Her Brawlers: A high school bully romance (Bad Boys of Jameson High Book 2)

by Taylor Blaine

  Gray’s tight hold on the chair back slackened. She looked at us with pity that didn’t sting. She got it. She could feel bad for us, because some of her pain was wrapped up in her sympathy.

  The silence stretched for a moment and then Gray inhaled long and slow. “Okay, then we go get the info from Tiny and go to meet Dominick. He claimed to know my mom – not knew, but know. That’s enough to pique my interest. You guys in?” She arched a challenging eyebrow. “Maybe throw in a little bit of revenge, too.”

  The girl had gumption and she was a solid match for me in the determined department. She wouldn’t let us down, not if she had a choice.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” At Tiny’s we could get more information that we might be able to trade with. Depending on what he gave us, the Russians might be willing to do exactly what I was planning.

  She pushed away from the table and motioned at her clothing; her nipples prominent under the thin sweatshirt material. “I need different clothes. Maybe we could swing by my place?”

  I stared at her chest and then suddenly realized getting her into something less distracting would be better for all of us. Nodding, I stood. She pointed at me and then backed up. “You need to get a shirt on, too.”

  I glanced down at my bare chest. I’d forgotten I wasn’t dressed all the way. I caught a side grin between Brock and Gunner and I rolled my eyes toward Gray. “I know. My muscles often cause jealousy in less amazing specimens.” I flexed my muscles as Gunner growled under his breath.

  Brock cocked an eyebrow. “You wish, douchebag.”

  Gray laughed but I caught the full body scan she gave me as I turned toward the clothes in the back. I couldn’t help the half-gloating smile on my lips. She wasn’t the only one causing problems with her bare chest.

  If I could get us through the next couple nights, maybe we’d talk about just how far I was willing to take things with her.

  That’s if we survived.

  Chapter 19

  Gray

  After being held by Blaze, I had a choice to make. I could either be scared and do nothing and let everything traumatize me. Or, I could be pissed and chase after revenge for myself and the others.

  Not one to take things as they were, I was pissed beyond reason. I probably should have been terrified of getting caught by the cops and thrown in jail, or found by the Russians and being tortured to death, or even taken by Dominick and Blaze again and raped over and over before being given to the Russians.

  But I wasn’t. I was more terrified that I wouldn’t get the information on my mom and discover what had happened to her. I still didn’t know where my dad was or why he wasn’t answering my text messages or calls. Most likely he’d gone on another gambling binge. Once those started, they didn’t stop and I knew it. When he’d promised not to gamble again, I knew he was lying to my face. It wasn’t my first time dealing with his lies. It wasn’t going to be my last.

  Stryker got a shirt on and we headed to my place in the CJ5, even after Tiny warned us against using it. At my house, Stryker used his shoulder and busted in the back door since all of my keys and everything was in my truck which I had no idea where it had ended up.

  The house was empty. I moved fast into my room, pulling out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that I layered with a thicker hoodie, socks, and Converse. My feet were tired of being bare.

  I grabbed my toothbrush and another set of clean clothes and tucked them into a small backpack I pulled from one of the boxes. Stryker and the guys waited in the living room, watching out the window for someone or something.

  It was probably best that I didn’t vocalize my gratitude for having them there. They didn’t need bigger heads than they had and I didn’t need to admit it was nice having help. Some things were better left alone.

  “Tiny said not to drive the CJ5. Are we still going to drive it?” I pulled the shoulder strap of my pack onto my arm and glanced between the three of them as I stood at the kitchen counter to wait.

  Stryker turned to face me from the window, his muscles outlined in the dark blue shirt he’d donned. My mouth dried up at the combination of seeing him in clothes and wearing them well and the mental image of him shirtless and moving his hands up my waist to cup my breasts.

  He folded his arms, his biceps bulging outward as he did so. I had to focus on his face which wasn’t any less distracting with his silver eyes, full bottom lip, straight nose, and dark hair. Damn him for being so ruggedly delicious.

  “Our back up is almost here.” Stryker let his eyes roam my form, an appreciation in the curve of his lips. “You look good with clothes on.” He smirked and turned back toward the window, leaving me confused and more than a little flattered.

  A couple more minutes passed and then a black SUV with tinted windows rolled to the curb. Chris from school climbed out of the driver’s seat, pushing his glasses up his nose. I was both relieved and worried that it was him. What was a kid like that doing involved with guys like Stryker and his cousins?

  As if sensing my questions, Stryker followed behind his brothers as they went out the front door and said, “He works for us in the factory. This won’t put him in danger.” He reached for my hand, I’m not sure if it was to mark me as his around Chris or simply to get me started following him, but either way he reached for me.

  My insides quaked at the action.

  Outside in the mid-day cloud-filtered sunlight, Chris nodded at Stryker and held out his hand. Brock dropped the keys to the CJ5 in his palm. “Leave it at the abandoned house on fifth. It’ll be taken care of. Jasmine will get you home otherwise.” Brock reached out and clapped his hand on Chris’s shoulder, whose eyes had grown round. “Listen, she won’t bother you anymore. If she does, let us know. She might compensate you for the way she’s acted in the past.”

  Chris turned, in a daze, and walked slowly to the jeep we’d ridden around in. He started up the motor after climbing in and drove off down the street, probably lost in thought about spending time with Jasmine.

  Prepared to sit in the back of the new SUV, I turned to the vehicle, blinking at Stryker holding open the front passenger door and waiting for me. Brock and Gunner climbed in back.

  There seemed to be a shift somewhere and I didn’t have the time to inspect it. All I knew was that it was nice having them act like I was a human rather than trying to defend myself against them acting like dicks.

  “We aren’t supposed to be at Tiny’s until tonight, right?” I climbed into the seat and strapped the seatbelt. Glancing at Brock and Gunner over my shoulder, I waited for Stryker to climb into the driver’s seat.

  Once he was settled, he turned the key in the ignition and then glanced at the rest of us. “We need to get some food in us before we do anything else. You guys up for Low Balls?”

  Brock and Gunner high-fived and I smiled. Low Balls was a fast food place local to Jameson. Even those in Timbercreek had heard of Low Balls, not that they were allowed to eat there – territory issues and all that.

  In the drive-through, Stryker ordered Fatties, sticks, and shakes, refusing to answer my questions about what they were.

  Large greasy bags were handed to him at the takeout window and we drove to sit in the lot of a nearby park.

  Stryker reached into the bags, pulling out large containers of French fries and handing us each one. I copied Brock and Gunner and popped open the fry container and then accepted a well-wrapped hamburger with remnants of cheese and lettuce clinging to the wrappings. We set those in the open lid of the fries’ container.

  Each of us got a chocolate shake to set in the drink holder nearest us.

  Stryker then passed out handfuls of ketchup packets and I copied the guys again as I set up my makeshift tray. I hadn’t realized how hungry I’d been with pizza the only thing I’d eaten for a few days and nothing before that.

  Pulling the wrapper back, I stared hungrily at the layers of shredded lettuce, tomatoes, hamburger patties (there were two!), pickles, a layer of sliced of
ham, mayo and ketchup, onions, and a glimpse of orange cheese.

  Would anyone care if I started crying? I took a bite and closed my eyes at the explosion of flavor in my mouth. “This is so good.”

  The guys laughed and we ate in companionable silence. For just a moment, we were normal teenagers hanging out. Nothing dramatic or dangerous was allowed in the cab of that rig. I caught Stryker glancing at me a couple times, a small smile on his lips and I had to return the flirty expression. What I wouldn’t do for a moment of normal.

  We finished our meal, my stomach protesting the amount of food but my body delighting at the influx of calories. Tossing our garbage into a public trash can, we headed back to the SUV.

  “Let’s head to Tiny’s now. He said not until tonight, but I think it’s late enough in the day that it shouldn’t be a problem.” Stryker climbed in the backseat, arching his eyebrow in invitation for me to join him.

  I didn’t hesitate, allowing Brock and Gunner to have the front.

  The rear doors shut. Stryker sat beside a window and I sat beside him. Even with Brock and Gunner in the front seats, mere feet away, Stryker didn’t hesitate to put his hands on me.

  His fingers trailed up the inner part of my thigh, up and down, barely a flutter through the denim of my jeans. He turned to stare at me as he touched me, his eyes holding my gaze and not letting me go.

  I might as well not have any clothes on for how much he affected me with his touch. In fact, a huge part of me wanted to rip off every article of clothing I wore and climb on his lap. But right then wasn’t the time for that. Especially, if I wanted it to be memorable. Doing anything that intimate needed to be alone and not in the back of an SUV driven by other horny teenage boys.

  Stryker didn’t seem perturbed by the fact that his cousins were within hearing distance and could even watch in the mirror, if they wanted. If he wasn’t worried, I shouldn’t be either. But in my inexperience, I glanced nervously their way anyway before looking back to him questioningly.

  He shook his head, a slow smile curving his well-formed mouth. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to the soft skin of my ear and whispering, “They won’t pay attention.” As if on cue, the speakers flooded the SUV with alternative music that was neither hard nor soft, just somewhere in between.

  Stryker’s fingers brushed higher on my inner thighs, his finger flicking past the apex and going back down. My eyes snapped open and I stared at the ceiling. The unexpected rush of heat didn’t make it easier to want to go slow based on Stryker’s recommendation. What if he thought I still wanted to have sex right away? What if he thought I would do it right there in the backseat of the SUV with his cousins driving us around?

  I couldn’t deny my relief or my agitation when we pulled onto Tiny’s driveway before Stryker could touch me more. There was a distinct presence I couldn’t deny and I did want him. If I wanted it to be special though, I needed him to back off. Something I’d have to talk about with him as soon as possible.

  The lower drive hadn’t changed with the barn surrounded by cars and other various parts lying here and there. Afternoon lighting made it easier to appreciate the tall grasses leaning to the sides as if the fall rains had refused to be gentle. No movement or lights in the barn didn’t concern Gunner as he turned the steering wheel toward the drive that looped around the back of the house on the rise.

  As we pulled into place in front of the attached garage on the ranch-style home, Tiny came out of the house, waving at us. He narrowed his eyes as Brock and Gunner crawled out of the front. “I asked Stryker to come out. Is everything okay?”

  My blood chilled.

  Tiny’s voice was the one I recognized. His was the third voice at my prison where Blaze held me. He’d even asked if everything was okay.

  My mouth fell dry and I glanced at Stryker who was moving to climb out. Did he know? He’d brought me there. He said he could trust Tiny with his life. But had he also meant I could trust Tiny?

  How could that be the case when he’d seen me on the ground of that cell, beaten and drugged? How could Gunner and Brock not know that Tiny had helped Blaze keep me captive? What else were they all up to that I didn’t know about?

  Stryker climbed down, waving to Tiny. “I’m here, man. Nice seeing you.” He strode around the front of the SUV, pounding Tiny on the back as they halfway embraced and then parted with a handshake. I didn’t want to get out of the car.

  But I had to. What if they expected me to run? There were four of them and only one of me. I didn’t have any other choice but to act like I didn’t know he’d been there. I had to roll with it, do my best to get out of there on my own. I couldn’t trust any of them and now that I fully understood that, I could make plans accordingly.

  The keys dangled in the ignition. I could get out later and drive away. If I could just do that, I’d be fine. I would have to be.

  I moved out of the car, careful to keep my expression warm and innocent. Any suspicion on my part would be read correctly by Tiny and maybe the other three. Just thinking of them working together against me hurt like another boot to my stomach.

  Why did I expect more from them? Why would they change? They didn’t have any problem setting the football team on me, maybe this was the same thing but on a larger scale?

  Stryker reached out to put his arm around my waist but I side-stepped away and moved to stand behind Gunner. I didn’t trust any of them. As much as I had to pretend everything was fine, I didn’t want Stryker’s hands on me. No matter how hot and bothered he made me.

  There was a level of pride I had to maintain in myself and screwing one of the guys who knew about my captivity and was partnered with one who did it wasn’t on my list of self-love tips.

  Tiny extended his hand, searching my face for recognition. He smiled uncertainly and I ignored Stryker’s questioning glance. Tiny shook my hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Gray.”

  “It’s nice to be seen, thank you.” I smiled graciously, making sure to shake his hand as if I couldn’t be happier to be there.

  We stood for a second in silence, everyone searching everyone as if we weren’t sure what we were doing. Well, I knew why I was there and I didn’t see the point in beating around the bush.

  The sooner I got the information, the sooner I could get the hell out of there. “Stryker said you have information about my mom? Maria Asher?” I forced myself to keep my expression soft, almost curious, without being desperate. The balancing act would wear thin at some point, but for now, I could keep it wrapped around me like a shawl.

  Tiny’s grin broadened and he opened his arms wide and stepped to the side, leading the way into his home. “Why don’t you come inside and get comfortable. We can talk about all of that once we get settled.” His gaze focused on me again, his eyes studying my face for something I wasn’t sure I could give him.

  Stryker fell into step behind me and as traitorous as my body was, I could feel his eyes on me, every step behind me, and I could hear his breathing. Nothing I wanted to notice and everything I couldn’t help noticing.

  Stupid hot guy with his touch that drove me mad. Suffice it to say, I wasn’t going to be screwing him any time soon. Not while he worked with the enemy.

  No, I would have to figure out a way to get free. And even though no one had touched me forcefully or been outright cruel or even drugged me, I couldn’t help the claustrophobia surging inside me from being locked away in a cell. I didn’t want to be locked away again.

  Going through the door went against everything my instincts told me to do. If I went inside, there’d be no way out. But if I didn’t go inside, I’d lose all chance at learning more about my mother. What if she’d been kidnapped? What if she needed the benefit of the doubt like Gunner had suggested?

  I wouldn’t be able to find out the information on her from outside when everyone else was inside. It was a little chillier outside than would be comfortable standing around in, so going inside seemed natural.

  “Why don’t
you guys stay the night? I just picked up a whole pig I’d had butchered. I have some amazing bacon that would go well with French toast. Plus, it will give us time to talk.” Tiny pulled up the rear of our group, closing the front door behind us.

  The snap of the door shutting startled me and I jumped, moving to stand in the doorway leading to the kitchen. I couldn’t look directly at Stryker, no matter what I was supposed to do. I couldn’t help feeling betrayed. He knew one of the guys who had held me. Stryker supposedly trusted this guy with everything. I knew the truth.

  Even worse? I was going to be expected to stay there that night because Stryker, Gunner, and Brock were.

  Somehow, I felt like I’d been led into a trap and there was no way I could trust that Stryker didn’t know about it. I fluttered my hand in the air and glanced at Tiny. “Do you think I could lie down somewhere? We ate a pretty heavy lunch and I’m exhausted.”

  “Of course, here, I’ll take you to your room. You can rest and join us when you feel up to it. I heard about your ordeal. I’m sure with time, you’ll be able to recover fully.” He motioned for me to follow him and I didn’t look back at Stryker, even though his gaze never left my back.

  There were some things you could hope for help with and others you had to do for yourself.

  Chapter 20

  Stryker

  Gray wouldn’t look at me. Not directly. The girl was jumpy and I didn’t blame her, but why with me? There was something in the way she tucked her dark brown hair behind her ear and glanced around each room she walked through that gave me pause.