Saint holds himself deathly still. He’s scared to death I’ll lob off his precious dick. A fit of giggles bubbles inside me, but I smother my laughter, biting down hard on the inside of my cheek to maintain a cold exterior.
This is fucking priceless and the best payback.
“I researched eunuchs after watching Game of Thrones,” I admit, swirling the tip of my knife through his pubes while I watch him try not to flinch. “Did you know there are many leaders throughout history who were eunuchs?” I quirk a brow.
“And your point is?” he says, trying to act blasé and failing miserably.
I move my knife even lower, placing the blade against one side of his cock. I swear he stops breathing. “Just that you’d be in good company if I did, you know, decide to castrate you for pulling that little stunt.” The grin I give him is downright wicked, and the potent fear on his face is something he can no longer hide.
“You weren’t in any real danger,” he blurts. “I made that shit up about the wolves, all right? You’ve proven yourself resourceful, and we knew you’d make it out.”
“And if I hadn’t?” I ask, pulling a handful of his pubic hair and cutting it off in one swift move.
He lets out a roar, his hand automatically moving down his body to protect his cock. “What the fuck?”
I slap his hand away. “You really don’t want to test me right now, Saintly.” I smirk as the next words leave my mouth. “You deserve to be punished. We can do this the hard way, or you can make it easy on yourself.”
“What are you going to do?” he croaks, his eyes wide with terror.
“Don’t worry,” I say, patting the crown of his cock. “I won’t slice your dick off. This time,” I add, grinning. “Provided you lie back and keep nice and still while I give you a little trim.”
He blinks repeatedly, staring at me like I’ve gone mad. Perhaps, I have because I’m enjoying this far too much. I move the knife closer to his dick again. “So, what’s it to be?”
“You know I’ll make you fucking pay for this.”
“Oh, I’ve no doubt you’d like to try, but you’ll give me this.” I drill him with a deadly look. “You owe me this.” I hold his gaze without hesitation.
“You’re actually fucking serious?”
I nod, already seeing the resignation on his face.
“You breathe a word to the others, and I’ll make you suffer,” he cautions, and I know I’ve got him right where I want him.
“It can be our little secret,” I purr, and the smile that spreads across my mouth is so wide it threatens to split my face. “Now, keep still, and I’ll try my best not to draw blood.” I grab his pubes, lower my knife, and begin slicing.
CHAPTER 20
AFTER MY LITTLE grooming session with Saint, I saunter back to my room, whistling under my breath, in a much better mood now. I shower and then toss some clothes over my TV, deliberately blocking the camera so they can’t see what I’m doing. Using dad’s drill, I fit one of the padlocks to the inside of my door and secure it before packing a bag for the weekend. I dress in workout gear and message Diesel on the burner cell before climbing out of my window. It’s still early, and Mom usually doesn’t surface before eleven a.m. on the weekends, so she won’t know I’m gone for hours.
I take Dad’s Gran Turismo because I need to blow off some steam even if I know it’s risky because Dad wanted me to drive the Lexus to keep me safe. But I’m still on edge after everything that happened last night, and I need to let loose on the open road—and there’s only one car for the job.
I turn my cell off, ignoring the latest string of messages from Darrow, in case the Saints try using satellite systems to track my whereabouts.
Keeping Dad’s cabin off their radar is vital. It’s my only sanctuary from the shitshow that’s my life, and it’s also where Dad stored all his important paperwork, so I need to keep it hidden.
I’m still puzzled over the boxes Galen was rifling through in the study yesterday. Where the hell did he find them? And are there any more? I thought I’d uncovered everything I needed to know about Dad, but he’s still surprising me even from the grave.
And why were the assholes going through Dad’s stuff anyway? What is it they’re looking for? I’ve guessed by now that Neo knows Dad was building evidence against him, so they must be looking for that. Those photos of Galen’s mom were some form of evidence, because why else would Dad have them? It’s not like either of my parents had any association with Alisha Lennox anymore.
All I remember from the party at Galen’s grandma’s house when I was fourteen is that his mom and mine seemed to be friends. Now I know Mom’s history with Neo, it makes sense. Alisha was going out with Neo’s brother the same time Mom was dating Neo.
But why were my parents at the party if they’d cut ties with that world before I was born? And how come Neo and Saint weren’t there that day?
I blare the music and lower the window a little, letting the slight chill in the air blow the cobwebs from my mind. So many questions remain unanswered, and I know part of the key to all this lies in the past. But I’m going to give myself an aneurysm trying to work it all out.
I make good time, pulling up to the cabin ninety minutes later. I’m glad I came here—even if I was tempted to crawl into bed and rest my achy body. I need to put distance between me and the Saints before I end up arrested on a murder charge. And I need to regroup, to map out my new strategy.
I strip down to my undies and get into bed, instantly conking out. The shrill ring of my burner cell wakes me sometime later, and I feel around the top of the bedside table for it. “Hey,” I mumble in a sleep-drenched voice, pulling myself upright in the bed and yawning.
“Did I wake you?” Diesel’s amused tone filters down the line.
“Yep. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Initial silence greets me. “ETA in a half hour, but I can’t stay off the grid for long.”
“It won’t take long. Thanks for meeting me on such short notice.”
“I told you I’m here for you, and I meant it.”
His words send a flood of warmth coursing through my chest. “Thank you, Diesel. That means a lot.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he says before hanging up.
I pull on a pair of gray sweats and a white tank top, knotting my hair into a messy bun on top of my head, and pad down to the kitchen in my bare feet. I switched the heating on when I arrived, and the warm floorboards are a salve to my injured feet.
I make a pot of coffee, grab some fruit and a bagel, and patter into dad’s office to switch on the computer.
When Diesel arrives, I press the button to open the electronic gates, watching him speed up the long driveway in a blacked-out Land Rover that instantly has me thinking of Saint.
I prop one hip against the front doorway, sipping my coffee as I wait for Diesel to arrive.
He climbs out of his vehicle, wearing aviators even though it’s not sunny, and he reminds me of a much taller, more dangerous version of Tom Cruise in Top Gun with his dark hair, masculine jawline, and confident, cocky stride. “Hey, sweetheart,” he says, bending down to kiss me.
I act instinctively, moving my head to the side so his lips hit the corner of my mouth instead of the intended target. Awkwardness seeps into the air as he straightens up, pulling his shoulders back, and I drag my lower lip between my teeth, concerned I’ve upset him.
I need Diesel, and I can’t afford to mess this up. And, more than that, I care about him and don’t want to see him hurt. “Hey.” I soften my expression and my tone. “I thought we’d agreed this would be strictly professional from now on.” We hadn’t spoken the words, but we both communicated with actions the last time we slept together.
“What if I said I’d changed my mind?” he inquires, tenderly cupping my face.
“You know we can’t do this. The timing’s all wrong.” I shuck out of his embrace, walking into the cabin with a heavy heart, knowing he’ll follow
me.
“It’s because of them, isn’t it?” His voice is clipped, but there’s a hint of sadness and concern at the back of it.
I lean back against the kitchen counter, wrapping my hands around my mug as I examine his face. “Who?”
“Don’t play games, Lo. That’s not who we are. You know who I’m talking about.”
I set my mug down and shove off the counter, walking toward him. “I try not to need people in my life, Diesel, because it’s hard to find people I trust and because association with me is risky.” I place a soft hand on his arm. “But I need you.” My eyes scan his. “I need you to be on my side. To continue training me. To continue helping me. I won’t survive this otherwise.”
His hard features soften, and he sighs, bundling me into a friendly hug. “You know you have me. Whatever you need, I’m always on your side.”
Thank fuck. I ease out of his embrace. “Then, you know why we need to keep this platonic. We had fun, but if we kept going, someone was bound to get hurt. I can’t risk that, and you are more to me than a hot body to fuck.”
He loosely holds my waist. “The guy you end up falling for is going to be a lucky son of a bitch, because you truly are one of a kind, Harlow Westbrook.”
“Careful,” I tease, needing to defuse the atmosphere. “You don’t want to give me too many compliments. It might go to my head.”
“I very much doubt that, but I hear you loud and proud, little squirt.”
I grin at his familiar endearment although it’s been a few years since I heard it, but I know we’re going to be okay. A layer of stress lifts off my shoulders. “Coffee?” I ask as I grab my cup and move toward the pot.
“Please,” he says, pulling himself up onto a stool at the counter. “You weren’t the only one who didn’t get much shuteye last night.” I grab another mug from the overheard cupboard and pour him a cup while I refill mine. “Speaking of, do you want to tell me what’s going on? Why are you covered in scratches and cuts and walking like you’ve got a limp?”
I hand him his mug and claim the stool beside him. “Saint and the other assholes decided to test me.” I shrug, wanting to downplay it. “It’s nothing I couldn’t handle, and I think they’re finally realizing I’m not easily intimidated.”
“Be careful, Lo. They may be only junior chapter, but they have rap sheets as long as my arm. At least Saint, Galen, and Caz do. Theo is the invisible ghost orchestrating stuff from the shadows.”
I level him with a stern look. “You don’t have to warn me about The Sainthood. I know what I’m dealing with, and I’m taking the necessary precautions.”
“And are you protecting your heart?” he blurts.
My mouth hangs open. “Seriously?”
“C’mon, Lo. You’re gorgeous, intelligent, feisty, and you can hold your own. You think I don’t know they’re hitting on you? You think I don’t know about the tape?”
Well, shit. I’ve never discussed that with him.
“I didn’t watch all of it,” he adds before I can ask. He removes his aviators, locking his gaze on mine. “But I saw enough. There’s chemistry there, and that’s worrisome. If they can’t get to you through intimidation, they will revert to more seductive measures.”
Based on the convo I had with Saint before I left, I’ve already deduced that. But I made the decision to seduce them first, and if they want to play this game, I’m more than ready to play ball.
They might think they can win me over, but I’m not like other girls.
I never give my heart away, and I sure as fuck won’t start now.
“I’m already two steps ahead of them.”
He scowls, and his eyes burn with envy. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
“Please tell me you’re not jealous and this is just concern.”
He has the decency to look ashamed. “It’s mostly concern, and I’m working on the jealousy part.”
I’m so glad I ended things with him last time because it’s obvious now that he was already invested. My heart aches a little, because, in a different time and different place, I could see us making a go of things.
But we are where we are, and there’s no point dwelling on what-ifs.
“Work harder,” I suggest, my tone brooking no argument.
“What is it you wanted to ask me?” he says, and I’m grateful for the subject change.
“I need you to get me the accident paperwork.”
“What are you planning, Lo?”
“I know Neo had my dad murdered, Diesel, and there’s got to be some evidence I can use to put him away.”
“You think Neo hasn’t dotted all his I’s and crossed his T’s?” He shakes his head. “I know you want to see justice served, but you can’t expect to go up against an organization like The Sainthood and win?”
It hasn’t escaped my notice that he didn’t balk at my claim or dispute it. Diesel believes they killed Dad too, and not for the first time, I wonder exactly who he is.
“I won’t know unless I try.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Can you get me the paperwork or not?”
“You won’t let this drop, will you?”
I smirk. “You know me well.”
He sighs heavily. “I don’t like this, Lo. I don’t like this one bit. I don’t want you getting yourself killed, so I’ll agree to get it for you—on one condition. You promise you won’t go snooping by yourself. We do it together.”
“Why are you so invested?”
He threads his fingers through mine. “You may have forgotten the scared little girl you used to be, but I haven’t. I made a vow to myself when your dad brought you to me. That I’d keep you safe and never let anything or anyone harm you again. I intend on keeping that vow.” He stands, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “I need you to promise, Lo.”
I look up at him, seeing nothing but concern and compassion. “I promise,” I say, hoping I can keep it.
_______________
After Diesel leaves, I spend some time going through Dad’s files, the uncoded ones, looking for something of interest I can give to Darrow. My ex is really starting to get on my nerves, and his harassment is pressing my buttons. Fact is, the guys are home so infrequently I’m getting fucking nothing from the cameras. They don’t even sleep in the house some nights. I’m beginning to lose confidence in my ability to identify the location of the warehouse for Dar. The meet is set up with his contact for tomorrow, and I really don’t give much of a fuck after that. But Dar has already proven how nasty he can be when he feels betrayed, so I want to give him something to ease the sting. I have enough shit on my plate without adding more petty squabbles to the list.
And speaking of petty squabbles, I dig through Parker’s background, in the hope of finding some dirt, but I come up empty-handed. Guess I’ll need to dig deeper. Everyone has something they want to hide, and a girl like Parker must have a treasure chest full of secrets. I’ll discover where she’s hiding the truth and crack that beast wide open.
I spend the rest of the night scanning the coded files to an encrypted cloud folder, feeling more assured now I have a backup, in case anything should happen to the originals. On instinct, I copy a few confidential files from dad’s other folders onto a USB stick, disguised as a tube of lipstick, and slip it into my purse. No harm in having some insurance in case I should need it.
The next morning, before I head to the meet, I message Sariah to get together at the gym downtown. Although my body still throbs like a bitch, I seriously need to vent some pent-up anger, and going a few rounds in the ring with my bestie is the perfect cure.
_______________
I pull up to the biker bar on the outskirts of Prestwick and park out front. Wiping my sweaty hands down the side of my jeans, I double-check the coordinates Darrow’s guy sent to me. I’m in the right place, and it doesn’t surprise me that this shady fucker conducts business here.
I walk from my car with purpose, stepping into the dimly lit bar, aware of several sets of
eyes looking in my direction. My knife is strapped to the outside of my thigh on purpose, and my gun is tucked into the waistband of my jeans. I’m glad I dressed down for this meeting because I fit right in with my dirty jeans, scuffed boots, rocker tee, and black leather jacket. I approach the bar. “I’m looking for Johnny. Darrow Knight hooked me up.”
“Wait here,” the bleached blonde says in an unfriendly tone, throwing me a look before ducking behind the bar.
I stare straight ahead, ignoring the eyeballs glued to my back and the inquisitive stares from the two older dudes sitting at the counter.
Blondie returns with an even bigger scowl on her face. “Back there,” she huffs, jabbing her thumb behind her.
I walk through the swinging double doors into a small private room. The three guys inside stop talking, watching me as I step forward. “Which one of you is Johnny?” I ask, grateful my voice holds steady.
“That’d be me, darlin’,” the guy slouched on the couch, rolling a joint, says, giving me a blatant onceover. “Come join me.” His hair is dark with strips of gray. It’s unkempt, falling into his big brown eyes and matching the straggly beard that runs from his chin to his chest. Laughter lines crease the corners of his eyes and his mouth, and his weather-beaten tan skin attests to countless hours outside. His belly tumbles over his belt, and his arms and legs are chunky.
I sit down on the couch and face him, waiting for his next move.
“Why’s a pretty girl like you in need of the services of an old coot like me?” he asks, lighting his joint.
The Sainthood : A Dark High School Romance (The Complete Series) Page 18