“She did something I really fucking wish she didn’t.” Nero thought he would confide a little in Vincent, who was the ultimate woman killer. Vincent not only slept with girls their age, but girls much older than them. Nero was almost sure he’d even slept with some girl’s hot mother.
“Just talk to her about it. Girls love that shit. Tell her it really hurt you, and that she needs to say sorry by sucking your dick. That’s what I would do.”
Nero shook his head at his friend. The guy was crazy. There was no way Nero would talk to her first. She needed to figure out what she had done on her own. Nero wasn’t going to give Elle the satisfaction of knowing it had hurt him.
“No, man, I’ll enjoy watching her crawl back to me.”
Nero made his mind up. She will crawl, and she won’t fucking do it again.
Nero looked over at Vincent when he spoke. “A piece of advice: that girl will never crawl to anyone. You’ll be lucky to get that girl on her knees, period.”
“If I’m lucky enough to get her on her knees, why would you say she needs to say sorry by sucking me off?” Nero kept his eyes on Elle. The girls were whispering. He figured Elle was talking about him. About how much she misses me already.
Vincent’s laugh drew Nero’s attention. “I said if it was me, man.”
Now Nero’s head was filled with the image of Elle sucking Vincent’s dick, which only made him even more furious. He was glad they’d finally reached the girls’ classroom; he couldn’t look at Elle any longer. Walking behind her was torture; it was hard not to look at her ass, thinking about giving in and talking to her just so he could kiss her again and grab it.
Nero watched Amo wait by the door while Chloe walked in the classroom right before Elle turned again, looking him in the eye. Nero stared back like he didn’t give a shit, then he watched Elle stomp into the room.
Nero looked at his crew, who were laughing and shaking their heads. Nero was on the verge of giving them a lesson or two. He ran his hands through his hair.
“Let’s go.” This is going to be one long-ass day.
* * *
Elle went to her seat, not believing the way Nero was acting toward her. He can’t even tell me bye!
Once they were settled, Chloe asked her the question Elle had been waiting for. “You okay? You’re, like, zoning out now.” Elle knew Chloe always worried.
“Yeah, I’m fine, Chloe. I’m just a little tired from work.”
Chloe nodded and their class began, bringing Elle back to her memory from earlier. She had been forced to get her nose reset and her arm had indeed been broken. That was another day she had learned a valuable lesson. Don’t look anyone in the eyes.
Unfortunately, Elle wasn’t the only one who had learned a lesson. From that day forward, Chloe had started completely walking behind her. Elle welcomed her there. She was glad to become Chloe’s armor.
Calculus flew by and Elle hoped Nero’s mood was no longer sour. Something in her even wondered if she would find them in the hall waiting for her.
When she exited her classroom, she didn’t know whether she was grateful to find them there or unhappy. She looked at Nero’s still-pissed-off face and came to a conclusion. Very unhappy.
This hall break went the same as the last. Nero continued to walk behind her, next to Vincent, when he was more than capable of holding her hand. That was what was driving her mad. Her hand itched to be held by his, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
They were close to the Spanish door, and still, Nero refused to talk to her. He’s acting like a child.
Elle really hated the whole silent treatment thing.
She watched Amo do as he usually did; stand beside the door. She knew he hadn’t opened it because that would force her to go in and not talk to Nero.
Chloe walked in the classroom, and Elle’s feet told her to walk in, as well, but her mind told her otherwise. Elle decided to turn around instead and face Nero.
“What is your problem?” She looked straight at his green, scary eyes, wishing she hadn’t said it.
She saw Vincent smile and walk toward Amo, leaving her to deal with Nero alone.
Nero calmly asked, “What do you think my problem is, Elle?” She didn’t like his calm voice because it didn’t match the way she knew he felt.
“I don’t know what your problem is, that’s why I’m freaking asking.” She tried to mimic his calm voice.
Nero was quick. He grabbed her arms and scooted her away farther from the others’ ears, placing her against the lockers. What is it with him and shoving me against things?
Nero lowered his head to speak in her ear, keeping his hands on her arms to lock her in place. “My problem is simple, Elle. I have a problem with you having no trouble saying thank you to someone else. I have a problem with you wrapping your arms around someone else. And I have a big fucking problem with you not minding kissing someone else. Not one fucking time have you done any of those things to me without my asking, or just doing it because you want to, not because I want you to.”
Elle listened to every word Nero said to her. She had never considered he was mad at her, much less that he could be mad at her for that. She hadn’t even thought about what she was doing to Amo; she had simply been elated Chloe was safe and sound.
Nero looked at her face for her reply, but she didn’t know what to say. She had been caught off-guard.
“I-I wasn’t even thinking. I was happy that he brought Chloe there safely.”
“Why do you think he did that, Elle?” His eyes were becoming even more furious.
Elle knew, but things were different between them. “I know, Nero, but I don’t like Amo.” She turned her head away; she couldn’t look at his eyes for this. “It’s not easy for me to do those things when I’ve never done them to someone I like.”
She heard Nero exhale before he grabbed her chin to look at him. “I don’t want to see you ever touch another guy again. You can kiss and hug your father and brother, but if I find out you’ve touched another guy—I don’t give a shit who it is—they won’t live to let it happen again.”
Elle swallowed hard and nodded her head. She believed him. She couldn’t believe she was going to say it. “I’m sorry.”
She thought Nero was waiting for something, yet then he kissed her. It was a hard kiss, and she let their tongues meet for a brief second before he pulled away.
“I’m still pissed, but we’re going to be late for class.” He let her go, and she pulled away, going into the classroom. She blushed and ran in the room when she saw Amo and Vincent smiling. This time, Amo held the door open for her.
Chapter Seventeen
A Page from Chloe’s Book
The lunch bell rang and Elle and Chloe walked out of their Spanish class. Elle was happy to see Nero’s face and eyes had calmed down. She walked over to him as Amo started walking toward the cafeteria. Elle reluctantly began walking behind him when Nero didn’t act like he was going to move. I guess he is still pissed.
After a few steps toward the cafeteria, Elle felt Nero’s hand grab hers. She looked over at him and smiled, and then, on her own, she decided to walk closer beside him. She really had missed holding his hand.
When they reached the lunchroom, Amo stopped to wait for them. Once they were in one, big group, Nero spoke.
“So, what do you girls want to eat?”
Elle dropped her hand from Nero’s when Chloe and her eyes met. They didn’t know how to respond.
“It’s either pizza or the same line that’s always been here of chicken patties and hamburgers.” Elle and Chloe both turned their heads to stare at Nero. They had never gotten to pick on taste.
“I don’t care,” Elle got out.
“Yeah, uh, me either.” Chloe looked at the floor.
“Jesus, pick already. I’m fucking starving.” Amo, on the other hand, was still grouchy and tired.
Elle looked at the two lines. Hardly anyone was in the chicken and hamburger line. “Chicken patt
ies sound fine.”
“Who the hell doesn’t choose pizza?” Vincent obviously wasn’t happy with their choice.
“Elle, do you like pizza?” She looked at Nero, remembering what he had told her about lying. She had already made him mad once today, and she’d learned she didn’t like it when he was mad at her.
Elle silently said, “Yes.”
“Chloe, do you eat pizza?” Amo asked that time.
Chloe looked over at Elle, and Elle hoped she understood to tell the truth. She nodded.
“So, why the hell can’t I have pizza?” Vincent clearly wanted some pizza.
“Elle, why did you pick that line?” She looked up at Nero and bit her lip. She really didn’t want to lie to him. Therefore, the only thing she could possibly do was evade the question, and by the looks of their three faces, they weren’t going to let her off.
She decided not to look at their eyes. “We always pick the line that doesn’t have anyone in it.”
“And what happens if the lines are about the same?” She really wished Nero would quit asking her questions.
She felt all their eyes on her, waiting for her answer, except Chloe’s. She was looking at the ground, wringing her hands. She didn’t want them to know anymore than Elle did.
“Hey, guys, what’s up?” Leo had found them and joined in, giving her hope she might not have to answer.
“Shut up, Leo. Answer the fucking question, Elle.” Elle was shocked Amo had been the one to say that. All hope is lost.
Elle decided to take a page from Chloe’s book—she looked at the floor. “If the lines are even, then we pick the line that has the least scary people in it.”
“Jesus Christ.” Elle heard Nero say.
“For fuck’s sake,” Amo chimed in.
“Motherfuckers,” Vincent added.
“Does that mean they don’t want piz—”
“Shut up, Leo!” Nero, Amo, and Vincent all said it at the same time, making Elle and Chloe jump.
“From now on, you fucking eat what you want to. Do you both understand?” Elle nodded her head at Nero. Chloe still didn’t reply.
“Chloe, if you want fucking pizza, you eat fucking pizza, got it?” Amo yelled at her. Chloe didn’t waste any time to nod in understanding.
Elle was ready to move on, so she decided to scurry away to the pizza line, no matter how badly her instincts screamed to go in the other line. Chloe wasted no time following her.
As Elle hurried away, she thought she heard Vincent say, “Let’s fucking kill ‘em.”
Leo ended up being the first one to join them. They were all the way in the back of the line since they were talking while everyone else had gotten in. When the three guys finally joined them, they didn’t look very pleased. I don’t know why they even asked me what I wanted to eat if pizza was clearly the only option.
“No way I’m waiting this fucking long. You know they run out of pizza. Let’s cut,” Amo said.
By the looks of the guys’ faces, they were ready to cut. Elle didn’t feel comfortable about it. “No, that’s wrong. We’re not cutting.” She looked at Nero to make sure he understood.
“Sorry, sweetheart. After what you just told me, I frankly don’t give a shit about right and wrong.” Vincent passed them and yelled “move” to the person ahead of them. She watched Amo join in, making everyone part the line.
Elle was shoved by Nero to move forward, giving Elle and Chloe no option other than to cut the line. Elle was shocked Nero was making her do this; she didn’t feel right about cutting in front of people.
When they reached the trays, the guys stopped and grabbed one. Amo handed his to Chloe and Vincent handed his to her. Elle reached and grabbed it, swearing Vincent’s face made her do it.
Now that she and Chloe had a tray, Elle walked through the line, figuring she might as well enjoy it. Once next week started, she was going to be lucky to eat without lunch money. The cost of lunch had gone up to a ridiculous price, but no one at a prep school would dare complain.
Elle got out of the line first, charging it to her account. She waited for Chloe to come out of the line. By the way the boys had probably pissed everyone off, she decided not to go until one of them had checked out. Nero checked out first and started walking back to the table with Elle following behind.
Once they were seated, Elle was caught off-guard when Nero pulled her in for a kiss on the cheek. She still wasn’t used to him, and she definitely wasn’t used to it when she was around Chloe.
Elle was glad when Leo sat again at the empty seat next to Chloe. She could tell Chloe eased a bit when he did. Elle looked around and saw that all the boys had bought an extra piece of pizza. That’s why they never have any left.
Elle smiled when she picked up her pepperoni pizza and saw Chloe doing the same. For once, she actually liked what she had gotten for lunch.
“When was the last time you ate pizza at school?”
Nero couldn’t just let me enjoy it, could he? She was really starting to hate the whole honesty thing. “Since middle school.”
“I had it freshman year.” Elle looked over at Chloe. That didn’t help, Chloe.
While the guys were becoming agitated by her answers, she didn’t understand why they would ask these questions when they knew they wouldn’t like the outcome.
She figured Leo sensed everyone was on edge since he tried to change the conversation. However, the thing he asked was possibly the worst thing he could, making it only worse.
“Chloe, how did you get those scars?” She knew Leo was young and didn’t know how she got them but figured everyone else had already heard about it.
She waited for the guys to say shut up, because this really would be the right time to do it, but they didn’t. They clearly wanted to hear it, too.
Elle looked at Chloe, who was staring at her plate. She really hated that Leo had asked that.
Elle decided to get the story over with. “She was in a car accident.”
“Oh, dang. When?” Leo became intrigued.
Elle put down her pizza. “When we were freshmen.”
“That suck—”
Elle grabbed her head. She heard a buzzing noise and started blinking, trying to focus on what had just happened. She had seen something fly out of the corner of her eye a moment ago, and whatever it had been had really started to sting her head. As the buzzing started to cease, all Elle could hear was laughter.
Elle felt Nero and the rest of the guys stand up, then she heard Nero’s voice. “Who the fuck just did that?”
While the room became eerily silent, Elle grew scared. The guys were already pissed off; she didn’t want them to get hurt because of her.
Elle managed to get the word “don’t” out while she pulled her hand from her head, trying to grab Nero’s. That was when she saw the blood on her hand.
Nero immediately noticed it, as well, distracting him from his questioning.
“Shit, Nero. She needs to get out of here,” Vincent spoke.
Elle still felt Nero fuming as he tried to get her to stand.
“Yeah, let’s get them out of here, and we can deal with the fucker outside of school,” she heard Amo quietly speak.
Nero helped Elle up, grabbing her around her waist as she stood. “It’s going to be okay, baby,” he murmured.
Elle tried to nod her head, relieved he hadn’t started a fight. Vincent had come around to help walk her out of the cafeteria and Elle let them lead her out. When they reached the door and exited, Nero bent down and picked her up, holding her in his arms.
She tried to search for Chloe, afraid she might have been too shocked to come. “Chloe.”
“Shh, Amo’s got her.”
Elle calmed down and relaxed into his arms. She fought the feeling to close her eyes, no matter how much she wanted to, as her head rested on his chest.
As Nero passed the victory wall that was filled with sports memorabilia and encased in glass, she wondered where he was taking her. She heard
a metal door open and a ceiling that felt like a thousand feet high greeted her. She didn’t understand why he was taking her in the gym.
He walked to the other end and she had a feeling of where he was taking her. She didn’t exactly have the greatest memories of that place, either.
“Vince, bring me the first aid kit.”
Chapter Eighteen
I Will Enjoy Watching You Scream
Nero sat Elle down on one of the benches. She knew he was taking her in the locker room.
She heard the door open again and saw Vincent set a white box down on the bench beside her before leaving without saying a word. She had a feeling he might have been just as pissed as Nero.
Nero went to the sink and wet a bunch of paper towels. He then walked back over and handed her one to wash her hand before he lowered himself in front of her, going to his haunches. Elle could only stare up at Nero as he pressed the towels to her head. His face was calm while his emerald eyes looked like they were on fire. She had gotten used to the calm exterior while his eyes showed his true feelings. He is so beautiful.
“I don’t think you’ll need stitches,” Nero said, opening the first aid kit.
Elle tried to lighten the mood with a laugh. “Well, that’s a first.” She regretted it the moment the words left her mouth.
“Elle, this isn’t funny.” Nero stopped what he was doing to look at her. “I can’t let them do this to you anymore. It’s hard enough to hear that you pick what to eat based on who the fuck scares you less.”
“I know, Nero, but please.” She took his hand and touched his battered knuckles. “You promised me you would try.”
She watched Nero take a deep breath before he went back into the box and pulled out a white tube, squeezing the ointment on the tip of his finger. He reached up and rubbed it on her head.
Elle made a face when it started stinging.
“Oh, yeah, this might sting,” he said.
Elle smiled, finally able to calm him down a bit. “Thanks for letting me know beforehand.”
Nero actually smiled back. “No problem.”
Nero (Made Men #1) Page 11