Page 40 of Chase

Little does he know.

I stop at Nikki’s house on the way back and hang out for a while, showering and changing into some sexy lingerie over a tight black dress. Her parents demand me to stay for dinner, so I do. When she walks me out to my car I ask something I’ve wanted to ask her for a while.

“Nikki what’s the deal with you and Kade?”

She sighs. “No deal, we hooked up. Nothing serious, just a little fun.” She is so not telling me something. “Text me when you get home safe.”

“I will,” I hug her and jump into my car.

When I pull up at the house, my mouth drops open. They are having a party. A certain someone failed to mention that. There are several cars in front of the house, so I park on the grass. I can hear loud music pumping, I believe the song is Hypnotize by Gemini. I love that song, but I didn’t picture the guys listening to that kind of music.

I have a really bad feeling. I pull out my phone and call Chase. No answer. I get out of the car and walk to the front door. I don’t need my key because the door is wide open. I walk in and see a few men I don’t know, walking around the house.

I drag my bag into Chase’s room and dump it on the floor. I turn on the light and get the shock of my life. There is a girl, with long brown hair. Asleep. In our bed. Wearing what appears to be very little clothing. Screw this. This is where shit hits the fan I guess.

I walk out of his room and stomp into the lounge area, there are a few people making out there, but I know none of them. I go to the dining room and see most of the people are partying outside, not inside. And there he is. The bastard of the hour. He’s sitting alone drinking a beer, until some random girl comes and sits on his lap and he laughs, but then he slowly removes her from his lap. Which pisses me off. I walk down the hall, and come face to face with the last person I would have expected to see.

My older cousin, Ryder. Stunned, I freeze when his huge grey eyes land on mine, a harsh scowl appearing on his face. Let me tell you a little about Ryder. My cousin on my father’s side, he’s twenty five, and extremely over protective of his baby sisters and cousins. He is the eldest of all of our cousins, and he takes his responsibility very seriously. He loves all of us dearly, and is extremely overbearing.

“Layla, what the fuck are you doing at a party like this?” he asks stiffly.

“Nice to see you too, Ryder,” I grumble.

He checks me over from head to toe, then barks out, “I’m taking you home, Layla. The men here will eat you alive.”

“Ryder, I am home,” I tell him.

Baffled, he shakes his head slightly.

“I live here, I rent out one of the rooms here,” I tell him simply.

“You live...” he breaks off as realization dawns.

“With Kade and James?” he growls.

“Yes, and Chase,” I say.

“Chase?” he repeats disbelievingly. All of a sudden his face grows angrier, and a storm brews in his eyes. “That fucking piece of shit!” he growls through his teeth. “Go wait in your room a second Layla, can you please do that for me?” his eyes plead with mine.

I nod, and he storms off down the hall. I glance at the hallway to my bedroom door and then back to where Ryder stormed off too. Mind made up, I follow Ryder and stick my head out of the hallway sliding door, just in time to see Ryder punch Chase right in the face.

What. The. Hell.

Chase stands up and pushes Ryder off him, and into the kitchen table. I run over just as Ryder yells, “I told you to stay away from my cousin, you fucking bastard. You will never be good enough for her!” the animosity in his voce stuns me. Kade runs in and stands between the two men, saying something quietly to Chase. Ryder sees me and yells, “I told you to stay in your room, Layla!”

“Don’t you fucking yell at her!” Chase growls at him, moving forward until Kade pulls him back.

Ryder grins evilly “She’s my baby cousin, you asshole. I’ll talk to her however I like. You said you would stay away from her!” he barks.

Chase looks over at me and then sighs. I’d had enough. “What is he talking about Chase?” I grind out.

Ryder looks over at me and frowns, “You don’t remember him? Chase and I were good friends, he came out to our place one time and you were there. You were just seventeen. He wouldn’t keep his fucking eyes off you. The way he used and discarded women, hell no was I going to let him near you. I told him to stay the fuck away from you, and he agreed.” He looks over at Chase, “I guess your word means shit nowadays, right Chase?”

Chase looks at my cousin and says, “Look Ryder, I’m sorry. I just saw her in the club, and fuck; I never thought I would see her again. I knew she was it for me. I’ve known ever since I saw her three years ago, and I couldn’t let her get away twice. She is older now, and I’m sorry you’re pissed, but I’m not gonna fucking give her up. She’s mine, and she’s not going anywhere!”

Ryder is about to charge at Chase again when I call out, “It doesn’t matter, Ryder. Chase and I are done.” I look at Chase as I say it, my eyes showing him how serious I am. I storm to my room, only to be accosted in the hall.

“Hey sexy,” some idiot purrs as he grabs me by the hips. One of his hands reach around to grab my ass and I’m about to demonstrate my self-defense skills, when he is grabbed off me and slammed against the wall. Chase looks pissed; his blue eyes are so cold, I have to stop myself from taking a step back.

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