Pit: The A**hole Club Series

by Saffire , Blue

  He sits back in his seat and mirrors my posture. I lift a brow waiting for his reply. Like I said, I’m getting out of here today. I’ll take this entire place on if I have to.

  “No, this is me showing respect for what you did on your first day here. You didn’t know who I was, but I now owe you my life,” he says.

  “Well, first, you need to pick your men better. Second, I was just trying to take a fucking shower. How was I supposed to know my CO wasn’t on payroll and walked my ass into the middle of a slaughter?”

  “You still could have saved your own ass and left me for dead. And you should never make assumptions. That guard was on payroll. Someone wanted you there for slaughter, they just underestimated you,” he says pointedly.

  I release my arms and squint as I see his words for what they are. Someone set me up. Big fucking mistake. I’m no one’s pussy.

  “Yeah, well, now we’re even. Thanks for the info,” I grumble.

  “I think my life is worth more than something you’re bound to find out on your own. Like I said, I’ve done my research. I suggest you do yours. My reach is long even from behind these walls.

  “Notice you haven’t seen those guards, or the guys who jumped us since that day. A package will be waiting for you outside. We now have an understanding, you can call on me and my family anytime you need,” he says.

  “And what do you want in return?”

  He stands. “I’m a friend, Pit. Know the men from the swine. I’m the best kind of friend to have.”

  “And why is that?”

  “You now have the keys to the city. I’m one of the reasons your father has that nasty drinking problem. No matter what he has tried or has done, he can never be a Blake. Shit eats him alive. You now have the power he wants as an extension of me.

  “You seem like a wise young man to me. You decide what to do with that knowledge. It could change your life.” He turns and walks off, his guys following behind him.

  I stand stunned for a moment. The day I walked in this place I didn’t have any idea who the bleeding fuck on the shower floor was. All I knew was, I wasn’t dying in this place.

  However, I know who the fuck the old man is now. Blake Knight is known by everyone in here and out there in the real world his name rings a whole lot of bells. I earned respect for saving his life alone. No one has fucked with me since.

  “What the fuck?” I mumble to myself.

  Do I know my father is a greedy, crooked bastard? Yes, I’m aware. However, it’s news to me that he’s made enemies so high up. I bank the information and turn to leave.

  “You do seem like a smart kid,” the CO escorting me says. “That’s a heavy invitation. Just know once you accept it, there’s no turning back. You belong to him.”

  “I don’t belong to no motherfucking body, but thanks.”

  * * *

  ***

  * * *

  “You want me to wait?” Roman asks as he pulls up to the gilded prison that’s no better than the place I just left.

  My jaw ticks. I loathe that I’m here, but I have no choice now that my apartment is gone. This place represents all the wrong in my life.

  I grunt and push the door open. “Nah, I’m good. See you later. Thanks for coming through for me,” I say.

  “Anytime.”

  I nod and climb out of the car. Rome and I have been best friends since we were little. He’s not much for a lot of words so I know I don’t have to say much in parting.

  I take my time walking up the long driveway. I’m in no rush to face what’s in this house of horrors. My parents divorced when I was fourteen, but my father—control freak that he is—still runs my mother’s life.

  He uses his wealth like a foot on all of our necks. My mother accepts it because she couldn’t possibly live without her gold face caviar. I frown as I think about the setback I caused myself.

  I still don’t know why I stuck around that night. I could’ve taken off when Luke, Deacon, and the chick did. I should have.

  Yet staying to make sure the kid got care and knowing Kelex was severely burned and needed real help rooted me there in that spot. I couldn’t chance the kid taking the wrap or exposing the rest of us. The shit was all so fucked.

  Honestly, I figured my father would be pissed, but he’d bail me out to bury the embarrassment as fast as his office could and that would have been that. Never fucking happened. I had truly started to accept I was going to rot in that place.

  “Will,” my little sister squeals.

  The first real smile in two months comes to my face as I open my arms and she rushes toward me. My thirteen-year-old little brother and sister are my only reasons for coming here anymore. I lift Scarlett up and spin her around.

  Her laugh is like music to me. I didn’t know how much I missed it until this moment. I kiss the top of her golden-brown hair as I place her back on her feet.

  The twins look just like me with the exception of their light brown hair. They have the same jade green eyes and our mother’s dimples and smile. Although, these days you wouldn’t know I have dimples at all. I’d have to smile for that to be revealed.

  “Where’ve you been? I missed you.”

  “You’re never here,” I tease, not wanting to get into my whereabouts for the last two months.

  “I’m home every other weekend. Did you forget? Is that why you don’t come see me anymore?”

  My heart squeezes. Boarding school is a saving grace around here. It gets my siblings away from my parents and their shit. However, when they do come home, I’m here no matter what.

  “I got caught up. Won’t happen again. Has everything been all right?” I ask.

  “Mom’s been sad. I think she missed you too,” she says.

  I clench my fists at my sides. My mother came to visit once out of the two months I was in that place. The entire time she tried to convince me my father was a very busy man.

  With some patience and gratitude, he’d pull through for me. I listen to that shit, wanting to vomit on the table between us. In her eyes, the man can do no wrong. Fuck that.

  “Where’s Leo?”

  She shrugs her thin shoulders. “He took off with his friends. I think he and dad got into it again,” she replies.

  I tighten my balled fist to the point of pain. Leo and Scarlett are the reasons I’ve been busting my ass in college. If I can show my mom she doesn’t have to rely on my dad for money, she can finally sever all ties.

  I’ll make a way better attorney than he has ever been. It’s why he hates me and Leo so much. We’re smarter than he is.

  Fuck him.

  “Wait.” I look up the driveway. Sure enough, my father’s red Ferrari is parked in the courtyard. “Dad’s here.”

  She frowns a little. “Yeah, I came out here to hide,” she says in a whisper. “He’s ranting about my grades again. Like, I get straight As. What more does he want?” She rolls her pretty eyes.

  I tug her under my arm and kiss the top of her head. “You’re perfect. Don’t listen to him and don’t ever change.”

  She beams up at me. “See, that’s why I miss you. Hey, where’s your car?”

  “Don’t know.” It’s the truth. I have no clue where the fuck my car is. I was expecting to find it in impound or some shit. It wasn’t there and no one could tell me what happened to it.

  “O-kay,” Scarlett drags out as she looks at me skeptically.

  “I’ll see you in a bit. Let me get inside to talk to Mom,” I say.

  “Okay, cool. Maybe we can hang before you leave.”

  I nod, stopping myself from telling her I’ll be around for a while. Something tells me that might not be true. I wasn’t expecting to find my father here.

  I enter the house and go straight to where I’ll find my mother. She’s always in the sitting room agonizing over this event or that. Putting on airs for the world.

  Yeah, events for him. My father is out there fucking his whores, while my mother’s still at the beck and call
of an ex-husband who loathes everything about her. Bullshit.

  “Will,” my mother breathes as soon as she sees me. She jumps from the chaise lounge she’s been seated on and rushes to give me a hug. I wrap my arms around her and give a squeeze. “It’s so good to see you outside of that place.” She shudders as if it’s the worst possible thought. Looking into my eyes with sad green ones, a million thoughts cross her face. “I wanted to come see you again…”

  She trails off. Yeah, just as I figured. He forbid it.

  “I’m good, mom. I didn’t want you to see me in there anyway.”

  “How are you?” She takes a step back and looks me over. “You put on some weight. That was good, right. I mean, to keep the others from trying to rape you and things,” she whispers the last part.

  I choke off a laugh and tug her into me. “I’m fine, Mom. No one tried to rape me.”

  “Oh, thank God.”

  “I did lose my apartment. I have an appointment with the dean about my classes. It’s a setback, but I still plan to finish,” I start. However, the look on her face causes me to pause. “What?”

  “William. I want you to worry about you. I know your heart, but you have to let this go. You can’t save everyone.”

  “I’m not trying to save everyone. I’m making sure we don’t have to live under his thumb.”

  She cups my face and smiles. “Since you were little you’ve been the one to beat the bullies up for all the smaller kids. It’s what you do. Your mouth has always been smarter than the next and when you couldn’t make someone feel small with a few choice words, you’d beat them up and move on about your business. It’s who you are.”

  “Yeah, well, I was raised by one of the biggest bullies in the world. Go figure.”

  “He’s not that bad.”

  I pin her with a glare. We both know my father is a sorry fuck. Even their divorce was a way for him to establish control.

  “Listen, I have it all planned. It will just take a little longer. I’m going to make it, so you never have to ask him for a thing. We don’t have to be under his control.”

  “Sweetheart, listen to me. I need you to worry about you. You’re only going to make him angry with this. Think about Scarlett and Leo.”

  “I am thinking about them,” I say, my voice raising.

  I pinch the bridge of my nose to rein in my temper. My father rides my little brother’s back just like he did me. I see it killing all the light within Leo. I have to stop that shit.

  “I heard you were released.”

  I spin on my heels as the words are hurled at me with disdain. My father stands in the threshold with a tumbler in his hand. He has a smug smile on his thin-ass lips. Fucking prick.

  We got lucky taking after my mother. Other than my height and dark brown hair, I’ve taken nothing after him at all. I glare at him, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

  “You waited long enough to get me out of there,” I say bitterly.

  He roars with laughter before throwing back his drink. He pulls a face as he swallows. Then looks at me like I’m a piece of shit. “I did nothing for you.” He moves in to close the space. “And if I find out you were running your fucking mouth to get out, I’m going to bury you myself.”

  “Thaddeus,” my mother gasps.

  I grind my teeth. Why did I think he had anything to do with getting me out? I should have known this prick didn’t take the time to think about anyone other than himself.

  Then who?

  “I pay for him to go to one of the best universities and this is how he repays me?” he seethes.

  “You haven’t paid for shit. I pay my own fucking tuition, you pompous asshole.”

  “I’ll shut all that shit down,” he roars. “One phone call and you’re done. No school and I’ll have you locked up again for those fucking races.”

  “Do it, motherfucker,” I say, getting into his face.

  He scoffs. “You think I can’t? Those two boys are still in the hospital. They almost died. Do you know what that shit could have done to my name? Do you even care?

  “No, you never care, you lowlife. I’ll have all that shit pinned on you and make sure you never see the light of day, least of all become a fucking attorney, you fuckup.”

  I move in closer until our chests begin to touch. We’re nose to nose. I can taste his alcoholic breath.

  “You’re the only fuckup I see. After all, you did try to have your own son killed in prison. Epic fail, you son of a bitch, now I’m your worst enemy and I never fail,” I bark in his face.

  The stunned look he gives me confirms the pieces I just put together. My heart feels like it’s been torn through. I knew he hated me, but I never thought he’d go this far.

  “What?” My mother says from behind me. “Thaddeus, what is he talking about?”

  “If you and the twins want to continue to live here, you will get this trash out of my house,” he says as he schools his features.

  His house. The house he won’t allow her to move out of. Yeah, he can have his house.

  I nod and back up. I already know what her answer will be. I don’t need to hear it.

  I turn and wrap my mother in a hug. “Don’t worry about me. If you need anything just call. I’ll figure it out.” I kiss my mother’s forehead and leave the home I grew up hating.

  “We’re through, Will,” my father booms.

  “Nah, Thaddeus. I’m just getting started.”

  Chapter 2

  Scars & Burns

  Skittles

  * * *

  “Why are you always nagging me? Don’t you have somewhere to be? God, you’re so annoying,” Tak groans from his hospital bed.

  “Because someone should care, you whiny little prick.”

  “Who says no one cares? I just want you out of my face, Christ.”

  “You don’t have to tell me no one cares. You’ve been here for two months. I haven’t seen your parents or anyone else come to see you.”

  “So,” he says and turns away. I see the hurt in his eyes before he does.

  “So, I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” I reach for his hand as I stand beside the bed. “Tak, you saved my life. From that night forward, you earned a big sister. I’ll fuck someone up for you. Even those shitty ass parents of yours, just say the word.”

  He turns to look at me, his eyes filled with emotion. He then rolls his eyes over me. “You’re like the size of Tinker Bell.”

  “Don’t let that shit fool you.” I place my hands on my hips. “Listen, I’m a friend. Stop trying to push me away. I’m not that easy to get rid of.”

  “You’re too old for me and the scar isn’t doing it for me. You don’t have to keep flirting,” he deadpans.

  I burst out into laughter. “You’re an ass. You’re cute, but not my type. Your skinny ass needs to eat something.”

  “Fine, I’ll eat, but can you go see Felix or whatever that dead guy’s name is,” he grumbles.

  I move the tray he pushed away not too long ago back within his reach. He picks up the Jell-O and tears into it. I smile and lean to push his hair back and give him a kiss on his forehead.

  “That’s my boy.” I slip him the bag of Twizzlers and Twinkies I brought him. “I got you some real snacks for after you eat that food.”

  He looks at me and blinks a few times. God, he’s a pretty kid. Those brown eyes speak volumes. Not my type, but still pretty.

  When he speaks his next words, I see the sweet boy he’s been trying to hide. “Thanks, Skittles. For everything.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I turn and grab my things to leave. “Hey, where are you going?”

  “You told me to go see the dead guy, and his name is Kelex,” I say. “He’s doing better, by the way.”

  Tak nods. “Good. What about the bossy dude? You hear anything about him?”

  My heart races. Pit. His name is Will “Pit” Pitman. That’s what I found out his name is, and it will always stick with
me.

  My stomach has been in knots all day. Gah, I wanted to be there when he was released, but… yeah, Daddy would kill me. I’m supposed to stay away from him. All of them, actually.

  However, I’ve never listened. Not since my father tried to tighten the reins on me. It drives me crazy.

  “Yeah, he’s getting out today. The charges were dropped and buried. You’re both in the clear. Eat and get some rest.”

  I exit his room and head for the one next door. I was able to get them side by side. Like I said, I never planned to stay away.

  I place my things in the chair and sit. Kelex is asleep, so I’m careful to be quiet. There are plenty of racing and engineering magazines in my bag to keep me busy. Self-consciously I fluff my bangs to make sure they’re covering my scar.

  “You’re beautiful no matter what.” I look up into the gray eyes staring back at me. They’re fully gray today.

  Man, Kelex is a gorgeous guy. I love the way his eyes change color. However, I hate the sadness in them.

  “I could say the same about you,” I reply and smile.

  “Oh, God, she’s found out I’m from money,” he teases.

  “Shut up, we both know I’m worth more than you.”

  “Ouch,” he says and gives a crooked grin.

  It’s the first genuine smile I’ve seen from him in two months. I think he’s getting used to having me around. In the beginning, he didn’t want anyone here, not even his family.

  “I brought you some yachting magazines.”

  “Damn, I was hoping for some titty mags.”

  I break into a huge grin and hand him the stack of magazines I have in my bag. He lifts a brow at me. I shrug and allow him to maneuver with his casted arm to flip through the mags.

  “I’m going to marry you, Skittles,” he croons.

  “Not if you don’t sign the prenup.”

  He bursts into laughter. It’s nice to hear and see. It lights his handsome face.

  “Come closer. You smell nice.”

  “Are you flirting with me, Kelex?” I say, but still move my chair closer.