Chloe (Made Men #3)

by Sarah Brianne

  She knew exactly who had played the major part in this. I can see it on his freaking face.

  Rearing back her foot, she kicked him in the shin as hard as she possibly could.

  “Ow! What the fuck did I do?” Amo yelled, holding his shin.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself.” She then pointed at Vincent who started to back away from her, afraid of the safety of his own shin. “And you, too.”

  Looking back at Amo, she let him know she knew this had all happened because of him. “I know you put him up to this.”

  Walking over to her now crying and somewhat smiling friend, Chloe stopped and looked at Nero. “I have nothing to say to you. You know what you just lost.”

  With each step to her car, the anger slowly left her body, making her realize what she had just done. It was like … I was possessed.

  Getting in her car and seeing Elle in the passenger seat wiping away the tears, Chloe felt the need to cry hit her, too. If she could, she was almost certain she would cry right beside her.

  Fear set into her, but it wasn’t the kind she was used to. Back there, she had thought Elle was the one with the most to lose with Nero. However, she felt like she had lost something just as great. Every day, Amo surprised her; every day, she had trusted him a little bit more; and every day, she could feel the start of a friendship blooming.

  The fact that she was feeling the start of a friendship with Amo scared her. The fact that a strong sadness came over her since she wasn’t going to see their friendship bloom truly frightened her …

  Did she just fucking kick me? Amo’s leg still stung as he walked to the car.

  Damn, she did just fucking kick me!

  She had blamed him for Nero going out with another girl, but the only reason Nero had gone out was because he really hadn’t had much of a choice. He had set the date up before Nero had realized he fully wanted her. Amo knew Nero would come to the conclusion of picking Elle over the job. It was obvious he liked her too much. However, Nero had to pretend to the boss that he wasn’t falling for her, because if the boss found out about them and then they canceled, it would look suspicious. Nero’s father was already skeptical of his loyalties.

  Cassandra had also been supposed to be here tonight. Since she had been suspended this week, they hadn’t seen her. They wanted to talk to her outside of the school, force her to tell them all the shit they had done to Elle and Chloe.

  Nero had planned to kill two birds with one stone tonight: gain his father’s trust and get his hands on Cassandra. But it all had gone to fucking shit the moment Elle had showed up.

  They didn’t even understand why she had come to Poison, anyway. It was a lounge for teens and definitely not somewhere Elle or Chloe had ever gone before. Elle had said she had gotten a text from Nero to come here, but he hadn’t sent one.

  We’re getting played somehow. Someone was one step ahead of them, and he could feel it. He just hoped it didn’t come to bite him in the ass before he could see it coming.

  You should be ashamed of yourself … Chloe’s words swirled in his head. She could barely look him in the eyes day by day, yet tonight, she had stared the beast down and kicked him. He was used to seeing that hint of fear in her eyes every time she looked at him, but for the first time, he had seen it disappear for just a moment.

  Fear was the only thing he had thought lived in Chloe. But, damn, I was wrong.

  A smile touched his lips. No girl had ever dared to do something like that to him. Not only that, but he had let her live to tell the tale. Whatever he had done to change her image of him had worked. He hadn’t seen it until now, but that was exactly what he had hoped for.

  There was no doubt Nero was getting Elle back, which put him right back where he wanted.

  Before he opened the door to his car, the clicking of heels came up behind him. “Amo, you didn’t forget about me, did you?”

  Turning around, he saw Christa perking her boobs out for him to stare at. Instead, he turned back around to get in his car. “No, I didn’t.”

  “But-but, I thought I was going over to your house tonight.”

  Amo opened the door and slid in, ignoring her obnoxious baby voice and fake tears.

  “How am I supposed to get home?”

  “Walk.” He slammed the door in her face.

  Starting the car, he ignored the girl yelling profanities through his window and throwing a hissy fit. I can be a nice boy.

  He revved his engine, pulling out and leaving behind the girl as she tried to throw her shoe at his car but miserably failed. I can at least pretend to be.

  Thirty-One

  Yin and Yang

  It was rough for both of them when Monday came and Nero and Elle were still not talking to each other. It was even rougher considering Cassandra’s suspension was now over. With Cassandra back, they had agreed to let Vincent walk them to class since he was the person they blamed the least, considering Vincent couldn’t ever help himself. He was just nuts.

  When Vincent and Elle dropped her off at Health, it was weird, because a part of her had kind of grown used to Amo taking her. Nope. No, I didn’t.

  Going in, she took her seat in the back and placed her book bag on top of the table beside her where Amo sat—well, used to sit. She was making sure he wasn’t going to sit beside her now.

  The door was flung open a minute later, making her hold her breath when the beast entered.

  She immediately dropped her eyes to the ground, afraid to look at him once he saw her bag taking up his seat.

  As she felt him stalk closer and closer to the table, her resolve began to break little by little. It was obvious he had seen the bag by now, and it was obvious he didn’t give a fuck about it.

  Amo approached the table. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t want me to sit here?”

  Looking up at him was a bad idea.

  Swallowing hard, she nodded her head to the best of her abilities.

  “That hurts my feelings,” he told her in a sad voice.

  Chloe simply stared at him, stunned. She wanted to rub her eyes to see if this was even real.

  “That’s not fair. You are giving Vincent another chance.”

  She couldn’t believe it. He genuinely looked sad.

  “B-but, Elle gave him one, too.”

  “Well, I won’t tell if you don’t.” Amo pushed her bag over and took a seat before she could even think about protesting.

  Brrring.

  Dang it!

  Chloe scooted her seat all the way over to the end. With the class beginning, she didn’t have a choice; she had to sit beside him.

  Instinctively, she put her hands under the table to wring them.

  “Place your hands on the table,” he whispered over to her.

  She quickly shook her head and started to press her nails into the skin.

  “Please, Chloe. I can’t take you doing that to yourself,” he pleaded.

  When she glanced at him, it was the first time she really looked at him, like really looked into his eyes. They weren’t the black abyss staring back at her like she had always thought. They might have been dark, but they also had a lightness to them. Almost like a sparkle of silver running through, giving them life. They were dark yet light, reminding her of yin and yang.

  Taking a breath, she placed her hands on the table.

  Amo smiled. “Thank you.”

  She had to look away from him after the charming smile he had given her. What in the world is going on?

  It was hard for her to keep her hands on the table, especially when all she wanted to do was wring them until she had no skin left.

  About halfway through class, it just got worse when the sudden urge to pee hit her hard. She had always been careful about how much water she drank at school, but today, she had been so thirsty she was now paying the price.

  Will this class never end? Chloe twisted in her chair, trying to be discreet. If he hadn’t sat beside her today, she wouldn’t have had to worry ab
out the embarrassing movements that would catch his attention.

  “What are you doing?” Amo asked, looking like he was also getting antsy from all her movements.

  Instantly, she stopped moving, clenching her book in her hands. “N-nothing.”

  “Something’s wrong, or you wouldn’t be squirming like that.”

  Chloe just buried her head in the chapter Mrs. Saylor was lecturing on. It was bad enough to have to sit and listen to the reproductive organs of a woman, but the full bladder made it nearly impossible to take notes.

  “You going to tell me … or do I have to figure it out myself?” The snicker in his voice had her knowing he already knew what was the cause of her distress. It was hard for her to refrain from kicking him again.

  “I need to go to the restroom.” She had been whispering before, but she whispered even lower this time.

  “Then ask for the hall pass.”

  The last thing she was going to tell him was that she was afraid to go in there. “I-I can wait.”

  “I’m supposed to watch you for the next thirty minutes, instead of you just going to take a piss?” Unlike hers, Amo’s voice was only getting higher.

  Chloe wanted the floor to swallow her to hell. It would be easier than the stares she was getting from his loud voice. Does he always have to make everything a freaking scene? Or does he just like embarrassing me?

  She whispered over to him somehow lower, “Please be quiet. You’re going to get me in trouble.”

  The sigh that came out of him blew her hair across her cheek. She pushed it back to see him sitting straighter in his chair, No please!

  “Mrs. Saylor, Chloe needs to go to the restroom.”

  What would he do if I picked up my book and hit the smirk off his face?

  Mrs. Saylor went to her desk, picking up the card. “Don’t take too long.”

  Chloe felt her mouth drop open and her face turn red. “Yes, Mrs. Saylor.”

  She rushed from the classroom, unable to breathe after closing the door behind her. She hadn’t wanted any more attention drawn to her, yet the whole class had watched her leave, and she would have to go back inside to their stares. Breathe … Breathe …

  Gripping the hall pass, she walked around the corner to the restroom, already dreading going back. She didn’t stop to think before entering the kill zone.

  Stacy and Stephanie were standing by the bathroom window, smoking a joint. Oh, God. Oh, God. I’m going to die.

  They didn’t move, watching her with their beady eyes.

  “What the fuck are you doing in here?”

  If Chloe were brave like Elle, she would have lifted the hall pass for them to read and told them that, if they didn’t cut class so often, they would be able to read the pass. Nevertheless, she wasn’t brave, and they loved inflicting pain as much as Cassandra.

  Freezing in place, she tried to tell her legs to get out when they both started coming closer to her, calling her a freak. Stay still, litt—

  The whoosh from the bathroom door opening had her snapping her head back to see Amo barreling in.

  His voice went dark, staring down the two girls who almost had Chloe in their grasp. “What the fuck did you just call her?”

  Both girls went pale.

  “We’re … sorry … Amo,” Stephanie managed to get out.

  “I don’t want to hear you tell me sorry. You tell Chloe how fucking sorry you are,” he growled at them.

  “I-it’s okay, Amo. Let’s get back to—”

  “Now!” he roared over Chloe’s voice, ignoring her.

  Quickly, the two spat out the words over each other, “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry, who?” he asked.

  “I’m sorry, Chloe,” they each told her in unison.

  “Get the fuck out of here,” he spoke coldly.

  Never had she seen fear in those girls’ faces, but that was all she saw now as they quickly excited the bathroom with their tails between their legs.

  Chloe was somewhat envious. She wanted to dart out of there herself. Amo looked and sounded scarier than ever.

  When he continued to stand there and stare at her, she wished she had taken her chances with the girls. She had to turn her face so he couldn’t see how scared she was.

  “W-why aren’t you in class?”

  “I remembered Stacy and Cassandra bragging about ditching Art.” His voice was still dark.

  Chloe had to lick her dry lips. “Oh …”

  “Hurry up before Mrs. Saylor comes looking for us.”

  Not until the door slid closed behind him, leaving her alone, did her breath let go.

  Amo clenched his fists, wanting to go after those fucking sluts who had been five seconds away from putting their hands all over Chloe. It had taken all the control he had possessed to stay in the bathroom for another minute, knowing if he came out and saw them running down the hallway, he would break their necks in half like he had so desperately wanted to days ago …

  “Nero, you didn’t tell us we were going to have a party!” The girls bounced up and down the moment Amo and Vincent joined them on Nero’s balcony at his house.

  Stephanie twirled herself around Amo. “Do we finally get to fuck you?”

  He slowly backed her up until her back hit the railing while Vincent was doing the exact thing to Stacy.

  As soon as Nero closed the door to the balcony, Amo slid his hand to the back of her head, taking a huge pile of hair in his hands. Suddenly, he jerked down, hearing her neck pop in the process.

  Screams, beautiful screams, filled the air …

  Wanting to know everyone who had ever laid a hand on Chloe and Elle, they had tricked the two bitches into coming over so they could question them. Not one person was giving out real information about the hell they had put Chloe and Elle through. Stacy and Stephanie had lamely said to ask Chloe, hinting that she had been a part in it, which he didn’t believe.

  I should have snapped their fucking necks then.

  Taking a slow, deep breath, he tried to calm himself. He was trying to change his persona with Chloe, and he had been doing a good job of it until he had walked in on that. After seeing her frightened in there, he could tell he had damage control to do.

  Yeah, thanks to those sluts. Let’s just hope I can fucking repair it.

  Chloe didn’t waste time before using the restroom and washing her hands. Amo was leaning against the wall as she came out the door, though she tried her best to avoid eye contact with him.

  “Ready?” Amo asked, sounding … Chipper?

  She couldn’t help looking at him now to see him perfectly fine, like he had been back in the classroom.

  She nodded, heading back to class.

  “I’m sorry if I scared you. I was just trying to scare them enough so they wouldn’t touch you if they ever got you alone again.”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I-it’s okay.”

  Amo’s voice turned sad again. “Everyone just thinks I’m more violent than I actually am.”

  “You have to be joking.” Chloe couldn’t help busting out in laughter.

  “No.” He stopped walking, clearly not liking her laughing at him. “What reason have I given you to think I’m such a mean person?”

  Does he have brain damage from all the fights he’s been in? An image of him dangling a teenage boy by their neck flashed before her from when Elle and she had caught them at Poison in a fight.

  “Um, how about when you were choking that guy Friday?”

  “First off, Vincent was the one who started that fight, and I was keeping him from double teaming on Nero. He wasn’t trying to play fair, and I didn’t want Nero to get hurt.”

  Chloe blinked at him, trying to process what he had just said.

  Crossing her arms, she had another instance come to her. “Okay, then, I saw Sebastian with the black eye as we went home the first day you all sat and ate lunch with us. I’m sure that was you.”

  “Wow,” Amo told her like she had
just shot him. “Nero was the one who gave him that black eye, not me.”

  She didn’t want to believe him at first, but he didn’t look like he was lying. He actually looked a bit offended.

  “You swear you didn’t give him the black eye?”

  “I swear.” Amo put down the hand he had held up.

  Chloe was satisfied he was telling the truth then and was able to somewhat relax.

  “Nero and Vincent are the mean ones, you know. I’m the nice one.”

  Glancing at him for a moment, she began to think she might have been too harsh on him. This clearly was a touchy subject for him.

  “I guess you will have to prove it.” She smiled at him.

  He smiled back. “I can do that.”

  Getting to the door, Amo opened it for her and she rushed inside to hand Mrs. Saylor the hall pass. Sitting back down wasn’t as bad as she had expected. Most of the students were focused on their assignments, and Amo’s big body blocked their view as they walked down the aisle.

  Chloe opened her notebook, settling her nerves so she could start the assignment written on the chalkboard.

  Well, I won’t tell if you don’t. Chloe was going to take this whole thing to her grave. Elle would kill Amo if she ever found out he had gotten her to go to the bathroom. All in all, it wasn’t so bad … She had looked death in the face and survived without Elle having to take a hit for her. Amo might even have a cape underneath that expensive shirt he was wearing.

  I’m the nice one.

  Gathering her courage, she looked over at him to see him copying her answers. Chloe scooted her chair back to the edge of her table so he couldn’t. Mm-hmm, you’re off to a great start of proving it.

  Amo tried not to smile when she took her paper out of view. He honestly couldn’t blame her. Mrs. Saylor was a bitch when it came to copying, and he was just trying to come off … not as nice. He obviously wasn’t a momma’s boy, but out of his friends, he could at least pretend to be the nicest.

  Nero was the one who gave him that black eye, not me.

  Hey, I wasn’t lying. I was just omitting the fact that I had kicked his balls in so hard I made him into the bitch that he is.