by K. G. Reuss
Dominic gave Vincent a nod. He backed away from me and winked.
“What are you willing to give us in exchange for our help?” Dominic asked.
“What do you want? I have a credit card David gave me. Pretty sure it doesn’t have a limit. You can have it.”
Vincent snorted, and Levin let out a soft laugh.
Dominic smirked at me. “Do you not know who the fuck I am? I’m Dominic De Santis. I have more money than every student in this school combined. And that’s just my money. Don’t get me started on the family money. Your money is useless.”
“Then what do you need? What do I have to do?” I demanded.
Dominic took a hit from the joint in his fingers, a smile curling his full lips up. “Word has it you’re a virgin.”
I bristled at his words. “Who told you that?”
“Hail isn’t that great when it comes to modesty. He’s been blabbing about your virginal status since classes started. How you’re saving yourself for him on your wedding night. How devoted you are to him.”
“Is it true?” Vincent asked, coming up behind me and whispering in my ear. “Has your pussy never been popped?”
I ground my teeth. “Yes, it’s true. Not that it’s anyone else’s business. I assure you, I’m not holding out for Hail and our wedding night. I don’t want to fuck him. He disgusts me.”
Levin took a step forward. “How do we know you’re not here on his orders? You’re his fiancée. His little bitch. You could be his errand girl. He’s been wanting to take us down for a long ass time. What better way than to send in a piece of ass like you?”
I sneered at him and unbuttoned my uniform blouse. He took another step forward, his eyes narrowed. Dominic and Vincent moved to see what I was doing. When I got the buttons open enough, I pulled the fabric aside to display the burn mark on my collarbone. It was still tender and inflamed.
“Fuck,” Dominic growled, his gaze locked on the ugly mark.
A muscle popped along Vincent’s jaw, and Levin looked away with a grunt.
“I’m not here for him,” I whispered. “I’m here because I need help. You’re the only ones I can think of who might be able to do that. He did this to me over the weekend when I defied him. If you won’t help me, then this meeting is pointless. The only thing I ask is if you’re going to tell him I was here, do it quick so he can kill me and get it over with.”
“Why should we give a shit?” Levin called out. “Like I said earlier, you’re just another dead D’Angelou. Worthless. I say let Ivanov kill her and be done with it. One less problem for us to deal with.”
“She’s too pretty to die,” Vincent commented.
“Are you going to help me or not? What do you want me to give you?”
“I want your virginity.” Dominic took a step toward me as my heart slammed against my chest. “You let me fuck you first, and I’ll keep you safe until I grow bored of you and these games. Deal?”
“You’re sick.” I scowled at him.
Dominic let out a soft laugh and shifted in front of me. He paused, his fingers wrapping around my throat. I whimpered at his touch. Not because it was rough, but because it was fierce. Overpowering. Protective. It made butterflies rocket through my belly.
He caressed down my neck and stopped just above my breast. I sucked in short, shaky breaths.
“Fucking me might end all your problems.”
“It seems like they’d only create more. How would they help?”
Dominic laughed softly again. “Because Ivanov wants you virginal, despite what him and his fuck boys do to you in his bedroom at night. If I fuck you, he won’t want you. He’d toss you to the trash because he fucking hates everything I touch. That could be you.”
“He’d kill me if he found out.” I didn’t bother denying anything Dominic said. The idea of him buried deep inside me made heat pool between my legs.
“I’d kill him if he touched you. I’d own you. We’d own you.”
“You’d start a war.”
“I’d fucking start the apocalypse,” he growled.
“Why would you want that? Why do that for me?”
Dominic lifted a lock of my hair and twirled it. “Hate is a strong motivator. And as to why you, well, you’re beautiful. The best-looking female to grace these halls. I see how everyone looks at you. They all want you. I see the way he looks at you. He thinks he’s the luckiest prick in the world to have such a beautiful girl on his arm. He likes the jealousy from everyone else here. He thinks you’ll always belong to him. I’d like nothing more than to pull the rug out from under him and bury myself in his trophy just to see the look on his face.”
“So it’s not about protecting me. It’s about fucking me and pissing Hail off.” I pushed him away. “I can get fucked just fine. You wouldn’t be protecting me. You’d be using me for bait and sending me to the slaughter. No thanks. I can get killed without your help.”
I turned to walk away, but Dominic caught my arm and pulled me against him so my back was flush to his front. His hand found my throat again. This time he gave it a squeeze that made me wince.
“It’s very fucking simple. Die by his hand, or die by mine with him at your side. I’m sure you’re aware of who the fuck we are and exactly what we do.”
“I don’t want any part of it—”
“Too late. You’re the biggest piece in the puzzle. And now you’ve got a target on your head. The one I’ve just placed on it because you’re pissing me off. I suggest you choose wisely. I’ll give you a week, then I want an answer. Once I have it, we’ll start a war that’ll tear Ivanov down from the inside out.”
He released me, and I stumbled forward, my heart in my throat. I rushed out of there, not looking back.
There was one thing I knew. I fucking hated Bolten Academy and all the things I had to do to survive there.
Fourteen
Dominic
Plan?” Vincent asked, shoving some freshman dipshit away from us.
The kid was too stupid to know who he was too close to. He bounced off the locker and looked like he was going to piss his pants as we passed by. Students skittered closer to their lockers as we walked, many avoiding eye contact and others looking like they might drop to their knees for us.
“Give her time to make her choice, then make it for her,” I said as we pushed through the doors outside.
“Why you’re giving her a choice at all is ridiculous.” Levin’s blue eyes took in students as we strode through the courtyard. “I say let’s just get this shit over with.”
“Come on, Levin. I saw you staring at her ass. Have a little fun.” Vincent glanced around me to tease Levin.
“I’m trying to have fun, but you two assholes keep drawing this shit out,” he snapped back. “I already said let’s kill her and dump her body. Anything else is a waste of fucking time. You want to start a fucking war, then kill her. It’ll be enough.”
I sighed, stopping beneath a massive oak tree. The guys stopped with me.
“Relax, Levin. It’s just a bit of fun,” I said. “Sometimes I like to play with my food before I eat it.” I scanned the students, looking for signs of Bianca.
To say I was beside myself with anticipation was an understatement. Sure, she was hot as fuck, and I craved her writhing beneath me, but I also wanted to fuck with Ivanov. I knew once he found out, Bianca might become a casualty. But it was a price I was willing to pay if it meant we could go to war with him. Stefan deserved it, and inadvertently, this would be the beginning of the end for the Bratva.
My plan was simple. Get Bianca on board as my girl. Introduce her to my father, Matteo. Have Hail find out she was two-timing him. Wait for his retaliation. Once my father meets her and sees she’s mine, anything that happens to her would be considered an act of war. Then we’d finally take out the Ivanovs and D’Angelous.
Meanwhile, I’d just enjoy the ride while I had her. Easy. Simple. And no one would ever know because she’d never tell our dirty, little secret
. She’d never give me up. Bianca D’Angelou was easy to read. She wanted her freedom and would do whatever she had to just to get it.
And that meant forming an alliance with me. It meant dying for her cause if it came down to it.
A week seemed a sufficient amount of time for Ivanov to fuck with her enough to help her choose correctly. Ivanov was a born fuckup. And if he didn’t and she never returned to me, I’d rat her out to him. There was no downside to it. Either way, we were going to war. We’d take over the Northside and secure the city. We’d own everything and then some.
“I don’t see how this is going to be fun.” Levin let out a sigh, his bottom lip jutted out as he stared at his feet.
My heart went out to the big fucker. He and Stefan had been close. Losing him had darkened Levin even more. He didn’t care about much, and he never showed emotions now, unless we counted anger or irritation.
“Trust me. It’ll be fun.”
“How long are we going to run the game with her?” Vincent stared out at the sea of students. “One and done or keep her on a leash? I need to know because you know how I feel about this. I want her to stick around.”
He’d caught it bad for the blonde beauty. I couldn’t blame him. She was captivating. I caught sight of her as she walked through the courtyard, her head held high. The guys turned and stared after her. If she noticed, she sure as hell didn’t give a shit. I liked that she fought even when she knew she’d lose. It made her that much more enticing. And for me to be the one to own her first. . . well, my cock thickened just thinking about all the dirty, fucked up shit I’d do to her once she got on her knees for me.
“We’ll keep her as long as we’re having fun or until she wears out her usefulness,” I said, continuing to watch her as Hail found her and tugged her to a stop.
He leaned in and said something to her, making her wince. I pushed off the trunk of the oak tree as his hand trailed down to her ass and stayed there. Something about him touching her sent anger coursing through my body.
“We’re waiting. Remember?” Vincent said, his voice trembling. He wanted her as much as I did.
“You fucks ever think this is part of her plan?” Levin called out.
“No. She needs help. She’s not faking it.” I blew out a breath as she kissed Hail, both his hands now on her ass as he hauled her against him.
The asshole loved the attention. Having a beautiful woman on his arm made him feel more important. I knew it. He didn’t give a shit about her. He cared about how he looked to everyone else. I also knew for a fact he’d fucked Stella in the locker room days ago.
“Aren’t you worried she’ll turn on us?” Levin grunted.
“Then you get to fucking kill her, Levin. For fuck’s sake, chill,” Vincent said, tearing his gaze away from Bianca and Hail.
“Fine. But if shit goes south, don’t say I didn’t warn you. She’s a D’Angelou bound to a fucking Ivanov. If that doesn’t scream get fucked, I don’t know what does. Maybe you two assholes should bend over for her so she can fuck you and get it over with because that’s how I see this going down.”
I shook my head. “She’s not like that. I can read people. She won’t betray us to Ivanov.”
“Dom—”
“Levin, we’re doing this, OK? You’re not going to talk me out of it. I know you hate the Ivanovs and D’Angelous. So do I. But she’s the ticket to taking them down. Isn’t that what you want? For Stefan? A war with them is worth it just to take their asses out and watch them beg for mercy. You know, the fucking thing they didn’t give Stefan? He died with a bullet between his eyes on his knees. Don’t let it be in vain.”
Levin glared at me, his chest heaving. I thought he was going to punch me. Instead, he stormed away without a backward glance.
“Bit far there, Dom,” Vincent muttered, watching Levin leave.
“He needs to remember why we’re doing this. Sometimes memories come with pain that fuels that revenge. I’m only stoking his fire.”
“You’re fucked up.” Vincent clapped me on the shoulder.
“You don’t know the half of it,” I said softly, watching as Bianca untangled herself from Hail’s hold.
Her blue eyes locked on mine, and I gave her a slight nod. Her lips pursed before she looked away.
It was only a matter of time now.
Fifteen
Bianca
You look tired.” Aubrey peeked at me from the corner of her eye and bit her bottom lip.
“I am.”
“You’re never around it seems. Is Hail really that fun to hang out with?” she ventured.
I could tell she was trying to be delicate. I knew what she meant though. Hail was toxic as hell. It took a certain kind of person to tolerate him. I groaned inwardly at the thought of how I was going to get out of this. My time was almost up. I had to give Dominic my answer soon.
“Hail is an asshole.”
She let out a laugh. “Oh, thank God you think so. I was worried you were really hung up on him and would defend him. I mean, you are his girl and all.”
I snorted. “I’m no one’s girl. As soon as I can break free of this mess, you can bet your ass I will.”
We stopped outside our rooms. It was a Friday night. Dominic needed my answer by midnight tomorrow. The text I’d gotten from an unknown number said I had to see him in his dorm room, regardless of my choice. I had a feeling once I got to his room—choice be damned—I probably wouldn’t be leaving it without some sort of scars whether they were emotional or physical because I’d seriously beat his ass if this was a setup.
“Is it bad?” She frowned at me, her gaze raking over my face.
I licked my lips, contemplating my answer. “Hail and his goons are piranhas, and I’m a girl who can’t swim.”
“Does he hurt you? He dated Amberly Westcott sophomore year. She said he hurt her.”
I swallowed thickly and looked down. “He’s not a nice guy, Aubrey. I-I’m scared if I don’t get away, he’ll end up killing me.”
“Oh, Bianca.” She sighed, pulling me in for a hug. “I’m here for you, OK? Anything you need, even if it’s just someone to talk to or a place to hide out. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, giving her a slight squeeze.
“I’ve hated Hail since the day I met him. He grabbed my ass and called me a slut.”
“Sounds like him.”
“He needs to be taken down.”
I nodded, thinking about my moment under the bleachers with the kings. I really didn’t want to have to make a deal with them, but I really didn’t want to be under the lords’ thumbs either. I couldn’t shake the way my body felt when I thought of Dominic. Hell, how it felt when I thought of any of them, even the asshole Levin. I pushed away the embarrassing thoughts.
“What happened to Amberly?” I asked, going to my door.
“She died.”
“What?” I stared at Aubrey, my heart thudding fast.
“Yeah. Story goes she went to a party with Hail during summer break between sophomore and junior year. There was an accident. A fire. They said it was faulty electrical wiring, but she was the only one who died. Hail and the lords were there.”
“It wasn’t investigated?”
Aubrey shook her head. “Not past that. The Ivanovs have their hands in lots of pots, Bianca. Just be careful.” She glanced down the hall and shrank against her door. “He’s coming.”
I peered over my shoulder to see Hail sauntering toward us.
Shit. I looked at my phone, frowning. I wasn’t late. He’d come to find me anyway.
“Ladies,” he greeted us, kissing me quickly. “What’s the word?”
“Nothing. We’re talking about our trig assignment.”
“I see.” Hail leveled his gaze on Aubrey. “I heard Larson didn’t assign homework tonight. Fallon is in your class.”
Aubrey’s face reddened.
“Maybe Fallon wasn’t listening,” I snapped, angry he was trying to i
ntimidate my only friend.
Dark promises laced through the brittle smile he gave me. “Then I suppose I should fact check, huh?”
“Probably wouldn’t hurt. Wouldn’t want Fallon to miss an assignment.” I peeked at Aubrey who visibly trembled. “Aubrey, I’ll see you later, OK? We get an open weekend, right?”
She nodded wordlessly.
“We can check out that boutique you were talking about off campus. I could use some new heels. The ones I have kill my feet.”
“Sounds good.” She offered me a tight smile.
I knew she wanted to be free of Hail’s intimidating presence, so I waved her off. She gave me a look of relief tinged with worry before darting into her room.
“We need to talk. Now.” Hail grabbed my bag and tossed it into my room before closing my door and pulling me down the hall.
“Hail, what the hell—”
“Bianca, keep your mouth closed. I’m so pissed right now.”
My heart raced. Did he know I’d met with the kings? Had those assholes betrayed me already?
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
He shook his head as we got into the elevator.
“Come here,” he murmured, tugging me to him.
I flinched as he breathed me in, his hands on my waist.
“I need you right now.”
I tensed, unsure of what the hell was going on with him. I figured he’d have me by my throat, yelling obscenities at me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked again.
He answered by kissing me. “I want you.”
“You promised we could wait.”
“I know. What do you need from me?” He kissed along my neck.
The elevator dinged, signaling we’d made it to the lobby. He ushered me out, his arm around my waist.
I had to speed walk to keep up with him as he led me down the path to his dorm. Luckily, he was only one building over. When we reached his floor, Dominic and Levin were standing in the hall.
“In a hurry?” Dominic called out as we passed.