by L. P. Maxa
Chapter Thirty-Three
Dominic
Dom got up, adjusted himself, and started to clean. “If you guys want food, better get in here, I’m about to put everything up.” He knew he sounded annoyed, but that was only because he was. He should be balls deep in his mate right about now.
“How domestic of you, Dom.” Linc still seemed way too amused.
“Have either of you talked to Baze? Why didn’t one of you go with him to Jace’s dorm this morning?”
“We asked if he wanted help and he said he had it covered.” Linc was eating the rest of the bacon straight out of the skillet.
Dom cleaned until the kitchen was spotless and then went to change clothes. Corey was in their room lying on their bed, her hair spread out around her. She had thrown on some faded ripped jeans and a V-neck white t-shirt. She looked so fucking hot. And he’d bet that if she stood up, the way her ass would look in those jeans would send her from hot to nuclear.
She had a book held up to her face. He wasn’t sure if she even knew he was in the room yet. He took three running steps and jumped on the bed next to her, she didn’t even flinch. “You look so good in those blue jeans baby.”
“I think that’s a line from a country song, Dom. What it is about me that brings out the country crooner in you? Is it because I’m from the south?” She put her book down and faced him, grinning.
“Yeah I can’t help myself. I mean can you blame me? My girl rocks a pair of jeans and looks downright fuckable driving my truck.” He climbed on top of her, pinning her arms above her head. He dipped his head and kissed her neck, the place he’d bitten her their first night together. It had a tiny mark, a slight shine to it. Which was strange considering he hadn’t even broken the skin. But he loved it. He felt like he’d marked her as his, even if he was the only one who would ever notice it. He moved and kissed the other side of her neck. Sweet, gentle kisses, showing her how much he cared for her.
“Dom, if you keep kissing me like that, I’m not going to let you leave this bedroom.” She closed her eyes and tilted her head, giving him better access.
“Oh yeah? How about like this?” He moved down and started placing wet kisses on her collarbone. He was really digging the vantage points this v-neck shirt was giving him. She parted her lips and let out a long moan. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Motherfucker. He growled, “What?”
“Uh, sorry, dude, Baze called. They are on their way. Where is Jasper?”
Dom groaned and placed a chaste kiss on Corey’s mouth as he pushed himself off her. “I am about ready for all these people to get out of our house.”
“Dom, you get plenty of sex.” Corey smacked him on the arm. “What’s with all you wolf men? You aren’t hurting, there is no reason to be cranky.” She got up, straightened her shirt, and smoothed down her hair.
“She’s right, Dom. You really need to learn to control your animal urges,” Linc called from the next room.
Dom heard her giggle as he threw open their bedroom door and pounced on Linc, wrapping his arm around his neck and giving him a brotherly noogie. A few seconds later Jasper and Riley burst through the back door, covered in sweat and panting like dogs. They both collapsed on the floor in the kitchen giggling like little kids.
“Jasper, your parents are on their way. You two go get cleaned up. And, Dom, let go of Linc’s nipple. We need to look like adults here.” Keller sighed. Obviously, he hated breaking up the fun.
Dom and Linc both straightened. Linc sat down rubbing his chest and Dom walked over, pulling Corey into his arms. Jasper and Riley both clambered over each other to race to the bathroom. It took them a long time to make it there since they kept tripping each other and cracking up about it.
Dom couldn’t help but smile. They were kids when it came down to it, and he needed to try to remember that. They may be shifters, and they may have crazy hormones, and too much testosterone, they also had the ability to kill with their bare hands. But when it came down to it, they were still kids trying to find their way in this world.
Corey was right. They needed to laugh and feel safe, and have someone worry over them. Although after last night, he hoped that Corey understood the dean and his concern for her safety. She’d seen the aftermath of uncontrolled violence.
Baze walked in the unlocked front door a few minutes later, speaking quickly. “Mr. Franklin is right behind me. That guy is a piece of work. Let’s get through this next thirty minutes and then we can reevaluate.”
“What?” Keller looked confused.
His expression matched everyone else’s, but Baze shook his head. “You’ll see.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Corey
Corey’s eyes went wide as a broad set of shoulders filled the doorway and an extremely put-together man walked into her house. His black hair was slicked back from his chiseled face and his eyes were as dark as night. He wore a three-piece suit, a Rolex, and a large gold ring. Corey guessed he was attractive, for an older CEO type. He was not at all what she expected after talking to Jasper about his fun baseball-playing dad though. This man looked like he didn’t know the meaning of the word fun. He wore what Corey assumed was a permanent scowl. He seemed cold and distant, even though he hadn’t said a word yet. She didn’t like him, snap judgments be damned.
Introductions were made all around, but he didn’t offer her his hand. Instead his eyes traveled slowly up and down her body, twice. A chill ran up her spine. She wasn’t the only one who noticed the way he was looking at her. Dom let out a low deep growl. As much as she wanted this man out of her house, she wouldn’t let Dom put himself in a situation where he wouldn’t be able to help Jasper. She stepped forward and addressed the butthead. “Mr. Franklin, I’m so glad that you could make it so quickly.”
Mr. Franklin studied her mate for several seconds. It was obvious he heard the possession in Dom’s voice. When he finally turned his attention back to Corey, his expression was no longer sexual; it was almost dismissive. Like he figured out that she wouldn’t be sleeping with him, and now she was of no use. He directed his message to the men in the room. “I have some business to attend to in Paris. Starting tomorrow I’ll be out of the country for a few weeks. I need to get this taken care of quickly. I have a plane to catch.” He looked around the house, frowning. “Where’s the other one?”
Corey hoped like hell he wasn’t talking about Jasper. “The other what, Mr. Franklin?”
Again he looked at Dom when he spoke. “Where is my other son?”
Corey felt her face heat with anger. Wow, Baze was right. The guy was a piece of work. Jasper picked that moment to show up.
“Father?” Jasper walked across the room until he was standing by her. “Where are Mom and Charlie?”
She was still several feet away from Mr. Franklin and she wasn’t sure why Jasper walked to her instead of him. And why was he calling him “Father”? She distinctly remembered him talking about his dad with warmth and affection. And who the hell was Charlie? Her head was starting to pound.
“Come over here and talk to me like a man, Jasper. Don’t hide behind her. She isn’t your mother, and I doubt she could protect you any better.” Mr. Franklin crossed his arms over his massive barrel chest, waiting.
Corey shot Jasper a quick glance. He wasn’t cowering behind her, he was standing right beside her. Closer than he normally would. Almost like Dom did when they were out in public. Oh wow, he was being protective. Jasper stood his ground, his eyes darting from Corey then to Keller. Keller must have understood what Jasper’s silent look meant, because he came over and took his place. Only then did Jasper move to approach his father.
Did every male in her life think she couldn’t take care of herself? “Mr. Franklin, if you’ll have a seat I’m sure we can discuss this together. There’s no reason to be like that with Jasper, he didn’t do any—”
Mr. Franklin sneered in her direction. “It’s humorous to me that you see no fault in this one’s weakness. And I
’m not sure anything we are going to discuss here today pertains to you. You can leave.”
There was that word again, weakness. “Actually, sir.” She made sure when she said sir it really sounded more like fuck you. “I am the guidance counselor here at St. Leasing, so this does in fact concern me.” She stepped up next to Keller, and he reached a hand down to keep her from getting any closer to the large, now pissed-off man.
“It doesn’t.” Mr. Franklin narrowed his eyes. “Leave.”
“Father, there is no reason to treat—”
“Jasper, know your place.” Finally, Franklin turned and spoke directly to her. “I am his father, his punishment is mine to decide and mine alone.”
“Punishment? Are you high? Jasper didn’t do anything wrong.” Corey knew she was shouting and she didn’t care.
Mr. Franklin continued on like she hadn’t said a word. “The longer I have to stand here waiting for you to go, the more irritated I become. The more irritated I become, the worse it will be for your new pet here.” He made a gesture in Jasper’s direction.
Corey couldn’t believe the man was being such an absolute dick. She looked over at the good men in this room with her. Baze had a death grip on Dom’s shoulder, trying to keep him from killing Jasper’s father. Linc was clenching his jaw so hard she could hear it from across the room, and Keller had white-knuckled fists at his sides. These men, her men, wouldn’t let anything bad happen to Jasper. And her insisting on staying was only going to make things that much harder. “Fine. I’ll leave, but not because you’re telling me to, but because I’m sure these four men can handle you without my help.”
He had the audacity to chuckle.
She plastered on a sweet Southern smile. “I hope that your plane crashes over the ocean and piranhas eat your balls. It was lovely meeting you, you self-righteous egotistical son of a bitch. I can see now from where Jace gets his aberrant behavior.” With that she grabbed her purse and headed toward the front door. Riley came out of the bedroom, where he’d clearly been eavesdropping, and joined her. Together they exited the house and she slammed the door behind her.
“Wow. Ms. Cooper, that was awesome. You are the coolest teacher ever.”
“Thanks, kiddo, and don’t you cuss, it’s bad. Oh, uh, and so is disrespecting adults, and blah blah blah.”
“Hey, miss, throw me your car keys.”
Corey tossed him her keys over the hood of her car and watched as he walked to the black Jag that was parked next to her. Its license plate read MRFRNKLN. She rolled her eyes. Riley began to key a long and deep line down the passenger side of the car. Smiling the whole time. She should probably tell him this was bad behavior too, but she couldn’t. Both their smiles were wiped off their faces though when the driver’s side door opened and a giant bald-headed man in a black suit stepped out. Holy shit.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing? Get away from this car before I rip your throat out.”
Riley tossed Corey her keys then ran and dove into the passenger side of her car. She started the engine and backed out of her driveway as fast as she could. Once they were safely away from Mr. Clean’s ugly brother, they both started to giggle. “I am supposed to have lunch with a friend of mine. You’re coming with. We’ll eat then head back to the house and check on Jasper, okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
Corey didn’t understand what had happened back there, why Jasper would get punished for Jace beating the shit out of him. Was this a shifter thing? Was this a Franklin family thing? God, she hoped that Dom and the others would stand up to that man and not let him hurt Jasper. Her stomach was in knots. She doubted she could eat anything right now; she felt like she was going to be sick. But Riley needed the distraction, and she needed to get his mind off his friend. There was nothing they could do right now anyway.
***
They met Molly at a little café on the square. Molly and Riley hit it off right away. That kid could make anyone smile. Lunch had actually been pleasant and halfway through she received a text from Dom telling her it was all clear and they could come home. On the car ride back to the house, Riley seemed to be in better spirits.
“Hey, buddy, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Has Mr. Franklin always been that way? So harsh? I mean, you and Jasper are close, is Mr. Franklin like that at home too?”
“Uh, I don’t know. I’ve never been around Mr. Franklin like that.”
“Really? I figured y’all would hang out during breaks from school. You’ve never been to Jasper’s house?”
“I’ve been to Jasper’s house plenty of times. But never to Jace’s.”
“What do you mean?” Her stomach plunged to the floorboard. “They don’t live together?”
“No. Jasper lives with his mom and his stepdad Charlie, and Jace lives with Mr. Franklin. Their parents were only together long enough to have them, and then they separated. Each parent took a twin. Jasper lucked out big time. His mom met and mated Charlie when Jasper was like five or something.”
Corey felt her blood run cold. She’d been so incredibly wrong about everything. Jace wasn’t a sociopath; he was abused. He was mentally, emotionally, and most likely physically abused. His whole life, by that tyrant of a father. No wonder the two kids were so fucking different, they had led completely different lives. Jasper was raised surrounded by love and compassion. Jace was raised in a cold, sterile, heartless environment where weakness was not an option. Where weakness could get you hurt.
Why hadn’t she asked more questions, dug deeper? Jace needed help and therapy. “Holy shit, Riley. We’ve been so wrong about Jace. So terribly wrong.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Dominic
Dom looked over at the broken kid lying on his couch, for the second time in as many days, trying to heal himself. He couldn’t believe how fast it had happened, and how strong Franklin was. It took all four of them to get him off Jasper and out of the house. Dom shook his head. He was so glad Corey had left. She would have grabbed her shotgun and attempted to kill that monster. He’d wanted to kill him too. But he was Jasper’s father. Punishment for a fight between his sons was his decision.
They should have never called him; they should have kept this quiet. Dom would regret today for the rest of his life. He heard the front door open and steeled himself for Corey’s reaction to the sight of Jasper broken and bleeding again.
“Oh my god, Jasper. What the fuck, Dom? Please tell me that prick is being buried in our backyard right now.” Corey was kneeling at the boy’s side, smoothing his hair back and blotting him with the damp rag Baze left on the table.
“Riley, go to your room.”
“What? Coach Hardy, I don’t have a room. I don’t live here.” Riley looked from Dom to Corey, eyes wide.
“Uh, right, go to the back porch. Baze and Keller are out there.” Dom sat on the coffee table next to Corey, and waited for Riley to leave before he spoke. “His father did all this in the mere seconds it took us to pull him off him.” Corey put her head in her free hand; the other was still stroking Jasper’s hair. And for once Dom wasn’t jealous.
“How could y’all let this happen? How could you let him lay a hand on Jasper?” Her voice sounded shaky, like she was close to tears.
“Baby, please, I feel bad enough. Don’t make it worse. You know we stopped it as soon as we realized what was happening. He didn’t ask for permission or give us heads-up that he was about to pummel his kid.”
“Riley told me some stuff on the way home, Dom. I was wrong about Jace. So wrong. He isn’t a sociopath, he is a kid who has been abused his whole life.”
“What do you mean?”
She stood up. “Let’s go outside, y’all need to hear this.”
Once they were out back and everyone was seated or standing close enough to hear her, she started sharing what she’d learned. “Jace and Jasper didn’t grow up as brothers. They have been separated since birth. Their parents got divor
ced and each one took a kid, which is terrible and actually super unhealthy. Apparently, Jasper was raised by his mom and his wonderfully loving stepdad while Jace was raised by his dickhead of a father. And after meeting Mr. Franklin and seeing what he did to Jasper, it wouldn’t surprise me if Jace has been abused his whole life. Emotionally, mentally, and physically. That kid isn’t allowed to show weakness. If he shows weakness or emotion or any kind, he probably gets a beating. When he attacked Jasper—”
“He wasn’t punishing him. He was trying to spare him punishment from someone worse.” Baze cursed under his breath. “If Mr. Franklin found out that Jasper lost control and shifted, causing problems and exposing us to those kids, he would have come down here and, well, do what he did.”
“Jace was trying to protect his brother from their father in the only way he knew how. He thought he could beat him up, punish him, and keep him from losing control. Then Mr. Franklin wouldn’t ever find out what almost happened.” Corey shook her head, despair written all over her pretty face.
“It’s my fault.” Riley kicked a potted plant, sending it sailing across the yard as if it weighed nothing. “I shouldn’t have brought you all into this. I should have taken Jasper back to the dorm and let him sleep it off. Now he is right back where he was last night, hurting and bleeding because of his fucking family.”
Corey got up and headed toward Riley. Dom reached out and grabbed her hand, jerking her back to him. She narrowed her eyes. “Let go, Dom.”
“Did you see what his anger did? That was a massive ceramic pot filled with soil and plants. He punted it like it was a football. Last night? Jace beat Jasper like he was a rag doll. This is what I’ve been trying to explain to you. At this age shifters are too strong and have too little control.” Even though he knew the kids needed comfort, the bonded shifter in him was screaming to keep his mate at his side.
Corey jerked her hand free and glared at him. Daring him to try to stop her once again. Dom wasn’t the only one worried; his three friends all took a step toward his mate as she walked over to Riley. They watched as she put her hand on his shoulder and turned him around to face her.