Chapter 3 #2
As he exited the building and made his way across the quad, he thought about how excited his mom had looked, talking about the retreat.
She must have attended the past two years, but prior to that, the two had been business partners, but her main focus had been on their own company.
It wasn’t until the wedding that she’d merged Vadim Enterprise with Hart Holding.
Rhys wanted them to present as one big happy family for appearances, and Rue knew his mom wanted the same thing for much the same reason, but there was a part of him that also hoped she wanted Rue to be happy. That she thought bringing them together like this would help Rue find happiness.
They weren’t close, but he wouldn’t say they were distant either.
It was more that they each went about their own lives.
He didn’t know anything too personal about her, and she never asked about him past his grades or whether or not he’d had a good day.
At twenty-one, he’d wanted to get his own apartment when he returned to the planet, but she’d insisted he stay with her at the Hart estate.
Her reasoning had been that she’d missed him, and like an eager child, he’d eaten that excuse up, even knowing it most likely wasn’t true.
Aside from meals, however, the two barely spoke, even living under the same roof.
The commotion got his attention on the second floor of the main music building before he turned the corner and caught sight of the crowd. With a frown, he picked up his pace, pushing his way through until he was standing in front of the entrance to the studio room he tended to use.
His mouth dropped open when he saw what everyone was upset about.
The recording studio was trashed. Red paint had been poured all over the soundboards and smeared over the glass divider separating it from the recording booth.
“Which one of you pissed off a Black Hart?” Siena, the president of the music club, asked the crowd.
Rue’s gaze moved to the corner of the glass where a heart had been drawn with a finger through the paint.
He was pushing his way back out before he knew what he intended, racing through the halls and down the stairs, practically taking them two at a time. His feet took him to the section of campus nearby, where the hypovolley team was doing their early afternoon practice.
It was easy enough to pick Ryker out from the rest of the team, even with them zipping across the field. Rue almost took a ball to the head, ignoring the gasps and the calls to watch out.
That got Ryker’s attention and he turned from where he’d been doing drills with his friend, and fellow Black Hart, Ellery.
“What—” Ryker caught Rue’s backpack when he flung it at him, then stumbled when it was swiftly followed by Rue’s right fist.
Ellery snorted but didn’t come to his friend’s defense.
The rest of the team went quiet.
Ryker dropped Rue’s bag to the ground and then prodded at his split lip with his thumb, growling when it came back bloodstained.
“Why would you do that?” Rue demanded, allowing the anger to fuel him mostly so sense and reason couldn’t find their way through. He’d just decked a Black Hart in public. That was practically a death wish.
“Gotta be more specific, little brother,” Ryker drawled, using the new nickname Rue loathed.
“The recording room.” He knew it was Ryker’s doing. Had to be.
“Thought you didn’t need it anymore,” the Black Hart said, snickering when Rue frowned. “Since you’re going to be joining the company after graduation anyway, right?”
He didn’t understand.
“Are you mad about that?” It wasn’t like they’d be in the same departments. Ryker was studying business, had been preparing to join for years.
“Why? You think I’d be happy over the idea of having to see your face every day at the office?
” Ryker’s humor drained away, leaving behind the lethal man Rue had been fortunate enough to only catch glimpses of in the past. He took a threatening step forward, and Rue retreated without thinking.
“Yeah, that’s more like it. Run away, little brother.
Be the scared little bitch you always have been. ”
Rue bristled, but it wasn’t entirely untrue. The difference this time, however, was he wasn’t the only one being affected by the man’s bullying.
“Other people need to use that equipment, Ryker.” He gathered the remainder of his anger and glared. “Coming at me is one thing, but—”
Ryker’s hand was on his throat in a flash, squeezing hard enough to cut off airflow. He shook him once. “Don’t you dare pretend like you’re a caring individual. Where was that thoughtfulness when I needed you? Huh? Where was that conscience and moral high ground then?”
Rue’s vision was starting to blacken around the edges.
Ellery let out a low whistle. “Ryk. You’re only hurting yourself, man.”
What did that mean?
Ryker didn’t give Rue long to think it over, slipping his grip to the back of his neck and hauling Rue forward until they were chest to chest. “You chose a very public place to find your balls,” his voice dropped, the words meant for just the two of them.
“You aren’t leaving me much of a choice here. ”
“Always have to save face.” Rue almost accused him of being like his father in that regard, but smartly stopped himself. “You started it.”
“Do you really believe that?” Ryker asked.
He dropped his gaze.
“Good,” the Black Hart seemed pleased by that reaction. “Go sit on the bleachers.”
“What?”
“You’re going to sit there and watch me for the rest of practice,” Ryker told him.
“No.”
“Yes. And, little brother?” He brought his face dangerously close, their lips a mere breath away, and Rue felt his heart skip several beats, praying it went unnoticed.
“If I see you’ve taken your eyes off me for even a second, I’ll do more than wreck a single recording room.
Want to pretend to be a good guy so badly? Then do as you’re told and go.”
Rue stood his ground for a moment after he was released, some of his old personality—and stubbornness—shining through the shell he’d become. But then Ryker quirked a daring brow, and his words hit home.
Snatching his bag off the field, Rue stormed across it to the bleachers, trying desperately not to notice the way the other players all stared at him.
And how badly he’d wished for the Black Hart to kiss him just now.