The Pact

13

THEA

I see now why Cole insisted on making so much food. It seems in their house a quiet night with friends doesn’t exist. Damian, Sutton, and Wesley insisted on joining us at the table. Thankfully, Cassie and Anthony didn’t mind.

We barely got a word in at dinner, the guys all laughing and shouting over one another. Even Anthony joined in.

Cassie and I use cleaning up as an excuse to catch up. I’m placing the stack of plates in the sink when she busts me. “You looked awfully flustered when we got here. Everything ok?” My face warms at her question. “Yeah, a lot like that. Cheeks all blushy and darting eyes.”

I can tell her. I’ve told her worse things in the past.She must see the hesitation cross my face because she huddles in close—curiosity and concern make her brows raise and eyes widen.

“You guys interrupted a little… bonding time,” I say, hushed, scanning the room to make sure no one hears us.

Cassie bumps me on the shoulder. “Oh, yeah?” I shoot her a look that tells her to calm down.

“We obviously didn’t get to finish and now I-I’m all—”

“Frustrated,” she finishes for me. I nod. “I don’t think you’ll have to wait too much longer. He couldn’t stop staring at you during dinner.” Cassie winks and starts rinsing the dishes off.

“God, I hope so. The way he touches me… I feel like I’m twenty again, like everything is new and exciting.” I pause mid wiping up the counter and she meets my eyes. “He’s just perfect.”

I know the stupid smile on my face worries her. She’ll think that I’m falling too fast and that I won’t learn from my mistakes. I know because it’s the same fear I have. I’m scared that Cole isn’t as amazing as he seems, however, I’m more scared that he is, because if it’s true, then I know there’s no hope for me.

More than him being perfect for me is another worry that’s been haunting me. If this turns serious, how do we navigate his bond with his brothers? I would never want to drive a wedge between them. But can I see myself living here with all of them and anyone else they might bring in? Like one big happy family?

Cassie pulls me from my clashing thoughts. “How did it go with Gavin today? Did he finally get the hint?”

I wish I could give her better news. “No, unfortunately, he’s going to ‘do whatever it takes’ to get me back. Whatever that means. I give him a week before he caves and goes crying back home because he didn’t get his way.” We share identical expressions of understanding. “Get this. He says that he’s made all these changes for me. Working out, drinking less, meditation. Apparently, that was what I wanted for twelve years. Not respect or honesty or kindness. I wanted a sober Zen gym bro.” Cassie laughs wholeheartedly at my mock mediation pose. “You should have seen how pathetic he looked. Begging me to take him back and yelling across the restaurant like a lunatic.”

“Fuc-”

Cassie’s about to give Gavin the big F U, when Damian strolls into the kitchen. Her mouth snaps shut, but it’s too late. Those ice-blue eyes dance with intrigue.

“Gavin? Isn’t that your ex?” He already knows the answer. I can tell by the way he cocks his head and smirks. I mentioned it the night I met him when I was talking with Sutton. “He’s in town?” Jesus, how much had he heard? We were quiet, unless he was intentionally listening in.

“What does is matter, Damian?” I play it off coolly, knowing this could complicate things. The lie I told Cole earlier could unravel.

He shrugs. “It matters,” he states plainly.

I roll my eyes at him, figuring if I answer the question, he might leave us alone. “Yes, but not for long.”

Damian rounds the island, tapping his fingers on the marble as he comes closer to me. I back up a little, but he has me cornered. “Is he going to be a problem? For you and Cole?”

His head tilts, analyzing me as I get ready to answer. “I-I don’t think so. I told him to leave. He thought he could convince me to get back together with him.” He nods, lowering his gaze as if he’s contemplating something.

“And will you? Get back together with him?”

I grimace at his question. “Never.”

“Good. Now, what’s Gavin’s last name?” Damian demands more than asks.

I scoff. “Damian, there’s absolutely no reason you need that information. He’s leaving. Everything is fine.”

He gives me a smirk. I glance over his shoulder at Cassie. Her arms are crossed. She’s giving me a look that’s asking me if I want her to step in. I shake my head.

“Listen, I’m asking for his last name out of consideration. You can either give it to me or I’ll find it on my own. The first option earns you my respect. The second pisses me off.”

I can’t believe he’s trying to strong arm me right now. I barely know the guy. He must think I’m intimidated by him. Maybe I should be. He’s towering over me, eyes hardened and muscles taut. Unless I stand my ground, he’ll think I’m a pushover.

Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders. “First, I’d have to care about earning your respect. I don’t. Second, nothing would bring me greater joy than pissing you off.”

Cassie lets out a cackle that makes Damian scowl.

After he watched Cole and I, in the pool for who knows how long and teased his brother about it, my desire to be on good terms with him is non-existent. He can threaten me to his heart’s content.

“Theadora Noelle Griffin. Born in Atlanta, Georgia on March second. Graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in photography. Daughter of Kendra and Alan Griffin. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. I told you, I work in tech. I’m giving you the option to give me his name. If you don’t, I’ll have to dig really deep into your past.”

I swallow hard. What a fucking psychopath! “You’re sick,” I snap, my jaw clenching in anger. “Tallentire.” I hate that he’s bested me. However, my past is a sensitive subject—he can have Gavin.

“Creep,” Cassie mutters under her breath. I sense she wants to say more, yet isn’t keen on being a target of his.

Damian had all of that info ready to go and memorized. “Why do you know all of that about me?” Nausea churns in my stomach as I realize he might know much more. My brows pull tightly together as I eye him suspiciously.

Damian’s mouth presses into a tight line. “I’m protecting my family and that means knowing who they associate with. You can never be too careful. For all I knew, you could’ve been a criminal with a mile long rap sheet, looking for her next mark. You could’ve been a con-artist or a murderer.”

The con-artist accusation hits home. My cheeks flush red knowing that I have conned people. The faces of the men at the bars over the last year flash through my memory. I don’t remember any of them specifically, only bits and pieces. While he’s dead on, I haven’t been caught, so there’s no proof.

“I’m none of those things. I’ve never even had a speeding ticket,” I say, hating that the tone of my voice is more defensive that I’d like it to be.

This time, he gives me a devious smirk. “I know that, now.” For a moment, with the way the kitchen lighting hits his deep auburn hair and the flame from the fireplace frames his back, he appears devilish.

I have the distinct feeling that after the night is over, Damian will find every piece of information on my ex that he can. I already know his 3 DUIs will come up. That’s about it. He won’t find the thing that worries me most because there wasn’t a police report made the night he put his hands on me.

That’s a secret I’m taking to the grave.

“That’s it. I’m done.” Cassie throws down her stack of cards and stands up in frustration. Anthony and Wesley have been slamming her for the last hour with draw four cards and skipping her turn just to piss her off. She might never play Uno again, if that scowl on her face is any indication.

Cole leans over the back of the couch, refilling mine and Cassie’s glasses of wine. He kisses my cheek before he returns to the kitchen. I take a sip to hide the laughter that bubbles up in my throat, afraid of her wrath.

Cassie is a sore loser. There’s no other way to say it. “If you guys would play fair and stop targeting me, then I might’ve had a chance.”

Wesley throws his hands up defensively. “Woah. Who’s not playing fair? There’s nothing in the rules about going after the competition. See, the secret is,” he says, his voice real low, “you have to form an alliance.” Wesley slaps a hand on Anthony’s back.

Laughter erupts from everyone except Cassie.

This must be the version of Wesley that’s made him the town favorite of the four brothers. I don’t get this version and I’m surprised he’s let loose this much in front of me.

From across the table, I meet his deep brown eyes and for a moment we share in that laughter together. The soft edges of his lips contrast with the powerful angles of his jaw—he’s beautiful. Then he realizes that it’s me and his bright smile fades—leaving a hardened, joyless face. It’s sobering.

Sutton throws an arm around me and my fingers instinctively entwine with his, drawing my attention away from his brother’s discontentment. I smile tightly, knowing he’ll read me like a book. He gives me a sweet grin, the double loops circling his lip glint in the light—despite the effort, it’s not lifting my mood.

He leans down, his nose brushing lightly over my ear. “Don’t let him get to you,” He whispers. Easier said than done. Something about his warm breath tickling my ear and his closeness makes pressure build between my thighs. I put some distance between us, unhooking my fingers from his.

I sneak a look back in Wesley’s direction. He’s downing the rest of his beer, smacking it onto the table and muttering ‘goodnight’ before heading down to his room.

Between Damian prying into my past and Wesley’s refusal to relax around me, I’m not sure how Cole will keep me around when half of his family doesn’t like me. At least I have Sutton. Sweet, soulful Sutton.

Damian watches his brother stalk off as he tips his beer back. His eyes connect with mine. He lifts the bottle at me and winks. My face twists in disgust and I turn to look at Cassie.

Anthony’s gotten her to calm down a little. She’s sitting in his lap and his fingers are gripping her chin so she has to meet his gaze. She’s tiny compared to him. Not only in height, she’s lean and athletic from years of playing sports while he’s tall and built like a giant.

I study them for a moment. I can’t hear what he’s saying, although with each word, I watch the tension slip from her body until she’s relaxing into him.

I grab my camera that’s been sitting on the end table and snap a couple of pictures. They’ll want this later. I’ve been doing this all night and I think everyone has gotten used to it by now. I did the same thing at the pool once the humiliation wore off.

The guys cooked some food while I photographed them, laughing and arguing. They seemed put off by it at first, but I think Cole explained it”s a photographer thing.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. It brings me back to the present. Glancing back, I see Cole smiling at me.

Aside from a couple of hitches, the night was a success. It gives me hope that there will be many more like this. I can see Cassie and I lounging by the pool as the guys argue over the best way to grill a steak. Movie nights in the theater, snacking on pounds of horrible buttery and sugary treats.

I feel the smile creeping onto my face and put a stop to it—reminding myself that I’ve only known Cole for a couple of weeks. I need to slow it down because right now, my heart is going full speed.

“We should head out, it’s getting late,” Anthony announces, wrapping his arm around a tipsy Cassie. I grab her purse off of the couch and walk them to their car.

Before she climbs inside, she shuts the passenger door and I think she’s had too much to drink. I’m about to open it when she stops me.

“What was that?” She questions and I can’t tell if she’s upset, curious, puzzled or all of the above.

My face scrunches. “What?”

Cassie dramatically shoves her hand towards the house. “That! Those guys, they…they…” And I can see her stumbling to find the words. I want to help her, yet for once, I’m completely at a loss for what she wants to say. She takes a breath and centers herself. “The way they all acted in there, it was,” she pauses for a moment, “strange, Thea. It was really fucking strange.”

My mind searches and sifts through the evening’s events, looking for anything and all I come up with was Damian’s weird inquisition about Gavin and Wesley stalking off.

“I mean Cole, he’s fine, that makes sense. But Damian knowing so much about you. Holding hands with Sutton. Wesley, giving you the death stare.”

I shrug. “Like Damian said, he wants to protect his family. Was it kinda creepy? Yeah. They have money, though, so I’m sure this is normal. Your parents are well off. They never looked anyone up?” Cassie’s eyes shoot downwards. “Oh my God. Cassie, did they look me up?” My voice climbs and I have to bring the volume back down. She nods once.

I’m annoyed that I come off as someone who might need their background checked. So much for privacy.

I shake it off, for now, and continue. “As for Sutton, we were super close in college. You know that. We’d always hold hands and practically sit on top of each other. It’s not weird or anything. Wesley…well I think he hates me, not sure why. Damian must have told him I’m not a thief, so he doesn’t have to worry about me stealing his money like Cole’s last girlfriend did.” I’m rambling, but I’m still not seeing the need for her reaction. She’s blowing it out of proportion.

“Let me tell you what you didn’t seem to notice. Them taking turns to fill up your wine glass. Damian serving you dinner. Sutton getting you a bowl of ice cream. They were doting on you.” My laugh comes out harsh, yet when I meet her gaze, I notice she’s completely serious.

“Oh, you’re not joking?” I take a moment to go over the evening. She isn’t wrong. “Cass, I’m still a guest in their home. They were being hospitable. Did they not do the same thing for you?” Her eyes narrow, knowing that I’m right.

“Fine, what about the four of them not missing the opportunity to stare at your ass when you bent over to pick up the cards you dropped? Or Damian’s eyes on your mouth practically the whole night, like he wanted to kiss you. Wesley eyeing your tits like he’s never seen a pair. Sutton staring at your legs every time you shifted in your seat.”

I didn’t notice any of that. I can’t even recall any of them paying that much attention to me tonight. “I think that you’re reading way too much into this. They’re guys, guys who live with a bunch of other guys and apparently don’t date much. Of course they’re going to stare. I mean, have you seen what I’m wearing?” I give a playful spin, sending the bottom of my dress twirling around me. Apparently, I’m a little tipsy as well.

“I don’t know Thea. It kinda seemed like they were all into you. And that seems like trouble waiting to happen.” I roll my eyes.

I send Cassie off with a warning to not be so paranoid and to get some sleep. I want to brush off her comments, but I can’t. My mind replays the night over and over, wondering if I was that dense or if she was right. Damn her detailed eye, picking up on any and every insignificant thing. Leaving me with all the pieces to try and make sense of.

I head inside, hoping I’ll only find Cole. Coming face to face with his brothers wouldn’t end well with Cassie’s words swirling in my mind.

Tonight, my wine hazy head needs some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll sort through her claims.

DAMIAN

The front door closes and I know it’s Thea coming back inside. She’s probably heading downstairs to Cole. The thought irks me a little.

Her presence around here these last two weeks has shifted something between my brothers. I’m not sure I like it. I’m getting impatient with Cole and his moodiness. Wesley is equally moody. That’s normal for him. He has his ups and downs, although he’s extra pissy when she’s around. Sutton’s been strangely energetic.

Thea’s affecting each of us differently. She makes me want to push her buttons just as much as she wants to push mine. That comment about not caring to earn my respect should have pissed me off. Instead, I found it amusing.

That pretty mouth of hers needs a lesson in manners.

I’ve been on edge trying to manage these changes. After all, I’m the oldest and that means I’m responsible for all of us, no matter what. But it wasn’t always that way.

Wesley was the one we turned to when we were younger. Mostly because he’s always been massive. We became quick friends when he saw some assholes bullying me about my pathetic lunch in fourth grade and knocked one of them out. Got detention and everything over a kid he didn’t know. After that, we started eating together every day.

I’ve never told him, but he saved me. Growing up poor and beaten by my drunken stepdad nightly, I was doomed to follow in my parent’s footsteps or worse. My will to live at ten years old was dwindling. I didn’t see the point. Until I met him.

Wes wasn’t all muscle. Despite his own shitty situation, he was always joking and had that stupid grin on his face. I needed a ray of light in my life—he was that for me.

Not only for me. He did the same for Sutton. That man is a savior. It’s why I give him a lot of leeway these days. I’ll put up with his moodiness because he tolerated mine when he didn’t have to. I need to figure out a way to navigate these changes with as little damage as possible.

Unfortunately, I know what will probably resolve most of these problems. I’m hoping that isn’t why Cole’s been acting out—that would be a disaster. He needs to tell her the truth and soon, before she causes a rift that we can’t fix.

My fingers fly across the keyboard. I have two monitors in front of me and dozens of screens on each. Various projects, both personal and professional that require my attention. Right now, I’m working on a personal one.

Gavin Tallentire’s name sits in the search bar. I hit the enter button.

I’m proud of Thea for giving up his name, even if she fought to keep it to herself. I didn’t need her to tell me, honestly I already had it. That was an exercise to gauge her reception to my need to protect my family.

I’ve pegged her as someone who’s independent to a fault. She’ll likely help anyone who asks, even if asking for help in return isn’t her strong suit. I picked up on that when she told us that Cassie had to convince her to move here for months before she finally caved.

Even when it’s in her best interest, she doesn’t want to let anyone protect or provide for her. That will change. She has no choice.

The most interesting part of our conversation earlier was when I revealed what I know about her, a glimpse of the info I’ve gathered. She doesn’t know the full extent of it. However, I could see in her eyes that she was terrified that I’d keep digging. What are you scared of me finding, Thea?

It takes less than five minutes to find out everything I need to know. Gavin’s age, where he was born, pictures of his family, his address, and phone number. His record also comes up. DUIs and… assault.

I pull up the court record. Dismissed. I dig a little farther. He was eighteen, just about to head off to college. I type the Judge’s name into my system. A handful of pictures come onto the screen.

I scroll through them. Most are insignificant. But then I spot something. I toggle back to the screen with pictures of Gavin’s family. Sure enough, the Judge and Gavin’s dad are golfing buddies.

Reopening the case file, I see it was a seventeen-year-old girl accusing him. There are photos of bruises on her body. Fuck, he’s a monster.

Does Thea know about this? No, I can’t imagine she’d be with him if she knew. Had he put his hands on her while they were together? The thought sends an irrational surge of anger through me.

She said this guy wouldn’t be trouble, yet as I stare at his smug face on my screen, I have a feeling that isn’t true.