Fallen Crest Family

by Tijan

  look. "Now your little friend knows that side of you exists and she's all the more humiliated because of it."

  Mason was a cement slab of stone. As he grilled her with his eyes, I touched the side of his face. Nothing. There was no reaction. It was as if he had forgotten I was there. It made me wonder if there was more to his loathing than just the Logan situation. Had something else happened between the two? Or maybe he had wanted her as she had him? But no. I sucked in my breath. That couldn't have been the case. Mason hated this girl because she hurt Logan. She had been the one person who had managed that feat.

  It was enough for me. "You might want to leave before you're thrown out."

  Her eyes snapped to mine. She seemed energized by the new target. "Oh really?"

  "Really."

  "I heard this isn't their house."

  "No, but it is Nate's."

  Her smile fell flat.

  My own doubled. "You don't think he'll kick you out because Mason told him to?"

  She straightened away from us and backed up a few steps. Her eyes went flat as she skimmed me up and down. "Look, I came here as a sign of respect."

  Mason snorted in disbelief.

  "I did." She glared at him. "I'm moving back. I don't want any trouble from you guys."

  "Off on the wrong foot, don't you think?" I snapped at her.

  She ignored me and transferred her gaze to Mason. Her tone softened. "I still love Logan—"

  He released me in a flash and gripped her arm. "You never loved Logan."

  Her eyes widened in fear, but she shot back, "Yes, I did. I made a horrible mistake. I was stupid and an egomaniac, but I loved him. I really did—"

  His hand tightened around her arm. "Get out of here, Tate. Now. And stay away from my brother." He pushed her back. There would be an imprint from where his hand had been. It was already reddening on her skin.

  She stumbled back a few more steps. Her eyes seemed in a daze as she took in the sight of Mason, but then she found her footing and straightened again. A wistful smile came over her. "Man, I forgot what you look like when you're threatened."

  "I'm not threatened. I'm pissed." He stalked closer to her until he was in her face again. "I can make your life hell."

  "Yeah." She nodded with a thoughtful look in her eye. "You can, but I can do the same to you." She glanced over his shoulder to me. "I think I'm the one of two people who could do that to you. You might not want to piss me off, Kade. I can take your brother away from you and you know it."

  "Get. Out."

  She looked ready to say something more, but at that moment, Nate entered the kitchen. He took everything in and wrapped an arm around her waist. Picking her up, he grunted when she started to struggle. "You're not welcome, Tate. Ever." Then he gave Mason a reassuring nod before disappearing with her. The crowd that had formed to watch was silent now.

  Mason barked at them. "Get lost!"

  They jumped back into action. The conversations doubled in volume.

  Sighing as he came back to me, he raked a hand through his hair and growled. "I hate that bitch."

  My hand touched the side of his jaw, but it was still rigid. Then I sighed. "Looks like the next semester won't be as much fun as you thought."

  He grimaced and his jaw flexed against my hand. Then, because it had been bugging me, I had to ask, "Is she right?"

  "About what?"

  "Does Logan still love her?"

  A wall slammed over him, and he turned away. That's when I knew it was true, and that's when I realized how threatening this girl really was to their relationship. Maybe it was karmic coincidence, but it was at that moment when I looked up and saw members of the Elite in the kitchen. They had stayed away from me since Logan dumped Miranda so long ago, but she was there. In Peter's arms, dressed all in white, laughing at something one of the others had said and looking radiant in her happiness. But she hadn't been, not after Logan screwed with her. She'd been humiliated.

  Miranda had been a blip on Mason's radar from the one time she taunted him that Logan might've had feelings for me. If he had reacted like that to her, I had no idea how he would handle Tate. She was the real threat.

  Chills went down my spine.

  When Nate returned, he gave Mason a look. An understanding transmitted between them, just the two of them. My teeth gritted together. For some reason, I didn't like the closeness those two had, not anymore.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Later in the evening, I was on the back patio. Mason lounged next to me with an arm around my waist and his head next to my shoulder. He lay there as if he were a lion, resting for his next battle. Since Tate had left, he kept a hand on me at all times. It was a possessive touch, not the loving touch from the apartment, but I couldn't deny the reaction it was having with me. A primal thrill had been burning deep in me. It mixed with a sick excitement.

  Everyone else seemed to react to this side of Mason too. They were more alert, a bit more silent than at other parties. Nate hadn't left Mason's side since Tate's arrival either and sat on the other side of him. One of his legs was kicked up to rest on the table in front of us while a few of their guy friends sat in the remaining seats across from us.

  Logan emerged from wherever he'd been and joined us on the patio.

  As if it had been practiced and scripted, Ethan, Strauss and another guy stood up and left. When a few girls started up the stairs, they blocked them at the bottom. Then all three of them got comfortable. They were the guard dogs.

  Logan watched them too before he slunk into one of the empty chairs and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "What's going on?" His voice was guarded.

  I sighed. He had closed off. This wasn't going to go well.

  Mason leaned forward. Nate remained silent.

  "Maybe I should go." I started to stand up.

  Mason clamped a hand on my arm. He kept me in place while Logan rolled his eyes. "Stay, Sam. You're family."

  So I stayed, but my chest swelled with a smidgen of fear. I couldn't deny it. As I watched Mason turn hawk-like eyes on his brother, I wondered why he seemed so upset. Logan hadn't done anything.

  Then it started, "Your ex was here."

  Logan's eyes flashed. The hands came out of his pockets and he straightened in his chair. "Are you kidding me?"

  Mason jerked his head to the side. "She says she's moving back."

  "Are you messing with me?" Logan's nostrils flared now. Anger started to swirl in his depths, it mixed with something else, something that sent chills down my back again. Danger.

  He shook his head. "No. I wish." He gestured to his side. "Nate kicked her out."

  "But she'll come back," Logan clipped out.

  Nate swiveled his head over to look at him, but there was no reaction. Mason's best friend was like a Greek god statue, made of stone. He showed no emotion. He was there for Mason. Logan was right when he said that Nate was only there for Mason. He wasn't there for Logan and me. He struck me as another silent guard dog, but I sensed ruthlessness in him that I have never experienced before. It wasn't the first time that I'd been struck off-balance by him, but it was the first time that I was starting to fear him a little bit.

  He spoke now, "She won't be allowed to any of my parties."

  Mason frowned at him. "That's not the point." He turned back to his brother. "She says she loves you. She wants you back."

  Too many emotions crossed over Logan before he shut it off. He collapsed against the back of his seat. His hands gripped the sides of it. "Whatever. The bitch took enough skin from me, she won't get any more."

  Mason leaned back. His chest never relaxed; instead, it tightened even more. "You sure?"

  He didn't believe him.

  Logan shot back a dark look. "Back off. She hurt me, not you."

  "She hurt my brother, that means she hurt me too," Mason whipped out, bristling from his anger.

  The air was thick now, filled with tension.

  The only one who didn't seem affected
was Nate as he stood. "I'll be back."

  Logan snorted and kicked his feet up on the table. He scooted down in his chair, restless and on edge. He reminded me a coiled cobra, ready to strike but without a target in sight. "What's with him?"

  "Parker." Mason watched his best friend weave through the crowd with lidded eyes. As Nate grabbed the girl by her arm, he led her away from her friends and further inside. The frown on Mason's face showed his disapproval.

  Logan grunted. "Not to be a dick to Nate, but he's always preaching against pussy. Look at him now. She's the most regular vagina he tastes. He's getting domesticated."

  I frowned.

  Logan flashed me a grin. "No offense, Sam. You're family. You're not normal."

  "None taken?"

  Mason jerked his head in a nod and the three guys from the bottom of the stairs filed back up. Each took a seat and it was back to being me with the guys. Mason lounged back and wrapped a hand around my shoulder this time. He pulled me tight against him.

  Tingles reared inside of me. I didn't think they'd ever stop. He was claiming me. He always had before, but there were new threats tonight so he was showing it again. Adrenalin rushed through me when his hand started to brush against the back of my neck. His thumb rubbed back and forth. He would apply pressure under my ear so I would tilt my head, then he would press his lips there. He continued his soft kisses, and I could barely breathe an hour later. The need for him was pumping through my blood, strong and urgent. I squirmed under his hand and I felt him grin against my skin. He knew what he was doing.

  The guys ignored us. They chatted together while someone kept bringing drinks to the patio. Mason gave me a few more shots and I'd take them, but we never broke eye contact. His had darkened so much they looked black, full of promises for the rest of the night. I wanted that now. My body was demanding it and I started to raise myself so I was in his lap when Nate joined the group again. He was alone, thankfully.

  "The girl happy now? Did you satisfy her?" Logan threw an empty shot glass at him as he took the old seat on the other side of Mason. His tone was jovial, but there was a dark underlining edge to him. As he glanced at me, I knew I wasn't alone with my concern about Mason's best friend.

  Nate frowned as he caught the glass. He chucked it back. "What's your problem with her?"

  "Nothing." Logan caught it with a quick grab.

  The rest of the guys grew quiet.

  He continued, "But for the guy who doesn't like girlfriends, you seem to have one."

  "Parker's not my girlfriend."

  "She know that?" Logan goaded.

  "It's none of your business, Logan. Stay out of it."

  A few of the guys shared looks, but Mason seemed unaffected. His hand rubbed up and down my back as he scooped me into his lap. He nuzzled my neck and I closed my eyes. My bones melted into him. I couldn't leave, no way. But he didn't seem to mind. His arms wrapped around me and his hand rested low on my stomach. His thumb caressed me there, back and forth in a normally soothing motion.

  Now, however, it was anything but soothing. I squirmed in his lap from the desire pulsating through me. The flames of lust had been lit before, but now they were a fire. I'd be a bonfire if he kept up his ministrations.

  "You stay out of it," Logan retorted. "I'm getting sick of Parker's attitude. She prances around here and brings her friends over like they own the place."

  "No, they don't." Irritation was evident on Nate's face. His eyes flared in anger. "Why don't you say what you're really pissed about? I doubt it's anything to do with Parker." He paused a beat. "Maybe you got a girl on your mind, one who actually was your girl. Is she what this is about? Your panties all twisted because Tate made an appearance tonight?"

  Mason's lips left my shoulder and he looked up. His hand continued to rub my stomach. It shifted further down and slipped underneath my pants, but stayed there. I was burning up.

  "Shut up about Tate."

  Nate leaned forward. "Shut up about Parker then."

  "I'm not fucking Tate."

  "And I'm not fucking Parker." He paused again with a wicked grin. "Right now. I'm sitting here. Right now."

  Logan rolled his eyes. "So funny, Nate. You're a riot."

  "You think you're the only funny one here?"

  I frowned; the burning from Mason's caresses had started to ebb. Nate and Logan were scowling at each other from across the table. The other guys were silent, their eyes darting back and forth as they listened to the argument. Everyone waited to see what Mason would do. He could speak up, end it, or he could let it keep going. For now, he had stilled underneath me. He was listening, but he wasn't tense yet. I knew he wasn't going to step in yet.

  "You're saying that you can be funny with that stick up your ass?"

  I sucked in my breath, so did the others.

  Mason tensed beneath me now and I tensed with him.

  Nate grilled him with a warning. "Back off, Logan, about this. I'm the only one containing the girls. They haven't done shit to Sam because I won't let Parker do a thing—"

  Logan's eyes flared. "What?"

  One of the guys moaned, "Fuckkk mee."

  Nate clamped his mouth shut when he realized what he let slip.

  Mason was like stone beneath me now. He turned to me, a mask over his face, before he looked back at his best friend. "You want to explain that comment?"

  Nate closed his eyes, cursing himself, but when he opened them again, they were strained. "I'm sorry, Mase. I should've said something earlier—"

  "—Yeah," Mason interrupted him. "You should've, but you better explain it now." His hand kept me on his lap with an iron hold. I couldn't even squirm. His other hand formed into a fist.

  Nate's eyes were on that fist as he started, "The girls haven't been too welcoming to Sam."

  "Since when?"

  "Since," his eyes shot to mine. He flashed an apology in them. "Since you started dating and bringing her around. They don't like her at all."

  "Why not?"

  "Why not?" Nate laughed softly. "You're kidding, right? You know those four. No one gets in unless they put the girl through hell and misery. You think they're going to let Sam into the group without the same conditions? It don't matter if she's with you. Probably makes it worse, you know, since Kate's the ring leader."

  "Kate was nothing to me." A dark scowl had formed on Mason. It grew with each word Nate added.

  "She knows that now. You threw her aside." He hesitated, choosing his words with caution. "She's boiling because you dropped her. They're all boiling mad because you don't give them the time of day anymore."

  Mason leaned back. He kept me on his lap. "They're not my friends. They're yours. They're the guys' friends, they aren't mine."

  Logan cursed.

  Ethan spoke up, "The girls don't look at it like that. They think they're friends with you."

  Mason narrowed his eyes. "I could give a shit about them. I'm not friends with girls anyway, much less now when I'm with Sam. The only female friend I had was Marissa."

  Nate spoke up, "Yeah and look at what happened to her. She had to leave school because of those girls."

  "That was because of Tate."

  "And who was she friends with? The four of them. You know what they're like with new girls. You didn't think about how'd they be with Samantha?"