The Sainthood : A Dark High School Romance (The Complete Series)

by Siobhan Davis

  We make out like demons to the heavy metal backdrop Theo has playing in the car. Every so often, my gaze finds Theo’s, and guilt slaps me in the face. We could always read one another like a book, and his hurt and pain slices me open, digging into flesh and bone, and I feel his agony as if it is my own.

  Every time I catch him watching us through the mirror, I look away, because I don’t want to confront the messy truth, and I’d rather drown in guilt.

  Caz is a welcome distraction, and I cling to his easy loving, blocking everything else out. His lips explore mine with skilled finesse, his tongue diving into my mouth for a taste, and his wandering hands fuel the burn zinging through my body.

  A few minutes later, we’re at the grungy diner downtown, and I force my libido back in its box, urging my overheated lady parts to cool down. Theo removes two guns from a plastic bag one of them must have secretly stowed under the passenger seat, handing one to Caz. “You got any spares?” I ask, regretting not removing my Glock from my bedroom before we left for school this morning.

  “No. I thought you had a gun?” Theo says, tucking the weapon in the back of his jeans.

  “I do, but I left it at home.”

  “Probably best to have a second one in your car,” Caz suggests.

  “We’ll organize that for you,” Theo adds, climbing out, and I nod.

  Caz helps me out of the car, and I straighten up, pulling my top down and smoothing my hair back off my face. Caz links our fingers as Theo shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans while looking at the ground.

  A sharp pang slices across my chest as his shoulders slump, and his long blond locks curtain his face. He’s hurting, and I can’t ignore it anymore. Especially when I just made it worse.

  When we were together, one of my favorite things to do was run my fingers through Theo’s hair. His head was usually in my lap, his eyes closed and his features soft as he quietly purred while I threaded my hands in his hair. The urge to wind my fingers through his hair is riding me hard, and I grip Caz’s hand more firmly to stop myself from reaching for Theo.

  Things with Theo were always complicated yet simple. Difficult yet as easy as breathing. Our relationship now is no less complex, but I know I need to fix things with him. It’s no different from Galen in that regard. I can’t cause a divide in the group with me, Caz, and Saint on one side and Galen and Theo being frozen out on the other side. But even if I do patch things up with them, I still don’t see how it ends up working out. There are too many barriers to unity, especially with Theo.

  I remove my hand from Caz’s. “Hey, could you give us a minute?” I gesture toward Theo.

  “Sure.” He kisses my lips. “I’ll grab us a table.”

  Theo lifts his head, his eyes finding mine, and I hate the anguish I discover there, because I know I’m partly responsible for it. I step toward him. “Hey.” I peer into his beautiful hazel eyes. Green is most prominent today, but his pupils are ringed in a layer of brown and amber, and I could stare at his handsome face all day. Tentatively, I reach out, cupping one side of his face. “You doing okay?”

  He shrugs, looking away, and I tilt his face around with my fingers. “Don’t do that. Please.”

  “It hurts so much to look at you sometimes,” he admits, his voice cracking a bit.

  “I know.” I press my forehead to his, and my heart beats wildly out of control. “I’m sorry if I hurt you with Caz in the car.”

  “It’s not that,” he says. “I just miss you, Lo. Miss the way we were.” His hands land on my hips.

  “I miss you so fucking much,” I whisper. Tears sting my eyes, and I’m horrified. I pull back, because I can’t break down here. “Can we go to the park tonight? Just you and me. Like old times?”

  His eyes turn glassy, and a soft smile graces his lips. “I would like that. We are long overdue a talk.”

  I nod. “You hurt me, Theo, and I’m not sure I’m ready yet, but I want to try.”

  “I want to try too, because I want to fix things with us.”

  “Do you think we can?”

  He shrugs. “I don’t know. I think I’m even more confused than I was back then.”

  “Because of me or someone else?” I gently inquire.

  His eyes pop wide. “Is it—”

  I shake my head. “I don’t think it’s obvious.”

  The door opens, and Caz pops his head out. “You guys coming or what?”

  “Always so impatient.” Theo punches him in the arm, but he’s smiling. “We’re coming.” He reaches back, and I take his hand, letting him lead me inside.

  “So, why are we eating here and not in the cafeteria?” I ask once we are seated in a booth at the back and we’ve placed our orders.

  Theo takes out his cell. “I’ve uncovered some background on Taylor Tamlin, and I wanted to update everyone without prying ears. Let me call the guys.” He dials Galen and Saint in, and I sip my soda as I wait for him to begin.

  “Taylor is a senior at Fenton High, and her old man is a member of The Bulls. He is also Parker’s father. Seems her old man split on Parker’s mom when she was a baby because he got Taylor’s mom pregnant around the same time.”

  “What a stellar human being,” I drawl, leaning back into Caz’s side.

  “He ended up marrying Taylor’s mom, and they have two more kids. He had no contact with Parker until two years ago when he reached out and welcomed her into his new family with open arms.”

  “Parker didn’t strike me as the forgiving type.” I place my hand on Caz’s thigh.

  “I second that assessment,” Saint says through the phone.

  “I don’t know how he swung it,” Theo continues. “But she was a regular visitor to his home, and her and Taylor started hanging out together. Found a bunch of photos of them from various parties.”

  “Maybe, her old man helped her fund the drug supply at Lowell High, aiding Finn in ascending the throne,” Caz suggests.

  “That might be it,” Saint agrees.

  “Whatever the carrot was, at least, we know that’s the connection between The Bulls and Finn’s crew. But where’s the link with The Arrows?” I ask. “Why was she invited to the party, and who invited her?”

  “I think I’ve found that connection too,” Theo says, just as the waitress appears with our food. We stop talking while she sets plates in front of us, only resuming the conversation after she’s gone. “Taylor has a cousin who has an in with The Arrows. Most likely, she invited her there and, I assume, forged a connection.”

  “You have a name?”

  “Tempest Higgins.”

  I pause with my fork halfway to my mouth. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “She’s Knight’s girlfriend, right?” Saint says.

  “Yep. She was the one he cheated on me with.”

  Theo shakes his head. “Dude’s an idiot. You outshine that ho a million to one.”

  I beam at my ex, reaching under the table to squeeze his knee.

  Perhaps, things are fixable, because every time he says something like this, I’m reminded he’s a decent guy and I remember how good things were between us.

  Caz presses a kiss to my temple. “Dar’s fuckup was our gain.”

  “I can’t believe Tempest was the conduit. Honestly, she has, like, three brain cells, and they’re all in her vagina,” I say.

  Caz chuckles, running his hand up and down my arm as he pops a fry in his mouth with his free hand.

  “I think it’s fair to say her cousin Taylor has far more intelligence. Most likely, she used Tempest to get her an introduction, and she ran with it from there,” Theo surmises.

  “Eccleston has to know more,” Galen says. “He’s Knight’s number two. How was this going down without him being aware?”

  “He lied to us,” Saint says.

  “Not necessarily,” I say, and I’m not defending Bry per se. “The only loyalty Darrow has is to himself, and he keeps Bry on a pretty tight leash. Bry is the brute strength in the
crew while Dar likes to handle the decision making on his own. They’re not solid like you guys. The relationships are surface level, and everyone has their set roles, knowing not to overstep the mark. It’s possible Tempest was using The Bulls connection to entice Dar into her bed, and if Taylor wanted it kept on the down low, then, it’s not hard to believe Dar kept Bry out of the loop.”

  “What do The Bulls want with The Arrows and vice versa?” Saint says.

  “I’d have thought that’s obvious.” I cut up my chicken. “They have a mutual enemy. Perhaps, they decided it was time to form an alliance and work to take The Sainthood down once and for all.”

  “Why did—”

  The window on our right shatters explosively, raining glass on top of us. A bullet whizzes by my head, and Caz roars, grabbing me onto the floor with him. Shards of broken glass dig into my knees through my jeans and cut the skin on my hands, but I barely feel any pain. Adrenaline courses through my veins as I watch Theo and Caz remove their guns. A chorus of screams rings out in the diner as more bullets zing through the air, over our heads, embedding in the walls and the row of glass jars sitting on shelves behind the counter. The sound of breaking glass crashing to the floor mingles with the terrified cries of frightened customers and staff. “Stay down,” I shout, lest any idiot decides to be a hero.

  Theo and Caz exchange a look across the underside of our table, nodding in silent agreement, before they hop up, firing back through the open window. They duck back down, as more bullets fly in our direction, and a pattern forms as both sides shoot at one another.

  Sirens blare in the distance, and the guys jump up again. “They’re getting away!” Caz shouts, grabbing my hand and hauling me to my feet. Theo throws a few hundred-dollar bills down on the table and snatches the keys and his cell, pressing it to his ear as he races toward the door.

  “We were never here,” Caz says to the waitress, drilling her with a deadly look I’ve never seen on his face before.

  “They got away,” Theo says, fuming, when we emerge outside. “Fuck!”

  “Was it The Bulls?” I ask, because it’s the obvious conclusion.

  “They wore plain black hoodies with scarves pulled halfway up their faces, so it’s hard to tell,” Caz says. “But my money’s on them.”

  “Theo!” Saint’s gnarly tone emits from the cell in Theo’s hand. Theo tosses the keys to Caz, and we get in the car.

  Caz is concentrating on getting us out of there, and Theo is busy trying to calm Saint down on the phone, so neither of them is paying attention to the black SUV parked across the road with the tinted windows or the tall, dark-haired man who gets out, holding a long-lens camera in one hand, deliberately eye-checking me as we drive past.

  I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him before, but all the tiny hairs on my arms stand to attention, and blood rushes to my head as an ominous sense of foreboding washes over me. I turn around, locking eyes with him, as he watches us hightail it away from the scene of the crime, with a growing sense of trepidation.

  CHAPTER 19

  Harlow

  WE DON’T RETURN to school, heading for the guys’ warehouse in Prestwick Forest to wait for Galen and Saint to arrive. They have picked up the freshman Parker paid to keep watch in the hallway while they assaulted Sariah, and they are dropping her off at home before swinging by here.

  “The guy was shady as fuck. He had a camera, and I got the sense he wanted me to see him. To know he was watching us and that he caught what went down,” I finish explaining to Theo and Caz.

  “What the actual fuck is going on?” Caz asks, removing a pack of cigarettes. I whip them out of his hand, crushing them with my fingers. He scowls. “That wasn’t nice, princess. I’m fucking stressed, and I need to let off steam.”

  “You don’t get stressed,” I say, as Theo powers up his tablet, taking a seat at the long table.

  “I do when someone takes potshots at my girl.”

  I walk to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, just as Saint and Galen storm into the place. Saint exudes tension in spades, and Galen is feeding off his concern. Theo is freaking out over the guy I spotted, and Caz, my laid-back gruff yet gentle giant is stressed.

  I need to lighten the atmosphere.

  “Want me to vacuum your pork sword to relieve some stress?” I tease, fighting a grin.

  Caz’s eyes light up like it’s Christmas morning. “Only if you let me flood the basement, babe,” he adds, and I lose the battle, cracking up laughing. Caz joins in while the others stare at us in disbelief.

  “How can you fucking joke at a time like this?” Saint seethes.

  I sigh, my laughter dying off, removing my arms from Caz and walking to Saint. “Because everyone is so damn tense.” I run my fingers along his taut jawline to prove my point.

  “Some assholes just tried to take you out!” Saint yells. “And I want to fucking gut the bastards from head to toe.”

  I slam my lips on his, forcing my tongue into his mouth and grabbing his tight body against mine, until I feel him relaxing against me. With every sweep of my lips, his tension dials down a notch, and I feel the atmosphere lightening. I break our kiss, resting my hands on his shoulders. “Better now, Saintly?”

  “Dat is true talent,” Caz says, chuckling.

  “Please tell me you got something on camera,” Galen says, dropping into the seat across from Theo.

  “I’m hacking into the street cam across from the diner now,” Theo confirms, and I wander off to make some drinks and snacks while he works.

  “Hey.” Saint comes up behind me, pressing the length of his body against mine. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I truthfully admit as I dump a large bag of chips into a bowl.

  “You’re bleeding.” He lifts one of my hands to inspect it.

  I swivel around so I’m looking at him. “It’s nothing. Surface scratches.”

  “Let me see.” Galen approaches with a first aid kit in hand.

  Saint lifts me up by the hips, placing me on the counter. His eyes lower to my ripped, torn jeans and the dried blood sticking to my skin. “You’re fucking injured. Take them off,” he growls.

  I know not to pick a battle with him when he’s like this, so I slide off the counter and shimmy out of my jeans. I pull myself back up on the counter, only wearing my sweater and lace panties. Both guys pretend not to notice my state of undress, but a charge of electricity ignites the surrounding space.

  The damage to my legs is worse than it felt, although the various cuts all appear shallow, and I doubt I need any stitches.

  Saint mutters under his breath as he makes sandwiches, and I avoid eye contact with Galen as he cleans the wounds on my hands first, applying a few Band-Aids. I grip the edge of the counter when he raises one of my legs, placing my foot flat against his chest as he examines the wounds on my leg. His fingers are cool against my skin as he gently probes the damaged area around my knee and on my shin.

  He has singular focus, cleaning the cuts with rubbing alcohol and applying cream to the smaller cuts and Band-Aids to the larger ones. His touch is tender, his concern obvious, and it’s doing funny things to my insides. Saint watches us as he cuts sandwiches in half, placing them on a large plate. I tilt my head up and look at the ceiling, anything to avoid looking at either guy.

  Electricity crackles in the air again, and my mind wanders to the gutter.

  Images flit across my mind’s eye, of dual touches and caresses as they both worship my body, and I squirm on the counter while my core throbs with need. I wonder what it would be like to be ravaged by the Lennox cousins at the same time, and I thank my lucky stars that neither of them is mind readers, because there’s no way I want them privy to my present fantasy.

  Yet, when I look at Saint, he has a knowing expression on his face, and I hate how keen his observational skills are.

  “What?” I snap.

  He walks toward me and brushes my hair to one side as Galen lowers one leg and raises the othe
r one. Saint presses his lips to that sensitive spot just under my ear. “What were you thinking about just now?” he rasps, his warm breath fanning over my sensitive skin.

  “Nothing.” A shiver overtakes me, and I close my eyes as his lips trail up and down my neck.

  “Liar,” he whispers. “Were you imagining both of us with our hands on you?” He nips at my earlobe. “Both of us fucking you at the same time?”

  Screw him and his ability to delve into my head. There’s little point denying it now. “What if I was?”

  “That can be arranged.” He slides his hand under my sweater, running his fingers up my tummy and over my rib cage.

  “You’ve forgotten one very important thing,” I pant.

  Galen is pretending not to listen, diligently attending to the cuts on my leg, but from the rigid way he’s holding his shoulders, I know he’s hearing every word.

  “You two should fuck your way to forgiveness,” Saint says. “It’s the perfect solution.”

  I slap his hand away as his fingers brush the side of my breast. “Sex is not the solution to everything.”

  “Says who?” Saint smirks, and I cock my head to the side.

  “I use sex for a whole heap of reasons,” I admit, “but this is one occasion where sex is not enough. Fucking me is not going to magically make me forget how he tried to have me killed.”

  “Then, what will?” Galen asks, gently placing my leg back down and standing. “Because I’m at a loss here.”

  I jump down off the counter. “Me telling you how to fix it isn’t the fucking solution, that’s for sure. You’re a smart guy, Galen. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

  “I’ve got something,” Theo calls out, and it’s the perfect moment to break up the sudden heavy atmosphere.

  We all crowd around him, watching the film roll across the screen on his tablet. We see the white van with missing plates pull up to the curb across from the diner, the two assholes jumping out and immediately opening fire. It’s as the guys said: they are wearing indistinguishable clothing, and there is nothing that confirms their identity.