Jane's Team: A High School Reverse Harem Romance

by Janie Marie

  There was confusion in her eyes, but Wendy nodded. “Then get your king back when you’re ready. Let your boys take care of you first. Then show him you’re his queen.”

  It was honestly the acceptance Jane had been waiting for, and she felt a million times lighter. And just like that, they were fine.

  Dylan exchanged a look with Stephen as the two of them were finally left alone in the empty room. The guards hadn’t said a word when they’d roused him from sleep. They’d merely barged into his cell, ordered him to turn around for handcuffs, as he was being escorted to a meeting.

  When he was situated in a chair, another guard brought Stephen in. They hadn’t seen each other since Friday, and he wasn’t pleased to see the bastard now. Stephen had promised to get the girl away, that they’d have time to break her, but the whole plan fell apart with Adam and because the girl wouldn’t stop fighting. He had the urge to say something, but he wasn’t stupid enough to admit further guilt when he might be recorded.

  The door suddenly opened, and Dylan tensed as he stared at the man walking through.

  Wearing a pristine white suit, Luc Godson strolled into the room, an emotionless mask across his face as Damon King and Than Messor entered after him.

  Dylan darted his gaze between the three of them. Luc stood in the middle, silently scrutinizing him as two guards entered.

  “The cameras are off,” the guard told Luc. “It’s all taken care of.”

  Luc nodded as he shrugged off his jacket, then started unbuttoning his shirt, confirming the rumors that Luc was tattooed from the neck down.

  “What the fuck is this?” Dylan finally asked.

  Stephen chuckled as Luc handed his clothes to Damon, who placed them on a table nearby. “We don’t fuck guys, no matter how pretty you are,” Stephen tried to sound brave but a quiver in his voice caused Than to smirk.

  Luc tilted his head, and the cruelest smile stretched over his face as he addressed the guard. “Inform the jail population, as well as whatever prison they go to, that they tried to rape my queen. Inform them I will reward all who return them the same brutalization they were so prepared to give her.”

  Dylan’s eyes widened at the threat, and he flinched as Damon and Than chuckled at the truth that meant Luc had just ordered every prisoner to rape him and Stephen. He turned his head as the guards nodded, agreeing. “You can’t do this. My lawyer will see you’re all punished.”

  “She’s nothing to you anyway,” Stephen said stupidly. “She’s fucking your brothers and David.”

  “She’s our queen,” Than said automatically.

  “Not theirs,” Damon added. “They have their own duty to her; this is ours.”

  “A king protects his queen,” Luc said, motioning for the guard. “Uncuff them. I want them to remember what it feels like to fight for their lives against someone stronger than them.”

  Dylan thrashed in the chair, kicking his foot out when Damon stepped forward, shoving him to sit still as the guards removed the handcuffs.

  “You’re going to get a beating you’ll never stop feeling,” Damon said with a vicious smile.

  “Let him up,” Luc ordered, flexing his muscles the moment silver flashed in his eyes. “I suggest you fight your hardest. I won’t stop when you fall.”

  “That’s why we’re here,” Than said.

  Damon grinned wickedly. “We’re here to make sure you suffer for all your days.”

  Dylan stood, staggering as Damon roughly shoved him against Stephen, and he knew he wouldn’t walk out of this room. He’d be dragged out, barely breathing. Because it wasn’t death Luc was promising. It was hell.

  “Look at this hoe.”

  Jane frowned, shifting her attention from Ryder’s assignment to find the female voice didn’t belong to any of the players on the Black Hills training field.

  Glancing at Ryder first, she sighed, realizing he hadn’t heard because he was already jogging onto the field. Even if she was feeling a bit smothered by how protective he’d been all week since he’d been picking her up straight after school and bringing her to his practices or he stayed with her until Kingston told him to leave, she was just tired today and didn't want to deal with someone being mean. It was hard enough to go to Black Hills every day and feel the stares of the classmates, who all looked away the moment Damon, Sin, Than, or the others were around.

  All she wanted was to quietly go about her evening and finish helping Ryder with his assignment so he could play this Friday. Kingston had already restricted her to only spending alone time with Ryder, not even David or Tercero. Jane had wanted to argue but after he stood up to her mother when Sarah tried to call the police to have her brought home, she couldn’t push him. The word “Separation” had been thrown out, and Jane didn’t know how to feel.

  David had explained it wasn’t because of her, but he was also stressed and blaming himself for things turning out so badly for his dad.

  “Diane,” Melody whispered, pulling Jane to the present.

  She took in Melody’s wide eyes as Diane marched toward Jane.

  The brunette still sported scratches along her cheek, but she was still the perfect picture of a beloved cheerleader. She stopped with her entire squad behind her, hands on her hips as she sized Jane up where she sat on the bench.

  Jane closed Ryder’s notebook and set it aside before focusing on Diane. “If it isn’t my ole nemesis and her bloodsucking followers.”

  “I prefer jealous but prettier nemesis,” Diane quipped. “And leave the girls out of this.”

  Standing, Jane couldn’t stop her chuckle. “You’re right. Forgive me. This is just between us two hoes.”

  They stared at each other, narrowing their eyes until they both laughed.

  “I still don’t like you,” Diane told her, though she smiled. “I mean, you technically stole David from me.”

  Part of Jane wanted to scream because she suddenly remembered everything David had done with Diane, but she had no desire to state the real truth: David had used Diane. “I love him,” was what she settled on saying.

  “Yeah.” Diane motioned for the cheer team to leave them, which they hesitantly obliged. “Listen, I’m just checking on you. I don’t expect us to be friends, but I wanted to say I’m sorry for inviting Helldonna students. I didn’t expect Dylan, but I won’t deny I wanted to watch you suffer a little.”

  Fiery pain seared throughout Jane's chest, but she breathed out and nodded. “I can forgive that. I know you weren’t with David, but I would’ve flaunted I’m with him.”

  “And Ryder, and Tercero, and Luc,” Diane added with an amused light in her eyes.

  Jane laughed. “Well, I figured ‘why choose’ when they get along.”

  “They do, don’t they?” Diane chuckled, glancing at the field where Ryder and David played side by side, terrifying their own offense because they were absolute beasts. “I guess it was always for you, though.” She focused on Jane again. “If I didn’t like Adam so much, I’d probably still hate you for getting them both.”

  “I heard Adam was ignoring you.” Jane had talked to Adam, actually, and he was pissed because he had no idea Diane had been with David as much as she was, and he was livid upon realizing Diane had invited him because she knew Stephen was friends with Dylan.

  Never had Diane appeared so genuinely remorseful and heartbroken, but she was now. “He might not be your real cousin, but he loves you. But I guess everyone does.”

  “Adam doesn’t love me like that,” Jane said quickly. “Give him time. He doesn’t understand what it’s like to be a girl watching other girls with the guy you love.”

  Diane gave her a halfhearted smile. “That’s not an excuse for what I did. Even with David. I knew you loved him and that he was in love with you, but I didn’t care. I let myself get used because I wanted what you had. Still, Adam’s right to be mad.”

  She hadn’t been expecting to hear that Diane knew she was being used, and that she did it just to have something sh
e wanted of Jane’s, but there was no anger in her heart. Diane had come through when it mattered. “I’ll talk to him for you. I mean, he liked you—that’s why he came.”

  “What’s going on here?”

  Jane turned at David’s voice. He’d pulled off his helmet, shaking his sweaty hair from his eyes as he sent an intimidating stare at Diane.

  “Doesn’t look like a catfight,” said Archer, grinning as he waltzed over. “You’re breaking my heart, ladies.”

  Ryder shoved Archer as he switched his attention between her and Diane. “Did my baby girl grow up?” He grinned, snatching Jane up to kiss her cheek. “Getting along with meanies.”

  She smiled, hugging him as Diane rolled her eyes and started to walk away.

  “I’ll talk to him,” Jane hollered after Diane.

  Her old rival blushed as the football team pouted, begging for a catfight. “Thanks, Jane.”

  Tingles assaulted her neck as Ryder murmured, “You okay?”

  Hugging him, even though it was painful with his pads, she nodded. “Better every day.”

  He smacked her butt and gave her a firm kiss, then lowered her to her feet. “Practice is over. Let’s get our shit and get home. We gotta change for dinner.”

  “Dinner?” She sighed as David approached her from behind.

  He was holding back, but he did wrap an arm around her waist and press a kiss to the top of her head. “My dad finally talked your mom into agreeing to have us all sit down together.”

  She gasped, spinning to face him. “We’re having dinner with my mom and your dad? About us?”

  David gave her that gorgeous smile. “Yes, baby. Don’t expect it to be perfect. She’s still beyond pissed at Dad.”

  “She deserves it,” Ryder muttered, snagging Jane’s hand but not pulling her from David’s arms just yet.

  A deliciously heated hand cradled her cheek as David leaned down and kissed her. God, his kisses were so intense. Even a faint brush of his lips had her body burning with need.

  He grinned, ending his dominating kiss with a sweeter one. “Don’t worry about our parents. They’ll work things out if they want; it’s not our business. Just like we aren’t theirs.”

  Ryder gave her hand a tug now. “Let’s go, babe. David will meet us at home. Tercero will be waiting for you, too.”

  “Aw, you’re making them stop,” Archer cried, lowering his phone.

  “Stop fucking filming us with our girl for your porn collection,” Ryder said, pulling her away.

  Archer smirked at her. “But she’s my favorite naughty time fantasy.”

  Savaş smacked Archer before Ryder could. “I’ll let him kill you if you don’t stop.”

  Archer winked at her. “She doesn’t mind as long as I know who her daddies are. Isn’t that right, Sweet Jane?”

  “Shut up,” was all she could sputter as the team howled with laughter.

  Well, this is awkward.

  Jane shifted on her chair, bumping elbows with David as Ryder lowered a hand onto her thigh. The table blocked her mom from seeing the contact, but the way her mother’s eyes narrowed at the table, she wondered if her mom had developed x-ray vision.

  “Sorry,” Jane said, taking in David’s reassuring smile before making quick eye contact with Tercero. He was seated next to David, and she felt so embarrassed but also sad and angry that Tercero was so far from her. It was more ammunition for her mother to have that she couldn’t be in a relationship with more than one guy.

  He didn’t seem upset, though. That faint smirk of his came and went before he focused on cutting his steak.

  “This isn’t working,” Ryder said abruptly.

  Jane whipped her head around, her heart stuck in her throat as he stood. “Where are you going?”

  “Get up,” he ordered as her mother protested. Naturally, Ryder ignored everyone as he helped her stand then, completely surprising her, sat on her chair and pulled her onto his lap. “Tercero, take my seat,” he said, sliding his plate closer to hers. He grinned at her, kissing her shoulder. “This is better.”

  “Jane,” her mother screeched, “move to another chair.”

  Ryder held her tighter. “Nah, she’s fine where she is. On King Boyfriend’s lap with her boys at her side.”

  Tercero silently took Ryder’s seat, sneakily slipping in a squeeze on her thigh before he resumed eating.

  David chuckled, caressing her cheek before he turned to her mother. “Sarah, we’ve already told Dad how things are working. You can throw a fit for two more days until she’s eighteen, but all you’re going to do is push all of us away, especially Jane and Dad.”

  Ryder nuzzled her, but he ate again like it was entirely normal to have her on his lap with her other boyfriends, and David lecturing Sarah.

  Kingston leveled David with a stern stare. “Boy, I told you I’d handle this. You already know this set-up is unnatural.”

  David, Ryder, and Tercero darted their gazes to him, but it was David who spoke. “There’s nothing wrong with us loving her and her loving us.”

  Her mom’s face turned from pink to red to purple. “I’ve had enough of this.” She pushed her plate away and focused on Jane. “I’m your mother, and I won’t allow this three . . . four-way relationship.” Jane gaped, but her mother kept going even though Kingston tried to quiet her. “I don’t care that she’s eighteen in two days. She’s my daughter, and I did not raise her to be this foolish. You will both return home; she will choose one—not her stepbrother—and that will be the end of it. I’m sick and tired of tiptoeing around my own child! We’re married, Kingston. You are her stepfather, not her pimp, and she does not get to have everything just because her daddy said she could. It’s no wonder she was almost raped! She’s flashing a neon sign with this relationship that any guy can have a round with her. I’m not going to be the mother of the town whore.”

  Everyone stayed silent, though Jane’s hitched breathing could be heard by all who stared at her mother.

  Finally, Jane spoke, though she wasn’t sure what she was saying until she said it. “You didn’t raise me.” She trembled but breathed steadier as Ryder pressed the palm of his hand to his spot, just as David held her left hand and Tercero once again held her thigh. “You never raised me, Mom. So, you’ll have to be upset with yourself for not being there for me when you hear that your whore daughter is the happiest she’s ever been with the guys who treat her like she’s the best thing in the world.

  “And Kingston is your husband. You should respect him, and you should be grateful you have such an amazing man taking care of your daughter because you were the one who wanted to toss me to your pick without caring about my choice.”

  Ryder kissed her head, and she felt the fury radiating off him, but he didn’t address her mother. “Babe, I just remembered, my house has a no bitch of a mother who never gave a damn until it inconvenienced her feature. I say we go see what Archer and Savaş made for dinner.”

  Her eyes stung, but she smiled at Kingston’s watery smile as he nodded for her to leave even though her mother was once again protesting.

  “She is not leaving this house!”

  David and Tercero stood, and Ryder let them take her away as he lingered at the table.

  “Ryder?” David called in a dark tone. “It’s time to go home.”

  Jane waited, unsure what to do because of her cracked heart. It had never been solid until Ryder truly came into her life, and she realized now it was David and Tercero who healed that crack, and they did it by ensuring Ryder was with her.

  Tercero went over, grabbing Ryder by the bicep to pull him away. “Brother, you just promised Jane a more pleasant dinner. Don’t deprive her just so you can make clear what her mother already knows.”

  The green flames in Ryder’s eyes roared as they locked onto her. “Do you have anything else to tell your mom? Maybe something besides that neon sign that somehow welcomes rape?”

  Jane stood taller, taking David’s hand in hers as she met h
er mother’s furious stare. “You wanna know what kind of mother you are? You’re the mother who knew her daughter and neighbor were in love, and put us close together, just to watch us break apart. I feel like it was a game for you. See how long it would take for us to give in.”

  “Baby,” David said with a shake of his head.

  She sniffled. “You know it’s true. Who would put their daughter and stepson so close if they knew all this time?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with us, Jane,” he said quietly.

  “I know.” She faced her mother. “But she couldn’t stand it. She couldn’t stand Daddy loved me, and she couldn’t stand that you and Kingston did too. She wanted me to see she finally had it all. She wanted it in my face.”

  Ryder smiled at her like he was proud she finally understood this. It was there all along, and she’d refused to see it. “Jane won’t be at Sylvia’s tonight, Kingston.” He made his way to her, his hands cupping her face as soon as he was close. “My future wife doesn’t have to be around this toxic shit.” Tingles and a kiss. “Tell Kingston bye.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, Dad.” She saw the protest in his eyes, but he nodded when her mother continued her raving.

  “You are not leaving this house!”

  Jane smiled brightly at her mother. “David and I had sex in the bathroom you taunted us with. You got the scandalous downfall you expected from me.”

  Kingston threw a glare at David but waved a hand. “Leave. I’ll speak to you four tomorrow. And I expect you boys to give her a private room, and you sleep elsewhere.”

  Ryder snickered as his arm wrapped around her shoulders. “Telling me what to do with my wife now, old man?”

  “You’re not her husband yet, boy. And my son and your brother still offer competition. Behave or I’ll give them your privileges.”

  Her mother opened her mouth, but Kingston glared at her. “Quiet, woman. You will sit there and be silent as they take our daughter where she is loved and feels safe. You’ve made it clear that it’s no longer in this house.”