by Tijan
started up. Cars were parked on both sides of the driveway, but we inched past them.
“Dude, where are we going to park?”
“Forget that. Look at all these people. We’re going to get trashed tonight.”
Tray kept quiet, glancing at me for a split second.
I grinned when I caught sight of an old friend’s car. He would think it’s a riot, me showing up with the crème de la crème from Rawley’s royalty. No doubt he’d double over in laughter when he saw our entrance.
“Something funny?”
I looked at him. I hadn’t been paying him any attention. I’d been working hard at that, but now, looking at him, my body grew way too aware of him. Feeling a sensation in my stomach, like a tickle, I couldn’t deny that he looked good. He looked more than good. He wore a soft blue shirt that molded to his trim form without being too tight. His arms and that damn tattoo kept drawing my attention. I was itching to explore it better, but I didn’t. My hands curled into my lap. Tray grinned. A smug expression teased at the corner of his lips for a second before it vanished. Then his gaze lifted to mine, and I was burned by it. He wanted me. I could see it. When I flinched and started to look away, his hand touched my leg. I couldn’t look away.
A soft curse slipped from me. A bunch of emotions threatened to unleash inside me, but I clamped them down. This wasn’t the place to deal with this, not when I’d be seeing other Pedlamites.
When the car paused in front of the house, the other two jumped out. I saw my chance to get away, but he said, “Walk up with me.” Anyone else would’ve taken it as a command, but I heard the questioning lilt to his voice. So I sat back and waited as he moved the SUV forward. The rest of our crew did the same thing; each car paused for the passengers to hop out and the cars followed the others, parking side by side at the bottom of the hill.
Tray didn’t move to draw me against his side as we walked up. I was grateful, but at the same time, I was mad at myself—a part of me had hoped he would. I couldn’t stop thinking about his hand on my back, and even now, a small tingle went through me at the idea of him touching me. We walked side by side, not looking at each other, but our arms brushed against each other’s. Every part of my body was awake and anticipating the next touch or graze. He was pulling me in, just by being beside me.
By the time we neared the door, everyone had already gone inside. There were others drinking and lounging on the patio. I glanced around, recognizing a few of them from Pedlam.
“Holy shit!”
I glanced over and went cold. Veronica Teedz teetered on her high heels, beer sloshing over her cup. Her eyes were transfixed on my face as she drew closer. “Taryn? I can’t believe it’s you. It is you or am I that drunk?”
Veronica Teedz had never acknowledged my presence before. “You’re that drunk.” I moved past her, but caught the small grin that flashed over Tray’s face.
People were everywhere inside. Each room was packed tight. A few tables were set up in the corners where people were playing cards. The main floor had a dance floor and music pounded throughout the house. The second, third, and fourth floors were the bedrooms. Hookups and smaller parties congregated there.
Tray grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the kitchen area. He paid for our cups, and after they were filled with beer, he pulled me to his side and murmured in my ear, “You know that girl out there?”
I tilted my head back, my lips brushed against his ear, and I rested a hand on his chest. He was warm and felt like cement under my touch. Even with that slight touch, I wanted to close my eyes and melt into him. Instead, I forced myself to say, “Yeah, not a friend.” I gestured behind us. “I’m going to look around.” I was asking him if that was all right? A part of me flared up. He wasn’t mine. I wasn’t his. Why was I acting like this?
He nodded and turned into the crowd, leaving me alone. There was no argument from him. As he went, people looked up, feeling his presence, watching him. These people didn’t know him, but they reacted to him on an instinctual level. They moved for him, clearing a path so he could go by. Girls from Pedlam continued watching, even after he disappeared from eyesight. I couldn’t blame them. I was struggling with the same need to stare at him. Pushing through the room, I worked my way through the crowd. A few recognized me and gave their hellos. It felt nice, to know that I hadn’t been forgotten, but as I searched the house, there wasn’t anyone I wanted to see. I couldn’t find my friend so I headed in the direction Tray had gone and found him in a back room. Everyone from Rawley had taken root in there. Tray was against a far wall. He was swamped on both sides by people. Even if they didn’t know him, they were pulled in by him. Tray had that power. He had a presence that told the world he didn’t give a damn about anyone or anything. It made him all the more appealing.
Then I saw my friend, Grayley. He was sitting in the middle of a couch. His hair was longer, touching the tops of his shoulders, and his shirt swallowed him, hanging loose over his baggy pants. With almost delicate features, Grayley was given the nickname of Pretty Boy growing up. When he got a few tattoos and a scar down the side of his neck, that nickname went away. To everyone, he was just Grayley now. He fit in with anyone. It was one of his gifts. He was a likeable guy. He had become friends with me and Brian years ago, but he was also good friends with the crème de la crème of the Pedlam circle. If anyone would know why Pedlam had such high security, it would be him.
I started for him, and Tray noticed my intent. He straightened from the wall and frowned. I threw him an uneasy look. I wasn’t doing the job for him, but I was still curious. If he came over, he’d start getting thoughts I didn’t want him to have.
Grayley glanced up and he began to grin, but then a guy I didn't know stepped in between us. After an obnoxious wolf whistle, his gaze raked me up and down, and he sneered at me. “My, my, my. I know who you are.”
“That’s nice—”
“I thought so.” He winked at me.
“But I don’t know you—”
His hand grabbed my hip, and he tried to pull me close. “That’s okay. We can fix that.”
Removing his hand, I finished, “And I don’t care to know you.”
“Then we have a problem.” He stepped back and looked me up and down in an exaggerated motion. “You have got one of the nicest bodies I’ve seen in a long while. In fact.” He tried to draw me to him again. Tray narrowed his eyes. He remained against the wall, and I didn’t know if I was relieved or disappointed. I stopped thinking about Tray and stiffened as the guy’s hand slipped under my shirt. This bastard was going down. My hand lifted, ready to grab his thumb and twist his arm so he would be forced backwards, but I heard from behind me, “Goddamn, Clint. Let go of her.” He was thrown from me and shoved against a wall. The people standing around us scattered, and someone began punching him, hitting him in the face and stomach.
It was Brian. His back was tense, his shoulders tight, and he kept raising his fist to deliver another blow.
For a moment, I couldn’t move. It was Brian…that knowledge seeped in slowly. It had been so long since I had seen him. Then Grayley was in front of me. He yelled at me, “Matthews, do something.”
Shit.
I lunged for them.
“Brian,” Grayley bit out as he moved closer to the fight, trying to wedge himself between them. But Brian and the other guy were inches taller than Grayley and heavily muscled. I knew Brian’s body. He didn’t lift weights, but he didn’t have to. He did construction during the summer, so his body was toned. Grayley was gangly and not athletic at all. He’d be snapped in two.
Tray straightened, hearing the exchange, but he didn’t seem interested in pulling Brian off the guy, though it didn’t matter. Brian was punched, and it wasn’t long before a full scuffle was going on in the room. I grabbed Grayley and tugged him back. He cursed. “They fought over another girl this week too. This ain’t good. Brian’s going to get arrested again.”
Hearing that, a pang went throu
gh me. Another girl? Then the rest registered with me, and I knew he was right. Brian was always arrested before the others; the cops hated him because of Jace, but Brian was beyond listening. The guy had delivered a few hits and then Brian turned his body. He shoved the guy down and delivered hit after hit. No one moved to stop him, and I shot Tray a look. He sighed and then nodded. As he did, his friends waded in and grabbed Brian off of the guy. When the other guy jumped up, ready to lunge for Brian, he was grabbed as well.
Tray gestured to the door. “Take ‘em out.”
They were ushered from the room. As the rest filed behind them, no one complained about the early exit. Tray held back and crossed over to me. Ignoring Grayley’s presence beside me, he asked, “That was your ex?”
My throat had grown thick with emotion. I nodded. I didn’t want to deal with the questions at that moment. Tray seemed to understand. “Let’s go.” He grasped my hand and led the way, weaving through the crowd. We were out the door when Veronica stopped us again. She was even more unsteady on her high heels this time, if that was possible. “I called him. You know, Taryn, Brian’s been miserable. We all know it’s because of you. He wanted to know if you showed up.”
“You called him?”
“Yeah. I did. He loves you. It was the two of you. You guys were so…you guys are perfect together.”
“Yeah, except that we’re not.”
No one knew why we couldn’t be together, or no one cared to understand. Even now, Brian was still fighting against the guys holding him. He wanted to hurt the other guy, who had stopped resisting. He was wary now, his eyebrows bunched forward in concern. Brian yelled at him, “You ass punk. You touch her again and I’ll cut you.”
I sucked in a breath. Brian meant it.
Tray stood beside me, but I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t want to see any condemnation he might have for Brian. Forcing the tears back, I started down the stairs. “Brian.” He paused and turned to me. I said, “Stop it.”
“Taryn.”
“Stop.” He grimaced, hearing the pleading in my voice. “Please, just stop.” I wasn’t referencing just this night. Memories of our past came back to me. The nights I would crawl into his bed, how he took care of me. I felt them as if I were reliving them. His fighting. How he wanted to be a part of Jace’s lifestyle, how he wouldn’t listen to me when I begged him to stay away. Brian wasn’t Jace. Jace was smart and dangerous. Jace would survive no matter what, but Brian wouldn’t. He would get caught. He would go to jail, and I would lose him.
Flashbacks of our fights came to me. The hurt was there, every time he didn’t listen to me and went to buy more drugs. I couldn’t deal with it.
“Taryn,” he started.
The fight had left him, but I shook my head and went past him. I felt Tray beside me.
“Taryn,” Brian called after me.
I couldn’t. I just couldn’t face him. Any conversation with him always ended the same way. He would promise to change. He never did, and I would pick up the pieces. I couldn’t do that tonight, not this time.
I kept going, hugging myself. Tray never touched me. The sight of it would’ve enraged Brian again. I was relieved, but a part of me wanted it too. I shook my head. I couldn’t deal with Brian’s jealousy, not tonight anyway.
“TARYN!”
I turned and disappeared from his sight. Tray’s SUV blocked his view. When I got inside, he asked, “You okay?”
“No.”
He didn’t start the engine. Instead, he sat there and waited a few minutes. Then he asked, “What do you want to do?”
“Leave.”
He did as I asked. As we drove past the house, Brian was gone. I didn’t want to know where he had gone, but Grayley was still there. I told Tray to stop and rolled my window down. “Gray.”
Grayley approached the car. “Holy fuck, Tar.” He groaned, shaking his head. “Holy hell for fuck’s sake.”
“I didn’t know that was going to happen. I didn’t know someone would call him.”
Grayley was eyeing Tray, but he murmured, “Yeah, well, for what it’s worth, he’s been off the rails since you left him. Everyone’s on edge at school. That guy was one out of ten that he’s fought just this month.”
I shook my head. “I couldn't handle being with him anymore.”
“We know. He knows. I think that’s why he’s like a loose cannon more than normal lately. He can’t blame you for leaving. No one can.”
Those words should’ve made me feel better. They didn’t. “Will you watch him for me? Call me if anything bad happens to him?”
He nodded. “Yeah, sure. Another day in the life of a Lanser, huh?”
A sad laugh came from me. “Yeah.”
“Okay.” He leaned around me and said to Tray, “Take her home. Knowing Taryn, she’s ready to crash.”
“Thanks, Grayley.”
He nodded. A rueful smile graced his features and his eyes grew solemn. “Miss you around town, though.”
“Miss you too.”
He laughed and stepped back, then gestured to the road. “Get out of here, Matthews. I’ll call if I need to.”
“Okay.” I nodded. As Tray pulled forward, I kept looking at Grayley until he was out of sight. Then I rolled the window up and huddled against it, pressing my forehead against the glass.
CHAPTER FOUR
It wasn’t long until Tray’s phone went off. “Yeah,” he answered. A moment later, “Nah. Have fun. Grant knows the way back.”
His phone rang again, then again. He had the same conversation.
I glanced over. “A lot of people want you to go back to the party.”
He glanced sideways at me and then my phone rang, interrupting anything he might’ve said. I reached for my phone, but Tray caught my hand. “What?” It kept ringing.
“You know who that will be.”
Brian.
A weight dropped onto my shoulders and I nodded. I knew. This was part of breaking up. When he saw I was going to answer anyway, he let go and I held it to my ear. “Brian?”
He demanded, “Where are you?”
“I got a ride home.”
“I saw you, remember? Where are you? Why are you with that punk Evans and why was Clint hitting on you tonight?” He paused. I couldn’t answer before he added, “Were you teasing him? Shit. Are you teasing both of them?”
I frowned. This wasn’t Brian, or this wasn’t my Brian. He was hotheaded and a loose cannon, but he had never turned his rage against me before. I looked at Tray and saw that he had heard. Judging from the chill radiating off him and the set of his jaw, he wasn’t happy.
“Brian, you need to calm down.”
“The fucker was all over you. He was two inches from—”
“I was handling him.”
Tray pulled the car over and watched me. A knot had formed in my gut and the longer he remained silent, just listening, the more it grew. I didn’t know how this was going to turn out, but I closed my eyes and concentrated on one thing. Brian needed to calm down.
“You were handling him? You’re the one who’s delusional, Tar. He needs to know that you’re still my property. He fucks with me if he even goes near you.”
“Brian.” I wasn’t his property. He knew that. “Are you trying to piss me off now?”
He stopped, then let out a harsh laugh. “Are you kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Brian, stop.”
“No, you stop. You left, Taryn. You walked away from me, but you’re still mine—”
I ended the call. Grayley was right. Brian needed to be reined in, but I couldn’t do it. That wasn’t my place. I didn’t know why I asked Grayley to keep tabs on him. I couldn’t do anything about him anymore, but someone could and I knew only one person that Brian might listen to. His brother.
“We need to go somewhere.”
“Where?”
“You’re not going to like it.”
He frowned, then started the car. “Just tell me w
here.”
It was thirty minutes later when he shook his head, eyeing the nightclub. “Am I going to get killed in there?”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The Seven8 was home to Jace Lanser, Brian’s older brother. Brian and Jace had a love/hate relationship, but Jace had something that Brian didn’t: discipline. Brian was smart. But Jace was smarter and ruthless.
“Come on. You’ll be fine.” I climbed out of the SUV. Going to his side, I added, “Just don’t say anything.”
Tray didn’t look appeased, but he followed me.
