Page 64 of Heirs of Havoc

“As long as you’re here? I do.” Dom takes a step towards me. “Or would you rather go back to your father? Or hell, maybe on your own, so one of his goons can fuck you and drop you at his filthy fucking feet. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Mia? You think you’re so fucking independent, but you have no fucking idea. Daddy can’t get you out of this one, so do what the fuck I say. Got it?”

“Fuck you,” I spit.

“Looks like someone already did,” Dom chuckles, that devilish grin settling on his face. It only makes me want to send a fist flying through his chiselled cheek but it would likely break. “Where did you come, huh Feliks? On her face? In her dirty fucking hole?” Dom keeps those narrow eyes on me. With his long arms, it’s easy for him to reach for my towel. Tugging it off, he exposes me, his grin growing. “In her filthy fucking mouth? Huh? Or all over her body like a begging bimbo?”

He’s pushing me. “Stop it.” What's worse? Feliks lets him.

“When you stop acting like a slut, I’ll treat you as such.” He takes the towel and heads towards the door. “Until then, wear those pants.”

Feliks doesn’t look at me as his best friend exits the room. I thought Feliks was safe, but he’s proving otherwise. He’s like his friends. Careless.

“I guess someone has to wear the pants in this house.” On the way out, I knock one of Feliks’ guitars over and brush by Dom. But he hardly moves when my shoulder hits his torso. “Because I’m surrounded by fucking pussies.”

* * *

Being on campus gives me a break from my asshole captors. And I hate to admit it, but wearing these pants makes getting through the day that much more comfortable.

It still feels like someone’s watching me. Like there are eyes on me all over campus, but Xavier isn’t around and I’m too annoyed and frustrated to ask what happened.

I don’t care. They can send the message to my dad that I’m never going home. Not when he’s still dead set on manipulating me for his gain. Why? All to marry a man that gets him more favour? Fuck that, I’m never going back.

So where does that leave me?

With the devils. All four of them.

Vlad stays out of my orbit, but I catch him watching me from a distance around campus.

Fucking stalker.

“Hiding your sins in those pants, Marshall?” Eve’s voice calls me from down the hall on my way to the library. “Or are you confused?”

Spinning around in my sneakers, my eyes narrow into hers. “You know what’s confusing? Your obsession with me.”

“No one’s obsessed with you, Mia.” She smiles, a snarky one. “Not even your BFF wants to be around you.” On cue, Chaya stalls as she walks behind her. With a glance at me, she continues, confirming Eve’s words. My eyes land on Vlad, standing behind a column near the library. Blame it on the angst from this morning, but if he wants to stalk me, I’ll put him to good use. Moving towards him, Eve calls after me. “See? You know it’s true.”

Vlad straightens up as I approach him. “Keep telling yourself that, Eve. But something tells me you’re jealous you’re not getting any attention from the guys you want it from. And I don’t mean Jesus.” With that, I pull on Vlad’s red tie, pulling his face to mine.

“Mia,” he warns, right before I plant my lips on his.

Eve’s chatter muffles out, and for a minute, I forget where I’m standing. Or what I’m doing.

Vlad’s exterior is harsh and unwelcoming, but kissing him is anything but. His hands grip my sides as a wave of relief washes over me when he doesn’t let go.

A gasp comes from behind me. Eve’s. But I hardly hear it before Vlad unhands me, taking a step back. His brows furrow, his eyes narrowing into mine.

“Way to prove you’re a harlot!” Eve yells.

Turning around, I hold my ground, Chaya watching in the background. “Way to prove you’re jealous and doesn’t the Bible say that’s an inability to see what God provides in your life?” The months of attending church to blend in pays off. Eve’s head swivels to the crowd forming around us. “Which, for you, isn’t much.” With that, I turn to walk away, ignoring the stammers coming from Eve. I even catch a small smirk from Chaya when I walk by. But it’s hard to focus on that when Vlad’s kiss still tingles my lips and the jewellery on my tongue.

* * *

With my dad’s goons popping up everywhere, letting Vlad take me back to the Murphy House is a decision out of safety. Not need. Or want.

At least that’s what I tell myself.

He doesn’t talk about the kiss at all on the way back, and while I’m tempted to, I’m afraid to bring it up. The lines blur between the guys and I. Spending a night with Feliks is one thing, but now I’m kissing Vlad?

“Head inside.” It’s the first words Vlad says to me when we pull up to the house. “I’m gonna blow off some steam.” I don't know what it means, but it doesn't sound good. It takes everything in me not to ask if he means from what I did.

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