Hearts of Darkness: A Valentine's Day Bully Romance Collection

by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

  That’s not quite true. I still hold a special hurt and bruised up place for my first puppy love in my heart, but he doesn’t have to know that. Or that I still find his dark and dramatic features hot as hell. I get a pang of guilt at even the thought of admiring another man so soon after Kael.

  “Here, let me see your keycard.” Ash holds out an expectant hand and incredulity courses through me.

  “Right, because I trust you to have it, period. Unless there’s some trick to using it, I think I can handle this part.” My snottiness is small comfort when I realize I don’t really have a free hand, and I’m either going to have to set everything on the floor, let him take some like he’d originally offered, or let him fish the card out of my bag.

  Ash’s cocked brow and pursed lips say it all. I’ve painted myself into a prideful corner.

  “Shit, just get in my bag, please.” The shock that crosses his face when I give in without an argument goes a long way toward perking me back up. “What, you thought I couldn’t be reasonable?” It’s my turn to raise an eyebrow, and I hope it looks more badass than it feels.

  He rummages through until he finds my wallet, pulling out one of the copies of my school ID that doubles as my room key. He has a funky expression on his face, and I’m wondering what he saw in there that I probably wouldn't have wanted him to.

  “You’re still going by Shultz?” I’m not sure why my last name is an issue.

  “Yes, it’s not as if I decided to get a divorce. Not sure what business it is of anyone else’s though.” And it’s really not. If someone has an issue, they can shove it.

  “It may make things—uncomfortable. I think, no, never mind, I’m sure it’s fine, or it would have been in the contract.” It’s as if he’s talking to himself now.

  Before I can question him about the contract and his knowledge of it when I had to sign an N.D.A, he swings the door open to my room. Excuse me, rooms, plural. A quick perusal shows a main living area, kitchenette, and several more doors I take to be the bedroom, bathroom, and maybe a closet, and I have no idea what would be behind the others. It’s awful big for one student.

  “What the heck am I going to do with all this room? I have maybe three boxes and my suitcase in the car.” Ash side-eyes me giving me a pitying glance. “What am I missing? I have roommates, don’t I? Of course I do, that’s how dorms work. Please tell me they’re not awful.” Ash’s eyes widen right before a voice speaks up.

  Chapter Six

  “I’m sure I can be a pain, but I don’t know about awful. And Ash here doesn’t seem to have mistreated you so far.” The deep resonant voice of my older step-brother, Jaeger, has me spinning and losing half my papers I’d kept a death grip on up until now.

  “What the fuck! Get out of my room. You’re not welcome here.” I start backing up in terror until I come up against a hard body where the open doorway should have been.

  “Cora, calm down, you’re fine.” Strong, long-fingered hands grip my shoulder, and I twist around enough to find Drake standing in the open space. “We’re your roommates.”

  The hell they are! I’m going straight back down to the counselor’s office to demand a reassignment.

  “Nope. Not a chance in hell.” Pulling away from Drake, he eventually releases my shoulders, and I gather up my paperwork and fly out of the suite and into the elevator. Jaeger must not have thought I’d take off as he was too slow, and I’m able to slap the close doors button before he follows me. The last thing I see is the panic in his expression as they shut and muffle his “Cora!”

  I’m shaking and rehearsing my speech about my need to change rooms when the elevator arrives at the ground floor with a cheery ding. The doors slide open, and I make it two steps before it registers that Jaeger is blocking the entrance to the building. He must have slid down every banister on the way down to beat me here. He’s lucky he didn’t break his neck.

  “Cora, wait. You can’t ask for a transfer.” I’m about to interrupt him when he drops a bombshell. “Compliance with all assignments, remember? It’ll break your contract.” His voice drops on the end, as if he’s ashamed to be part of it, which he should be. It was his best friend and him telling said best friend that caused me to be here now.

  “You can’t be serious. Since when are dorms that co-ed? I mean, yeah, there’s mixed housing, but actually sharing a suite, no.” Crossing my arms across my chest with my now raggedy papers, I wait for his answer.

  “It was the only suitable room available on such short notice. The school was full up until we had an opening.” It dawns on me then that I’m taking Damien’s room. A shudder rolls through me, and I feel sick.

  “You can’t make me stay in his room. That has to be a harassment clause or something. That’s wrong, and you know it.” I need my meds. I’ve made it six days without them, and I’m at my breaking point. Meds and a nap. I’m going to have to go back up there.

  “No, I switched. You’ll have my room. I sent all his belongings to his parents except the ones he wanted me to keep.” The grief he still harbors makes an appearance in his countenance, and I can almost have sympathy for him. Except, you know. They killed my baby and took Kael from me.

  It’s an odd thing; Damien and Jaeger had been inseparable nearly from the moment they met. Had I not known for a fact they were into girls, I’d have thought they were an item. Case in point, bequeathing belongings after death.

  “Fine, I need to lie down. I can’t take much more today.” That remorse pops up on his face again before he follows me back into the elevator.

  “I shouldn’t have stopped you. You’d be better off out away from here. You can go and try to change it if you’d like.” Whoa, have a one-eighty.

  “If you think I’m giving up that easily, you’re delusional. I need to regroup and take a nap, then I’ll be just fine.” I flounce out of the elevator and don’t even have to use the keycard to get in the door as Ash is holding it open. Except I stall out inside. I have no clue which room is mine. My head drops back in frustration, and a growl escapes, much to the amusement of Drake who is waving me into an open doorway. “Thanks,” I grudgingly offer before entering, immediately slam the door shut behind me, and flipping the lock that it thankfully has.

  “That was rude, you know!” Drake’s voice is only slightly muffled through the door, and I hope I don’t have to hear what they do in the privacy of their rooms. At least they all appear to have their own bathrooms. That would have been a catastrophe to share one bathroom with five guys. Especially ones that I’d be perfectly fine with falling out of my life.

  I don’t bother to respond and barely take note of the dresser, desk and chair, nightstand, and bookshelf before I go straight into the bathroom. Fishing tablets out of my purse, I swallow them with water in my cupped hands out of the tap and lay down. It’s not long before I’m out hardcore, not waking until well after dark.

  After shaking off the disorientation from waking in an unfamiliar place and washing my face, I stumble out into the living room with my purse on my shoulder, determined to find the cafeteria and get my belongings from my car. However, stealth doesn’t matter when Jaeger is lying in wait for me.

  “You’re still wearing his rings,” he says.

  “What does it matter what I wear? And why is that your business?” I go to walk past him out the door when he snags my wrist.

  “It is my business when what you do reflects on me, as the Headmaster reminded me while you took your nap. You’ll abide by the rules, or you’ll be kicked out, just like you were out of our parents’ house.” He’s stone-cold serious.

  “Jaeger, I think you have a problem, and it’s not mine. Mom may kowtow to your dad, but the only man that I’d even consider obeying was yanked away from me on our wedding day. Don’t fucking try me, bro.” That manages to get under his skin. For whatever reason, he’s never liked the distinction.

  “You know damn well I’m not your brother. We only met three years ago. Knock that shit off. Maybe it w
ould be better if you left now since things are only going to get worse for you if you stay.” He releases my wrist, and I pull it up to rub at the red mark his grip left. He’s never touched me in an ill manner before, and this is unsettling, to say the least.

  “Fine, you’re not my brother, but you can keep your hands to yourself all the same. And you can’t make me quit. I’ll get my grades, get my degree, and get the payout that’s the least Damien’s dickhead of a father could have allowed already.” I barely get the words out before Jaeger is advancing on me, menace in every step. My back hits the wall, and his palm settles over my racing heart, pinning me in place.

  “Never, and I mean not ever, talk about Damien or his family in that manner again. Do you understand?” I nod, only wanting to escape.

  I don’t understand what’s happened since I took a nap, but Jaeger has gone nuts. This is deja vu to the night I went to the lake house with Ash and his friends. It was like a switch had flipped in Damien, and now Jaeger is acting odder than usual. I edge away and slip out the door, heading for my car. I need a break already, and it’s only barely begun.

  Okay, so switching rooming assignments is a no go. I can work with that. I’ll just have to learn their schedules and try to avoid them as much as possible. I haven’t even seen the others yet. I sigh and start my car up to move it to the student parking before hunting down the cafeteria. They’re closing down for the night, but one of the ladies working takes pity on me and loads me up with an actually appetizing lasagna and a bag full of goodies she was going to have to throw out anyway.

  Making my way back to the dorm with my dinner, I take the opportunity to mark where some of the halls are with their names illuminated in the spotlights on the exterior. Most of my classes should be close enough instead of across campus. This time around, I pass a few other students but avoid drawing attention to myself. Plenty of time later if I want to make friends.

  The common room is empty, and from the noises coming from the bedroom directly across from mine, I’d say someone has company. Ugh, boys. I nearly tiptoe to my room, trying to stay undetected, and manage to get into my room and close the door without encountering anyone. After stuffing my face with the surprisingly good cafeteria food, I stow the leftovers on the dresser, not interested in braving the living area, and half-assed brush my teeth with mouthwash from my purse and my finger.

  THE STRAIGHT-BACKED desk chair I’d shoved under the doorknob wakes me as the feet make rubbing noises as it slides on the hardwood floor. I bolt upright and dash for the door, slamming it shut and twisting the lock again.

  “Assholes! I knew you’d have a key. I want a deadbolt installed!” I yell through the closed door as I swipe my tears that appear almost nightly on my cheeks. From the swearing coming from the other side, someone had had their fingers in the way.

  “Cora, it’s nearly noon. I’d suggest you get your things unpacked and get your supplies before classes start tomorrow,” a voice returns. I’m not sure which one of them it is, but it’s not any of the three from the night before. “And a deadbolt isn’t going to stop someone who can just get a key.” A thump on the door, from a fist, I’d imagine, is left in parting.

  I rake my hands through my messy hair as I plop down in the chair, having no clue how I’m going to make it through the day, let alone longer. I get up and go to the bathroom, relieving my bladder and doing what I can with my hair and teeth with what I have on hand in my purse. The skin on my waist is itching and burning and indented from wearing my jeans to bed, but I hadn’t been about to sleep without pants on.

  As presentable as I can get, I make my way out into the common area, pulling up short when I find all the guys are in attendance, as well as a couple of females who I’m assuming are other students. What a lovely surprise.

  “This is the chick Damien was all hung up on? What was he thinking?” I roll my eyes and keep walking at the blonde’s remark. Every place needs a snatch, and I’m thinking there’s more than one around here as well. I can’t wait to meet the normal people.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that, sugar. Little sis over there was a sure thing for putting out.” I whip around at Jaeger’s remark.

  “I wasn’t little sis last night, now was I, big bro?” The other guys jeer him at that, and the girl on his lap gives him a disgusted sneer.

  “Turnabout is fair play, Cora. Better watch that sass around here. It’s liable to cause you some issues.” Jag pushes the girl off his lap onto the couch cushion next to him, a couch I’ll have to make sure I don’t sit on, before getting up and heading toward me. “Need some help getting your things out of the car?”

  I shake my head no while trying to find my voice. After last night I don’t want him anywhere near me. “Back off, Jag,” I whisper when he’s within arms reach.

  He halts at the nickname I gave him during those first few months when he and his dad moved in with me and mom. Regret flits briefly across his face before he opens his mouth again. “Sorry, Cora. Headmaster says to make sure you settle in. That goes for all of us, and you’re not settled yet, are you?”

  Ignoring him, I spin on my heel and dart out the door and down to the elevator that is standing open. Slapping the button for the bottom floor before I duck back out and into the stairwell, I race to the floor below, stepping out as I hear the door above slam and creative cursing echoing. Instead of sticking around, I cross the floor, not making eye contact with any of the residents that happen to be in the hall, until I reach the stairwell on the opposite side.

  Gingerly, I open it and peek in to see if it’s clear. After the magical pop-up Jaeger did yesterday, I don’t put it past them to have a secret shortcut down. Instead of going to my car, I go to the school store to collect my books and supplies. The guy at the counter lights up when I give him my list of classes for textbooks.

  “You’re Cordelia!” At my surprise he backtracks, “Well, yes, you’d know your own name. Dumb, Kent, scare her off, why don’t you?” The dude is mumbling to himself, and I’m looking around for someone else to help me. This one has a few screws loose. “Wait, I didn’t mean to be weird. I suck at meeting new people. I study all the yearbooks from Mooreton, so I know who’s coming in, and you weren’t expected, but now you’re here, and you’ll be such an asset to the Order. It’s just brimming off you. Decades it’s been since—”

  “That’ll be enough, Kent.” I stifle a groan at Jag’s voice behind me. “I can help Cora collect what she needs from here. I’ll let you know when we’re ready to check out.”

  Crazy Kent caves immediately. “Yes, yes, of course, Master Jaeger. Please, accept my sincerest apologies if I overstepped.” He buttons up and disappears into the depths of the room behind the desk, leaving me alone with Jag.

  “What the hell was that, Jaeger? And why was he calling you Master? That shit’s creepy.” In my tirade, I conveniently forget I ditched him not ten minutes ago. Some things curiosity trumps, and being annoyed with him is one of them.

  “All staff, other than the Headmaster and the board, are required to address the students as Master and Mistress. Even the student workers when they’re on the clock.” He’s nice enough while he explains, but it doesn’t last, and thunder settles over his features as he gets after me. “Care to explain why I had to chase you all over the grounds after I specifically told you I’m, and the others are responsible for you?”

  “What? No, you said you had to help settle me in. That’s very different than being responsible for.” I don’t know what he’s getting at, but those six running my days aren’t happening. “If you’re helping, then help. Otherwise, fuck off, Jag.”

  His lips tighten, but he remains silent as he glances at my class roster and walks to the shelves of books. He’s quick to start pulling them down, moving back and forth, up and down the aisles handing me books, until I’m nearly buried under the stack. Finally, he finishes, and I make my way to the desk to unload.

  “I need all of these? This is insane. Are they tryi
ng to make me fail or intimidate me into leaving?” Seriously, there have to be fifteen different books and workbooks in the pile.

  “The textbooks are straightforward, but you’ll need the others for assignments. It’s not quite as bad as it appears, but yes, the administration culls the weak and unambitious right off. Better keep up, Cora. Slackers aren’t welcome here and spreading your legs won’t work either.” Jaeger is back to being a dick, of course.

  “I’ve always earned my grades. I’m not the one that got caught fucking the lunch lady in a staff bathroom.” Jaeger turns red at the reminder even as he schools his features into indifference.

  “She was hot, sue me.” I roll my eyes at him and move on to supplies.

  Jaeger follows me, making grunting noises at the less expensive models so often that I give up reading the packaging and move on to one that I really wanted but didn’t want to get in case I somehow ended up indebted for everything. I roll my eyes when he makes an approving hum at my choice. He even takes it up to the counter for me, while I peruse the notebooks and pens and study materials.

  BY THE TIME I’M DONE with the list and the extras I thought I’d need, Kent has everything that had been on the desk rung up. Hitting the total, Kent directs the screen at me, and the tally is in the thousands. Plural. With a nearly audible gulp and a quick prayer, I swipe my student ID in the card reader, sighing in relief when it accepts the purchase. It was in the contract, but this was the first chance I’d really had to try it out.

  “Thanks for the help.” I smile at Kent, being polite, even if he had been weird and pick up as many bags as I can handle. Jaeger grabs the rest and follows me out of the store and back to our dorm suite.

  He remains silent until we’re in the elevator. “No more running off on us. If it happens again, I’ll report you to the Headmaster.”

  I gape at him, incredulity turning to fury in seconds. “I’m not a prisoner, Jaeger! That wasn’t in the contract!” I’m still fuming even as the doors slide open, and my feet stomp down the hall to our door.