.”
“Landon told me about James.”
Of fucking course, he did. But I remain silent.
Sensing I don’t want to talk she simply nods before saying, “Okay well, there was this envelope left under the doormat for you.”
Sitting up I take the envelope. “Thanks, Mum.” I give her a small sad smile.
“You’ll get through this” she leans to give me a small side hug, “if you need to talk about it, I’m always here.” Then she leaves me by myself.
Running my fingers over my name, indented into the white envelope, I don’t recognise the delicate writing. I shake my head, turn the envelope over and open it. A few photos fall out, lying face down, but once I turn them over, my heart rate spikes and my stomach drops all at the same time.
James and some blonde. No wait. I know her. She’s in my English lit class.
The prick was cheating on me?
I think I’m going to be sick.
My stomach rolls. Yep, I’m going to be sick . I run to the toilet.
“Violet?” Axel sounds concerned on the other side of the door.
I manage to tell him to fuck off between dry heaves.
After some time, I pick myself up. Even though I didn’t actually throw up, I still flush the toilet, brush my teeth, and wash my face.
Opening the door, all three men are there. My annoyingly hot stepbrother and his equally hot friends. Glaring at them, I throw my shoulder into Landon.
“Come on, Letty, don’t be like that.” I can hear the smile in his voice. I look over my shoulder and I can see the twinkle in his disarmingly beautiful honey-coloured eyes. A man shouldn’t have an eye coloured like that.
“Fuck off back to the city Landon.”
“Now why would I do that, when I’m so close to claiming what is mine,” I don’t know how he caught up to me so quickly and quietly, but I feel him at my back. He leans down to whisper into my ear. “What has always been mine. What has always been ours.”
What the hell does that mean?
A shiver runs down my spine. Don’t be so stupid .
I’m not his or theirs, and I won’t be, but I do enjoy the way his warmth blankets me. I turn to ask what in the hell he is talking about but when I do, they are all there looking at me as if I’m the prey and they are the predators.
Then they all turn around and walk back to Landon’s old room. His intoxicating scent lingers, and the familiar feeling I have ignored for years settles in my core.
Damn you, Landon.
He is my stepbrother, they’re his best friends, and that is a line that cannot and will not be crossed. I repeat it over and over as I walk into my room and flop onto my bed. If I say it enough times, it will sink in.
As much as I deny my feelings for those three, I’ve always had a small, tiny even, thing for them. Just a small crush. Nothing more.
I want to call my best friend, Ivy. She could help me process the last two hours of my life. But she’s in the city working at her dad’s hot silver fox best friend’s business.
I don’t have time to call Ivy anyway because Mum calls out about dinner being ready.
Two hours, that’s all it’s taken for me to question everything.
Axel
I have always had a thing for Violet, but there are just some lines you don’t cross. I tried to deny it, only looking at her when no one was watching, not like Maverick who made it painfully obvious. But Landon, the observant fucker, could see through me. Landon came to us about two weeks ago announcing he was going to get rid of James so we could openly pursue her.
I needed him to clarify, because though the three of us have shared in the past, those were one-night stands, and Violet is not a one-night stand kind of girl. She’s the girl I want to marry and make a future with.
Then I asked why now, he just growled, actually growled, and said the time was right. I didn’t question him after that, I knew whatever it was had pissed him off. So, we confronted James, but he said he loved her and we couldn’t scare him away.
So, we changed tactics. Jessica.
She was in Violet's class and knew James, so we gently nudged her in James's direction.
We have been keeping tabs on our girl since Landon left for the city. Fuck, was he pissed when James came into the picture. Saying we dropped the ball, which no denying we did.
I wouldn’t go as far as to call it stalking, but there’s a line, and we played fucking jump rope with it.
Jessica worked her magic on James, and we got the evidence needed to set our plan in motion.
Leaving the photos for Violet to find was a necessity, but I still didn’t like the hurt in her eyes when she came rushing out of her room.
I’m lost in thought as we make our way to the dining room.
“Axel!” Maverick’s voice pierces through my thoughts.
“Fuck,” I jump “Sorry, Claire,” wincing and throwing her an apologetic smile. “Yeah, what?” I ask, looking towards Maverick.
“Sit down.”
I glance around the table to see where the boys have strategically placed themselves. My lips twitch, fighting a smile, but I keep my face as neutral as I can while I approach my seat next to our girl.
Looking at Maverick and Landon I can see the hungry gazes they both have, and I’m sure it’s not for the food. Once I take on look at Violet, to know they are hungry for her.
After taking my seat, Claire instructs us to close our eyes to say grace. Violet shifts in her seat, trying to ignore Landon, and his foot running up her leg.
I place my hand on her thigh. Her eyes snap open and locks her gaze on me. Without skipping a beat, I lean over to whisper into her ear, “You look gorgeous, as always.” I run my tongue over the shell of her ear as my hand moves up her thigh.
She sucks in a quick breath, her eyes darting all over my face, trying to read it.
Claire closes grace with an amen, and we all sit up straight.
“So, boys, what are your plans for the weekend?” Claire asks us.
“I got a job. I start Monday.” Landon replies while looking straight at Violet. She swallows hard, making his gaze darken.
“Congratulations, I’m so happy you’ll be moving back for good” Xavier replies. Violet’s eyes widen.
Landon starts to lean forward, leaving his focus on Violet, “Once all my stuff arrives, I will move in with the boys.”
Violet relaxes slightly.
“Oh, we don’t have long with you living with us.” Claire sounds sad.
“No, so best make the most of it.” He throws a wink in Violet’s direction causing her to choke on her food. I pat her back, whispering, “I have something much better for you to choke on baby.”
Lust and hate are warring in her eyes as she glares at me but there’s almost something else. Longing?
Violet announces she’s not feeling well and is taking herself to bed. She forces a smile, spins on her heels, and makes her exit. No goodbye. Just her ass, that I'd love to sink my teeth into, swaying as she leaves.