“I took something from you that you weren’t ready to give. I don’t deserve to be here with you. I’m an animal.” His tone is flat. He says the words as if they are an eventuality that he’s been fighting.
A fire sparks in my chest. “Do not walk out that door,” I order, my voice hard. Dante turns to face me. His chin tipped up in defiance. I take a few steps, closing the distance between us. His eyes shift, going from a feigned indifference to something closer to hesitation.
“You pushed me. I wasn’t ready. And that’s not okay.” He swallows, his eyes shuttering again. “But you know what would be worse?” He gives a barely discernable shake of his head in denial. “It would be much worse if you left because of it. I can handle a mistake, I know you weren’t trying to hurt me.” I use his own words on him, hoping he’ll understand. It may upset me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t or don’t want to forgive him. “What I can’t handle is thinking you’ll leave me every time we disagree or have an issue.”
Another bob of his throat as he swallows. “I just wanted to give you some space. Let the others make you feel better.”
“I don’t want them to make me feel better. I want you to make me feel better.” A little anger leaks into my voice.
Dante’s shoulders slump even more and his head goes down, looking at his feet. After a few short seconds his chest expands, and he stands to his full height his eyes meeting mine. “I’m sorry I pushed you.” He lets out another deep breath. “Me leaving you isn’t something you have to worry about. Ever.”
I run my toe through the thick carpet. My insecurity that they might forget about me, leave me alone to deal with everything the way I always have, is still there. I know deep down it won’t happen, but it’s easy to fall back into those thoughts. Especially when I’m feeling vulnerable.
Dante takes a hesitant step in my direction, and when I don’t move, he takes another. I let him come to me. When he’s a hairsbreadth away, he reaches for me and folds me into his arms. I lay my head on his chest and wrap my arms around his waist. I don’t want to be upset, I’m too tired to be upset.
Chapter 16
Ollie taps my shoulder in math class. A grin widens my lips, but I ignore him. “Muenster,” he mock whispers. Half the class turns to look at him to see what he’s talking about. Glancing up at the teacher first to make sure she’s not watching, I turn to give him my attention.
Ollie bites the corner of his lip and I swear his eyes gleam. “Hi.”
A small snort leaves me. “Hi? That’s all?” Ollie hates to be ignored.
He leans forward so the desk tips. “Oh, I can do much better than just a hello, Muenster.” His voice holds a promise of more. A few whispers from the surrounding students kick up.
I don’t bother fighting my grin when I answer, “Oh, I know you can.”
Ollie lets his desk legs fall back to the floor, but he doesn’t look away from me. The teacher calls the class to attention. Even though I hate to, I turn to face the front of the room. “Listen, we still have today to get through. You have the rest of the week to fluff off, but not in my classroom.” She looks around, not focusing on anyone in particular as she delivers the threat.
I sigh and open my book, only a few more hours to go. Instead of poking me with his pen, I feel Ollie’s warmth seep into my back. I let out a low groan at how good it feels, relaxing my muscles.
I’m not looking forward to training tonight. Even though I slept like a rock last night, I can still feel the exhaustion from yesterday weighing on me. Not to mention I’m still a little sore in intimate areas too. Ollie’s heat fades away too soon, and I focus on the open textbook in front of me, might as well get this stuff done.
When the bell rings signaling the end of class, Ollie rumples my hair. I’ve been leaving it down more, instead of always having it in loose ponytails. I narrow my eyes up at him, blowing the strands of hair he mussed out of my face. Unrepentant, he grabs my book bag before I can rise.
As we make our way over to the door I see some kids veering off to one side, Milo is waiting for us. I don’t get much of a chance to see him throughout the day, other than lunch, so when he walks me to class it’s always a nice surprise.
“You made it here quick,” Ollie greets him.
Milo shrugs and looks around the busy halls, watching for something. “Want me to walk you?” he offers, once he’s satisfied after looking around.
“Sure, I’ll see you at lunch Ollie, be good.”
He places his hand over his chest and gives me an endearing pout. “I’m always good.” He can’t even keep a straight face when he speaks. His lips tip up, but he covers it, trying to look stern. “I don’t want any trouble from you two, no more PDA,” he blurts loudly, catching everyone’s attention. I roll my eyes and snag Milo’s hand to pull him with me in the opposite direction.
Milo lets out a short, low chuckle. The mood between them has been so much better over the last day or two. Milo leaves me near the door to my next class, his fingers reaching up to brush my hair over my shoulder. “I’ll see you soon,” he promises, stepping in close to me. The small step feels bigger because it’s Milo, he’s always so careful to keep his distance. I now know it’s his fear of unintentionally hurting someone that keeps him from getting too close.
Ignoring Ollie’s warning I lean up, intending to kiss the corner of Milo’s lips. But he turns into the kiss, surprising me again. “I’ll be here after class,” he tells me, then turns and disappears up the hallway.
“They pass her around like the whore she is.” Delaney doesn’t hide her scorn from me as she pushes past me into the classroom. Her words are true, but couldn’t be further from reality. I walk into class with my shoulders back and head held high, knowing it’s just her jealousy speaking. She would walk through fire to be in my position with any one of them, but I have all four.
The whispers die down when class starts. The teacher assigns two chapters to read over the break and tells us to get started, taking a seat behind the desk.
The hour goes by quickly, and anytime anyone tried to talk, the teacher shut it down quickly with a look. I don’t think she wanted to be here today any more than the students did.
As promised, Milo is waiting in the hall for me when the bell rings. “How do you always get out of class early?”
He maneuvers around a group of boys standing near a locker. “I usually just tell the teacher I need to talk to coach, or that I need to use the bathroom a few minutes before class gets over.”
“They buy it, every time?” I watch him navigate the halls, his eyes completely focused on the task.
“What are they going to do, tell me no, I can’t take a piss?” He glances over at me quickly then returns to watching the halls vigilantly.
Milo reaches the open double doors of the cafeteria—the noise is always near deafening—and we make our way over to our usual table. Ollie is already seated near the end. He looks up at our approach. “Did you pack anything?” he asks, sounding hopeful.
He knows I didn’t, I never do, I’ve gotten used to them always bringing my lunch. Milo urges me to the table with a hand on my lower back. “No, I’ll hit the line, get us all something. I don’t remember Dante grabbing anything either.”
“We could always go out and grab something?” That hopeful note is still in Ollie’s tone.
“I wanna come,” a light-haired girl next to Ollie pipes up. He glances at her and doesn’t respond.
Milo pulls his phone from his front pocket and checks the screen. “It’s already seven after, we might be late getting back,” he warns.
The girl next to Ollie assumes it’s for her, and replies, “I don’t even care, we can skip the rest of the day if you guys have a place we can go.” Her eyes run over Milo.
I sense Dante’s presence before he even enters the large room. He walks up next to me, standing a little closer than most would find normal. “What’s up?”
“Nobody packed lunch, we’re thinking of go
ing off campus.” Ollie places his palms on the table and stands.
The girl and one of her friends follow suit. She peers around, looking at the guys like she’s expecting some kind of acknowledgement.
Dante shoves his hand in his front pocket and pulls out his keys, dangling them in the air. “We can call Ares and see if he wants to meet us at the diner?”
“If we do that, we won’t be coming back for the rest of the day,” Milo interjects, watching me for a reaction.
“It’s only a couple hours, and it’s right before break.” I glance between the three guys. I’d be more than happy to get the hell out of here, but the girl isn’t coming.
Ollie lets out a little whoop. “Let’s do this man.”
Looking unsure, the girl clears her throat. “So, can we come too?” She avoids looking at me.
“Sorry, family only.” Ollie bounces over to Milo, Dante, and I. The girl’s face falls, and she slides back to her seat. Her friend leans in close and they whisper a few words between themselves.
We exit the lunchroom as a group, there are a few aides and the lunch ladies, but no one questions where we’re going.
As we move through the hallway nearing the office, Milo tugs on my hand to stop me. “You guys go ahead. I’ll take Laura to the office and tell them I’m taking her home for the day. That way the school won’t call.”
“The automated service will probably still call,” Ollie comments, “but it’s not like you gave a real number so who cares. They won’t know.”
I squeeze Milo’s hand, appreciating his thoughtfulness. “As long as a real person isn’t calling, it shouldn’t matter,” I offer. Milo resumes his pace, keeping my hand in his.
I expect a teacher or someone to stop us when we reach the parking lot. I little nervous thrill has me looking over my shoulder.
“Hey, we got out early. Want to grab lunch?” Dante has his phone at his ear as he opens the driver’s side door. “Someone said the diner, but we can go anywhere.” He settles behind the seat, putting the key into the ignition but not starting the car. After a brief silence he says, “We’re just leaving school, it’ll take us about twenty minutes to get there.”
We all pile in after him, Ollie and me in the back with Milo in the front. “Where are we going?” Ollie whispers near Dante’s shoulder.
“All right, we’ll be there soon.” Dante pulls the phone away, hitting the end button. “Ares is in Monroe. He went to sign the papers for the house, he said we can meet him there.”
“That fast?” I look around at the guys.
Ollie settles back into the seat. “When you’re motivated, and have money, almost anything is possible.” Dumbfounded, I shake my head.
Dante parks his car in the outer lot of a fancy Japanese restaurant. We’re near the big mall we went to over the weekend. There are several nice restaurants and hotels lining the narrow road that leads to the shopping mall.
I get out of the back using Milo’s hand and stretch my back. “I never looked upstairs at the house, is there a bathtub?” I direct my question to Ollie, he was all over that house, up and down.
“Just a standard old thing, nothing special.” I purse my lips. A tub is the one thing Ares’s bathroom is seriously lacking. Baths aren’t something I got very often using camp showers most of my life. Even a standard tub, whatever that is, I’m sure will be fine.
We walk up to a tall set of gold double doors, where Milo and Dante each grab a handle as Ollie tucks my hand over his elbow. He gives the guys a cheeky bow and escorts me through the doors. We’re greeted by a young man in dark pants and a crisp, button-down white shirt. “Do you have a reservation?”
“We’re meeting someone,” Milo answers. “Costa,” he adds.
The young man bounces his head and waves his arm out. “Right this way, please.”
Somehow, I get pushed to the front of the group to trail after the fast-footed host. I look back at the guys making sure they’re keeping up. He leads us to a sectioned off room that has a large silver grill in the center. Ares is seated on a stool near a wooden counter that runs around the cooktop. A lightness fills my steps as we near, until he turns and I see who’s next to him—Mia.
I falter, not expecting to see her here. It’s not like I don’t know they still work together, but having her away from the house has been like out of sight, out of mind. He stands when he sees me, moving off the stool to meet me at the room’s entrance.
Ares bends and places his lips on mine for a brief moment. I close my eyes and let his scent and warmth enfold me.
When Ares pulls away, I plaster a smile on my lips and growl through my teeth so only he can hear me, “A little warning would have been nice.”
Ares’s pupils expand. “And chance not getting to spend a few extra stolen moments with you?” He makes a tsking sound, like I’ve underestimated him. I narrow my eyes and snap my teeth together, I may have felt bad for biting Dante, but I don’t have the same reservation when it comes to Ares, he likes it too much.
The grin that falls over his face is simply wicked, leaning in close, he mutters near my ear, “Anytime sweetheart.”
The host waits until Ares pulls away from me again and shakes hands with Dante—it’s a more formal greeting than they usually share—before asking, “Will anyone else be joining you, Mr. Costa?”
“No, this is us,” Ares answers, the heat that was in his tone moments ago, gone.
“If there isn’t anything else.” The young man bows before turning on his heel and hustling away.
We’re all just standing in the doorway. I’m not sure if the awkward tension means Dante knew Mia was here, and that’s why they were so slow to join us, or if it came as a surprise to them as well.
Ares moves first, snagging my hand to tow me along with him. He hesitates at the stools, not sure where to put himself, or me. He settles on reclaiming his seat, after pulling out the stool next to him for me while keeping himself between Mia and me.
“You guys decided to get out a little early?” Mia waves a tiny porcelain cup at the guys and her smile droops.
“What’s a few hours, right?” Ollie answers her easily.
“A few hours.” Mia shakes her head and tips back the small cup, taking it like a shot. My brow tightens, is she drinking? I assumed it was tea.
A man in a tall, white hat enters from a side door and moves behind the grill. I could already feel the heat, but he adjusts something beneath the counter and a blast of warm air hits me.
“Chef’s table,” the man states with a heavy accent. Ares gives a nod of understanding. Moments later a thin woman walks out holding a large silver tray aloft. She carefully places it on a waiting stand near the chef’s hip. He looks it over and grabs a few items after squirting oil on the grill. His movements are brisk, but he adds flare, cracking an egg over a steel rod and flipping a few shrimp in our direction once they’re seared on the grill. Dante reaches out and captured a piece right before Ollie’s open mouth, which makes him pout.
The chef makes a little volcano out of thick white onions, flames billowing out of the top, while using his other hand to cook small bites of meats. The same woman who carried the tray returns, holding two deep dishes covered with dome lids. I can see the steam wafting out of the little hole they slot the spoon into, and opening it for our inspection, she reveals steamed rice. Again, Ares nods and she leaves.
Focusing more on cooking instead of entertaining, the chef places several meats and seafoods all from different containers on the grill, preparing our lunch. I have no idea what most of it is beyond beef, chicken, and fish, but I try almost everything that gets put on my plate. Finally, I wave him away when he keeps trying to add more. I place a hand low my belly and lean over onto Ollie’s shoulder.
Once he’s finished eating, Ares unfolds a black linen napkin he has over his thigh and wipes the corners of his lips and tosses it to the table. “I’m going to the restroom, be right back.” He drops a kiss to my temple and heads out
the door.
Mia, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, chooses now to lean over and acknowledge my existence. She hasn’t so much as looked at me this entire time, seeming way more interested in refilling her little cup from a small bottle of dark liquid.
“Got to see the love nest.” Her eyes are a little glazed, but otherwise she looks like her normal put together self. Every hair is in place with light makeup, and a fitted cream sweater with navy blue trousers. I don’t comment on her description of our house, she can call it our fuck pad for all I care.
“It’s not much now, but it’ll be amazing once we’re through with it,” Ollie answers her excitedly.
She makes a thick sound in her throat and rolls her eyes. “It was a dump, Ares hates it.” That gets my attention.
“Mia, your petty, isn’t pretty.” Ollie raises his brows and slides his hand over my back. I see Dante’s dark head lean in to get a better look at our end of the table. His eyes flash orange, it calls to the beast inside me.
I make fists with my hands and smother the itching under my skin. I cannot grow talons and black tiger stripes in a restaurant. I look away from Dante and focus on the heat rising off the grill until I feel more in control.
“You think he’ll be happy there, in a little ranch on a mountain? He’s used to living in the city, having someplace to go and something to do when he can’t sleep and is restless.” She slurs a few of her words.
“He doesn’t need the distraction now, he sleeps,” I tell her.
Mia laughs, finding my statement funny. “Ares never sleeps, he stays up for days at a time, and only crashes when his body demands it.”
“Not anymore. I know, he sleeps next to me every night.” I don’t mean for my words to come out like barbs, but they do.
“You fucking wish.” She glares at me, knocking back another shot.
I take a good long look at her. There are circles under her eyes that the makeup can’t hide, and her eyes are dull with a sheen of alcohol making her look close to tears. She’s lashing out, and of course I would be the one to receive it.
Infinity Chronicles Book Three Page 17