Chapter 5 #2
I shake my head, and swipe the bottle of Macallan off the table, pour some into a tumbler, and shoot it back as I welcome the burn down my throat.
The amber liquid settles in my stomach and I focus on its warmth.
I need to get my head on straight. Riley being here should be the least of my problems. Her fate will come to light soon enough.
Until then, I’ll continue to have fun with her.
Well, fun for me anyway. I pour a shot for the three of us and slide them across the table.
I clap my hands and rub them together, sliding into an effortless smile. “Alright. Eyes on the prize, boys. Have fun.”
They both nod and clink their glasses before downing the shots.
More than half the school’s here now. The bass of the music pouring from the speakers outside rattle the walls as Centuries from Fall Out Boy plays.
Most students are out back surrounding the large fire, dancing and chatting with one another while others are inside and around the bar in the kitchen.
The distinct clack of balls clanging together draws me to the game room where several students are playing pool.
Zander’s in deep conversation with some of the fourth-year students.
We’ve worked with them on and off, but we’ve kept our distance, not entirely sure their ambitions align with ours.
I’ll have to check in with him later to get his opinion.
The biggest problem I have is Riley still isn’t here.
Zander said he texted Ava. And they are on their way, but that was a half an hour ago.
It doesn’t take that long to get to the edge of campus.
I should know. I’ve already mapped out how long it will take if I need to get to her dorm.
Eighteen minutes if I’m walking, ten minutes if I run.
Never know when that information will come in handy.
Unless she’s not coming and Ava came alone.
I know Zander would have told her to not walk alone though, so Riley should be with her.
I’ve been monitoring the door and I haven’t seen them come in.
Did she walk around back and I missed her?
I banish the thought from my mind as soon as it enters.
It would be wise for her to stay far, far away from me; but I don’t want her to.
I want her in my sights as often as I can.
I want her on edge, waiting for the next shoe to drop.
She’s mine.
Mine to tease.
Mine to torment.
My phone buzzes with a new message, and I dig it out of my pocket to look.
Wesley:
She’s here.
Those are the two words I’ve been hoping to read since this party started.
Me:
Where?
Wesley:
Kitchen. I’m being a gracious host and getting her a drink. ;)
I motion to Zander that they’re here and he excuses himself to follow me.
We walk into the kitchen, a smirk playing on my lips as I watch her smile and thank Wesley before sipping her drink.
As soon as the alcohol hits her throat, she coughs and tries to hide it by covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
Wesley grins. “It gets better the more you drink. Have a little more.” He pushes the bottom of her drink toward her mouth again, but she holds her hand steady.
She shakes her head and says, “Maybe later. I want to check out the bonfire and meet some of the other students.” She turns her attention to Ava and a guy she’s with. “Wanna come?”
The guy in question smiles warmly at her and places his hand on the small of her back as he directs her to the back door.
My nostrils flare with hatred. I take a step forward and Wesley puts his hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
He has absolutely no right to touch her.
I clench my jaw, the muscles in my neck straining against the pressure.
They turn to leave, but Zander snatches the drink from Ava’s hand.
She gasps in surprise and when she tries to get it back, he shakes his head.
“You’re underage,” Zander warns.
“So is every other first year and second-year student, but you aren’t stopping them,” she sasses, pointing to the drink in Riley’s hand.
Ava is the only one who I know can talk back to Zander and will live to tell the tale.
Pointebreak is the last place Zander wanted his baby sister.
She’s too sweet for our world. Too…innocent.
She’s going to get a reality check over the next four years.
While Zan doesn’t think she can handle it.
I know she can. Under her happy-go-lucky exterior is a warrior.
She’s got grit, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.
“They aren’t my sister,” he replies, his word final.
“Buzzkill,” she mutters under her breath as she walks out the door with Riley and the guy.
“Who is he?” I raise my eyebrow in their retreating direction. I sip my drink, acting as nonchalant as possible, as I wait for an answer.
“That’s Nick Halpin. His father is worth one point two billion and I’m planning on getting my hands on some of his fortune.
His family’s close to ours. Nick and I have never run in the same circles, but that’s not from his lack of trying.
Don’t do anything stupid,” Zander warns from behind me.
His voice is so low that only I can hear him.
I stand down and rub my jaw, easing some of the pressure.
I nod once, letting him know I’ve heard him as I keep my eyes training on Riley through the open door.
Easy for him to say that. I bet if Nick was all over Ava, he’d feel differently about it.
Riley looks around her. For a moment I think she’s looking for me, but then I watch her tip the contents of her cup into a bush and I can’t help but smile for real.
“Looks like she won’t be as easy a target as we thought, Wes.”
His eyes follow mine, as she tips her cup upright again. A barely there smile plays on his lips as he shrugs. “Good. This will make it more fun. I love a challenge.”
I survey the crowd. It looks like some of our classmates are already enjoying themselves a little too much.
Wes’s elixir is hitting hard. Not that I’m surprised.
The older students know better than to touch anything in a tub, but these first years don’t know what’s good for them.
Drugs and alcohol aren’t uncommon in most of these families, and a lot of students are looking for their next fix.
The older girls who are already feeling the effects just don’t care.
I know several of them are hoping to warm one of our beds tonight.
It’s nothing new. Keep your life private and people think you’re an enigma, a mystery they want to be the first to solve.
I’m too fucked up for anyone to solve my issues. And I don’t need someone thinking they can fix me.
I scan the crowd and land on a familiar favorite, Stella.
I don’t do relationships, but I do her. She’s great when I need to blow off some steam, and she’s always willing.
The problem is, I’m not the only one she’s willing to play with and I don’t enjoy sharing.
I guess that’s what happens when you’re an only child.
I’ve been spending less and less time in her company, and she’s noticed.
“Hey handsome,” she says, molding her body to my side.
I keep scanning the crowd, ignoring the twitch of my cock.
It knows damn well what a good time she is, even if my brain tells me it’s a bad idea tonight.
She drags her finger along the side of my jaw and boops my nose to gain my attention when I don’t look at her.
“Not now, Stella. Go find someone else’s cock to fall on.”
She flushes red and digs her nails into my forearm in warning.
I flick my eyes from my arm to her face, and clench my jaw, waiting for her to realize her mistake.
No one touches me without consent. She knows this from the amount of times I’ve tied her hands behind her back to keep them there.
She’s starved for attention and knows I don’t play her mind games.
She releases me, but doesn’t move. “Julien, don’t be like that. We had a good thing going. Why not take it one step further?”
I would rather slit my wrists than be involved with her in any capacity than an easy lay. “You’re a distraction, and my time here’s valuable.”
She steps directly in front of me and runs her fingers through my hair, clasping them behind my neck, holding me against her. “It doesn’t have to be anything serious. We can keep it casual like we always have. You know you’re my favorite.”
I reach behind me and grab both her wrists in my hands and squeeze. She flinches in my grasp, but drops her hands to her sides like an obedient girl.
“I don’t do sloppy seconds. Go. Away,” I growl in her face.
I brush past her in search of the one person I need to keep my eyes on—Riley.
She’s sticking close with Ava and chatting with other students.
She smiles and laughs like everything is right in her world, when I know for a fact that’s not the case.
I should focus on building additional relationships, but I can’t seem to stop myself from watching her instead.
Every glance is a hit to the bloodstream.
Sharp, sweet, and impossible to resist. I step outside the doors and the smell of smoke and burning wood fills my senses.
It’s a better turnout than last year. We always have some that don’t attend for whatever reason.
Riley leans in to Ava and says something to her above the noise.
She nods and Riley turns toward the house.
She passes by several students, but most don’t pay her any attention, too busy in their own conversations.
And why would they? No one knows who she is yet.
But her anonymity isn’t long for this world.
By morning, Riley’s name will be on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
“What are you going to do about her?” Wesley asks as he watches her get closer to us.
All three of us have had eyes on her since the moment she showed up, and each for a different reason.
Zander’s thoughts are a mystery. He studies his subjects before deciding how to act.
I know he’s watching and waiting to see what her move will be.
Plus, he’s keeping tabs on his baby sister, so it’s a win-win.
Wes eyes her as if he wants to devour her, like she is the high he's craved for so long.
He licks his lips as her hips sway with every step she takes.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
She walks inside. Then heads down the hallway and up the stairs.
Where are you headed to? We haven’t made upstairs off limits, but most know not to snoop.
There’s a single bathroom, and three bedrooms on the top floor, all of which have their own private ensuite.
They added those rooms later during renovations to the house.
I follow behind her, but keep myself at a suitable distance so she doesn’t realize I’m watching her.
Riley stops at the top of the stairs, looking around, wondering which of the four closed doors to try.
She starts on her right, and knocks, but someone tells her to go away.
Guess that bathroom will have to be scrubbed.
She takes a tiny step back and looks at the two doors on the left, but starts moving toward the one at the end of the hall instead.
My room.
She knocks, and when no one answers, she cracks open the door and peers into the darkness. I should have locked the door. I usually do, but tonight I was distracted. The door closes with a gentle thud as it hits the frame but doesn’t latch, leaving a whisper of space between the frame and the door.
Looks like my little Riley doesn’t know when to stop.