by Angel Lawson
What kind of fresh hell is this?
I ask as much.
“It’s just fun, Eden,” Rochelle says. “Loosen up and have fun.”
Fun isn’t something I’m used to. In fact, it feels dangerous. If I have fun, I’ll let down my guard and any one of these Brats could get the best of me. She leaves me and heads to the paint table where boys and girls are participating in what appears to be innocent but has a slightly sexual energy. I spot Theo’s tall frame among the students, and Gray is happily stamping his handprint on anyone willing to be his canvas.
I feel the flare-up of jealousy but push it aside. I made it perfectly clear I didn’t want them interfering with my life.
I’d avoided all the boys for the past few days. Theo and I still have our swim lessons, but I’ve managed to make progress and stop having breakdowns. Gray is nice, as always, it’s in his nature to try to charm everyone he meets, but I can’t let myself get swayed by them.
And Hawk?
Well, he’s avoiding me as much as I’m avoiding him. So really, that works out fine.
I don’t know if it’s the boys or just knowing I can’t stand around sulking all night that makes me approach the table and look at the wide array of supplies. I’m trying to decide on a color when I hear, “You look like you may need a hand.” I look up and see Trip holding out a freshly painted palm. He smiles. “Get it?”
“Yeah, I get it,” I say, looking back at the supplies on the table. “You’re hilarious.”
“Is this your first football game?”
I nod. “How’d you know?”
He shrugs. “Mostly it’s the look of horror on your face. You think this is all terribly pedestrian.”
Over his shoulder, I see Theo watching us closely. “It’s a little lame—even for a bunch of Brats.”
He smiles, devilishly handsome. “It’s the perfect hiding place.”
“For what?” I ask, trying to follow.
“Two hundred students packed into the bleachers. The energy is high, and the adults are preoccupied with the game. It’s debauchery in plain sight. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. All of it takes place in the stands.”
“Like I said, lame.” I make a face. “And gross.”
He casually brushes his hair out of his eyes. “I know you think you’re better than us, but maybe if you relaxed a little, you’d realize it’s fun.”
“Like the kind of fun Luke and Rochelle were having?”
He stills. “That went a little too far, but yeah, I suspect if you ask your roommate she was more into that scene than she’d like to admit.”
He’s probably right. “I’m surprised you get into all of this. Back home, you want to be one of us,” I nod to Gray and Theo, who are clearly monitoring us, “or really, one of them, but inside this place, who are you? Are you a creep like Luke? A pervert like Phillip. A cheat? A junkie?”
His blue eyes hold mine and he reaches out with that painted hand and rests it on my waist, fingers spread, marking me. “I’m the one that can get you anything you desire, and the relationships I made outside of Sparrowood, even down in that shit-hole you call home, helps me provide that.”
“Anything I want?” I ask, ignoring the slam on Kingston.
He nods and there’s something in there that tells me that, yes, he can. He can get me what I want. Or who I want.
I lick my lips, trying to think of how to get him alone. How to get him to tell me what I want to know. I push aside the consequences.
Movement catches my attention and Gray walks up, a chain of flowers in his hands. He holds it up. “Looks like you both need to get lei’d."
“Good one, dude,” Trip says, raising his hand for a high five. Gray ignores it and tosses a lei around his neck, then leans over and gently places one over my head. His fingers trail against my skin.
“I know what you’re doing,” he whispers in my ear.
“Unless you need me to mark you further,” Trip says, with a wink, “I’m going to go wash this off.”
“I’m good.”
“See you inside.” He smiles and walks off.
“Princess,” Gray says, the warning thick.
“I already told you this is none of your business.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. This is completely our business.” He gives me a hard look. “Dorian would agree.”
“Don’t bring Dorian into this.” He’d definitely try to force me to tell him what I’m planning and then put a stop to it.
“Then we’re talking. The four of us. Tomorrow.”
I clench my jaw. “Fine.”
He nods and one of those slow, sexy smiles tugs at his mouth. “Now come on, let me find some paint.”
“Paint?”
“If you think I’m going to let some other goon run his hands all over your body, you’re fucking crazy.” I try to look offended and he just rolls his eyes. “I told you, Princess, you’re one of us, like it or not.”
12
Gray
I push the meeting with Eden and the boys out of my mind for the rest of the night and force myself to enjoy the game. With Eden standing in front of me, bouncing up and down in that tight little bra and short shorts, it’s not hard.
Well, something’s hard.
She’d made it clear at her party that she wasn’t interested in having the K-Boys around. She’s stuck on the concept of obligation. She’s right in a way, we protect our own. Despite what she thinks, she’s one of us.
For the past few days, I’d been trying to figure out what she was up to with Cohen. At the party, they were caught up in conversation when we got there, which was unexpected. In a normal world, Eden Warren would have had him by the balls, threatening to kick him out for breathing near her, or twisting tight for information about her sister.
Instead, she was calm and collected. A little flirty, and that was the same scene I walked up on tonight. Something was brewing between the two of them, and I didn’t like it.
Then it clicked like a lightbulb.
Trip Cohen is the worst of the Brats. More than anyone else down in The Park, he wanted to be one of us. Urban. Local. Whatever. He wore the clothes, spoke in our slang, overtook our hangouts and yeah, in some cases scammed on our females.
He had money and access. He could get people down in Kingston whatever they wanted—for a price—and what Hope Warren wanted, if Eden knew it or not, was out of there. One way or the other.
It’s no surprise that now that we’re at Sparrowood together he’s trying to glom onto us, but there are a few problems. He’s shady as fuck. I don’t trust him for a second. Theo’s too likely to regress, and Eden? Eden’s desperate and all too willing to play with fire.
I don’t like the way he looks at her. Hungry and depraved.
But here we are, in some kind of alternate reality, where Theo and I cheer on our best friend as he leads the football team across the field. Hawk’s both kicking ass and getting his ass kicked, slamming into bodies across the field.
“Ouch,” I mutter, seeing him crash into a guy from the other team. In a situation like this or fighting in the ring, Hawk doesn’t hold back.
“What’s that all about?” Theo asks, nudging me with his elbow. He’s been watching how closely Eden’s been talking to Trip, who stands in between her and Rochelle. To his credit, he keeps a physical distance from Eden, probably too aware of me and Theo inches away.
“We’ll talk later—after the game,” I tell him.
He nods but that doesn’t take the worry from his eyes. I don’t blame him. Eden’s a wild card on a good day, but whatever she’s planning with Trip? It’s freaking me out a little.
The game ends in a win, and Hawk’s smile is easy to see from the sidelines. I’m happy for him. He needs something—somewhere—to channel his pent-up anger.
“You coming to the after party?” Trip asks Eden after the final whistle blows.
“I’ll probably head back. I’m kind of partied out this week.”
&nbs
p; He nods and winks, wandering off with a throng of students, including Rochelle.
The girl from the party, Bridget, walks by in a strip of fabric that barely covers her tits, so round and perky they had to come from a doctor’s scalpel. She stops in front of me, eyes glassy and high. “Walk me to the party?”
“Can’t, waiting on my friend, but I’ll see you there,” I say with a small grin. I’ve got no real interest in the girl but acting celibate is only going to raise questions. We’re supposed to be normal students, but the “normal” kids here are fucking, drinking, and getting stoned out of their minds.
“Are we really going?” Theo asks, the apprehension clear in his voice. Theo doesn’t need that much temptation and I want to talk to Hawk.
“Nah. She’ll take another hit and forget about me entirely.”
“I’m surprised you said no,” Eden says to me, once we’ve left the stadium.
“Why’s that?”
“Chesty McTube-Top seemed like an easy win.”
I cut my eyes at her. “I don’t know what gave you the idea I like easy.”
We pass the party raging downstairs—the juniors decided to host tonight. Eden peels off toward her room and we let her go, not following, although that’s the instinct. I can’t help but watch her ass as she walks down the hall, wondering what it’d feel like in my hands. Wondering what she’d feel like underneath me.
I sigh and Theo gives me an understanding nod. The water runs cold in our showers.
Back in our rooms, Theo pulls out the X-Box, a dorm-warming gift from Dorian. He knows we have to keep up appearances with nicer things. A flat-screen, some clothes, video games, and electronics.
Hawk finally shows up, clean, but battered and bruised. He tosses his bag on the chair by the door.
“Good game,” Theo says, bumping fists with him as he plops onto the couch. “You killed it in the second half.”
“I think they killed me,” he rubs his chest and winces. “But yeah, it was fun.”
“I think I’ve figured out what’s going on with Eden,” I say, cutting to the chase. Both guys look up at me and Theo pauses the game. “Have you noticed her pushing us away while also getting a little too close to Trip?”
Theo nods and Hawk’s jaw tenses. He replies, “Yeah. She’s big into this independence thing right now.”
“Exactly. I’m pretty sure she’s doing this to get close to him and then get him to tell her how to find Hope.”
“What do you mean, get close to him?” Theo asks.
“I think she’s willing to do whatever it takes.”
Realization strikes at the same moment.
“Fuck,” Theo says, rubbing his head.
“Son of a—” Hawk mutters. “No. That’s not happening.”
“That’s what I told her.” I sigh and lean back in my seat. “But I’ve been thinking about it. Dorian does want us to take Trip down, and if she finds out about her sister along the way, it may motivate her to keep working with us and give her some closure.”
Theo nods. “She struggles with it a lot. The baggage she carries…she can’t shed it.”
“Trip is a thousand times more manipulative than Luke, who operated like a horny bull in a china shop,” Hawk says. “You saw how he was down in the Park. He swayed a lot of people.”
“And got them hooked on whatever shit he was selling,” I add. “He’s dangerous.”
“Which is why, no matter how strong she is, Eden can’t be with him,” he growls.
“Or at least alone with him,” I say.
They both give me a curious look. Theo frowns. “What does that mean?”
“Eden approached us with an arrangement to help her while Luke and Camille were harassing her.” I run my hands down my jeans. “I suggest we propose something similar. We go after Trip for the illegal, shady shit he’s bringing in and out of the school, and under our watch Eden can use whatever means she wants to get information on Hope.”
“Under our watch?” Hawk repeats. “Won’t that just push Trip away?”
“Look, all Trip has ever wanted was to prove he’s worthy of the streets. He may be a complete and total douche, but he idolizes the K-Boys. I propose we let him in, make him comfortable, and then bust him.”
“And Eden?”
“Well that’s where she has to make a concession. She’s going to have to commit to being one of us, too. For real.” I look at Hawk. “Under your leadership.”
He laughs. “You think she’s going to fall for that?”
“She has no choice. If Dorian finds out what she’s doing, he’ll yank her out of school.”
Theo nods. “And her mom will get pulled from rehab—”
“And she’ll lose access to Trip about Hope.”
Hawk sits back and studies me for a moment. “Are you sure you’re not just doing this as an excuse to get closer to her. I’ve never seen you so into a chick.”
No doubt about that. “I’m doing this to protect her, like we agreed on when we first got here. Nothing has changed other than the stakes may be higher than before.” I look between my brothers, knowing they feel the same. We all carry a want for Eden—together may be the only way we can get a girl like her.
“I’m in,” Theo says, pushing his fist toward me and Hawk. I thrust mine forward and we look at our leader—the one that has to really make the decision. If he’s not in, this won’t work.
Hawk eyes our fists warily, but even I know the tug of Eden Warren is too strong. The urge to protect her. To serve her. To be with her.
“In,” he says, leaning forward, massive first ramming into ours. “Let’s see if we can get her to agree.”
13
Eden
The shift comes without warning—well, nothing other than Gray’s commentary at the game.
The instant I walk into the dining hall the next morning, I’m flanked by two tall, handsome boys, while a third waits casually at the table.
“Good morning, Princess,” Gray says, handing me a plate for the buffet. “You look lovely today.”
I shoot him a glare. The last thing I need is for these jack-offs messing with my plans. How am I going to seduce Trip with three cock-blockers around?
Because yeah, that is my plan. Seducing Trip to get the information I need. Gray called me out on it the night before. He knows. I know. From the hard glare Hawk is giving me from his seat at the table, apparently the other guys know, too.
Theo takes my plate and Gray slips his arm around my waist, drawing me into his familiar, comfortable side. I spot Trip walking through the double doors and although the rest of the school is familiar with my relationships with the K-Boys, which at this point probably look pretty on-and-off again, he’s never seen it in full display.
We’ve definitely caught his attention.
“Invite him to sit with us?” Gray whispers in my ear.
That’s a curveball.
“What?”
“Trust me, Princess, it’s how we all get what we want.”
I swallow, going to the place inside where I keep the cool calm I need to deal with Trip.
“Hey,” I say, slipping away from Gray’s side. “Grab your food and come sit with us.”
It’s not a question. His eyebrow raises and he responds with one. “Yeah?”
I force a small smile. “Yeah.”
He heads to the buffet line. I walk over the boys and take a seat where Theo left my plate. “Anyone want to explain what the hell is going on?”
To my surprise Hawk speaks first. “We’re here to do a job: take down that asshole. It seems like you’ve decided to act alone and possibly off course.”
So, they figured out I’m doing this for information on Hope. I shove toast in my mouth to buy some time. Hawk isn’t having it.
“I know you want to find Hope,” he says in a surprisingly soft voice, “and we can do that, but not at the expense of the larger plan. We made a deal when we came here and whether you like it or not, it inclu
des making sure you’re safe. Any time you spend with Trip is dangerous, especially if it’s alone.”
“Because you don’t trust me.”
“We don’t trust him, Eden,” Theo says. “And neither do you.”
“So,” I say, “from the possessive act this morning, I guess you want to resume our fake relationship and what? Go after him like Luke?”
“Partially,” Gray says. I look over at him in confusion. He continues. “Trip worked for years to get in with us at The Park. We think it’s time to invite him in.”
“You’re going to let him be a K-Boy.”
“The Sparrowood equivalent,” Theo says. “Take the lead. Let him know you’re with us and that we’ve been looking for a way to get into some of the side hustle going on at the school. Ease him into it. Make him comfortable.”
Hawk clears his throat. “No one touches Eden unless she wants it.”
I shoot him a glare. “I can take care of myself.”
A low vibration of intensity rolls off Hawk’s body. “Set your boundaries. With all of us. Just like before, he’s going to have expectations on how we act with one another.”
I barely survived the last time we did this, and I’m still suffering aftershocks. What they want to do is a slippery slope for me. Getting close to these guys is like taking drugs. One hit isn’t enough. I want more, more, more.
Deep down, it’s how I already know I’ll agree to this plan.
Trip strolls up to the table, the picture of perfect confidence, but I doubt it’s true. Back on the streets, he would have given anything to hang out with these guys. It’s either a trap or something he’s been waiting for.
I hope he doesn’t smell the trap.
I understand one thing, Hawk’s giving me the chance to be the one to extend the olive branch. That means even if we have different goals, he wants to take Trip down as much as I do.
