by KC Kean
How does he know about it?
“What’s wrong, princess?” Roman murmurs beside me, when I still haven’t moved. He’s standing in front of me as the others are all close by too.
“He’s going to sign the contract, but he also said it’s time for me to open the bag from the vaults,” I mutter still racking my brain with what he said.
“What bag?” Everyone asks, including Red at the same time. Finally lifting my gaze from my phone I look around them all.
“That’s exactly my point, I haven’t told anyone about that bag. On the Sunday after I arrived, before I ran into Roman the first time in the gym and met Red for lunch, I went to the vaults,” Roman and Red smile, remembering the day I’m talking about. “I went to all three, and I saved the Steele one for last. When I finally went in there was a duffel bag sitting on the center table with Meu Tesouro stitched into it. I brought it back here with me, but I’ve never looked in it. I haven’t been ready to.”
Roman’s eyes frantically search mine at the mention of my father’s nickname for me, but he relaxes a little when he sees I’m not breaking down. Shaking my head I pull myself into the present.
“Let’s not worry about that for now, we need to focus on Wren, but when we get back tonight will you guys help me?” It’s barely a whisper but there it is, me officially asking for help on an emotional level. The soft smiles I get from everyone tells me it hasn’t gone unnoticed, but they nod and agree like it isn’t a big deal.
Ian holds the door open for the Rolls and I climb in with Roman behind me.
“We’ve got you, princess.”
I truly believe those words, and it warms my soul knowing I feel less alone each day.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
(Luna)
The decorations were clearly put up after Kai and I left earlier. Now we’re surrounded by all the Halloween garland you could imagine. They’ve gone all out sugar skull themed and I actually love it. On the inside of the tents neon skulls have been painted and shine brightly with the fluorescent lighting. Skull chains hang from the ceiling and brightly colored petals line the floor.
Every security guard we’ve seen has their face painted as a sugar skull, which only adds to their intensity. They’ve also lined up classic Halloween party games outside, but there is no way I’m bobbing for apples.
We’re sitting in the exact same spot where the guys took the salt from my body before Tequila shots the last time we were here. The exact same spot. Roman and Parker are sitting on both sides of me, while Oscar and Kai are across from me with Red. I’m getting hot just thinking about that moment, and a quick look at my Aceholes tells me they are too. I just really can’t let it distract me right now. I’m struggling to push the agent to the back of my mind as it is.
Sadly, no skin on skin teasing or Tequila shots this time. Instead we’re all nursing water, but in different glasses that look like we’re drinking alcohol.
“Let’s run through the plan one more time, I don’t want anything to go wrong,” Parker murmurs next to me, tapping his fingers against the table. We’re trying to act natural, but we all subconsciously lean in a little more when he says that.
“Me and Parker will head into the red tent first, about fifteen minutes before everyone else. Kai and Red are going to hang back here with the monitors running on their phones to make sure we’re not being followed. Roman and Oscar will approach Wren and hint at some alone time. Hint being the key word,” I say, glaring at the two of them, but they both look at me like I’m the crazy one for suggesting anything more. I’m not jealous, just possessive.
“Then we’ll take her to the room you guys have set up. Kai will direct us through the earpiece we’ll each be wearing, and the micro camera on my cowboy hat,” Roman adds, continuing the plan. “Then Luna and Parker will join us in the room. Where Luna and I will stay with Wren, and Parker and Oscar will head into the main area until we give the word.”
Everyone at the table nods in agreement, except Red who has a frown on her face.
“I still don’t understand why we don’t have time to dance a little,” she moans, downing her exciting glass of water, likely wishing it was a bit stronger.
“Fine, come on. One dance, but honestly after that we need to get the ball rolling, okay?” I sigh, but the smile on her face makes it all worthwhile. Looking at Parker I point my finger, “Come save me soon, alright?” He nods with a surprisingly wicked grin on his face. Red wastes no time at all dragging me to the dance floor.
She times it perfectly for a more upbeat song to start as Demi Lovato’s ‘Confident’ pours through the speakers. The floor is filled with other dancers, and all the girls are either bunnies or nurses with blood covering them to make it Halloween. These bitches haven’t got a Red on their side with clever ideas.
Feeling the music start to fill my veins, we dance like no one’s watching. Enjoying five minutes of being carefree before shit gets serious. Damn, the more I listen to this song the more it feels like this should be Red’s theme song when she walks. The way her body moves, it’s as if she knows it was written with her in mind.
As I glance around us I notice there are actually a few tutors here this time. I don’t know whether it’s because it’s Halloween, but they definitely aren’t chaperoning when they’re doing shots in the corner. Clearly Featherstone Academy isn’t set to usual standards for eighteen year olds.
That’s when I spot Brett. I will never be more pleased to see his face than this moment right here. Trudy is really starting to show her worth, and I’m glad she’s not letting me down. Looking at Red to tell her the good news, I’m surprised to see Aiden dancing behind her with his hand placed on her stomach.
My girl is grinding back against him with her head on his shoulder having the time of her life. He whispers something in her ear. Although I can’t hear it, she smiles up at the ceiling, not stopping her movements. I consider how these two would know each other, and I remember when I stormed off at the last party she had helped him when Roman had gone crazy. He’s dressed as the devil, wearing only jeans, and devil horns. While someone’s professionally painted his face to make it look as though his skin is being unzipped, and it looks amazing.
I’m not left to dance alone for long, when I feel hands wrap around my waist and pull me back against a solid wall. I freeze for a moment prepared to attack, but I’m instantly surrounded by Parker’s classic woodsy scent, with a hint of sweetness. I feel the press of his hard cock against my back, and I grind against him.
“You owe me a dance, angel,” he whispers against my ear and I melt in his hold.
Moving with me, his arms land on my hips as we grind together on the dance floor. Holy fuck, he’s got some moves that I didn’t know about, and it makes me mad that we haven’t done this before. The music changes, but I can’t drag myself away from him. Loving the feel of him against me, his hands branding me with the punishing grip he has on my bare skin.
“As much as I wish I could dance with you all night, angel, Wren is on the dance floor. I think it’s time we put a little distance between us and the others,” he whispers in my ear. I fucking hate Wren right now, ruining my moment with my Parker Parker, but then I remember why we’re here.
Nodding in understanding, I glance at Red, who offers a smile acknowledging we need to move. Before I can try and walk her back to the guys, Aiden stops me.
“Let us dance for a few minutes, bossy pants. We’re having a little fun,” he says with the cheeky smile. I look to Red for confirmation and she nods with a smile on her face, which is enough for me. The guys know to watch her without me asking, and I have to remember she has a life too. It’s nice to see Red feel just as confident around a guy as she does with us.
Squeezing her hand as I pass, she goes straight back to dancing as my Cowboy Parker wraps an arm around my shoulder leading me to the orgy tent. I pull my earpiece from my bag, and I assume Parker already has his in when he squeezes my shoulder. There are way more peopl
e at this party than the last one we came to. The pathways are filled with students everywhere, with candles lining the edges, adding to the dark vibes.
The security guy at the entryway lets us in without question, cutting in front of the queue starting to form outside. I’m sure people are pissed about it, but I’m too pumped up to care. Who knew this would be so popular? From what I can tell it’s still only Featherstone Academy students and tutors here, it just seems like a lot more showed up tonight.
We make our way to the open plan area, when Trudy approaches us.
“Hey guys, are you both okay?” She asks, but I’m too busy staring at her sexy Cruella DeVil outfit. She’s wearing tight black cropped pants with a black top, which seem normal, until you add the bright red gloves, and dalmatian cape floating over her shoulders. She’s even got her hair half white half black, it looks so real I can’t actually tell if it’s a wig or not.
“We’re good. We’re just going to relax in here a little while if that’s okay?” I finally answer, smiling up at Parker as I do.
“Of course. Although if you’re going to be in the public area, I do have to warn you it’s participation only. So if you don’t want to, you’ll probably be best in the space you set up earlier,” she says with a smile, when someone calls her from the entry. “Sorry guys, business as always. Excuse me.”
I watch her leave before glancing back to Parker to see what he wants to do.
“No way in hell, angel. I am not letting anybody in here see our girl like that,” he grunts, surprising me with the firmness in his voice. I finally hear the others through my earpiece too. All of them growling in agreement with Parker, which makes me roll my eyes.
“I could give you a blow job, no one would see me then,” I offer, but he only frowns down at me, as he grips my cheek.
“Angel, if you think I’m going to let everyone here see you on your knees you are mistaken. Nobody sees our queen on her knees but us.” Holy shit, he’s not helping because his words are making me hotter. “Change of plan guys, we’ll be in the room waiting,” Parker says, pulling me to the side ending the discussion.
I lead the way because I know where we are going. The dark red silk drapes look a lot more sensual now it’s darker, and filled with bodies grinding together. There are no Halloween decorations in here, but there are now some BDSM props hanging from the wall.
“How are things looking with Wren?” I ask quietly.
“They’re with her now, they turned the earpieces off, not wanting you to hear any of it,” Kai murmurs in my ear, and I don’t know whether I appreciate it or hate it more.
Parker must be able to see the stress it’s causing me, because he squeezes my hand tighter, and places a kiss on my head.
“Angel, they need to get here. We all know it’s you they want, they just don’t want you to have to listen to it. They are doing this to get her here for you. Everything is for you.”
His words calm me and the nagging in my mind, and it catches me by surprise how true they are. Funny how he can pull me from the darkness that feeds on the doubts in my mind.
Approaching the curtain at the end of the hall I point it out to Parker.
“It’s this one. The room I’ve set up is behind this curtain,” I murmur.
As I pull the curtain back, everything happens in slow motion.
Staring down the barrel of a gun numbs my brain as my defensive instincts take over, but it’s no use at all. Something smashes into the back of my skull. It feels as though I’m falling forever before my body finally meets the ground. Parker lays beside me, our fingers still laced together. The only pain I feel right now is the helplessness of letting them get their hands on my Parker Parker. My soul aches as the darkness consumes me.
The last thing I see burns into my mind as I’m knocked out cold.
Dietrichson. Veronica. Rico.
*****
(Oscar)
I’m sick of hearing this bitch’s voice already. I bug my eyes out at Roman, hinting for us to get a move on, which he thankfully gets. He places his arm around her shoulder, but the cringe on his face at the contact is noticeable.
We’re standing by the table she’s at with her little fucking followers. Wren is pressed against Roman while her friends all sit and watch with delight. She is literally dressed in lingerie as a Playboy bunny. Fishnet stockings on her legs, and her ass cheeks hang out of the tight fitted bodysuit she’s wearing. She didn’t even waste time with any fake blood, instead going straight for the slutty look.
I’m beyond bored with all this already, so I turn my earpiece back on. Hoping to catch a hint of my Luna’s voice instead, but I hear Jess screaming down my ear and Kai panicking. They sound frantic and I turn to search them out in the crowd, my heart pounding in my chest as adrenaline kicks in. What the fuck is going on?
“Rome, something’s not right,” I try to mutter quietly, and he frowns down at me. I tap my ear as I continue to scan the crowd, looking for that damn pink wig of Jess’. I don’t have to look far as I see her and Kai running towards us, the fear clear on both of their faces.
Jess doesn’t stop her pace as she charges at Wren, Roman steps out of the way just in time as she pins Wren to the table. Her head hits the surface with a lot of force as Jess screams down at her. Caging Wren in from behind, just like Luna did that time in the lunch hall. Everyone sitting at the table jumps back in surprise, but no one steps in to help.
“What have you fucking done? Where are they?”
Wren starts to laugh with her face pinned to the table, which only irritates Jess even more. She pulls Wren up off the table by her hair and slams her back down again, the thud booming around us. Luna and Parker, something’s happening to them. I turn to Kai whose eyes are flitting between the screen of his phone and us standing in front of him.
“Kai, what’s going on?” Roman growls frantically, and it takes him a moment to find the words to respond.
“Someone has them,” he finally murmurs in response. “I’m trying to find them on the cameras we set up, but I think you two need to head in there now. Leave Wren with us,” Kai says, darkness filling his eyes as fear kicks in, mixing with the anger already there, he’s not dealing well with this.
“The Games?” I ask, needing clarification, but he shakes his head.
“I’m not sure, I don’t think so. I heard Rico and Dietrichson, but there was a third person.”
I can’t breathe. I go to pull my collar away from my neck, only to not find one because I’m not wearing a top at all. Anger creeps into my bones, taking over my mind and pushing me to rush towards the tent. I’m not waiting around, and what the hell are all these people doing in my fucking way? Pushing through the crowd, I hope Rome is behind me because I refuse to stop as fear kicks in.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
The security guy on the door goes to open the curtain for me, but he isn’t quick enough as I pull it open the rest of the way. Stepping into the tent, I search frantically not knowing where to go. I finally look behind me for Roman, who is standing right there looking around as I am. Trudy, where’s Trudy? I can’t see her anywhere, everyone’s too busy enjoying the fuckfest to be of any use.
“Please tell me one of you has turned your earpieces on,” I hear Kai mutter in my ear, and I sigh a little in relief.
“Me, who knew I could be the smart one. Now tell me where to go, Kai,” I bark, needing to get to them now. Roman glances at me with a confused look on his face, I point to my ear again and he finally understands, turning his on too. Kai directs us to the curtain of red silk which leads to a narrow corridor, pulling aside the material that conceals the room they set up, we come up blank.
“Fuck. Fuck, Kai. They’re not here. Neither of them are here,” I snarl down the earpiece. Not at him, but I can’t contain the anger and the pain I feel rushing through my body. Throwing the cowboy hat to the floor I run my fingers through my hair, gripping tightly as I can’t stop the panic from setting in.
; Roman crouches down beside me, venom in his eyes as he points to pools of blood on the ground at our feet. Someone’s going to die for this, I’ll kill them with my bare fucking hands.
“No. No get off him. Get off him!” Red screams through the earpiece, and I feel my world starting to crumble. “Roman! Oscar? Ozzie, they’ve got him. Please they’re taking Kai,” her cries spin me into action, running back out to where we just left them.
“Jess, I need you to focus, okay. This is really important,” Roman grunts, as we try to get past the crowds of people in here.
It’s as if they all know we are in a desperate hurry and they all want to delay our time. All I can see is a red mist of fury as I push through the tent to get back outside.
“Okay, I’m focusing,” she whispers through the line, sobbing a little.
“What were they wearing? The people who took Kai?” He asks, and I’m thankful she answers straight away.
“Black tracksuits with the Featherstone emblem embroidered on the front. They had sunglasses on too.” I sigh, only slightly in relief.
He’s actually being taken for The Games, we knew this was coming, we just didn’t know how soon. It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, because I know if Rico was there when Luna and Parker were taken, they’re not going to the same place as us. I can feel it.
“Good girl, Jessikins. You did brilliant, where are you now?” I ask, needing to make sure she is safe before anyone tries to come for us.
“I’m over by the DJ booth. They pushed me aside and took Wren too, and I didn’t want to be alone with her crew,” she mutters. “Maverick, what are you doing here? No, no they’ve taken Luna and Parker. I need to help them, Maverick. PUT. ME. DOWN!” God, I think I could hear her without the earpiece at that volume.
“Jess, go with him. It’s the only way we can keep you safe if they’re looking for us too,” Roman sighs, swiping a hand down his face. As we finally get close to the exit I see four men dressed exactly how Jess described moments ago. They’re looking for us, but I can’t go anywhere without finding Luna first.
