Page 6 of Devious Gambit

“You’re making us all look like fucking losers,” I ranted. “And quit fucking harassing Gallagher.”

“You’re already look like losers, you don’t need my help,” Adam hissed back.

“Sister fucker!” I yelled at him.

He was off that couch faster than a peregrine falcon, trying to pin me against the wall. “I had no idea she was my fucking half-sister.”

“Steady,” Cody warned as he prised us apart.

“This is my fucking territory, you asshole,” Adam snarled. “I’ll fuck over who I want to fuck over, and I’m not going anywhere. Sweeney money paid for half of this fucking university, so technically this place is mine. Mine!”

“Alright,” Cody held his palm up to calm him down. “Why hadn’t you turned up for the analytics with Coach?”

“I told you, I’m quitting.”

“You can’t fucking quit midway through the season,” Cody argued. Cody couldn’t give a rats-ass about Adam personally, but he was the best OT the Hawks had. The team and winning was all Cody cared about and…his family. Even though he threatened to kill Sweeney on a daily basis, he was unlikely to commit the act until the season was over. Not that he would actually kill him, maybe break his nose…and a couple of his limbs.

Liam walked in and planted his ass on the couch to play Grand Theft. “Sup,” he greeted Adam, cocking his eyebrows.

I’d just about had enough of those bozos. Uh fuck, now I’m using the word ‘bozo.’

Once back in my bedroom, I reread the message from Stacey McMillan. She was a super hot Hawks cheerleader with long black hair, tanned, flawless skin and a real good fuck. I mean, she was great. The problem with her was she liked me too much, and that was a major turn off. Every time I felt the squeeze, I hit the road. That’s how I worked. Loose and free, that’s me, for now. I don’t plan on being this way forever, just until I sort some shit out.

Chicks can wait. I messaged Stacey back that I was busy. It was a lie. I wouldn’t mind a quick fuck, but there’s all that hugging and shit that went on afterwards, not to mention constant hinting about us going steady or making a pledge. It’ll be more fun sticking my head in a noose.

Sadly, for Stacey I had a new project on the cards, the taming of the shrew.

Or in modern terms, the corruption of Rhys Gallagher.

THREE

Rhys

“Are you alright, Rhys?”

I heard Gretta’s voice, but I was far too deep in my own thoughts to register what she was saying.

“Rhys?” I felt her hand on my shoulder and gasped in fright. “You’ve been so jumpy for the past few days. Are you okay?”

I was standing at the dessert bench squeezing a long whirl of strawberry sauce onto a cup of vanilla ice cream for a KVU student. “I’m fine,” I answered, proceeding to address the student. “Sorry, what sprinkles did you want on your ice cream?” I’d already asked her that question and couldn’t remember the answer.

“Broken Oreos,” the student told me, probably for the third time. Nothing was sinking in. With Sweeney threatening to kill me, the beautiful one offering to…well, I can’t even figure that one out, let’s not forget the…

“I heard there was another attempted rape on campus?” Gretta muttered quietly to Lise.

“Who?” Lise bit. “Tell me who they are and I’ll sort those assholes out.”

How? By shooting them, I wanted to say, but lacked the courage.

“Was it reported to university police?” I asked.

“Not sure,” Gretta replied. “I hope so. But you know so many of these types of attacks don’t get reported, because the victim is too frightened.”

“Because they’ve been threatened by the rapist asshole,” Lise hissed, angrily. She’d know, she’s been there.

“How do you know about it?” I asked Gretta.

“A friend of a friend knew the girl.”

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