Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy Book 1)

by B C Morgan

  “Baby, why have a cheeseburger when you already have a steak? There isn’t anything a damn virgin can do that I can’t,” she tosses her iron straight hair over her shoulder and he stares her down, pushing her away from him.

  “The problem with choosing to fuck you Six, is you’ve had so much cock in that pussy of yours I couldn’t even feel you fucking tighten around me. Maybe I should have gone with a virgin all along. Come Zero, I’m in the mood to teach you a few things,” his words come out matter of fact, as though this is a business transaction. My stomach roils but I stand anyway only to have his hand fall on my shoulder and push me back down.

  “Not you, her,” he jerks his chin at Caitlyn and she swallows hard before rising to her feet and going to his side.

  “Find someone else to fuck Six,” he shoots out, dismissing her that easily as his arm snakes around Caitlyn’s waist and he leads her away.

  “She won’t be taking my number,” Tracey shrieks as Five and Seven come over to comfort her. What a joke, she’s showing her weakness and these guys will waste no time in exploiting it.

  I look down at my French toast and my appetite is shot, so I pick my plate up and discard my food in the trash before I turn around and slam into a chest.

  I look up to see Shane and his sly smile sends ice shooting down my spine, his hand goes to the top of my arm and he squeezes hard enough to make me wince.

  “Poor little Zero, the last to be chosen. Well don’t worry, the offer still stands. I’ll fuck you and give you enough money to help you get back home when the day is over,” he brings his head close to me before running his tongue up the side of my face. I cringe and try to pull away which earns me a backhand to the face, sending me sprawling to the floor.

  He stands over me and says, “times running out Zero, and I will fucking have you. Dirty fucking charity case, recoiling at my touch,” he comes closer, spittle flies from his mouth and coats me before he stands tall and walks away.

  I lift my head to see Aeron standing at their table, looking at me. He doesn’t come over, why would he? But I swear I can see something that may resemble confliction pass over his face. At the end of the day though, I’m nothing. No one will defend me or my honor, I won’t find a knight here, I’ll only find villains.

  I’ve gotten to know Liam quite well over these last few weeks and when he wraps his arms around me as I explain what Shane did, I don’t push him away.

  His fingers trail over my cheek, his touch stinging from the mark that has been left in its wake.

  “I’m sorry this is happening to you Luna, you don’t deserve it,” he says as his eyes return to mine, and it isn’t lost on me that the only guy in this place I genuinely like is off limits. It doesn’t really matter, it isn’t like I see him in that light, I just think it’s ironic.

  I place my hand on his wrist and pull his hand away from my face, before stepping back and putting some distance between us.

  “Luna, if you’re still here tomorrow can I take you somewhere? It will have to be once everyone has gone to bed, but I’d love to show you something,” he stares at me and I nod my head in agreement, even though I know this is my last day.

  “Sure. You know I’m glad I stumbled upon you that day. It’s been nice having a friend.”

  “I’m glad too, I’m only here for like six months anyway but I’m glad I got to meet you and spend it with you. You are much too good for this place Luna and for the men here,” his soft eyes harden and a darkness I haven’t seen before seems to take hold of him.

  “I don’t think they’re all bad, I mean none of them are great but they have their moments. I can’t speak for the Prince as I haven’t met him yet, but I don’t take much stock in rumors,” it falls out easily and I really need to remember to watch what I say. Yeah, I like Liam but he works here, how do I know he isn’t repeating what I say to the Harkwrights themselves.

  “Rumors are there for a reason, don’t trust anyone and believe me none of the guys are good. Especially the Prince,” his tone turns deeper, and he sounds like a completely different person as the word ‘prince’ comes out on a growl. I step back even further and he looks away before turning to the door and leaving. He doesn’t even say goodbye.

  Waiting a few minutes before leaving the room, I don’t really know what to do with myself and I somehow find myself outside strolling through the gardens. I don’t even know why I’m out here, but there’s no point going back in just yet. The sun is beating down on my bare skin and it feels nice, almost soothing.

  I walk down the stone path, looking at the topiaries and flowers that are bordering it, and I spy a pond with a water feature spilling into it. Stepping closer to get a better look, I see a girl straddling someone’s lap. I step back but my heel gets stuck on one of the stones and I fall, landing hard on my backside.

  Marcia the Two looks at me with utter scorn, clearly she doesn’t appreciate being interrupted by me.

  “Are you ever not on the floor?” She asks as she clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes at me before shifting so I can see who’s lap she’s straddling. Tom.

  “Come here Zero,” he orders and I get to my feet before slowly making my way closer to them. I’m relieved to see that I can’t see anything beneath her skirt, I’d rather not come face to face with his cock.

  “You really think a Zero can do more for you than I can,” Marcia tosses her hair over her shoulder and looks me up and down. I don’t wish to be a part of this but I can’t leave until I’m dismissed. After what happened to Chantelle, I’m fucking learning quickly.

  “You’re the Two because you’re good at swallowing cock in any hole we want, don’t start getting sure of yourself, we can easily give you a new number and it won’t be One. If I want Zero, I’ll fucking take her!” His voice is just below shouting level and I watch as she shrinks into herself.

  “You are such an asshole,” she shoots out, and it isn’t only her eyes that are bugging out, mine are right there with her.

  He stands up fast, and she falls off his lap and straight to the ground, he places his feet either side of her body and lowers his face but he doesn’t keep his voice low. He doesn’t give two shits who may overhear him.

  “Don’t you ever dare talk to me or any of the men like that, I hope you didn’t get too comfortable Two. You won’t be staying,” he steps over her and walks away as she shrieks his name, begging and pleading. Crawling on her hands and knees as she tries to grip onto his leg but he just shakes her loose before sliding his hand over my shoulders and steering me away.

  “Don’t worry Zero, I’ve lost the urge to fuck. But if you don’t get rid of that innocent stare and the way you bite on your lower lip when you’re nervous, I just may change my mind,” my eyes shoot to his as his words register in my mind, and my lip pops free of my teeth as his thumb comes up to run along it.

  I feel my eyelids flicker at his touch and a low growl reverberates through him before he brings his head lower, his intent clear. He’s going to kiss me, and I can’t pull away or say no. Only, someone’s screaming and I can’t stop myself from turning to the sound and seeing a crowd hovering in the pool house connected to this part of the garden.

  “Always eager to help, go ahead I won’t order you to stay,” he says as he looks into me, beyond my eyes, his look goes deeper than that.

  “Thank you,” it comes out in a whisper before I brush my lips against his cheek, surprising us both before rushing head first into the commotion.

  I come to a halt when I see Maddox lying on the floor, clutching at his throat as the swelling spreads from his face and down to his neck. His face is a motley purple color and there’s a tray of cookies lying at his side. There are Harkwright guys just standing there, watching, almost gleeful at the prospect that one of their own could very well die.

  What the fuck, how can no one be helping him? Even the girls are just standing there flapping their arms like they’re trying to learn how to fly.

  My heart rate slows as
I try to bottle down my panic and let my rational side take control, he’s allergic to nuts, it was in his bio. So…

  I rush to his side before thrusting my hand into his pockets, trying to find an epi pen, please have one on you Maddox, I can’t do anything else to help you.

  “What the fuck are you doing? Get off him you dirty fucking whore,” screeches Fifteen as she tries to pull me away and I don’t think as my other hand strikes out and connects with her face.

  “Back off you ignorant little girl, I’m trying to save his life. Something anyone of you could have done,” I narrow my gaze on the entire room as my hand lands on something long.

  I pull it free, tear off the cap with my teeth before slamming the needle into him and depressing the plunger.

  Falling back until I’m sitting on my heels, a nurse finally appears and chaos is averted, Maddox will live but I struck Fifteen. I just fucked myself up, hey if I’m going to go out I may as well give them a proper show.

  Pushing to my feet, I draw in a deep breath as I take in the faces staring at me, judging me.

  “Who made the cookies?” I ask in a hollow voice and Fifteen steps forward as though she did the best thing in the world.

  “It was me and honey, you are so out of here,” she hisses before spitting at my feet but I stand my ground and stare her down as well as I can. I’m new to this, I usually run and hide but this is important, a life was nearly lost because of her stupidity.

  “I’m resigned to my fate but the next time you do a spot of baking maybe you should check their bios, unless you didn’t even bother to study them because you made it to Fifteen right off the bat.”

  She sneers at me and I know my assumption is correct, more and more people are filling the space and we’ll soon be over capacity but that isn’t my concern, this is.

  “He’s allergic to n-n-nuts, y-you could have k-killed him,” I force out. I may be confronting her, but I’m not instantly filled with confidence. This is real life not some film where the girl is suddenly transformed because of a pretty dress and a sudden realization that she’s better than she thought.

  “Fuck you, you stuttering bitch,” she shoves her hands into my shoulders and I connect with a body and a set of hands connects with my hips before I’m lifted up and deposited behind him. Whoever this one is.

  “Aeron, take the Zero to the office. She struck Fifteen.”

  I hang my head as laughter rings out before it cuts off with a sharp whistle.

  “As for you Fifteen, it’s time to meet your fate for not doing your homework and nearly killing one of us. Unlucky for you, I’m the last person you want seeing you out,” his voice is calm yet it fills me with a terrifying dread and as I’m led past him I look up and come face to face with Tucker.

  I don’t know anything about him, like Emmet he’s a Harkwright mystery and I don’t know if my fear is unfounded or not, but I think it’s justified.

  I’m waiting outside the office, the strange thing is, so is Aeron. I expected him to disappear once we got here, but he hasn’t left my side. I doubt he’s here for me though, he must have his own business to deal with. If he didn’t help me in the mess hall, why would he stand in now?

  My foot is bouncing up and down and my bottom lip fills my mouth with a metallic taste as I bite and worry it between my teeth, I have one hand in my hair roughly pulling at the French twist to free the tendrils and I don’t even care about the pain that my tugging is causing in my scalp.

  “Will you stop that,” Aeron grabs hold of my arm and pulls it away from my hair, taking a few strands with it, before gripping my shoulders and turning me so my back is to him.

  “Anxious girls are infuriating,” he mumbles and my cheeks are aflame and then… he works his fingers through my hair, freeing it from its up do and working out the knots my pulling has put it in.

  “What are you doing?” I mutter, but in all honesty, it feels so damn good. People playing with my hair has always been a weakness of mine. Poppy used to stroke my hair to soothe me anytime I had nightmares and then she’d scare my demons away and make everything feel better. For that night at least.

  “Distracting you, don’t read too much into this Little Zero. I don’t want you to start thinking I’m a nice guy suddenly,” I can hear the laugh in his tone.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t,” I reply easily and I feel his lips brush across my head before his fingers pull away and he relaxes back into his seat. He kissed my head, why would he do that?

  The office door is pulled open and I won’t be surprised if my complexion turns even more pale - not sure that would even happen but who the fuck knows - as I take in the disapproving stare of Ms. Vanderbilt and my trembling only intensifies.

  I climb to my feet and step shakily towards her, only to have Aeron follow my moves, only more relaxed and a lot more carefree than I could ever pull off.

  “You aren’t needed Mr. Harkwright,” she says and all he does in return is laugh, bop her on the nose with his finger and stroll into the office. Leaving her spluttering and turning bright red in the face.

  I take a seat, fuck waiting to be told. This is the only act of rebellion I can bring myself to do and I’m taking it. Aeron stands beside me and Vanderbilt folds herself into the chair behind the desk, her eyes staring into Aeron and he’s just smirking in return.

  “Your presence really isn’t necessary, she struck a girl without permission and will be made to leave,” she says and he laughs, actually fucking laughs in response.

  “Trust me Kate, she had permission. That Fifteen nearly killed Maddox and Zero here was the only one willing to step in and do anything to help him. Will you pull in the girls who stood there gawking or the other Harkwrights who recorded the whole fucking thing while snickering?” She shakes her head limply at his words and his tuts before leaning back against the wall.

  “Fifteen is gone, looks like a spot has opened up,” he glares at her and I watch as she chokes on air before righting herself.

  “I have already filled it, the other Zero is now number Forty-Nine, there isn’t a free spot,” she splutters, and he slams his palms down on the desk and brings his head inches from hers.

  “She saved his damn life, so make a spot and Tucker thinks she should at least make it into the thirties after this. Make it happen Vanderbilt, otherwise I’ll send Tucker or maybe even the Prince,” his tone is soft but deadly as all the color leaches from her face and her hand shakes as she picks up a phone and gives the orders.

  He moves away to lean against the wall beside me, his ankles crossed and as I look at him he drops me a wink. And just like that, I’m number Thirty-Four.

  10

  A Kiss Stolen Too Late

  It’s strange having a room to myself but even stranger to think that classes will soon start up. The Harkwright men left after the probationary month ended, we all stood outside the front this morning, as the cars arrived to escort them away. No one deemed it important to tell us why they were leaving or when they will be back but for the first time in weeks, I feel like I can finally breathe again. No more being pushed around or having my face forced into the table, no more confusing evenings with Aeron or accidental run-ins with Tom. I can just be me and I haven’t even begun to explore my new room, or should I say rooms.

  I have my own sitting area, a small walk-in wardrobe and a separate bedroom, I even have all the fixings in case I don’t want to go down to the mess hall in the mornings. It’s only cereal but I’m not going to turn up my nose at that. Just another way of finding a semblance of independence in this place. The walls are decorated with chocolate and cream embossed wallpaper that has patterns of fleur-de-lis across it. There’s a small crystal chandelier above the cherry oak coffee table and a loveseat alongside a comfy recliner which I will definitely be curling up in with a good book.

  The bathroom has a claw-foot tub with a separate walk-in shower and a vanity section, yeah not a table, an entire damn section with shelves, three mirrors with lights bo
rdering them and storage areas for brushes and items that I do not have.

  I go over to my queen bed and throw myself onto the comforter, sinking into the mattress and I’m engulfed by the pillows. I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up in me as a knock sounds on the door.

  “Come in,” I say and I don’t lose my smile as Liam appears over me with a grin almost matching mine.

  “What’s got you so happy?” He asks with so much warmth that I don’t refuse the hand he offers to pull me up.

  “Just a sense of freedom that is going around at the moment,” I reply with a wink and then feel ridiculous for doing it. I never wink and it felt wrong.

  “Enjoy it while it lasts, they’ll be back before you know it,” he says almost ominously, but I won’t let it ruin my good mood.

  I get up and walk over to the sitting area, loving the fact that I’m wearing jeans and my hoodie with no repercussions.

  “I love the look.”

  “This is me,” I say with a twirl and he smiles even wider before joining me on the loveseat.

  “So, you are ready to go. I have things to show you, remember?”

  “Of course, lead the way good sir,” he shakes his head at my words and we leave the room.

  “Where are we going?” I ask as he places his hand over my mouth and leads me out of the wing and towards the north side.

  “I can’t go down here,” I mumble over his hand and he winks at me as a light fills his eyes, great a rebel. Just what I need.

  “The guys aren’t here and I think you should be aware of why the Prince comes with so many warnings.”

  My eyes widen before my head drops into a nod and I follow him through the door that opens to their wing. The Harkwright wing and its glory knows no bounds.

  The windows travel from floor to ceiling, with thick velvet drapes and they definitely have electric lighting in their corridor. Mini chandeliers fill the ceiling, throwing off soft lighting in the space. The walls are slate grey with gold features and the carpet is the softest I’ve ever walked upon as my slipper covered feet sink into its depths.