Nero (Made Men #1)

by Sarah Brianne

  Elle ran back to her bedroom and hit Chloe’s number. It rang several times. Elle knew it was pretty early and thought she should hang up, but then it was answered.

  “Hello?”

  Chloe sounded wide awake to her. She knew she’d hardly slept, but damn it was early.

  “Chloe, I need your help. I look like shit.”

  Chloe’s voice sounded almost cheerful. “Be right there. Bye.”

  Chloe was definitely the one for the job. She had to look like a million dollars a lot of the time, due to her dad’s work. She had to go to many occasions with her parents and look like the part of the perfect, beautiful daughter. Unfortunately, with her scars, her father made sure she looked like two million dollars, so it would distract from the slashes down her face.

  Elle knew if any other girl had Chloe’s markings, they wouldn’t pull it off, but since Chloe was beyond gorgeous naturally, she made them look beautiful. Chloe can pull anything off.

  Elle brushed her teeth and washed her face before Chloe got there. When she did arrive, she immediately got to work. Elle kept her hands locked in her lap and didn’t move while Chloe was working on her. She thought Chloe would wear gloves before she even started working. She didn’t, and Chloe made sure to use all the tools.

  “Okay, what are you going to wear?” Chloe asked as she put away her hair tools.

  Elle shrugged. “I don’t know. Just a t-shirt and jeans, I guess.”

  “I did not do your makeup and fix your matted hair for a t-shirt and jeans.” Chloe walked into Elle’s closet and came out. “Where is the green sweater?”

  Elle looked at the floor. “I don’t want to wear that.”

  “Why not?” Chloe asked, sitting on her bed.

  Elle knew it was stupid, but the only reason she had liked it instantly was because it had reminded her of Nero’s eyes; as such, she didn’t want to wear it. Elle didn’t want to tell Chloe that, though; therefore, she simply shrugged.

  “Elle, do you want to make him regret ever cheating on you and shove it in his freaking face?”

  Elle thought for a second. Yes, I fucking do.

  Elle got up and went into her closet, shutting the door. She dressed in the small space, putting on her black leggings and getting the sweater down from the top shelf. Then she put on some high, black boots.

  She came out and Chloe’s mouth went into a smile. “He is going to cry himself to sleep tonight.”

  * * *

  Nero leaned up against his car in the student parking lot. Amo and Vincent had joined him a few minutes earlier. His car was just a few feet away from Chloe’s parking spot. Nero knew he and his crew were still going to have to provide some protection; if anyone got wind of him and Elle breaking up, she would be done for.

  Nero rubbed his eyes. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the past few nights. He wanted to believe it was going to be easy winning her back, but honestly, Nero had no idea where to start. He had no women expertise outside of the bedroom.

  He had spent the weekend following Elle to and from work, again. Moreover, Nero found it even more miserable than the first time he had done it. Watching her so close and not talking to her was torture. Then not going into the diner while she worked was the worst kind of torture.

  He had noticed she didn’t look like herself and was clearly in pain. He figured that was why he didn’t talk to her or pop up in the diner; he didn’t want to cause her more damage. She’s had enough of that.

  “How are you, man?” Vincent asked, breaking through his thoughts.

  “Fine,” Nero answered quickly, not wanting them to think he was torn up over a girl.

  “And how’s she?” Amo asked.

  “She looked pretty rough last night,” Nero confessed.

  Vincent laughed. “You’re going to have to come up with something good, man. Thank God, I’m not you.”

  “Yeah, I know. Listen, we need to be on them. I think Cassandra comes back today.” Nero knew he wasn’t going to be able to get too close without making up with Elle yet, but he needed to get as close as he could.

  Amo and Vincent nodded. They waited for about five minutes until Chloe’s BMW appeared and pulled in her spot.

  Nero watched as the passenger’s door opened and a pair of black boots hit the ground. When the door was closed shut, he blinked his eyes several times before he realized it wasn’t going to change anything. Holy hell.

  Nero felt an intense amount of emotions as he watched Elle’s ass sashay across the parking lot in that outfit. Firstly, he wanted to fuck her. Secondly, he wanted her to dress like that more often. Lastly, he wanted to know why she looked perfectly fine.

  When only Elle’s back was visible, his first emotion returned harder. It’s been a fucking while, okay?

  Nero noticed his friends gawking. “Hey, fuckers, move your eyes to someone else.”

  “Damn, Nero, you were right. Elle is just so heartbroken.” Amo couldn’t hold in his laughter.

  Nero leaned up from the car and ran his hands through his hair. He turned back to them and saw Vincent closing his eyes, whispering something.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  Vincent whispered something else before he opened his eyes. “I was just thanking God for leggings.”

  * * *

  Elle and Chloe went through the chicken patty line. Picking what we want is now over. Elle knew it had been good while it lasted, and honestly, she didn’t even know if she was going to be able to eat today. She had completely forgotten about lunch money, not like she would have paid the ridiculous price for it anyways.

  Elle and Chloe moved up the line. She had been on the lookout the whole morning, and Chloe had started walking behind her again. She did notice that the three assholes had been following them all day, though. I don’t need to be followed!

  Elle and Chloe grabbed a tray full of fries and a chicken sandwich and then went to give the lady their number. Elle held her breath, wondering if she was going to get away with it. When she did, she couldn’t believe it. Elle figured the only reason she had was because the lunch lady in the other line was much meaner. So, I guess I’m stuck eating chicken patties for the rest of the semester.

  Elle walked toward her and Chloe’s original table, but found it full.

  “Shit.”

  She looked around and saw the only table that was unoccupied was the table in the corner that they had sat at Friday. Elle turned and walked toward that table. As she did, she noticed Nero, Amo, Vincent, and Leo sat at the table closest to it. Of course they are. The other surrounding tables were still filled with the football team.

  Elle took the seat facing the lunchroom again, and Chloe took the one in front of her, just like she always had before. I guess some things can never change.

  Elle gave Chloe a reassuring smile. Chloe hadn’t been prepared to go back to their old ways. Elle had watched her as she had blossomed back into her old self. It had been the happiest Elle had seen her since she had met her the first day of high school.

  Elle picked up her sandwich to take a bite when she noticed the lunch lady from the other line was heading her way.

  “Uh, Chloe, why is she coming toward us?”

  Elle watched Chloe swing her head around and then quietly speak, “Should we be afraid right now?”

  “I don’t—”

  Elle gasped as the lunch lady snatched her sandwich out of her hand and put it back on the tray. “I told you last week, Elle, you need to pay for your lunches. No more charges.” Elle heard her mumble under her breath, “This isn’t a damn charity,” as she walked away.

  Elle and Chloe’s mouths hung open as she then walked right up to the trashcan and threw away her tray. She knew this school had really gone to the next level when they’d rather throw away food than feed a hungry child.

  “Can she do that?” Chloe asked, turning back around.

  “She just did,” Elle said, wanting to disappear.

  Chloe pushed her tray away. “You can
have mine. I’m not that hungry.”

  “No, Chloe. I don’t want it. It wasn’t what I wanted anyways.”

  Chloe wrung her hands in her lap. “Yeah, me either.”

  * * *

  “Did that just happen?” Nero heard Leo ask.

  “Fuck this school. Why do we even go here?” Amo added.

  Vincent looked at Nero. “That was the most fucked-up thing I have ever seen. Something needs to be done about that.”

  Nero was trying to calm himself. Yeah, by thinking of a thousand ways to murder that old-ass bitch. He would deal with that later.

  Ho took a deep breath. “Vincent, I need you to do me a favor.”

  Vincent smiled. “Strangle the life out of her?”

  That sounded nice. “Maybe later. I need you to go buy Elle another lunch, and don’t get the chicken sandwich. I know they didn’t want that shit.” Nero stopped and looked back at their table. “Get them both new lunches.”

  Vincent sounded surprised. “Why me?”

  “Because Elle won’t take it from me, and she will think I paid if Leo gave it to her.” Nero paused, not wanting the next words to come out of his mouth. “And for some reason, she likes you the most between us.”

  Vincent looked over at the lunch lady who had thrown Elle’s tray away. “I’ll be happy to.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The Five Stages of Heartbreak

  Elle picked her head up from the table as she felt something being set on top of the wood.

  “What is this?” Elle looked at the tray being set before her filled with chicken strips, mashed potatoes, and corn. She also saw Vincent set a tray in front of Chloe, as well.

  “Lunch.” Vincent then set down a water bottle in front of her.

  Elle pushed the tray toward him. “Take it back.”

  Vincent let out a breath and pulled a seat underneath him as he sat down. “Listen, sweetheart, I know you don’t want to take it because of what happened with you and Ne—”

  “This has nothing to do with that. I don’t want it,” Elle retorted as she pushed the tray closer to him.

  Vincent put his hand on the tray and pushed it back to her. He looked straight at her as he spoke. “It has everything to do with that, but what you need to understand is I care about you, too. So, you’re going to fucking eat it and enjoy it. And I will be walking you both to class until you and Nero figure this shit out,” Vincent turned to look at Chloe, “because I’m sick of watching you walk behind Elle. Walk fucking beside her.”

  Elle watched Chloe’s eyes grow big. Elle attempted to protest, but Vincent was a little too crazy to tell no. She did like Vincent and could handle him being around her. But there is nothing to work out between me and Nero.

  When Vincent was satisfied, he took Chloe’s old plate from the middle of the table and threw it in the trashcan closest to the lunch lady as he stared her down.

  “Oh, my God. I think he may need to be admitted,” Chloe whispered.

  Elle’s eyes went back to Chloe. “He is a psychopath, for sure, but he is the nicest one out of the three.”

  “Sorry, Elle, but he isn’t. Nero is.” Chloe stated it like it was a fact.

  Elle opened her mouth. “No, he isn’t!”

  Chloe picked up a chicken strip and took a bite. “He is, too. You’re just in the denial stage.”

  Elle reluctantly picked up her own strip, thinking it looked too tasty, and took a bite. “The denial stage?”

  “Yeah. The five stages of heartbreak.”

  Elle rolled her eyes at her best friend. There’s no such thing.

  She and Chloe had a good lunch, regardless of what had happened. When it was time to head to class, Vincent came back over to walk them. One look at Vincent’s face and she let him; bringing Hannibal Lecter out wasn’t on her to-do list for the day.

  Vincent walked beside Elle and Elle walked beside Chloe. She had to admit it was pretty weird because Vincent had walked behind Chloe before while Nero used to walk beside her. She turned her head and saw Nero and Amo walking a few feet back. Ugh!

  Elle was going to have to get over that because, unfortunately, they could walk wherever they pleased.

  Turning her head back around, Cassandra appeared before her. Elle came to an immediate stop. Oh, shit.

  Elle had seen she was back at English class and wasn’t eager to see what she would do to her for getting her suspended.

  “Long time, no see, waitress,” Cassandra’s high-pitched voice rang in her ears.

  Vincent slung his arm around Elle’s shoulders. “I figured you would have found out that Nero told everyone not to call Elle that anymore. I guess no one gives a shit about you when you’re gone.”

  Cassandra’s mouth gaped open then quickly shut as she took a step forward. “I heard. I just didn’t believe it. I missed four days of school—thanks to you—and you somehow think you’re the queen?” Cassandra looked Elle up and down, laughing hysterically. “You’re wearing the sweater my mom tossed into the Goodwill bin last month. You’re a trashy, little waitress, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”

  As Elle looked at the deranged face on Cassandra as she laughed, she wanted to run and get the stupid sweater off her body.

  “And you’re just a slutty, little whore who is jealous that your tits weren’t able to fill the sweater out.” Vincent laughed in her face. “I thought it looked familiar, but I guess I’m only used to seeing you without clothes and on your knees.”

  Elle couldn’t believe her ears and was shocked beyond belief while Cassandra looked like she had just been punched in the face.

  Vincent pulled Elle to move along as he threw his final blow. “Come on, Elle. Don’t worry; no one will recognize the slut’s sweater on you. We’re all used to seeing her naked and swallowing.”

  Elle moved with Vincent, still stunned. She looked at Chloe, shaking her head and wondering if it was real, too.

  “I think that might have been a little harsh.” Cassandra had never been treated like that in her life. She despised Cassandra, but Elle didn’t wish her own life upon her.

  “Sweetheart, I frankly don’t give a shit.”

  * * *

  Elle couldn’t move a bone in her body as the tears slid down her cheek. She had watched the face of the beautiful girl named Chloe kick her in the ribs. Elle had nothing left anymore, becoming numb and paralyzed by the second person in the group to beat her.

  Elle had begged at first—pleaded—but it all had still led her to the continuation of the beating. So, Elle had given up, thinking maybe lying there broken would be enough to get them to stop.

  The laughing still punctured her ears along with the jokes. Those had hurt just as bad as the various shoes kicked at her face and body.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she heard one of them say. “The bitch got the message. Good job, Chloe.”

  Elle couldn’t help staring up into the gray eyes, trying to deliver her message. When Elle could no longer see her, she had known Chloe had understood.

  Elle lay there, wondering how long it would take for death to come and rescue her from her nightmare. She closed her eyes, feeling the warm, red liquid start to coat her body. She knew it was coming soon. Soon, she would be free…

  Elle heard the rapping of the door enter her dream. “Sweetie, don’t you work tonight?”

  Elle tried to open her eyes, blinking back the wetness that had formed in her sleep.

  The sound returned. “Elle?”

  Elle finally saw her bedroom door before her and was able to remember where she was at. “Yeah. Sorry, Mom. I fell asleep.”

  “Okay, sweetie. I was just checking.”

  Elle rubbed her eyes as she heard her mom walk away. She barely remembered how she had ended up here. Finally waking up enough, she remembered the whole day. If only I could forget.

  When Elle had returned home from school, she had been mentally exhausted and gone straight for her bed. She’d curled up into a ball, not being able to
help thinking about the day.

  Nero had given her space, never walking too close to her and staying far behind. He hadn’t sat next to her at English, lunch, or even Art. He’d sat at another table that had some football team members. At least he didn’t sit with the bimbos right in my face.

  Elle admitted it had been hard seeing him again. She had grown used to being around him in the short time they’d had. For some reason she didn’t know, he had grown on her.

  Now Elle had to deal with Vincent. He wasn’t bad. Okay, he is terrible, but there’s worse. Elle was glad he had been there when Cassandra had found her; otherwise, she wasn’t sure what would have happened to her. He had taken her to and from classes with no one giving her any trouble. That, she was thankful for. Furthermore, even though she would rather not see Vincent because of Nero, she would deal with it because he’d made sure she and Chloe were safe.

  Elle rolled over, looking at the time. She needed to start getting ready for work. Tonight she had the late shift and was the one to close again.

  Elle yawned, wishing she could stay in bed just a little longer. About to rise, she glanced at her bookshelf and noticed something that didn’t look right.

  Elle studied the bookshelf that was jam-packed and full of different things, yet to Elle, she knew something was missing from it. Elle looked at the space that used to hold her photo album. It was gone.

  Elle rose up and went to the shelf, wondering if it had been moved. She went through the whole thing. Not here. Elle looked around her room. Nothing.

  Elle distinctively remembered Nero putting it back on the shelf. Nero!

  * * *

  Nero couldn’t believe he was going to suffer through another night of watching Elle go to work as she boarded the bus. Why the fuck can’t I talk to her?

  Nero had no idea how to win her back. He’d thought he would find some way during school, but no opportunities had been presented.

  Nero followed the bus to the stop Elle got off at. As she departed, a sick feeling in his gut appeared. He had noticed a guy wearing a dark hoodie had kept a few paces behind her.