“It’s better that you don’t know,” I say, removing the envelope from my back pocket. “That’s the down payment you requested.”
“Chewie!” He jerks his head at the guy with the waist-length hair and long thick beard. “Do the honors.”
Chewie takes the envelope and counts the cash. “It’s all there, boss.”
Johnny nods, and Chewie backs away, sliding the envelope into the inside pocket of his plaid shirt.
“My guy’ll need to take photos,” he says, blowing smoke circles in my face. “I’ll send you the details of the location once I set it up. Then, it’ll take two weeks to get all the IDs together.”
“That’s fine.”
He jerks forward suddenly, slamming his lips down on mine. Before I can protest or push him away, he reels back, grinning madly. “Nice doing business with you, girlie.” I stand, and he swats my ass. “Now scoot before Chewie starts getting ideas. He likes ’em young.”
I’ve never run out of a place faster, scrubbing at my lips, and I don’t release the breath I’m holding until the bar is a blip in the distance.
CHAPTER 21
I MEET SARIAH downtown and work out some aggression in the ring. Then, I shower and change, and we meet Sean and Emmett at the diner for something to eat. The guys are all worked up over what the Saints did to me and my new plan to stop fighting them, but I talk them around, assuring all three of my friends that I know what I’m doing.
“How’s your sister doing?” I ask Emmett after the waitress has refilled our sodas.
“She’s good, thanks. You’ll have to drop by the house sometime. I know she’d love to meet you.”
My eyes climb to my hairline. “You told your sister about me?”
“Course I did.” He shoots me a cocky grin. “I tell her about all my crushes.”
I throw a few fries at him across the table, and he laughs. “Relax. I told her we were friends, and I might’ve mentioned you take kickboxing classes. She’d love to join, but it’s out of the question while she’s so ill. I think she wants to live vicariously through you.”
“I can drop by sometime and talk to her about it.”
“Cool.”
The bell over the door chimes, and a deathly hush settles over the room as footsteps enter the diner. I don’t need to look around to know who it is because my body is already so attuned to Saint Lennox I can detect whenever he’s close. That crazy connection between us sparks to life when he’s near, lifting all the tiny hairs on my arms, making my heart beat faster, my skin heat, and my body ache with need.
It freaks me the fuck out.
Because I always thought it was a myth authors created to make readers believe in soul-mate love.
I have zero desire to live in my own twisted romance novel.
The Sainthood lit a flame to my childhood and murdered my father, and they’ve stolen my mother from me. Saint, Galen, Caz, and Theo may not have been directly involved, but they’re part of the same organization. They own the same crimes.
I do not want this connection with him.
I don’t want to feel the way I feel when I’m around any of them.
I’ve spent years successfully caging my emotions, and they are breaching barriers left and right. They are breathing new passion into me, bringing me back to life, and I hate them for it.
If my friends knew I felt like this, they would nuke this new plan of mine without hesitation, because it’s hella risky.
Yet I don’t feel like I’ve much choice. Saint has already decided, and it’ll work better for me if I appear to be going along with it.
Footsteps approach, and even if I didn’t already know who it was, the dark glare from Emmett would confirm it. I kick him under the table, cautioning him to get with the program.
“Get that to go, princess,” Saint says, looming over our table. “We need to leave.”
“For where?” I ask, pretending I don’t notice how hot he looks in his creased, worn black leather jacket and ripped skinny jeans. My stomach flips when I spot The Sainthood logo on his jacket, and I know all the guys have the same logo inked on their skin.
“Get. Up.” He challenges me with his eyes. “Unless you want me to make a scene.” He cracks his knuckles, drawing my gaze to the intricate ink on his hands, as he grins wickedly. “You know how much I love that.”
“No need to get your panties in a bunch. I’ll go with you. I was just wondering where.” I grab my bag, plate, and my drink. “Catch you guys at school,” I say to my friends. They mumble their goodbyes as I wait for the waitress to bag my food. Then, Saint grabs my elbow and steers me out of the diner, surrounded by the other three goons.
“Where the fuck were you all weekend?” Saint asks as we walk toward his Land Rover.
My eyes lower to his crotch. “How’s the aftermath of the manscaping?” I inquire, lowering my voice but not whispering. “Bet you’re itchy as fuck, right?” I can’t help smirking.
If looks could kill, I’d be ten feet under with the way he glares at me. “Keep your voice down,” he murmurs. “You’re lucky you’re still breathing.”
“Now, now.” I pat his arm. “Don’t be like that. We had a deal. I was pissed at you. You were pissed at me. Now, we’re even.”
He audibly grinds his teeth, and I feel like bursting into song. Every time I thought of his trimmed pubes over the weekend, I doubled over laughing. I’m going to milk this for as long as I can.
“Where did you go?” he asks again.
“I’ll trade ya. An answer for an answer.” I stuff a few fries in my mouth, making a big deal out of licking the salt off my lips and my fingers.
Caz chuckles, and Galen scowls, shoving his hands deep in his pockets. Theo is mute as he dutifully follows at the rear.
Saint’s jaw tenses, and he opens his mouth to say something but stops himself in time. He opens the passenger side door, and Galen shoves past me, but Saint stretches his arm across, blocking him. “Princess is sitting with me today.”
Galen’s back turns rigid, and the glower he gives me as he turns around would annihilate weaker mortals. But I’m made of strong stuff, so I ignore him, not even gloating, because I’m pretending to be nice.
That seems to rile him up even more, and he yanks the door open to the back seat, almost pulling it off its hinges.
“Calm the fuck down,” Saint warns, drilling him with a look before he gestures for me to climb up. He shamelessly ogles my ass as I get in, and I’m grateful my tee hangs below my jacket. He swats my butt, grinning before closing the door.
What is it with douchey guys thinking they can slap my ass today?
The three guys are squished in the back, and Galen sends daggers at me through the mirror as I bite into my burger. I chew my food, and he glares at me the whole time. When I’ve swallowed, I swivel in my seat, the leather squelching with the motion. “What the fuck is your problem with me?”
He sits up straighter, leaning forward so he can pin me with the full extent of his hatred. “Your very existence annoys the fuck out of me. That good enough for you, angel?”
Saint rolls his eyes as he starts the car and glides out onto the road.
“You just need to skullfuck the shit out of someone,” Caz says, and every pair of eyes lands on him.
Saint smirks, Galen snarls, and Theo is passive. As usual.
Caz beams like he just won a fucking award.
“You are so freaking weird,” I admit, taking another bite of my burger.
Saint watches me eat with a wolfish grin on his face.
“It’s his word of the day,” Theo says, and I arch a brow.
Caz elbows Galen in the gut as he leans toward me, his warm brown eyes lit with excitement. “You know what the Urban Dictionary is, princess?”
Now, it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Well, duh,” I mumble over a mouthful of burger.
“Caz is addicted to it,” Theo continues explaining.
“And he drives us fucking insane,” Sai
nt cuts in. “He picked skullfuck from the list of trending words this morning, and he’s been trying to fit it into the conversation all day.”
I finish my burger, crumple up the empty paper bag, and throw it on the floor of Saint’s pristine new ride. The wolfish grin vanishes from his face, and I silently fist pump the air as I turn to face Caz. “I think that’s pretty cool. And I’m game to play.”
The goofy smile on his face matches the smug glint in his eyes as he flips Saint off. “The princess loves my geekiness. I’ve just died and gone to heaven.”
I snicker as I extract my cell and power it on. I can practically feel the hostility radiating from Saint. I’ve noticed he doesn’t like it when I give the others attention, and I’ve added that to my arsenal of dirty tricks.
Ignoring the multitude of fake worried texts from Mom, I log on to Google and type in the name of the site. I can hardly contain my laughter as I read the definition. “Skullfuck. The action of inserting one’s erect penis into the eye socket of another person and proceeding to thrust your hips back and forth, thereby fucking their skull.” I knew what the word meant, but I still make a face. “Ew. Gross. What kind of sick fuck would do that?”
“Rumor has it the SoCal Sainthood chapter did that a couple years back to a bunch of their rivals,” Theo says in a deadpan voice like he’s reading an encyclopedia.
“After they’d gouged out their eyes and before they pumped them full of bullets,” Saint clarifies.
“They sent a video of it to the dead dudes’ girlfriends and wives,” Caz says, waggling his brows like it’s the best thing he’s ever heard.
“Never invite me to any parties in the SoCal chapter,” I deadpan, shivering at the thought.
“I don’t know why you’re looking so pleased with yourself,” Galen says, goading Caz with a look. “That was lame-ass.”
“You’re just pissy ’cause the princess beat your time,” Caz retorts.
“What the what?” My confused gaze bounces between them.
“The pit was one of our initiation trials,” Saint confirms, and I try to look like all the blood hasn’t drained from my face. “And you beat Galen’s time by ten minutes.”
I frown. “How can you tell?”
Did the assholes have eyes on me in the woods?
“We based it off the time it took for you to return to the house,” Saint replies.
I slant my best puppy-dog eyes at Galen. “Aw, beaten by a girl. How tragic.”
“Consider it a freebie,” he snarks. “It won’t be happening again.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, my mouth tasting like sandpaper. “Whose idea was it for me to replicate one of your trials anyway?”
Saint picks up on something in my tone, and he scrutinizes my face closely before he’s forced to return his attention to the road. “Mine. Why?”
“I doubt your dad’d be pleased. Girls have a clear role in the organization, right? I thought they were either wives, girlfriends, or hoodrats?”
“Correct, but why would us dropping your sexy ass in the same pit ruffle Sinner’s feathers?”
I shrug. “Just an observation.”
“Neo wouldn’t give a fuck,” Galen says. “You crawled your way out of a pit. Big fucking deal.”
“One of these days, I’m gonna carve that grumpy look off your face and give you a new smile, à la Joker style,” Caz replies, attempting to lighten the tension in the air.
“One of these days, I’m gonna hack the Urban Dictionary site and wipe it off the face of the planet,” Galen retaliates.
“Shut the fuck up. I’m sick of this shit talk.” Saint grips the wheel tight. “We’ve got business to attend to, and I need everyone’s head in the game.”
“Then, you should’ve left the slut at home,” Galen supplies. “Because all she does is stir shit.”
“I haven’t done a fucking thing,” I protest, flinging my hands in the air. “Not my fault you’ve got a giant stick up your ass.”
The car screeches to a halt in the middle of the road, and cars swerve to avoid crashing into us, honking their horns, the drivers waving angry fists as they pass by.
Holy fucking shit.
Saint is a law unto himself.
“You’re acting like spoiled children, and I won’t tolerate insubordination,” Saint roars, glaring at his friends. He pokes his finger at his cousin. “You’re giving me a fucking headache. Knock it off.”
Galen folds his arms, challenging Saint with a look that suggests he won’t back down.
“I’m in fucking charge,” Saint continues, “and you’ll do as I say. If you don’t like it, I can always have a word with Sinner. See how well that goes down.”
“Drive the car, asshole,” Galen hisses, gripping the back of Saint’s chair. “And fuck off with the lecture. We don’t need a reminder of who’s in charge.” A snide smile graces his lips. “But not for much longer.” He prods Saint in the back in a deliberate move. “Just remember, once we complete initiation and graduate school, we’ll be members of the senior chapter. You’ll only be a small fish in a big pond then.”
“I’m the prez’s son. My word will still be king.” Saint’s bloodcurdling tone sprouts goose bumps all over my body. “And like my father, I’ll move through the ranks quickly.” He sends a bone-chilling look in Galen’s direction. “You’d do well to remember that, cousin.”
Galen bleeds frustration as he stares out the window, seething. He’s a melting pot of restrained aggression that’s going to erupt and destroy everything around him someday.
Saint starts up the car, and we move forward again. “I know shit is eating you up,” he says after a while, glancing at Galen through the mirror. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. I promise.”
Hmm. That’s interesting. Is he referencing the pics of Galen’s mom? Everyone knows she’s a junkie, and I doubt anyone is shocked she’s hooking. I’m only surprised because my dad had them. Am I missing something here?
“You seriously need to get laid,” Caz adds. “Blue balls make you cranky as hell.”
Galen grunts, and I feel the daggers digging into my back. “Not like that’s happening anytime soon.”
I twist around, smiling sweetly. “I’ll crawl in there and fuck you right now if it means you stop being an almighty pain in my ass.”
“You hate him,” Theo reminds me, looking up from his tablet to join the land of the living for a change.
I shrug. “I don’t have to like him to have sex with him.”
Saint whips his head to mine. “If you didn’t have a great rack and a sweet ass, I’d almost mistake you for a dude.”
I scoff. “Don’t be sexist. If I was a guy and I made that statement, you’d all be whooping and hollering and patting me on the back. Why can’t I enjoy sex and speak my mind, no matter how salacious my thoughts might be?”
“Because it’s not very ladylike,” Theo replies, becoming more invested in this conversation.
“I’ve zero interest in being a lady.”
“I don’t think your mom would be pleased,” he adds, inciting my rage.
“Like I give a fuck what that backstabbing bitch says.” I spin around in my seat, folding my arms across my chest, annoyed at Theo’s comments and the fact I’ve just shared a part of myself with the dickheads.
“Lo—”
“I’m done talking about her, Theo,” I say, interrupting him before he can probe any further. I stare at the side of Saint’s head as he drives us toward the rougher part of Lowell. “Where are we going, and what are we doing?”
“An answer for an answer,” he says, eyeballing me.
I sigh, pursing my lips for show. “Fine. I was at a hotel in Channing. The Regent.”
Disbelief is etched across his face as he shoots me some serious side-eye.
I pull the papers Sariah gave me from my jeans pocket. “Here. Check the receipts if you don’t believe me.” Thank God, I made a reservation for Sariah and Sean at the hotel last night. I
had a feeling I might need proof.
He glances at them briefly. “A suite? You better have been alone.” He narrows his eyes, and a chill tiptoes up my spine.
I was savvy enough to book it in my name alone, and Sariah snuck Sean in for some sexy time. I glare back at him. “I was alone. Plotting ways to murder you all in your sleep.”
His lips tug up. “Come up with anything creative?”
“I’m all about the art, baby,” I purr, licking my lips.
“You can get creative while I sleep anytime, princess.” Caz holds the back of my chair as he leans forward. “My blue balls would thank you.”
I might be imagining it, but I swear I see Saint shivering.
I reach around and pat Caz’s hand. “I’d take care of that for you if it wasn’t for the moody cockblocker in the driver’s seat.”
“You’ll take care of it when I tell you you can take care of it,” Saint says. “Right now, we need to focus because we’re only five minutes away.”
I sit up straighter. “I answered your question, so now it’s your turn. Where are we going?”
He turns to me, grinning. “To blow some shit up.”
CHAPTER 22
“WHAT ARE YOU blowing up?” I ask as we slow down across from a row of houses. A couple of them are boarded up, a few are in obvious need of a paint job, and others have neglected gardens, giving the entire area a run-down feel.
“That place,” Saint says, stopping across from the house at the very end of the street.
The exterior is painted in a duck-egg blue, the paint flaking away, revealing rotten panels of wood underneath. Several tiles are missing from the roof, and the garden at the front is so overgrown it could pass for a jungle. The forest runs along the far side of the property, stretching across the other side of the street and beyond, farther than the eye can see. The blinds are down on all the windows, and if it wasn’t for the trickle of smoke fleeing the chimney, I’d put money on the house being abandoned.
“And it’s we,” Saint adds. “You’re a part of this too.”
“I’ll sit this one out. Thanks.” I offer him a tight smile.
The Sainthood : A Dark High School Romance (The Complete Series) Page 19
