Chapter Thirteen #2
It definitely feels fucking weird to be brought up here. I need to be on my guard, I decide. Because if there’s one thing fighting’s taught me, it’s that anything can happen at any time.
“Don’t look like that. You’ll make me think you don’t actually want to be here.”
My head snaps to the left. There’s a bit of an alcove set into the wall, and within it is a large mahogany desk. Behind it sits Matthew. He’s got textbooks and papers on top of it, like he’s in the middle of homework.
The thought almost makes me laugh. I figured a guy like him would pay someone smarter to do his work for him.
I fold my arms and turn to him.
“I don’t, not really. But I was curious. What do you want? You know I run with Zander.”
Matthew smiles, standing up from his chair. He comes around, walking over to a small fridge off to the side of the desk. He pulls out a bottle of brown liquor and pours two glasses.
“I know, which is why I wanted to talk to you,” he says, handing over one of the glasses. I take a drink, figuring I might as well get something out of him while I was here, and a slight buzz felt like just what I needed.
“Okay then. Make it quick.”
Matthew chuckles. He holds his glass, peering at me curiously.
“You know, you seem smarter than the women Zander usually goes for. Tougher, too.”
“Some of us like being able to take care of ourselves without needing to rely on someone else to get it done.”
“Ah, like Tilly, my sister. You know, I think you sell her a little short. She’s actually pretty resourceful—“
“Wait. Tilly is your sister?”
“Yeah. Did you not know that?”
“No.”
“Get to the point, Matthew,” I say, starting to feel unsettled. Matthew laughs again and nods.
“Okay, okay. You’re tough and straight to the point… I wanted to talk to you about being a liaison between the Valens and the Hawks,” he says. “Clearly, our two houses have a little bit of beef with each other—“
“You beat the shit out of one of their new guys like barely a week ago.”
“And your boy responded in kind. But, I figure that we can’t keep operating like this.”
“So, you say liaison. You want me to…”
“Help us come to some logical agreements. You’re not a part of Valens, but you’re close to Zander.
Means that you could get him to actually talk with us where some other chick wouldn’t.
My family donates a lot of money to the university to have things buried.
So honestly, I really think it’s only fair if my house is the more prestigious one.
“I have no incentive to do anything that would make you look good, or help you. Also, you’re completely delusional to think Zander would do anything I say.” I frown in confusion.
“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong,” he says, peering at me as I take another sip of my drink. The liquor is strong—stronger than I expected. I sway, leaning against the desk. “I’ve seen the way Zander looks at you. You alright?” he asks.
“Mhm. Just waiting on you to explain what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“I think that it would benefit you significantly to help me with this. Imagine the kind of connections I could give you access to. The resources that would be at your fingertips if you just asked me.”
Is this dude serious? Does he think that I’m just another Tilly? Throw money and ‘resources’ at me and suddenly I’m playing on his team against Zander’s?
“I think you got me confused with someone who—who gives a shit about that kind of nonsense,” I say, my words slurring a bit.
Matthew grins, tilting his head. He sets his drink—that I realize now he hasn’t actually drunk out of—aside on his desk.
He takes a step toward me, and I try to step back.
Only, instead of stepping back, I stumble.
I have to hold onto the wall to keep from falling down, and Matthew clicks his tongue against the back of his teeth, steadying me against him.
“I figured you’d say that,” he says, not a bit of disappointment in his voice. “But that just means I move on to plan B… and let’s just say, I like that one a lot more than this one.”
Suddenly, the world goes black.
When I wake up, I’m on my back. My wrists are above my head, tethered to what I find out is rungs to a headboard. My ankles have the same treatment, tethered to the rungs of a footboard. My thighs are wide apart, but I still have clothes on.
I’m no longer in Matthew’s room. I have no idea where the fuck I am, just that the walls are padded with some kind of thick fabric, and there’s a shit ton of shelves with all things from sex toys to whips to canes on them.
And, across from me and this uncomfortable ass bed, is Matthew with a camera.
Fear hits me hard, and looking at Matthew’s face doesn’t help. His smile is cold now; evil-looking, and it doesn’t touch his eyes. How could I have ever thought he was charming?
“Oh, you’re awake!” he says, his voice too goddamn cheerful to be good. “I was a little heavy-handed with the alcohol this time. I guess at least you’re not dead.”
I’m not going to give Matthew the satisfaction of answering.
I don’t want him to hear the way my voice will shake.
I have to get out of this somehow. I have no idea what Matthew’s game is, but I want no part of it.
I look around me frantically for anything I can reach to whack him over the head and hopefully knock him unconscious.
It almost feels like he can read my mind, but in truth, he can probably just see my eyes darting around everywhere.
I glare at him, and give a good tug to my restraints. Shit. The fucker has them tied tight.
“Don’t even try anything, Leona,” he says.
He casually reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a knife.
He flicks the blade out. “For what it’s worth, I quite like you and if you behave, I won’t hurt you too much.
It would be a shame to have to mark up that pretty little face of yours.
Don’t think for a moment that I won’t though if I have to. ”
“I don’t understand,” I say truthfully. “What have I ever done to you?”
“Oh, nothing,” Matthew says. “I already told you. This isn’t about you. You’re just collateral damage. This is only about Zander.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I snap. “What the hell is this shit?”
Matthew shrugs. “Plan B. Or, really, the real plan, but it would have been interesting to play the long game with you. But since you’re sooo independent and loyal or whatever to Zander, things got fast-tracked.
” He smirks. “You know, one of the things that’s really fuckin’ annoying about that guy is that he thinks he owns everything he touches.
Pledges. Clout. Money. Women. He just keeps doing disrespectful shit.
We’re equals, and he doesn’t recognize it. ”
“So what? You figure you fuck me and then what? You’ll get his respect?”
It’s such a stupid idea. Surely he knows that he lays a hand on me, it’s not just Zander he’s gonna have coming after him? He’s not getting any of me without a fight.
“Oh, we’re past the point of gaining respect,” Matthew says. “We’re in the realm of making statements now.”
“No one will believe I’m fucking you ’cause I want to,” I snarl. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Matthew smirks at me. “I’ve trailed you a couple times, too. You know, you and Zander should really close your blinds when you decide to get dicked down. What I’m about to do will feel like a regular Sunday for you.”
This bastard… He’s not just some dumb jock with an axe to grind. He’s been planning this. It pisses me off. Who the fuck does he think he is?
That’s alright… he thinks he’s going to get a piece of me?
He has another thing coming.