Page 73 of Ruthless Angel

“Chill out, dude,” Blaze admonished. “It’s not that big a deal. Leave Clover alone.”

She flashed him an appreciative smile that he totally ate up. What a sap.

We were throwing a party tonight. First one since classes started up again. Like always, the summer season had gone by so fast. Before we knew it, the cold and snow would roll in.

“If I see anyone look at you, I’ll gouge their eyes out.” Shoving off the chair, Daire caught Clover in a possessive embrace. “You like to test my patience, don’t you, Angel?”

She yelped when he bit her neck. Sliding her arms around him, she laughed. “Maybe you need to work on being such an impatient, easily angered maniac.”

“We can’t take any chances when it comes to you, Sunshine,” I said, drawing her gaze my way. “Not anymore.”

Disentangling herself from Daire, Clover came and perched on my lap. There was an angry red mark forming on her beautiful neck. “I know. I appreciate that you guys want to keep me safe, but I’m perfectly capable of dressing myself. I’ll be careful. I won’t be controlled.”

Daire scoffed. He went to refill his drink, getting a head start on the partying. We all needed a night to unwind. It had been a hell of a tense summer. People would start showing up soon. I was eager to have a good time and forget the shit we’d gone through for a little while.

I wouldn’t be forgetting entirely though. Daire wasn’t the only one still worried about Clover. Although I wouldn’t argue about her attire, I didn’t plan to take my eyes off her. Already it drove me crazy that when we were all in class, we weren’t able to track her.

The ankle monitor had been a bust. Too obvious. We needed something different. Less conspicuous. Something like the collar the Gods had Raina wearing.

Within the next two hours the house filled up, spilling out into the backyard. Music pumped through speakers in the living room and yard, blasting a mixed playlist of artists. Rock, pop, and hip hop provided the soundtrack for drinking, drug use, and sexual exploits.

Not to mention the occasional fight. I broke up two before midnight. Thankfully, Daire wasn’t involved in either of them.

I hung out near Clover when she snuck off to smoke a joint with Raina, Lyra, and Briar. They needed their girl time. I respected that. I still wasn’t letting her out of my sight though.

“Back to classes already,” Raina whined. “Fuck, summer went way too fast. I don’t think the break is nearly long enough.”

“I’m kind of happy to be back in class,” Clover said, drawing a groan from all three girls.

Raina gave her a playful shove. “You’re such a keener. I’ve never known anyone who loves school as much as you do.”

“It sure beats working at my parents’ restaurant,” Briar said with a mock shudder. “I lost count of how many men asked me if I was on the dessert menu. Fucking pigs.”

“Nasty.” Lyra’s gaze fixed on her stepbrother as he made his way across the yard. “I’d still rather do that than be stuck at home with the stepbrother from hell. It’s a relief to get back to dorm life.”

I didn’t know Jet all that well. We’d only crossed paths at parties and on campus. The rumor mill had some prettymessed up things to say about him. Cult leader. Manipulative psychopath. Obsessed with his sister. Correction. Stepsister. That made it less weird, but it was still screwed up.

He wandered across the yard to where a group of guys stood around drinking and laughing obnoxiously. Not once did he stop staring back at Lyra.

“Jesus, and I thought I was a bit much when it came to Raina. I’m pretty sure you can let your girl party without a constant escort.” Havoc bumped me with an elbow before clinking his beer bottle against mine.

“And yet here you are lurking around a mere few feet from Raina,” I pointed out with a chuckle.

“Only because I came to bust your balls a little.” Havoc used his beer bottle to point at Daire who sat at a patio table where several people did lines of blow. “That poor fucker can’t take his eyes off Clover either. You guys are cute.”

I shot him a glare, swigging from my beer. “Don’t give me that cute shit. You guys would do the same if someone had grabbed Raina. Hell, you have a tracking collar on her.”

“I sure fucking do,” Havoc agreed with a nod, his gaze locking onto Raina. “Want me to hook you up with one?”

I hesitated for a moment as I studied Clover. She’d hated the ankle monitor even though she’d played it off like no big deal. Still, we couldn’t afford to take any chances where she was concerned.

“Actually, yeah. Can you get something less obvious? Maybe one for the ankle?”

“Sure can. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every penny.” Havoc gave my shoulder a friendly punch. “I’ll call you.”

He disappeared back inside the house, leaving me there to listen to the ladies discuss a particular stylist at a local hair salon. I would definitely feel better when we had a way to track Clover all the time. A metal ankle bracelet that couldn’t be cut offor removed without the combination would provide some peace of mind.

Daire would be on board. Blaze would pretend like he wasn’t to gain points with Clover but he’d be cool with it too.

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