But then my attention is drawn to someone yelling, and when I hear her voice I bolt toward the noise. She runs out of the ladies room, clutching her purse close to her chest, while a guy stomps after her. The moment I see him and his tattoos, I know who it is. One of the Bentley boys. That dude that tried to rape her.
“You …” I growl.
I don’t wait one second before storming toward him. Adrenaline rushes through my body as I ready my muscles for impact. I jab him in the face as hard as I can, and the guy stumbles backwards. He groans, but then it turns into rage, and he tries to charge back at me. I’m ready for him. I brace for impact and raise my leg, kicking him in the nuts as he comes toward me. I’ll fucking cut off his balls if he touched her again.
“Hunter,” Leafy says, but I’m not listening. All I’m thinking about is breaking this guy’s bones, one after another.
“Hunter!”
I bellow at the guy and punch him so hard he hits the floor with his head. “I’ll kill you if you ever show your face to her again.”
I’m so fucking angry, I could snap his neck and rip his head off.
Leafy pulls my shirt, and I hesitantly let her drag me away from him, but I can’t stand leaving him there without pounding on him. I don’t want him to get away with it. Not this time. But when I turn around and look into her eyes, seeing the hurt breaks me, and I know I have to stop before I scare her even more. However, her face is red, her hair is wet, and she’s quivering.
“Did he hurt you?” I say, controlling my voice so I don’t shout.
“Hey!” There’s another voice.
Her eyes widen. “We gotta run!” She grabs my hand and drags me back through the theatre. Some guard probably saw us, but I don’t fucking care. I want to know if she’s okay. Especially after that motherfucker dared to show up here. “No, I want to know if he touched you!”
We run through the doors, and she says, “Not now.”
When we’re outside I realize I just let that guy live. I turn toward the wall and punch it hard. “Fuck!” I can’t believe I let him get away.
Leafy’s catching her breath, but still manages to scream, “Your hand!”
Like that’s important. “It’ll heal.” What’s important right now is her. I want to know what he did to her, so I grab her arm and turn her around, pinning her against the wall. Now she’s forced to look at me. “Did. He. Hurt. You?”
“What? No … No, he didn’t have the chance,” she stutters.
I snort, my teeth clenched together as I try to compose myself. “If that guy EVER comes near you again, I swear I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Pound in on him again?” she says. “You can’t keep doing this, Hunter.”
To hell I can’t! I’ll kill that dude if I have to. Fuck, she sounds just like my brother.
“I will NOT let them have their way with you,” I growl. “They wouldn’t just rape you. They would kill you.” I know they would. I’ve seen it with my own eyes what the gang does to girls that don’t listen to their wishes. I’ve been there when my brother and I witnessed the parties, the drugged girls getting abused by horndogs, then thrown into the gutter to rot. It’s disgusting.
“You don’t know what those guys are capable of,” I say. She thinks it’s better not to fight. She doesn’t know how the real world is. Where I come from you kill or get killed. It’s as simple as that.
And I know those guys. Wes told me about the Bentley boys and what they do if they don’t get what they want. I know they’re dangerous as fuck. Threatening girls with rape is the least of their offenses.
Leafy purses her lips. “Oh, and you do? Is that what you’re trying to say? Tell me, Hunter, what fucking thing are you involved in?”
Why is she so intent on finding out what I do? What’s in it for her? This isn’t some game. This is business, and my brother will only get out if I do as I’m told. It’s none of her concern. They’d use her if she knew, and I want her, of all people, to stay safe.
“It’s none of your business.” I turn my head, because I don’t want to look at her. I know she hates me for not telling, but it’s for her own good.
She grabs my chin and forces me to look at her. “It is my business. If you’re involved with these guys then …”
“To hell I am,” I say. I will never, ever do business with the Bentley boys again.
“Well, you made it my business the moment you stepped into my life and tried to change me for whatever reason.”
That’s it. I snatch her wrist away from my face. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Befriending you? Trying to change you?”
How can she think that’s what I’m doing? I’m not trying to change her. I want her to change me. I want her to help me learn. I want her to teach me how to be a better person. I want her to numb the pain, and I want her to console me. I want her for myself. I’ve wanted her from the moment she set foot on campus. She’s everything I ever wanted: sweet, smart, helpful, curious, courageous at times, and a little feisty. Changing her is the exact opposite of what I want. I don’t want her to become like me. Anything but that. That’s why I stayed away. And now she thinks that’s what I want?
“You have no idea, do you?” I say.
She shakes her head, rubbing her lips together. If she only knew what I felt for her …
“Of course you don’t,” I say.
She doesn’t, and it’s the best for both of us. She has no clue what I’m going through, and if I told her that would only make it worse. But I will not let her make me feel like shit because of it. I’m doing what I think is right.
“You have no idea how fucking hard it is to do this. I don’t want to be in this shit, but I am, and I can’t change that,” I add.
“Yes you can! You can do everything. You’re Hunter Bane for crying out loud! You’ll fight your way out of it.”
My eyes widen hearing her say that. It almost sounds as if she looks up to me, which would be absurd. Who’d look up to someone fighting their way through life? Maybe she sees more of me than I thought. Still, fighting won’t get me out of this crap. Everyone always thinks I fight my way through everything. That’s not all there is to it.
“You don’t have a fucking clue. You and everyone else on campus all think you know what you see, but you don’t. What I do, I do for a reason. I need to do it. There is no other way to …” I can’t get the words to roll across my tongue. Saying it means she knows what happened, and I don’t want to pull her into this more than I already have.
“To what?” she says softly.
Her voice makes me weak and vulnerable. I can’t keep ignoring the truth. I can’t keep forcing it away. My brother is gone, and I need someone to help me get through this. I need her. So I answer her question. Maybe she’ll finally understand. “To save him. My brother.”
It tires me just to admit this. I close my eyes, resting my forehead against the wall next to her. I let out a sigh and groan my anger and frustration out. Suddenly her hand is on my back, and I feel fully regenerated. Her soft fingers gently caress my back, spreading goose bumps all over my body. She’s so tender and sweet, and it feels like she’s trying to mend my broken heart.
I lift my head and look at her, feeling the undeniable connection between us grow stronger and stronger with every passing second. Even when I tell her why I’m doing all of this, she still stays with me. Even in her fear, she refuses to leave me. She’s stronger than I thought. Maybe she won’t leave me. Maybe we could be together.
I’m so close to her, I can feel her breath on my chin. My lips part as I watch her mouth, having the desire to press my lips against hers. I want to feel closer to her. Holding her in my arms is not enough anymore. I need to feel her against me, need the support she so willingly gives to me every time I break down in front of her.
A creaking noise pull me back into reality, and I see a guard step out of the theatre.
“You!” he yells.
“Shit!” Leafy mumbles.
I don’t waste another second, and I grab her hand and run.
Chapter 18
Cruelty of a Monster
We get onto campus, and my phone rings. I pick it up, and Leafy stops and waits for me.
“Yeah?”
“Hey, it’s Jaret. Where’ve you been?”
“Out. Why?”
“I’m outside the fence. I’m here to pick you up. You have to come to the club.”
“What, now?” I say, looking at Leafy, who’s frowning.
“Yes. There’s a party going on and Wes demands you’re there.”
I turn around so I can’t look at her anymore. I need to concentrate.
“You’re sure about this?” I whisper.
“Yes. If you want to make a good impression, now’s your chance.”
I sigh. “Hold on a sec.”
I turn around toward Leafy and say, “See you tomorrow?”
Her eyebrows lift and she looks confused, but she doesn’t object. “Okay. See ya, I guess.” She waves, and I wave back as she walks to the dorm.
“What’s this party about? Will I have to sell drugs?”
“No, I think this is just for fun. Just get your ass over here before they kick my ass for not watching yours.”
“All right, all right. I’m coming.” I hang up the phone immediately and make my way to the parking lot where Jaret’s car is already waiting for me.
I get into the car and Jaret shifts the gear. “What were you doing anyway?” he asks.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“If you want my help you need to start trusting me,” he says, looking straight at me for a second before driving away.
I just grumble and look out the window. I’m hesitant with trusting anyone, because all people have ever done is stab me in the back. It’s hard to trust anyone in this world.
I stay silent the entire drive to the club house, anxiety building inside me as we approach the building. I don’t know what to expect. Last time I saw Wes he threatened me, so it’s not surprising I’m not looking forward to seeing him. Not to mention the rest of those scumbags.
I bury my hands deep into my pockets as we get out of the car and walk to the building. We go in the back entrance, down the flight of stairs, and enter the club.
‘Army of Me’ by Björk is blaring through the speakers, but this time it’s not just a party that’s going on. The bleachers are filled with hundreds of people, and they’re shouting and screaming, watching two people break each other’s bones in the cage. My gaze and body are drawn to the fight, like I need to see them up close. Jaret’s still talking to the guard at the door, while I’m already walking toward the cage. My eyes are drawn to the two men stumbling their way toward each other, their faces botched and bruised, their bodies covered in blood. They fall into each other like rotten trees tumbling toward the ground. They’re dying. They’re physically dying. I can see it in their eyes; they won’t last long in here. If either one of them doesn’t faint soon, they won’t live to see the break of dawn.
I swallow. A sudden hand on my shoulder makes me choke on my own spit.
“Jesus!” I shout, turning around to see Jaret’s face.
“Sorry, didn’t wanna scare you,” he says, chuckling.
“I was watching them. Don’t jump on me like that.”
“I’m not.” He frowns and comes to stand next to me. I turn my head back to the cage, unable to look away. Drops of sweat roll down my forehead as crippling fear builds up inside me. One day it’ll be me up there in that cage, and I can only hope I’ll make it out alive.
“You shouldn’t look at this.”
“Why not? At least I’ll know what’s coming for me.”
“You’ll only make it harder on yourself. Just don’t think about it.”
“How can I not think about it, huh?” I shout, trying to get my voice to reach above the music. “They threatened me, Jaret. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made me fight to the death.”
“They won’t.” He buries his hands in his pockets.
“How do you know for sure?”
“Because I was in there, too.” He turns his head toward me. “Every rookie goes through this. Every single one of them. No exceptions.”
My mouth is half open as I hear him say that. I should’ve realized he’s been in there as well. Although I can’t for the life of me picture him fighting. Jaret was the weakest of us three. My brother once had to save his ass because he tried to cheat his way out of a deal. Looking at him now I realize how far he’s gone in this business.
“Let’s go, they’re waiting for us at the club,” he says, putting his arm around my shoulder and dragging me with him, away from the cage.
We make our way ‘backstage’ where the rest of the dealers, the distributors, and big shots are. It’s much livelier in the club now that there’s a fight going on in the arena. All the couches are filled with people, mostly girls, with one or two guys sitting in between them. When Wes spots me he holds up his hand and signals for me to come. Crap.
Jaret and I walk over to him, and Jaret gives Wes a firm handshake before sitting down next to one of the girls on the couch.
“Hey, Hunter, how are you, man?” Wes says, patting the couch. “Come sit.”
I sit down beside one of the girls, feeling uncomfortable as hell because she immediately starts petting my leg.
“I’m good,” I say, nodding, trying to make it come across as natural.
“I heard your trade with Jennifer went excellent.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Word travels fast.”
“Indeed it does. I’m glad you managed to pull yourself together. Shows you got some balls between your legs after all.” Wes picks up a cigar a girl generously offers to him, and she lights it while he puts it in his mouth.
“Thanks,” I say, knowing I’m on thin ice. I rummage in my pocket and take out the money Jennifer gave me. I hand it all over to Wes, but he starts flipping through the bundle, and then takes out a few bills and gives them back to me. “I told you, you can keep thirty percent. Here. Take it. Next time you can take it out prior to giving it to me.”
Whoa. He’s really trusting me now. Good for me, bad for him. I’m glad my plan is working out, though.
Wes grabs his drink and calls a girl forward. “Pour him a drink.”
When she’s done, she hands it to me, and Wes holds up his drink. “Cheers!” He chugs down the drink in one go and lets out a huge sigh afterwards, while I’m trying to go slow.
“You know, I kinda like you, kid,” he says.
“You do?” I say, not believing a word of it.
“You kind of remind me of myself four years ago, when I just joined this frat house.”
“Huh? Four years? I thought Alpha Psi was only three years old?”
A wicked smile appears on his face, and his eyes narrow as he looks at me. “Oh, is that so?” He laughs. “That’s what they want you to think.”
He flicks his fingers and the girl pours him another drink. “No, this frat house has been around for a little while longer than that. We only operate under a secret frat house name so we won’t get caught on campus.”
This is news to me. I thought the current leader was the only leader, and Jaret once told me it was only three years ago that he started this thing. Something’s not right.
“Before the current leader, we had a different one. I remember him. Tough Mexican chap who had a thing for knives.” He laughs again, as if he’s bringing up fun memories. “Too bad he didn’t live long enough to see his frat house grow and be this amazing.”
“What happened to him?” I ask, trying to find out more information I can give to Agent Williams.
“He got killed. Rumor has it it’s our current leader that poisoned him. Of course, those are only rumors. Nobody knows, really. Nobody sees the leader. Only the courier does. We don’t talk about it in here. We just work and make money while keeping our mouths shut.”
I gulp. Holy motherfucking
shit. That means Alpha Psi existed long before the leader Agent Williams is looking for took over. This gang is far bigger than I thought. Shit, this brings it to a whole different level.
Wes’ eyes drift off to a girl leaning over the bar to collect the drinks she’s going to serve out. His tongue dips out of his mouth and he wets his lips. It looks so disgusting, it makes me want to puke.
“Well, well,” he hums. “Time for me to score. I’m feeling like nailing that chick right now.” He gets up from his seat, leaving me and Jaret alone with horndog girls, who keep touching us. Jaret’s phone rings, and he says, “Shit, I forgot, a client was supposed to call me. Be right back.” He gets up and walks into a room in the back where he’s alone.
Now I’m alone with five girls, all looking at me like they’re hungry for some cock. One of them picks up a glass of champagne and hands it over to me, forcibly pushing it into my hand. “Drink,” she says with a low, moaning voice.
Another girl pushes her bloated tits up against my shoulder, rubbing herself up against me. I don’t like it one bit. It feels so fucking wrong and disgusting right now. Especially when another one starts touching my dick.
I shoot up from the couch and step over them to get out of there.
Suddenly I hear a scream.
I look up and see Wes fighting with the girl at the bar. She’s crying, and he’s pulling her with him by her hair. She kicks backward so hard he lets go of her, but not without turning around and giving her a firm slap right in the face.
The girl squeals, placing her hand on the reddened spot. I wince, looking at Wes spouting shit at her. My fists are ready to pound in on him for treating her like that, like she’s some kind of sex doll who has to give in to his every command. It’s so fucking wrong, but I can’t do anything about it. If I did, I’d be kicked out of here in no time.
“Well, fuck you then! You fucking whore! Get your ass out of here, right now!” he screams, and he closes his belt buckle again. He wasn’t even alone with her yet and he already unbuckled. Dirty piece of shit.
Fury (New Adult Romance) - #1.5 Fierce Series Page 15