by Sonya Jesus
“Because the Council wants to see you, and they were going to show you these and ask if you knew anything about them.”
“If I knew about that whore cheating on me, I wouldn’t have wanted to propose.”
“Liam and Hiram agree, but Don thinks you were in contact with who sent these.”
I growl, “With Rosalie? For fucks sake! I’m not suicidal!” For them to be doubting my loyalty I knew I wasn’t going to like what came next.
Gunner spits out blood. “Don thinks Hannah’s accident wasn’t an accident.”
I rub my forehead back and forth, stopping to pinch the skin between my eyebrows. It helps alleviate the headache that has now become a migraine. “Rosalie is back?” I ask for a confirmation with a calmer tone. Hailee mentioned seeing her this morning, but she wasn’t certain. “Are you sure?”
They both nod, but it’s Maddox who answers. “That’s the rumor.”
“But I don’t understand. Why address this to me after she died? I can see beforehand, but what purpose does it serve when she’s six feet under?” I pause and think this through. “Unless she killed Hannah.” Shit. Hannah used to mention her fears of her mother coming back and taking her spot. Why else spy on her?
My heart beats fast in response to adrenaline. “Hailee.”
“Relax,” Maddox says. “Dax and Ace are with her.”
Problem is she wouldn’t tell them. “I got to go. I told them I would meet them to discuss Dragon business at Vonwest.”
Seems like I have a lot more to discuss then just that. “Actually, you can’t tell Hailee. Dax and Ace are currently being brought up to speed. We need to bring you in to the Den.”
I look at my watch. I had to meet up with them soon, maybe I could talk to Hailee before they got there. “Why? Why now after a year?”
“Because there’s been rumor that she’s back in town, and we need to take her out before anything happens. Who knows what that woman wants?” Gunner has no love lost for that woman. From what I hear I don’t blame him, she was vicious. Hannah had to get it from someone.
“Isn’t the Council worried for Hailee’s safety?”
Maddox frowns. “Don is trying to find Rosalie before anything happens. For once, he’s showing some kind of concern for Hailee.”
“What about Liam and Hiram? Are they going along with it?” I couldn’t believe they were taking this threat so lightly.
“They don’t see Rosalie as life threatening. She’s her mother. I think they are more worried about her taking Hailee away, than her taking her out.”
Either way, that’s not happening.
Chapter 7: Pretentious Asshole
Lexi
Hailee’s new roommates are out, so we have the whole suite to ourselves. I’m actually relieved that Ace and Dax aren’t here because they are extremely intimidating, especially Ace. He is kind of overprotective, and it kind of worries me. I wonder if Hailee and him are dating. The other day we were all hanging out at the coffee shop, and he lashed out at Jonah. Hailee wasn’t happy about it and things have been weird between her and Jonah ever since.
“Hails, can I ask you something?” I close my book and place it on the coffee table in front of us.
She does the same. “Sure, what’s up?”
“Are you and Ace dating? I mean, Jonah mentioned backing off after the coffee shop. He said you needed some time.”
She sighs and stretches out on the couch. “That’s why he has been so distant.” She frowns and shakes her head. “He hasn’t really talked to me since the night he was helping me study.”
“It’s complicated with Jonah, Hails. He’s always crushed on you. You know that.” They’ve been sleeping together since Freshman year. According to Hails, they had a no strings attached policy, but for Jonah it was a lot different. I won’t say it’s love since the definition of it is up in the air, but he was definitely into Hailee.
“I know.”
“So, you and Aysen then?”
She chuckles. “We are just friends. Our families grew up together and both of them are over protective. Aysen is just a lot more verbal about it.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“I’m used to it. Don’t worry.” She pats my hand and points to the books. “I have to admit, I haven’t been able to keep up with everything. Things have been hectic lately, and Ferguson’s workloads are intense.”
“Tell me about it.”
I take a sip of my Diet Coke just as the door to the suite opens. I turn around quickly, and my mouth drops open at the sight of them. It wasn’t Dax or Ace, it was the person that was with them. I lower myself down on the couch, so that he can’t notice me. Thank God, for being below average height. I can slink down and make it look like no one was sitting here.
I catch Hailee eyeing me suspiciously before I cover my face with the few papers I had on my lap. I position them so that I can have a visual on Hailee. She has no clue that I slept with that guy yesterday, so she probably thinks I am hiding from her suitemates. Either way, I am glad when she stands up and moves toward them, away from my line of site.
“You’re early, Keenan.” Her voice sounds completely neutral, nothing like the way my heart beats hard against my chest. I don’t usually run into guys I had one night stands with at school. That’s why I specifically choose people who don’t attend Vonwest.
“Yeah, I had some extra time.” His voice sounds so much softer around her, than it did this morning. “Plus, I think we have a lot of things to discuss. Privately.”
Shit. He knows someone is here. I guess my hiding attempts are useless. I place my papers down on the table in front of me and stand up, refusing to get caught hiding from him. I turn around and face the four other people in the room. “Hi,” I say meekly.
“Alexis?” Keenan steps forward to get a better look. All that alcohol probably messed with his short-term memory, and he can´t remember what I look like or what my name was.
I puff out a breath through my teeth. “Close enough, I guess.”
“You know Lexi?” Hailee presses her lips flat.
Daxton shakes his head, disappointed in our acquaintance. I get the urge to explain, and clarify the situation, but Keenan goes first. “We don’t know each other. We met. We fucked. It was good.”
My head shakes back and forth in short abrupt movements, as if his words rattled my brain. I can’t believe he just said that. I clench my teeth together so that my mouth didn’t run off.
But when Aysen gives him a head nod of approval and says, “The good ones always stick around in your mind.” Aysen studies me, and I am glad I am mostly covered by the love seat in front of me. “For a while at least.”
Hailee back handed smacks him in the stomach, but I can’t keep my mouth shut. I am not sure if Aysen’s complimenting me, or insulting me and I don’t much appreciate Keenan’s smug expression right now. “Well, I guess that means I won’t recognize Keenan in a couple days.”
Daxton shoots me a wide smile that kind of scares me. I don’t want to be on Dax and Ace’s radar any more than I already am. There is something alluring, yet intimidating behind them. I’m not going to lie. Sometimes, I don’t know whether to run from them or stay and bask in their beauty. I’m not usually intimidated by hot guys, but it isn’t their perfectly carved bodies or their perfectly chiseled features that give me the worries, it is the menace behind their confidence. Every look they give assesses the situation and every step they take feels like a threat. They are a perfectly twisted combination of sex and power. It’s easy to be sucked into their gravity.
Now I understand the pull I had to Keenan. He was one of them. That explains why I was tethered to his swag yesterday and why he had the ability to overpower my senses. He is like thunder and lightning. Illuminating every deep desire and striking me down to my core.
Keenan steps forward, sending shivers down my spine as he narrows his eyes on me. “Is that so, Lexi?”
Well, at least he finally learned my
name. I gulp down an unfamiliar burning in the back of my throat. The words were burning a hole there, but they weren’t coming out. I should be saying, “Yes, the night was forgettable.” But images of his body flush against mine, pinning me beneath him as he thrust into me, spur a wave of heat through all my body.
He leans in closer, grazing his teeth against my ear just before he whispers, “Maybe you need a little reminder.” Dear Lord. His voice is liquid, pouring into my heart as if it were a cup and filling it to maximum capacity. I’m grateful for the space between our bodies because if he touches me right now, the liquid will spill over and flow into every single piece of me, dulling my senses.
That can’t happen. I need my tongue to be sharp so it could cut right through his bullshit. I tilt my head to the side, distancing myself from his lips and his raspy voice. He picks up on my brusque movement and stands up straighter, tightening his shoulders. I fix him with a hard stare, conveying how unwelcome his comments are. Now that I have his attention, I have to set his pretentious ass in place . “I don’t normally repeat mistakes.”
His brow raises, and then he glances over his shoulders, checking for Dax and Ace. They are both watching us, but Hailee has disappeared, which leaves me even more on edge. Being alone with these three isn’t conducive to my “try and stay calm” philosophy. The more nervous I get, the less of a filter I have.
I scrape my hands down my jeans, rubbing away the dampness. They are definitely working my nerves by staring at me, waiting for me to say something. I gently fist my hands, and release them again in attempts to stop the tingling sensation in my fingertips.
Keenan smirks as he studies my actions. I hate that he can pick up on my body language, so I relax them and start to pack up my things.
“You don’t have to leave because of me.” How the hell does he manage to meld his pretentious attitude with that sexy voice and still use enough infliction to tell me I’m not worthy of being in his presence?
I roll my eyes. He doesn’t need to say much for me to get what he’s saying. I throw my bag over my shoulder and glare at him. “I think I should. Your ego is crowding the room.”
I glance over at Dax and Ace, making sure they know my comment is meant for the three of them and then fixate on Keenan again. “I get that you’re in a band and you obviously think every girl’s heart beats just for you, but it wouldn’t kill you to stick your ego up your asshole.”
Hailee picks that exact moment to emerge from the bathroom. “What did you guys do?” Her eyes glance over me, taking in the tension in the air.
“Nothing, Hails.” I walk passed Keenan, ignoring the way his eyes are glued to me. Thankfully, Dax and Ace are no longer paying attention to me, and I make it to the doorway without passing out from the rapid heartbeat. “Thanks for helping me today. See you in class.”
Hailee nods, frowning as her eyes bounce between the three guys in the room. “See you.”
Chapter 8: Charmer Demands
Keenan
“Bet it’s been awhile since someone called you out on your shit, Chains.” Aysen pats me on the back as he makes his way over to the couch. He nods toward Dax. “Lock the door before she decides to come back and teach Chains a lesson.”
“She can teach me a lesson any day. I might not remember much about last night, but the way she rode me is very fresh on my mind.”
Dax locks the door, comes over and sits on the opposite end of the couch. I sit in Lexi’s spot and wait for Hailee to join us again.
Aysen chuckles. “Got to love a girl who isn’t afraid of taking the top.”
Dax’s eyes wander over to Hailee, lingering on her backside. “Maybe we should get down to business.”
Hailee joins us, carrying three beers in her hands. She shoves one in my face, stunning me. My eyes shoot up to hers and she looks pissed. “Lexi is not a toy, Keenan.”
“Come on, Hails.” I smile. “I didn’t know she was your friend. Or that she went to school here.”
Well maybe I did, but I’m going to stick with that little white lie.
She sits between both guys and smiles. “Well, now you know. Keep her out of Dragon business and your permanent Hannah hangover.”
Hannah. Gunner and Maddox’s words come rushing back to me. Seeing Lexi here made me get sidetracked. “There’s a reason I came over early.” I don’t mention that I just met with Dax, Ace and the Council to discuss Rosalie. The less Hailee knows about the hunt, the better. Though, Dax and Ace did mention that Hailee knows the secret about Hannah is out. She has no clue about the envelope, she just thinks that Gunner confessed.
“What is it?” Dax asks in a serious tone.
“What do you think it’s about? Hannah was a whore and Chains just got the revelation.” Aysen sips his beer. It amazes me how easily it is for them to admit. I guess, it was a good thing Rosalie resurfaced or I would never know the truth.
“Yeah,” I lock eyes with Hailee, remembering what she said the night Hannah died. Dax and Aysen wouldn’t have told me, but Hails. That one hurt a little bit.
“I’m sorry,” she says, but there is no excuse for not telling me. She could have saved me the agony of the last year. I’ve been going out of my mind, missing her, mourning her loss, only to find out she never really loved me like I loved her. What a fucking waste of time.
“You knew?” I confirm, even though it wasn’t necessary.
“Everyone knew, man.” Dax grabs Hailee’s hand and intertwines their fingers, reassuring her.
“It wasn’t our place to say anything.” Hailee’s voice is silky soft, making it hard for me to be angry at her.
“Plus, you know Hannah. She would have castrated anyone who mentioned it.” The corners of my mouth twitch as I watch their dynamic. Aysen doesn’t seem to mind where Dax’s hands are, or how comfortable the two of them seem. Perhaps, I was wrong about my initial assumption and it wasn’t Hailee and Aysen, but Hailee and Daxton.
I lean back on the couch. It’s not like I could say anything. They were all above me, and they held the reigns. If I played nice, I trusted Hailee enough to know she would hold up her word. So, I shut my mouth and change the subject. “So, what do you need me to do?”
“There’s a big distributor on campus, but we have no idea who it is.”
Big distributor. “Flushing him out isn’t going to be easy. He probably has runners and minors doing the dirty work.”
Dax shakes his head in agreement. “We have a lead on one of the minors.”
“A theater major,” Aysen says between sips. “He just offered me uppers.”
“Are you sure he doesn’t know you’re a Dragon?”
“Doubt it.” Aysen smiles. “He was flirting with me.” Aysen seems very nonchalant about that, but yet I don’t buy it. Apparently, a lot has changed. “If he knew I was a Dragon, I don’t think he would be that at ease.”
I catch both Hailee and Dax’s smile. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my thighs. “Okay. So, how is it going down?”
“We are having a party!” Aysen grins goofily. “Might as well embrace the college life since we are forced to be here.”
“Yes,” Hailee interjects. “But I don’t know how you plan on mixing everyone. Vonwest is a small school, not many theater majors chill with athletes.”
I groan. “This sounds like high school all over again.”
Dax releases Hailee’s hand and runs his palms over his face before releasing a frustrated grumble that sounds like, “Don’t remind me.” But no one seems to care, or they are used to him complaining about attending.
“Hails, you are over thinking this. We are all in different social circles, it will be fine. Everyone loves a party.”
I nod. “True, and with enough booze you don’t really care about the people your slamming down shots with.” Hailee still seems doubtful, but I think she’s just nervous. “So, what am I supposed to do?”
Daxton answers, “We’ll spread the word on you dealing. Finn will be here. He isn’t
the confrontation type of guy, but he will report back to his supplier. We need to flush him out, or get him to react so we can trace him.”
“Then we convince him to take his business elsewhere.” Aysen likes that idea a little too much.
Hailee waits for him to finish then adds. “You’ll probably have to send us a schedule so we can plan things when you’re free.”
She surprises me and the future Masters. I didn’t expect her to accommodate the music. “Thanks, Hails.”
She shrugs a shoulder, then lowers her voice so dangerously low that it catches me off guard. “But Lexi?”
I get the message. “Best behavior with her.”
“Don’t promise things you don’t plan on doing,” Aysen jokes. “Our little Hailee is becoming vicious.”
“I’m not vicious,” she sulks. “It’s called shielding my friends from my world because I care about them.”
“So, are all the other girls off limits?” I try to alleviate the tension between them. “I think a little flirting will help push the product.”
“Whatever,” she says, standing up. “Just stay away from my friends. I’ll make sure you know who they are at the party.”
What the Charmer wants, she gets.
Chapter 9: Commonalities
Lexi
There is not enough tea in the world to calm me down. My mind is all over the place and Hailee grilling me about Keenan wasn’t helping the nervous jitters. Geez. How the hell was I supposed to know Keenan was friends with her and that I would be forced to see him at this stupid party tonight? Actually, sounds like I am going to be seeing a lot of him. Hailee just finished telling me about how close they were and how he will probably be stopping by a lot. Funny, because I never heard her mention his name before.
On the other hand, I haven’t stopped thinking about that shit head since I met him. He has an air of mystery to him that keeps my curiosity peeked. I thought that after all his asshole comments, it would dwindle, but I was dead wrong. I spent most of the night remembering how he moved inside me. I have had plenty one night stands, but none like that. Orgasms I was familiar with, but orgasms that made my vision go white and make my whole-body pulse… those I wanted more of. He knew exactly how to get me there. It’s as if our bodies communicated, and he hung on every word my body told him. I tried convincing myself that it was from all the practice, a skill he mastered, but it felt like more than that.
