Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy Book 1)

by B C Morgan

  “E-e-emmet s-s-said not t-t-to t-t-touch me.”

  “Fuck me, you’re more pathetic than I first thought. Good thing I’m not looking for a conversation it’ll take you too fucking long to say anything. And in case you haven’t noticed, Emmet isn’t here and it will be your word against mine. Besides, you’ll be the one doing the touching. Now be a good little whore, pull my dick out and fucking swallow it down.”

  I push back against his grip, my shaking fingers moving towards his zipper, my stomach threatening to spill its contents all over him. The fucker deserves it too. I connect with the metal and I can’t even bring myself to look at him as I try to pull it down, but my shaking is making it difficult and his hand connects with my face, knocking my mask off and across the ground.

  “Useless little bitch,” he spits to the side of me before popping open his button and making quick work of his zipper. I swallow hard trying to prepare myself, when a fist connects with the side of his head, sending him sprawling with his hand still inside his boxers.

  I look up to see Tom offering me his hand while Emmet and Tucker deliver blow after blow onto Shane. I watch as they tear their masks off but Tom leads me away before I can catch sight of Emmet properly. But I’ve seen enough, I just can’t get my heart or my mind to connect what I saw with the cold hard truth. Denial, my new best friend.

  Tom carries me back to the ball, much to my dismay and it isn’t long until Aeron is lifting me up onto his lap and Maddox is pulling out a first aid kit to remove the stones from my skin. Not to mention the band aid on my face from where Shane split the skin when his hand connected with me. I don’t know why he’s cleaning me up or why I’m sitting on Aeron’s lap but what I do know, I just want to go to my room and forget that any of this ever happened.

  Twenty minutes until the stares stop being so obvious and Daria has managed to get Bradley to find us a private room to sit it out in. I’m not sure what we’re waiting for, but clearly they aren’t going to let me tuck tail and run until they’re good and ready. I don’t even know what’s happened to Tom, he dropped me off and then disappeared into the fray. Although I’m guessing that’s the least of my worries.

  No one has asked me what happened and I’m thankful for that, but I know I’ll be expected to tell them soon and the worst part, according to the rules Shane didn’t do a damn thing wrong. It’s these moments that make me want to beg Tom for a pass and risk the punishment for even attempting such a thing. I don’t think I will, but that doubt is screaming volumes at me right now.

  “Can’t we just take her back to her room?” Daria asks and Bradley pulls her even closer into his side, almost as though he can’t bear not being able to touch her. I’m not sure if it’s sweet or obsessive, but hey to each their own. Who am I to judge?

  I could very well be in love with a man who is willing to wait three years just to be with me, while also falling dangerously close to the edge with a guy who I know I will never see again. Cole I saw coming a mile away, the feelings that is, I just never suspected that he could feel the same way. But Liam, damn he just came right out of the blue, when did my feelings for him start to change and why didn’t I realize soon enough to stop it from happening?

  “We have to wait for Emmet and he will not want her to be alone tonight,” I hear Bradley say in reply and I don’t like the sound of that. What if Emmet wants to stay with me? Good lord, please anyone but him, I don’t want to be alone with someone who I know nothing about and clearly had someone following me!

  “I could stay with her.”

  “Dar, you know that’s not allowed, it has to be one of us.”

  I don’t know what she’s muttering but I want to high five her in solidarity. The door opens but it’s Tucker who comes in and not the elusive Emmet, Aeron holds me tighter against him and I don’t miss the way Tucker’s eyes track every movement.

  “Shane is in the medical center and Emmet is making sure he doesn’t get anymore idiotic ideas about coming near her anytime soon. Although we do have a slight issue that we will need to talk about when there’s less of a crowd.”

  “I see, can I g-go back t-t-to my r-r-room please,” I don’t need it to be explained that they won’t speak until us girls have left them to it.

  “You’ll be staying with one of us tonight, we can’t trust Shane not to try something if you’re in your room alone,” Bradley says as he crouches in front of me and I don’t miss the way Daria is staring at him, like he hung the sun, moon and stars just for her.

  “I’ll do it, I haven’t got a regular for tonight and I’ll be leaving after the assembly tomorrow,” Aeron states and Tucker looks as though he’s about to blow at any second.

  “Not happening, you can’t be trusted.”

  “Now, now Tuck. I’m as trustworthy as you are,” I can’t help but look back and forth between them, the glint in Aeron’s eyes and the grinding of Tucker’s jaw. Any minute now and I’ll have to climb off before the next fight of the evening begins.

  “Enough, I’ll stay with her. I think I can handle one night on a damn loveseat.”

  Everything stops as we all turn our attention to Maddox and surprisingly, no one argues with him.

  “Why don’t you just get Darius to do it? No one will have to be put out then,” I say quietly but Tucker is already shaking his head.

  “No, Senior won’t allow it. It’s one thing protecting you from a fellow girl, but he won’t interfere when it’s one of us. The only reason we are is because Shane broke our own set of rules, don’t worry Thirty-Four it has nothing to do with you,” his eyes burn right through me and as it always seems to end up, I find myself hating Tucker all over again. Every time I do, it’s always a little more than before.

  “Mad, you are probably the best person but Shane will annihilate you. Let’s not give him more reason to do the stuff he already does, I can do it. I’m invested enough to keep her safe and far enough removed that Emmet won’t go on the rampage when he hears about it. Have no fear, I’ve got us covered,” Bradley offers and Daria beams up at him.

  Someone help me, because I don’t think I can take much more. Even as Aeron lifts me off him and storms out of the room and Tucker is fast on his tail, all I can think about is how Bradley is going to be staying in my room and I really hope this won’t put me on Daria’s shit list.

  19

  When The a Good Ones Snap

  I don’t know what time Daria left, but I am glad she was here when I fell asleep. Although now that I’m getting up, I wish I could just get back into bed and sleep the day away. I don’t want to see anyone after what happened last night, I still don’t understand why Shane hates me so much and I can’t imagine the beating last night would have lessened it. If anything, he probably hates me even more.

  I walk over to my door and pause with my hand on the handle when voices sound out from the other room, I can’t believe I’m going to do this but I need to hear what they’re saying. I guess that’s why I’m running around looking for a glass to press against the door.

  “You can’t be serious, Emmet will lose it,” I hear Bradley say, but clearly I’ve already missed some of the conversation.

  “It doesn’t matter, if I don’t then Shane will. He came right out and said it when I paid him a visit last night. Besides, we both know Emmet won’t do it himself. He’s having too much fun fucking around with her head, plus we know his obsession will only grow the longer it remains unchecked,” I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard come out of Aeron without it leading back to sex.

  “He isn’t going to like this Aeron, you are playing a dangerous game.”

  “I’m not the one playing games and it isn’t as though it will mean anything, besides he paid me a little visit himself last night. He’s making the rules where Luna is concerned…” a loud knock sounds on my door and I want to kill whoever it is for interrupting, I need to know what these new rules are. In fact, how many rules are in place where I’m concerned and why am I being singled
out so fucking much? Fuck!

  I pull on a pair of booty shorts and my cowl neck top before slowly pushing my door open and I only come across Bradley and Daria. I guess Aeron must have bowed out when she turned up.

  “Hey hon, how are you feeling today?” She asks as she comes closer and pulls me into her arms.

  “I’m fine D, the sooner yesterday is forgotten about, the better.”

  “That may take a while, but let’s just get the assembly over and then we can pretend it never happened, if that’s what you really want.”

  “It is, thanks D. So, what’s this assembly about?” I ask and they share a look between themselves.

  “Come on Bradley, it’s about time she knew, it isn’t fair that she’s the only one in the dark by this point,” her hands end up perched on her hips and I’m glad she’s on my side.

  “Fine, fine,” Bradley says, holding his hands up in front of him. “When Candice tried to stab you, it raised a lot of issues. Not only with what happened to her but with the role that Four played. She tried to play it off as self-defense but no one would believe that so she did the unthinkable and went straight to Sir. Truth be told, he was not impressed but he allowed her to stay, under house arrest while he decided what would be done with her. Honestly, she should have been kicked out without a moment’s hesitation, but she’s still here. The assembly is for him to announce her fate and believe me when I say, she isn’t worried in the slightest.”

  “So she teams up with a group of girls to kill me and yet she gets to stay, how is that fair? I struck a girl, while trying to save one of you guys and they were more than willing to kick me out without a moment’s hesitation,” I can’t keep my voice down as I throw my hands up and start pacing circles on the floor.

  “It isn’t fair, but Four is a part of the elites in our society and Senior has been trying to buy her father out of some property for a while. If she can give him the in with her father, then he’ll take it. He makes the rules Luna, we just follow them.”

  Yeah, Sir Harkwright may as well be the ruler of the world with the power he holds in his unworthy hands. Some people should never have that much control over people and he’s certainly one of them.

  “Why doesn’t he just make her father give it to him?” D asks, not even hiding her disgust.

  “I don’t know, I can’t tell you anything about the way that man thinks. I don’t even think Emmet understands or knows why he does what he does or why he doesn’t use his usual tactics on her father. All I know is she has something he wants and he will sell out every one of us to get it, other than Emmet of course.”

  I don’t even know what to say to that, so I think I’ll keep my mouth shut and just try to act as normal as I can. Linking my arm with Daria’s we head down to the mess hall with Bradley hot on our tail.

  It’s hard to miss the way everything goes quiet as we walk in or the fact that Four is back at the top girls table. I haven’t missed seeing her there and her assurance of her safety does not sit well with me. She should be long gone by now and the weird thing, even with Candice gone no one has taken her spot. Thirteen remains unclaimed and no one seems eager to try and take it for themselves.

  “D, do you know what happened to Candice?” I ask quietly and she gives a quick jerk of her head.

  “She’s alive Lu, you didn’t kill anyone,” those seven words wash away a weight I didn’t even realize I was shouldering. Knowing that I’m not a murderer though, that is a relief that cannot be washed away, not even by Four or Shane.

  We grab our breakfast and sit down at our usual table and Bradley breaks whatever protocol this place has by sitting with us. The whispering starts up all around and only increases in intensity when the door pushes open and Shane walks in, his one eye zeroing in on me in an instant.

  His face takes on a whole new meaning of black and blue. His left eye is completely swollen shut and his jaw is a mottled purple color with bruising traveling up and down his face and even disappearing beneath the collar of his shirt. I can’t get over just how much damage they did to him. I know Emmet has some weird obsession with me but Tucker can’t seem to decide whether he hates me or wants me. Although I guess he only got involved because of Emmet, didn’t he say that himself last night?

  He stops at our table and I can see Bradley clenching his fists beneath the table, I can’t help but wonder if anyone actually likes Shane or if they only put up with him because he’s a Harkwright.

  “Fuck off Shane, before you get another beating,” he says, causing Shane to laugh, but it soon turns into a coughing fit as his arm moves around to hug his ribs.

  “Don’t make me laugh you pussy whipped bitch, now take said pussy and fuck off. Me and Luna need to have a little chat,” he cocks his head to the side but no one moves.

  “Fine, be that way,” he flips the chair around until he’s sitting on it backwards with his forearms resting on the top of it.

  “So then my little whore, do you know what you’ll be doing tonight?” I refuse to answer him if I don’t have to. “Answer me,” he screams and I swallow hard at the utter rage and hatred that enters his eyes - well eye.

  “N-no.”

  “N-no, I hate how pathetic you are,” he scrubs his hand across his face, before wincing in pain. “You’ll be sucking and riding my dick until I tell you to stop and then I’ll do whatever I want to your skinny ass and then if you’re a really good girl I may let you get a couple hours of sleep before we start all over again. Then I’ll get one of the other girls to join us and watch as you put on a little show for me,” he slides his hand into his waistband and cups himself, before falling into another coughing fit.

  “You know that isn’t going to happen, Emmet won’t allow it,” Bradley says, he places his hand over Daria’s as she goes to stand up, shaking his head at her in warning.

  I’m so thankful that he’s stopping her from doing anything stupid, because even he can’t save her if she makes a move against Shane.

  “Actually it will happen, Emmet left this morning. I watched as he climbed into a car without looking back once and when Senior makes his big speech, I’ll be right there beside him,” he stands up and moves until he’s standing over me. He lowers his head until he’s whispering in my ear, “I’m claiming you today and I won’t release you until your nothing but the empty vessel I see every damn day,” he sinks his teeth into my neck and it takes everything I have not to hiss or better yet, punch him in his already bruised face.

  He pulls back and attempts to swagger off, although his limp doesn’t give him the look he’s hoping for and all I can think is that I’d rather be gutted by one of the girls than ever be claimed by him.

  Daria hasn’t stopped trying to find out what Shane whispered to me, but I won’t repeat it. Not to her or Bradley, I’m just glad he hasn’t ordered me to. Because I would hate to lose my spot over refusing that order.

  We’re walking through the maze when the sound of grunting reaches us and I can’t be bothered with turning back, I’m completing the maze. I don’t care who I have to walk past.

  “Come on Lu, I don’t want to watch people getting it on.”

  “Then don’t look,” I say continuing to push forward and although she’s huffing, she’s still walking with me.

  We get to the middle and I watch with rapt fascination as Tom pounds into One from behind, wrapping her braid around his fist. It elongates her neck as he pulls her head back and her mouth is open as moan after moan escapes her. He looks almost bored, which argues against the grunts escaping him, but she looks as though she’s enjoying it and her moans seem to confirm it as well.

  Daria yanks on my arm, pulling me from my reverie as she keeps a hand over her eyes. My own connect with Tom’s before I give into D’s pulling and continue on through the maze, until we walk through the exit.

  “I can’t believe you stood there watching, would you have asked to join in if I hadn’t been there?” There’s no judgement in her tone, just curiosity.

/>   “No, of course not. I just thought I’d see what it looks like when you enjoy it. Seeing as I doubt I’ll get much enjoyment out of my first time if it will be with Shane,” I say it as though it doesn’t bother me, even though I feel as though I’m slowly falling apart on the inside.

  I know I shouldn’t have mentioned Shane’s name, but I couldn’t stop myself. Yes inner me is having a full melt down over my name drop, but she can get in line. I’m running the show right now.

  “Why do you think it will be Shane? Just because Emmet’s rule of leaving you alone ran out today, doesn’t mean he will get you first… that is such a shitty thing to say. Sorry Lu, I hate that you have to give up your virginity to any of the idiots here,” she’s blushing like crazy and I’d smile if I had the energy to make my mouth do anything other than a straight line of consternation.

  “Honestly, I’ve been more than accepting of the fact that my virginity will go to one of them and more than likely it would do more for them than me. I just don’t want it to be with him, just the thought of him touching me makes me want to hurl. I’m scared D and there’s nothing I can do. I hate that I could very well bring him a world of pain, yet I’m not allowed to defend myself. I-I-I…” she pulls me into her arms and runs her hand up and down my back.

  “Hey it’s okay, I don’t care what I have to do I will not let that asswipe be your first or any of your numbers. Just remember, that although you can’t strike him yourself, I can think of at least three people who will gladly do it for you.”

  “What if I want to do it?” I say, looking at her and she grimaces.

  “Can’t help you with that one hon, you do that and you’re as good as gone, that’s your best case scenario,” I know she’s right, but at least I can fantasize about all the ways I would make him pay. If only I could get away with it.

  The assembly still hasn’t been called so we may as well do a few laps in the pool, at least my ankle is feeling a lot better now. I swear by the time I leave here I’m going to have a scar for every misadventure. My arm, my cheek, what else is the Academy going to add to my collection?