I stop speaking as another group of giggling sorority girls approaches. They preen, pulling their shoulders back and widening their smiles. They must recognize our disinterest quickly because they frown as they scurry past, making no attempts to engage us in conversation.
“This is the only place remotely safe enough. Samantha wouldn’t step foot into a Groveton party, much less one the Jacobis are throwing,” I explain, and shiver at the memory of her after tonight’s game. We were, once again, subjected to the unfortunate circumstance of pretending to be happily betrothed.
Senator Baker, along with several other high-ranking businessmen, attended tonight’s game, forcing us to pretend to be happy partners. Samantha took advantage of our predicament by trying to rub herself against Karl, of all people. Rowan had to grab her hand and hold it before Karl lost it and cut off her entire arm. Her sly smirk was all the evidence necessary to show she knew precisely what she was doing.
“Why exactly is she afraid of the Jacobis?” Rowan inquires, pulling me from my thoughts.
I turn to meet his gaze. “Let’s just say they didn’t take Samantha’s bullying of Eva kindly.”
We walk deeper into the packed Sigma Alpha Psi fraternity house. It’s one of the many parties being thrown tonight on Groveton’s Greek Row. The premise is simple. Each house-fraternity and sorority-throws a themed party, and students from everywhere attend. This house is masquerade-themed-the perfect place to meet with Teagan. The annual event is hosted by the winner of the prior year’s football game. Next year, it’ll be at Lincoln-Wood.
I smile, remembering our win. It was third down, and we just received a penalty pushing us back fifteen yards, landing us at the thirty-five-yard line and out of the red zone. We just left the huddle with our play, quickly getting into position before there could be a delay of game. After the snap, Groveton expected us to go long, and they were correct, but I pretended to hand off the ball to one of our running backs. Groveton’s defense responded by running in, leaving our receivers more room to move. That’s when I sailed the ball down the field to a tight end for a touchdown.
“How long before Teag gets here?” Sebastian leans over to ask. He’s not thrilled that this is where Teagan decided to meet. The original plan was to meet at Le Toucher on Halloween night, but she needed more time.
Peering into the sea of bodies, I spot who I’m looking for. “As soon as the room is completely distracted,” I reply and tip my head, silently instructing them to follow.
We barely make it three feet before a girl stands in our path. She isn’t that much taller than Emma, but her curly hair hangs loosely past her shoulders. The majority of her face is hidden behind an elaborate mask, exposing her scarlet-stained lips and the lower portion of her face. “Liam, you have to get me out of here,” she implores, placing her hand on my bicep.
Her voice sounds familiar, but I can’t think past the pounding in my ears. My eyes lock with hers before trailing down to the offending limb touching me, and I have to fight not to grip her throat and shove her off of me. I try to blink my vision back in focus as my lungs constrict, stealing my air.
“Get the fuck off him unless you have plans never to make it to the next stage in your life.” Someone says, but the noise in the room triples, making it too loud for me to hear anything. But I know the moment her touch is gone. The vice around my airway slowly loosens, and I suck in a lung full of air. Awareness of my surroundings gradually returns. My hands are on my knees, and I spin, staring at four pairs of feet shielding me from view before I can finally stand.
The party is still in full swing, but there’s at least a ten-foot perimeter between me and the partygoers. “What have you been doing, Princess?” Colt whispers into, who I now know is, Eva’s ear.
“I. . . I. . . I was jus. . . just trying to, um, say hello,” Eva lies, and a guy I don’t recognize tsks.
“What did we say about lying, Eva?” he croons while Colt’s hand glides up her bare stomach before closing around her breast and squeezing until she moans in this weird combination of lust and indignation.
I watch as Colt’s friend reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small silver case. The type that usually holds travel medications. Unscrewing the lid, he drops a pill into the palm of his hand.
Eva’s gaze flicks up in our direction, her eyes pleading. “Can you save your spat for after we leave?” I demand, turning to Colt. “We don’t have much time, and we need to discuss a few things.”
Coop rolls his eyes but elbows his brother before focusing on the dude raising the tablet to Eva’s mouth. “Put it away for now, Mase. We need to handle some business first,” Colt instructs, then turns to us. “This is Mason Bradley. He and his twin brother Uilliam are frat brothers who transferred to Groveton this year.”
My first impression of
Mase is that he has a chip on his shoulder. One that I can easily remove if he doesn’t uncurl his lip. “Let’s take this upstairs,” I suggest. Then add, “Just you and Colt.”
Eva’s eyes widen in fear, flitting her gaze between Colt, Coop, Mase, and me. I would throw her a bone, but I know why the Jacobis need their revenge. Eva has a role in what happened, and I’ll never stand in the way of someone paying penance.
“Keep an eye on her, Mase. Make sure she stays here,” Colt commands, letting Eva go before signaling for us to follow. “Let’s head to our room.”
We all remain quiet until we take our seats. “What was that he was going to give her?” Karl questions.
“Some drug that stimulates a woman’s libido.” Seeing Karl’s nostril flare, Coop continues, “It’s FDA approved-no ecstasy or GHB. We want Eva to pay, and escapism doesn’t make that happen.”
August clears his throat. “I get she’s screwed you all over. Just remember that she may never forgive you if you go too far.”
“We don’t want her forgiveness. We want her demise,” Coop seethes. “Eva and her brother have stolen the heart of our family. Now, hers will be the only acceptable form of repayment.”
“Why is Mason helping you? What’s Mason’s and his twin’s stake in this?” I question.
Coop’s fingers fly across his computer keyboard, bringing up the facility we have in mind for Sam to be dealt with. “That’s their story to tell,” Colt answers for his brother. “Now,” he begins, pointing to the monitor. “This place is far enough away from Calloway and Lincoln-Wood University while being within driving distance. It has enough space for all your torture- zesty interrogation- needs.”
Humming, I study the blueprints. This is perfect for what we have in mind for Senator Baker and Samantha. Once we end them, anyone in their corner will be next. “Send the schematics to me, and I’ll get things moving,” I state. With a little over a week before the engagement party, we’ll have our work cut out for us, but our plan is still achievable.
“Great. Now that this is settled, operation ‘distracts the masses’ will commence,” Coop says. A Cheshire grin creeps up his face.
“What do you have in-” I rest my hand on Rowan’s forearm, ending his question.
I wait until Colter and Cooper exit their room. “It’s better we don’t know what they’ve orchestrated to serve as a distraction.”
Nodding, Rowan asks, “How long do you think we’ll have to sit up here before we get the go-ahead?”
Throwing my hair up into a bun, I respond, “Thirty minutes tops.”
Then, for the next fifteen minutes, we discuss how we’ll outfit the warehouse to become the ultimate place of torture. “We’ll spend time adding more after we kill Samantha and Matthew Baker. I see no reason this building should be a one-time use,”
Karl suggests before we change subjects to discuss our plan for capturing them.
“Once the device is deactivated, I say we just knock her out and lure Baker outside, then do the same to him. Between the five of us, we will be more than able to get them into the back of Rubi,” Sebastian suggests.
“I call dibs on Baker,” Karl and August say in unison. They both look at each other and then burst into laughter.
Rubbing the furrow between my brows, I retort, “Let’s wait until Teagan explains what will be required to remove the chip from Karl’s arm.” We’d been up here for almost an hour when my phone finally buzzed. I retrieve it from my front pocket and notice several notifications filling my screen.
Colt: Coop & Uilliam definitely have the place distracted.
Teag: I’m about to enter with a group of students I’ve been walking across campus with.
Leech: How much longer do you assholes plan on being at that fucking party?
Colt: I suggest you all start coming down now before this party gets even wilder.
Leech: One of you fuckers better answer me. I’ve seen the pictures. If I find out that any of you even remotely participate. Kiss Emma goodbye.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.