One Family

by Smyth, R. A

  There’s what?! Several billion dollars? I can’t even comprehend that amount of money.

  “How do you know that?” Preston demands.

  Sebastian sighs in frustration, leveling with us. “The guy is a controlling asshole. He’s been denying me a promotion for years now, and he’s always undermining us executives, doing whatever the fuck he wants.”

  “So you dug up your own dirt on him?” I question, speaking up for the first time.

  He shrugs his shoulders. “I wanted to force him to hand over the company.”

  “So when you told Cece you were starting your own company, you really meant, you were going to steal her father’s company out from under him?”

  “That stupid bitch. Can’t she keep her damn mouth shut?!” Sebastian snarls, his spiteful tone taking me by surprise.

  “Wow,” Barrett exclaims, “I can see what Cece and the others find so endearing about you.”

  Sebastian scowls at Barrett. “I’m only with her to get intel on her father. You have no idea the amount of shit I’ve heard from her. She talks non-stop when I’m, uh, having relations with her.”

  Ugh. Jesus fuck.

  “What the fuck? We don’t need to know that shit!” Preston barks, while Ty’s face scrunches up in disgust and Barrett looks like he’s going to vomit.

  “This account? Is it with a US bank?” I ask, steering us back on track.

  “No, it’s not,” Sebastian responds, as the first coil of excitement unravels in my stomach at the thought that we might be onto something here. “It’s with a Swiss bank.”

  All four of us share knowing looks with each other. Similar excitement brimming in their eyes.

  “Give me your phone,” Preston demands, holding his hand out expectantly, raising his eyebrows when Sebastian hesitates.

  Unlocking it and handing it over, Preston taps away on it before giving it back. “Transfer all the money to this bank account,” he says, indicating the account details he’s entered in the phone.

  Sebastian splutters out some sort of excuse, but before he can even form a coherent sentence, Preston cuts him off. “Or I’ll make sure Richard and your wife know all about how you're spending your time.”

  With the reminder of what we’re holding over his head, Sebastian scowls at us before nodding his head in agreement. “Fine,” he spits out between gritted teeth.

  “You have twenty-four hours.” Preston doesn’t even wait for Sebastian to agree before climbing back into the SUV. Aiden pulls open the back door and gestures for me to enter while Barrett and Ty climb in their side and the five of us take off, leaving Sebastian staring after us.

  “What now?” I ask. “Sebastian drains the account and then what?”

  “He’s going to freak out when he realizes someone knows about the account and has gotten their hands on all the money. I’m not sure if he’s going to run, or just start frantically trying to cover his tracks, but either way, I’ll have my PI keep an eye on him. If he’s covering his tracks, we’ll find something on him.”

  “And if he runs?” Ty asks.

  Aiden shrugs. “If he runs, he runs. Either way, he won't be a pawn for Kirk any more.”

  We fall into silence for a while before Barrett pipes up. “What account did you have him send the money to?”

  “One of mine,” Preston replies casually.

  One of his? How many bank accounts does a teenager need? I don’t even have one!

  “What are you going to do with it?” Ty asks, a hint of accusation in his tone. He doesn’t outright say it, but I can tell he’s wondering if Preston’s planning on keeping it for himself.

  Preston must pick up on it too as he flicks his gaze up to the rearview mirror, glaring at Ty. “I’m going to make sure every girl that’s suffered at the hands of The Citadel gets some sort of compensation for the shit they’ve had to endure,” he growls.

  The determination in his voice only endears me to him further, warming my heart. He puts up such a callous front. He’s like a minstrel; he’s got a tough outer shell, but inside is sweet yummy goodness.

  When his gaze flicks to mine in the mirror, I smile warmly at him, all of us lapsing into silence again as we head home, hoping we might have just knocked down another one-percenter.

  Chapter 17

  “Fighting in a ring is totally different to street fighting,” Aiden insists. We’re having lunch in the dining hall as per usual, while Aiden and Preston argue back and forth about whatever new issue they have with one another, as per usual.

  “When you get in the ring, you’re fighting to win, but on the streets, it’s a fight for survival. You won’t walk away with some dumb trophy or a title. If you win, you get to walk away with your life,” Aiden continues ominously.

  “The rules and the outcome might be different, but the basics are the same. It all comes down to the individual; their drive to fight, their determination to win.”

  “Rules?” Aiden snorts. “There are no rules in street fighting, rich boy. Anything goes. Weapons, multiple attackers, you name it.”

  Ty rolls his eyes at me from across the table, before stepping in to placate the two of them. “You both make fantastic points,” he interrupts them, his sarcastic tone impossible to miss. “But there’s only one way to settle this.” All of us look at him, while he pauses dramatically, waiting until he has our full attention.

  Now it’s Preston’s turn to roll his eyes. “Well?” He snaps, as impatient as ever, his crabby behavior only making Ty grin wider.

  “You fight it out.”

  “They what?” I fire out before anyone else can open their mouths and say something else equally stupid.

  Preston snorts, shaking his head with a small cocky looking grin curling at the corner of his lip. “I’d have you flat on your back in minutes,” he says smugly, all of them ignoring my groan.

  Aiden narrows his eyes at him, not impressed with the dig. “All I hear is that you’re too pussy to go up against me,” he replies, giving his own smug grin. “But, hey,” he continues, raising his hands in defeat, “if you don’t think you can take me.”

  Yup, he just waved a red flag at Preston. Preston’s nose flares as he grinds his teeth. “I can take you,” he grits out. “Today. After school. But don’t go crying to Sophie when I smash your face in. I won’t be going easy on you just because she’s watching.”

  “Eh, no,” I’m quick to blurt out, cutting across Preston’s self-satisfied look. “I will not be watching that. If you two wanna beat the crap out of each other then that’s all you. I’ve better things to do with my afternoon. I’ll be in the library like I usually am while you use the gym. I’ll meet afterwards, once you’ve worked your issues out,” I say, smiling sweetly.

  The two of them gape at me, but seriously? I’ve seen them both beat to hell more than I’d have liked, I definitely don’t need to sit on the sidelines encouraging them to do it to each other.

  “I’ll go with her,” Barrett says, giving me a wink.

  “What?” Preston gapes, glaring at him.

  “Sorry, dude,” Barrett shrugs, not looking the slightest bit apologetic. “But alone time with my girl totally trumps watching you get the shit beat out of you.”

  “Don’t worry, love,” Ty soothes me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I’ll make sure they don’t kill each other.”

  Oh, excellent. That’s exactly the reassurance I was looking for.

  ________

  When the last bell of the day goes, Barrett and I make our way to the library, while the other’s head to the gym. I don’t know what kind of dick measuring contest Aiden and Preston think they are getting into, but I don’t want any part of it. I did pull Ty aside though and ask him to make sure they don’t beat the crap out of each other.

  Pushing open the door, I soak up the stillness that you only ever find in a library. You have the occasional rustling of paper and the sound of someone clearing their throat, but otherwise, it’s blissful silence.

>   The library here is magnificent. Way better than the run-down one I frequented back home, with its half empty shelves and the permanent damp smell. The only people that ever seemed to be there, other than myself, were the creepy weird dudes that took advantage of the free computer access. Considering the fact you had to use a dial-up connection to get on the internet and it took about ten minutes to load a page, you had to be pretty damn desperate to want to use them. That alone tells you all you need to know about the weirdos.

  Here is the complete opposite. It’s all dark, polished wood with dim lighting. There’s a reception desk at the entrance, and behind that is a large open area with various study tables. A bank of computers lines the far walls—sleek new iMacs, not the huge bricks for screens my old library had—and off to the side are private study rooms that can be reserved for students looking to work on group projects without disturbing everyone around them.

  Taking up the back half of the enormous room are the stacks where the books are kept, with small reading and study nooks interspersed amongst them where individual students can sit and work in private.

  Taking a seat at one of the free study tables in the center of the room, both of us pull out our notes, working side by side in companionable silence. I’ve had a lot of free time recently. In an effort to keep myself busy, I’ve been swotting up on all my classes. It’s taken a few weeks, but I finally feel like I’ve caught up in most of my subjects, except for American History. That’s one subject I’m never going to get on top of. It’s not for lack of trying, but I don’t even know the basics that the rest of these kids learned in primary school.

  Finishing the last bit of Chemistry homework I have due tomorrow, I move on to my English assignment, which is due next week. We have to compare two different poems by an author of our choosing.

  “I’ll be right back,” I whisper to Barrett before leaving my stuff to go off in search of a poetry book. Taking my time, I wander leisurely through the stacks until I reach the poetry section.

  I’m flicking through a book, hoping one of the poems will catch my eye, when I feel someone move in behind me, their large frame pinning me in. I’d be afraid, but that embedded sense of safety that always surrounds me when he’s nearby cloaks over me now.

  “Baby girl,” Barrett purrs in my ear, “I’ve been trying to be patient, but my incredible, god-like balls are going to drop off if I don’t get my dick inside you soon.” His hands grab my hips as he grinds his cock into my ass. He’s already rock hard and, holy shit, he is huge.

  “So, what’s stopping you?” I reply lasciviously, my voice a deep, husky tone as I glance back at him over my shoulder. God, I’ve wanted Barrett for so long now. He was the first one I got close to. Don’t get me wrong, I was attracted to all of them instantly, but Barrett has always been...different. Even back when I barely knew him, I could feel it. I didn’t understand it, but I could sense that whatever this was between us was deeper than just sexual attraction. It’s partly why I kept pushing him away, despite every part of me wanting to pull him closer.

  His hands slide down over my ass before gliding across my thighs, sneaking up under my skirt until his fingers trail teasingly along the line of my panties, mere inches away from where I need him most.

  I’m already dripping for him, my back arching as I whimper at his soft touches. Ever since he kissed me the other week, I’ve been aching for more. We’ve had a few moments here and there, but it’s nowhere near enough. Now we’re all alone, hidden away in the stacks from prying eyes and I need what feels like a fucking enormous cock inside of me before I lose my frickin’ mind.

  His hands tighten on my hips, spinning me around so my back is pressing into the shelves behind me, my chest flush against his as I peer up at him through my lashes.

  Pulling his shirt out of his slacks, I run my hands over his torso, loving the feeling of his abs flexing beneath my fingers.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” Barrett murmurs. His words stop my wandering hands as I go to undo his belt, my insatiable hunger for him threatening to consume me.

  Tilting my head back so I can see his face, my breath catches in my throat at the look in his eyes. Reflected back at me is the same hunger and carnal need that is brimming in me, but overlaying that, I can see so much adoration and wonder that it renders me mute.

  “I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you in that hallway, fighting with your locker. The easy smile you had, your dirty accent.” He smirks suggestively, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “You were like no one I’d ever met before,” he breathes, his words barely more than a reverent whisper against my skin as he’s pulled into the memory of that day. “The resilience you’ve shown every day has me in awe. I’m captivated by every part of you. The ferocious woman you show the world, and the self-conscious girl you don’t let anyone see but us.” He smiles softly, his eyes brimming with affection.

  “In case the fact I put up with three other dipshits for you isn’t proof enough, let me make it perfectly clear. I am fucking in love with you, Sophie Prescott”

  Grinning, tears fill my eyes as I press up onto my toes, planting a kiss on his lips.

  “Show me,” I whisper, my voice a deep rasp I’ve never heard before. I’ve never needed someone as badly as I need Barrett to be deep inside me right the fuck now. His words, and that fucking look in his eye, have me on the verge of an orgasm already.

  Done with sweet words and fucking incredible declarations of love, he gives us what we’ve both been hungering for months now. Lust and longing are encapsulated in every motion as he tears my panties from me, throwing them somewhere behind him, his deft fingers sliding through my pussy lips, sweeping up to my nub and rubbing me until I’m nothing but a whimpering heap, relying on the bookshelves to hold me up.

  His thumb continues its relentless punishment of my clit as he sinks two thick fingers inside of me. I can taste blood in my mouth as I press my teeth into my lower lip in a desperate plea to not cry out. There’s no fucking way we’re stopping until we’ve both gotten what we need.

  “You’re so fucking hot when you’re putty in my hands,” Barrett murmurs, his teeth nipping along my neck as he thrusts his fingers into me, over and over, catapulting me towards the edge. “Come for me baby girl, let me watch you explode on my fingers.”

  His dirty words are my undoing as I come apart, my body lighting up as I struggle not to cry out my release and let every unsuspecting person in the library know just how fucking talented Barrett is with his fingers.

  I’m panting heavily when he slides his fingers out of me, sucking them into his mouth and moaning at the taste of me. Fuck, that is hot! Removing his fingers, his lips slam down on mine in a hungry kiss. I can taste myself on his tongue, the combination only making me want him more.

  He hastily shoves down his trousers just enough to pull his dick out before wrapping his hands around my thighs, his chest pressing against mine as he pushes me back into the bookcase. I can feel his cock bobbing at my entrance, his shallow thrusts causing it to slide through my juices. My pussy clenches around nothing, fucking aching for his thick girth, as I whimper.

  Unable to deny either of us any longer, he slams into me, filling me in one quick thrust.

  “Holy shit,” I breathe, my face pressed into his neck as I struggle to adjust to his width. Fuck. He was not joking about how well off he is. The guy is fucking hung.

  He pulls out slowly so only the head of his dick is still inside me, before once again slamming all the way in. A small cry escapes from me before I can rein it in. I’m so lost in the feel of him, I no longer care if anyone else knows what we’re up to.

  Barrett continues to tease me with his slow, punishing thrusts until all I can do is hold on to the bookcase and let the sensations he’s evoking wash over me. I feel alive. My whole body is flushed with pleasure, every nerve ending in overdrive as my orgasm builds within me.

  When I’m a whimpering mess in his arms, Barrett
picks up speed until he’s hammering into me at a relentless pace. The sudden increase in tempo sparks the beginning of the end, and I bite down on his neck to stop myself from screaming out and letting the whole library know I’ve just had an earth-shattering orgasm.

  “Fuck,” Barrett grunts out as he finds his own climax, his body tensing as he spills himself inside of me.

  We both remain pressed against each other, my forehead resting against his shoulder, his face buried in my neck as we try to gain control of our breathing, aftershocks continuing to go off throughout my body.

  “Just so you know,” I pant, “I love you too.”

  Eventually, he pulls out, gently lowering me to the ground. Fixing himself away, he pulls out a tissue from his pocket, handing it over to me.

  “Thanks,” I murmur, cleaning myself up before scanning the floor for my panties. “Do you have your phone on you?” I ask Barrett when I can’t immediately find my underwear.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Put your torch on, I can’t find my panties.” The asshole just chuckles, doing as I say. The torch lights up the darkened corner we were in, but I still don’t see them anywhere.

  “Barrett,” I sigh, turning to glare at him. “Do you have them?” I seriously don’t understand guys wanting to keep underwear as trophies. I’d be super grossed out if he tried to hand off his dirty boxers to me.

  “No,” he insists. “I threw them over there, I think.” He points to where I was sure he’d thrown them too.

  “Well, they aren’t here now,” I say, exasperated. He must have them. Where the hell else would they have gone?!

  Coming closer, Barrett scans the light around the rest of the space, joining in the search. It’s obvious they aren’t here though.

  A shiver wracks through my body as the only other possible explanation comes to mind. “You don’t think someone took them, do you?” I murmur, panic and disgust lacing my voice.

  Looking perplexed, Barrett turns to face me. “I dunno,” he grimaces. “I don’t see why they would. Besides, I didn’t see or hear anyone else, did you?”