by Tijan
He grabbed a sports drink, shooting me another glare. “College is a religion for some of us.”
“Maybe for you. And I don’t drink during season. You know that.”
His scowl lessened. “Whatever.” His phone buzzed, and checking it, he sighed. “I gotta head back to the house.”
I frowned. Zeke didn’t usually sigh when it came to his fraternity. He loved that house, a bit too much in my opinion, but that was Zeke. If he loved something, he really loved it. “Something wrong?”
“You know that party the first weekend?”
I nodded. I wasn’t a big party person, but I went to a few. I mostly went to spend time with Zeke, and because it was expected of me. I lived alone, enjoying to keep my own place free of distractions like when others were studying or partying. Now that I was back playing soccer, I needed to be razor sharp on my focus. Aspen. Zeke. Soccer. School. Those were my priorities, for the most part. There were other annoying distractions, like Cross, but that was neither here nor there right now. So far I hadn’t run into them too much, though I knew they’d attended my games a few times. Cross sent a couple texts congratulating me.
That’d been a different surprise. I still didn’t know if I liked it or not. So far, it was a ‘stay tuned’ sort of deal.
“There’s a guy that was macking on someone he shouldn’t have.”
I knew who he was talking about. I saw him, saw the girl too.
He was eyeing me.
Yeah. We both knew the girl.
He asked, “Are you going to say anything?”
I let out a breath. Fuck. I’d kept clear from any drama since starting school. Getting involved with my brother’s crew, not something I wanted to voluntarily step into. I lifted up a shoulder. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Well, Harper’s causing problems since.”
I didn’t normally see Zeke like this. He was mostly smiling, albeit sometimes his smiles were dirty and aimed at scoping out females, but he was mostly in a good mood since coming to college. I rather thought he enjoyed the break from school, or the pressure of our last school. He was already known on campus, but it wasn’t the same deal as it’d been at Fallen Crest Academy. Zeke was able to be like any other fraternity brother. Partying. Enjoying life. Women. He’d also changed since his ‘punishment’ from his dad. He was more cautious with things, so hearing his concern now, my stomach dipped.
Anger was starting to rumble.
I wasn’t just protective of my girl.
“What kind of problems?”
Zeke’s jaw clenched. He shoved his phone in his pocket, reaching for his keys. “Throwing his weight around.” He shook his head, eyeing me again. “I gotta tell you something and you’re going to lose it when I do.”
I frowned. “What?” Alarm slithered down my spine.
I really did not like that look from him. Zeke was never scared to tell me something, and he was hesitating now.
“You know Aspen’s in my bio class.”
Fuck. I was really not liking this now.
My teeth were starting to grind against each other. “Finish it. Just fucking tell me.”
“Harper’s in that class, and he was saying a few things about Aspen yesterday.”
“You’re just now telling me this shit?”
What. The. Fuck?
He grimaced. “I know. I know! But, shit. I had words with him. I thought it was done, except…” His phone buzzed from his pocket.
And buzzed again.
And again.
Again.
It kept buzzing.
Zeke didn’t move to look at it. He wasn’t moving to look at me either. He was frozen, staring out my window, his jaw clenching over and over again.
A dark feeling took root in me.
It was low, and it was spreading.
Alarm was spiking all through me.
“Let me see your phone.”
Zeke didn’t answer. He also didn’t move to get his phone.
“Zeke.” I showed him my teeth. They were clenched too. “Your fucking phone. Now.”
His eyes closed, and he cursed under his breath, reaching for his phone. He handed it over, and I put his password in. Yeah. He didn’t know I saw him put it in, but too bad.
I was pulling up the messages, seeing it was all coming from a group text.
Scrolling up, I was ignoring what the others were saying, looking for the origin, and then I got it.
The world went black. Murderous.
My vision was fraying at the edges and I was locked in, right in. I was staring at an image of one of Aspen’s early modeling gigs.
HarpAss: fucking hot, bro! Your boy gets to plow this bitch whenever he wants to? Sign me up!
Deke: I want a turn.
Abe: Get in line!
Hankinson: Meow.
Doehing: I want that pussy.
I was gone. Done. Every fucking one of these guys was going to hurt, and not giving one shit about Zeke, I clicked the video call.
I held the phone up, letting them see my face. Zeke saw what I was doing and lunged for me. “No!”
I waved him off, then someone accepted my call.
Harper. I remembered his smarmy little face now.
“Hey, asshole.”
His eyes got big, but he tried to cover. “Phone said Zeke was calling—”
My tone went low and I wanted him to see what I was going to do. I wanted all of them to see what I was going to do. “You’re going to get your ass beat by me, and then you’re going to jail.”
I knew this video was getting picked up by the others in the chat. Half of them were probably in the same room, and they all got quiet on their end.
Harper started to scowl.
I kept on, “This picture was taken when she was twelve years old, you sick fuck. She’s modeling pre-teen clothes. Your comments turned this into child pornography. You know the guy who raised me? The assdick who’s got a lawsuit coming for him? Guess what? He knows guys in the FBI. Guess what numbers it would be really easy for me to send this entire fucking group chat to? And if you don’t think my dad isn’t motivated to cut some form of deal, in any way possible, you’re too stupid to have a phone. Deleted texts can be undeleted if you get my fucking drift.”
Harper wasn’t scowling anymore. He was staring back, a pale green color coming to his ugly face.
No one was texting anymore.
“You’re going to delete this group chat. You’re going to delete those pictures of Aspen, and you’re not going to say another fucking word about my woman. Got it?!”
He swallowed.
I wasn’t done. “And for the rest of you coward weasel fucks who are not chiming in, but I know can hear me, you’re going to thank Zeke when he comes back because if he hadn’t let me take his phone, I wouldn’t be giving this warning. I would’ve collected every fucking piece of evidence that your group chat would’ve continued with and I would’ve gone straight to the authorities. You fucking pussy dicks don’t know me, but you don’t fuck with me. You got it? I would’ve gone to anyone to get your house shut down, and if you think you could intimidate me, then try me. Just fucking try me.”
I ended the call and threw the phone at Zeke.
He caught it against his chest, not doing anything else. He stared at me, so still because he knew me. He knew me.
I wasn’t okay with just that call, those threats. Not by a long shot.
He swallowed, his gaze bleak and then it was gone. It went hard and he asked, “You want to go now?”
I drew in a sharp breath. “Hell yeah.”
He nodded. “Just Harper. I’m not going to clear it with the house, but it can only be him. The guys will understand.”
My own phone buzzed and I pulled it out, every cell in my body stood on end.
Aspen: My parents are here. You’re still coming to dinner, right?
One.
Two.
Three.
I counted all the way to ten, bre
athing in through my nose and out my mouth.
I needed to calm the fuck down.
I texted back.
Me: Yes. Can I pick you up, drive you there?
Aspen: Yes! I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes. That gave me fifteen minutes to clear my head of murderous thoughts.
“What’s going on?”
I typed back to Aspen.
Me: See you in 20.
I lifted my head, putting my phone in my pocket. “I have to do dinner with Aspen and her parents, but tonight I’m coming over.”
He nodded, his face dark, as if a shadow hung over him.
I asked, “Will you be okay going in alone?”
“Yeah. You have a rep already. Some of the brothers heard about you in New York. They know not to mess with you. I’ll be fine.” He waved his phone in the air. “I know this worked. Half those guys are terrified of getting any rape charges against the house. What you said, about her being twelve, fuck. I know a few probably pissed their pants then and there.” He paused, his face clearing, but a question lurked in his gaze. “Was that true? She was really twelve?”
I shrugged. “Fuck if I know, but she was young. I do know that.”
He grinned, his shoulder relaxing. “That was a good bluff then. Worked.”
“You’ll be okay?”
His head moved up and down. “I’ll be good. Don’t worry.” He went to the door, pausing before he opened. “About the other thing with Harper?”
My gut tightened. That other thing had to do with Cross and his group.
“Let’s wait it out. I have a feeling they’ll find me about it.”
“I think that too.”
He opened the door, one last glance back. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you.”
“So, Blaise.” Aspen’s mom smiled brightly at me. We’d been at the restaurant for an hour. Most of the conversation had been small talk. They asked Aspen how her classes were coming, about her roommates. They wanted to hear about her dorm, general things. I figured out that they hadn’t talked to Aspen prior to when I picked her up. This was the first visit since Aspen had come to Cain.
The shift of conversation was coming now, coming towards me.
Some of her smile was forced, but some of it was genuine. They’d been reserved about me since we met at high school graduation.
I got it. I did.
Parents seem to know I’m a dick, but I’d been nothing but good to their daughter. That had gone a long way. I knew Aspen’s brother spoke for me too. They shared their concern, stating they heard I had a reputation for being a prick and worried how I’d treat Aspen. Him telling them I was wrapped around Aspen’s pinkie helped. A lot.
But seriously, I got it.
I wouldn’t like me too.
She continued, “Since our project was finished, we’ve been spending more time getting to know people in Fallen Crest. I have to say that it’s been just lovely meeting your mother. Marie and Stephen make a wonderful couple.”
Aspen seemed to deflate whatever breath she’d been holding. She blinked, giving me a smile at the same time squeezing my hand tight under the table.
I chuckled under my breath, squeezed her hand back before shifting our hands and running my thumb over the inside of her palm. She jerked, but I kept her hand in place, enjoying this slight torment. Her breath was growing shallow because of it. She’d be squirming in a second.
“My mom mentioned the same thing to me. She’s enjoyed getting to know Malinda Strattan as well.”
“Oh, that’s right. Malinda uses her husband’s name. I used to know her as Decraw back in the day.”
I nodded, knowing there was history there.
“And soccer?” This question came from Aspen’s dad. “I’m hearing exciting things about the Cain soccer team this year. It’s usually their football team getting the attention.”
This wasn’t the first time I’d heard that as well.
I nodded, still holding onto Aspen’s hand under the table, but I stopped teasing her. “Yes, sir. The team is good. Our goalie is one of the best in the nation.”
“And you? What position do you play?”
“I’m a center forward.”
“What does that do?” From Aspen’s mom.
“I’m mostly on offense. I help move the ball forward, acting as a striker too.”
“Right. You’re the guy by the goal?”
“Uh. Kinda.” There was more to it than that.
“You score the goals, though.” Her dad waved his hand in the air, sitting higher, almost proud.
I hid a smile. “I score goals.”
He dipped his head down. “Good. You help bring the wins in. Cain is known to produce quite a few professional athletes, in all sports.”
“That’s the goal.”
“To go professional?” From her mother.
“Uh.” I rolled my shoulder back. “I’m not sure, to be honest. A lot of those guys overseas have been in clubs since they were fourteen, younger sometimes. I’m behind.”
“You could play professional here?”
I turned to her dad. “I could, yes.”
He frowned a little. “But you’re not sure if you want that?”
“Right now I’m just in college, spending time with your daughter. That’s all I’m focused on.” That wasn’t totally true. Soccer was huge in my life right now, but I hadn’t decided if I wanted to go abroad or not. And because of that, I wasn’t lying when I said Aspen was part of my focus. She was. And training as hard in soccer as I could until I did decide.
“Right. Well, whatever you decide, you’ll have our full support.”
“Thank you, sir.” I looked at Aspen’s mom. “Ma’am.”
Her smile was much more genuine now. The pride too.
But then again, this was also normal. Star athletes got a lot more attention than others. Aspen’s parents were like others. But I caught a little look Aspen’s mom shot her. There was a trace of hesitation and that made me feel better. She was still worried about her daughter, but time would tell. I didn’t pull out a smooth facade, how some parents wanted, if only to appease their own inner doubt. That wasn’t me. I would hope that Aspen’s parents would come to know that as well, but I wasn’t worried.
I loved their girl. It would be fine.
As if sensing my thoughts, Aspen patted my hand under the table. “I think I’m full. I can’t eat anymore.”
I shot her a dark grin.
She grinned back.
Aspen’s dad noted the shared look and seemed to sigh. “Yes. I’ll signal for the check.”
“That went well.”
I’d been kissing down her throat. We were lying on my bed and, if I didn’t want to forget my promise earlier and just sink inside Aspen.
I lifted my head. “You want to talk about your parents now?”
She laughed, her fingers going through my hair. “No, but I’m happy.”
A good feeling uncurled in my chest. My dick was already throbbing, but there was a warmth entwining with the lust and pleasure I always felt when I touched her. “Good. That’s my job.”
She smiled, the look turning almost dreamy and she rolled her head on my pillow from side to side. “I love you.” Her eyes darkened.
I wasn’t moving. No way now. “I love you back.”
Her hips pressed up and her lips parted. “Now fuck me.”
“I can do that.” And a moment later, I was sliding inside of her.
Aspen was curled in my bed, sleeping sound when I hit up Zeke on the phone.
I typed to him as I dressed in the bathroom.
Me: Heading over now.
He buzzed back a second later.
Zeke: Now?!
Me: Now.
Zeke: Okay. He’s sleeping.
Me: Did he drink tonight?
Zeke: No. He was too scared to drink. Most of the guys were.
A deep satisfaction bloomed in my chest. Tha
t made me feel damned good.
Me: Then we’ll wake him up. Be ready.
It wasn’t a long drive to get to Zeke’s frat house. There was an alley in the back, and a piece of the fence was loose. Zeke showed it to me the first day I was there, said we could use it to sneak in and out. Some of the brothers knew about it, some didn’t.
He was waiting for me as I slipped through, dressed all in black. He handed over a small flashlight and a gag. Without saying a word to each other, we headed inside the house.
Later, as we woke Harper up, as his eyes opened and he saw me standing over him, as he started to jump up, his mouth opening to yell for help, I would think about what we did that night. But in that moment, I didn’t.
I wouldn’t think about it in the way that I would regret it. No. Never that.
I enjoyed as Zeke stuffed a gag in his mouth, and as I yanked him off the bed. There was a thudding sound, but no one came to his help. Not one brother. We weren’t exactly quiet about it. We dragged Harper from his room, and since his room was on the first floor, he only needed to worry about a few steps on the back porch.
Zeke stood back when we got him where I wanted him.
I stood back.
Harper realized it. I wasn’t like him, and I say that because I know his character. He would’ve jumped me with five other guys. He would’ve had them hold me down.
I wasn’t like that.
I let him get to his feet. I let him clear his head.
I gave him a fighting chance.
It wasn’t my fault the fucker couldn’t fight.
It wasn’t my fault that I could fight.
I told Zeke to head back to the house half way through it, and I texted him once I was done. Harper was breathing and awake when I left him, but he was bleeding. And he would hurt. He would hurt for a hell of a long time, but there was no permanent damage.
It was later when I thought back to that night and I realized I wasn’t hitting him just for Aspen. I was doing it for myself. I was doing it for Zeke. But I was doing it for my brother because there would be a time in the future when they would find out what else Harper did.
I was also doing it to set a precedence. Don’t fuck with me and who I loved. And knowing that, knowing my message was good and received, I went back to my apartment.
