Page 21 of The Fallen Ones

Anything to get my attention.

I couldn’t give a shit about them. All I could hear were the words I’d spat at Lily in anger as they echoed through my mind.

You’re a whole different kind of monster.

I was the fucking monster here, not her.

I’d tried to distance myself. To make her think I no longer gave a shit. To make her believe the rumors I’d started about me hooking up with Jessica. I didn’t mean to cut her so deep, but she’d broken my heart and I guess, my ego. Then I found myself making plans to share her. Not only with Caleb but with Damien now, too.

Fuck it.

There was no going back. We’d made a deal. Each one of us had a hold over the other. If any of us backed out, any of us broke, it was mutually assured destruction. Game over for the three of us. Lily wouldn’t ever speak to any of us ever again, but even worse, it would destroy her and break her heart to lose Caleb. I knew that. I hated knowing that she would always becloser to him. That they shared this fucking bond that I could never seem to build with her. That she’d tell him things about her time in foster care but hold back and never fully open up to me. But not any more, now we were equal players when it came to Lily. Caleb no longer held the upper hand. He knew what he’d agree to. He was risking it all to have a piece of the girl he’d loved his entire life, not that I gave him any choice. It pained me to see the way she still looked at him while knowing she’d probably never look at me like that again. Not after I’d dealt a low blow by comparing her to her mother. I loved Lily just as much as Caleb did. Even if I’d loved her from afar until I finally had the opportunity to insert myself into her life.

I needed Lily, but I wondered if she’d ever forgive me. I knew how much she loved her mom. How desperately she’d tried to save her.

The issue now was after we did this, how did we keep her? I hoped the experience was enough to convince her I was worth it. And if all else failed, us guys were worth it. That’s how much she meant to me. I was willing to attempt to share her.

I shook the thoughts from my head and started the engine. I needed to speak to Dylan.

I didn’t want to risk sending a text for a plan like this so I’d asked him to meet me at Giano’s after classes. I just hoped Caleb and Damien didn’t cross paths and get into it while they waited for me to get back to them with the details. They had their own issues long before any of this.

I pulledup outside Giano's and caught myself gazing in the rearview mirror. I thought about how only a few months ago I’d picked Lily up after her late night art class and watched her change clothes in the backseat as she got ready for our date night. How her dark wavy locks had tangled and caught on her shirt. The way she giggled nervously and told me to look away because she’d worn a white lace bra which exposed her perfectly rounded nipples. I caught myself envisioning removing it, caressing her soft, full breasts and taking my time kissing them, loving them, worshipping her. Lily was my girl. I missed the sound of her laughter, the cute way she’d side-eye me whenever I’d sneak a peek at her changing.

Shit, Jace. Dylan is waiting. Get it together.

Taking a deep breath, I snapped myself back into the moment and hopped out of my Range Rover and headed inside Giano’s. Dylan sat waiting for me in a booth at the back of the restaurant, away from listening ears.

“Hey man, thanks for meeting me here,” I said and fist bumped Dylan. We’d been friends for a long time so I knew he wouldn’t tell a soul about this. He was just happy to hear what I had to offer.

“Sure, how are things going for you after the whole Lily thing?” he asked with a sympathetic look on his face.

“It’s been… interesting. In fact it’s pretty much why I’m here asking you for a favor.”

“Oh, yeah?” He raised an eyebrow at me and settled back in his seat.

“I need five tokens for Halloween night at Satan’s Hollow,” I looked at him and hoped he didn’t ask too many questions.

“I can do that.”

“I also need you to make sure I get the same key as…” I paused for a moment. I trusted Dylan, but I still felt so fiercely protective over Lily. I didn’t want people finding out about herattending something like this. She was my innocent, sweet angel. I’d fucking kill anyone that said a bad word about her.

“As?” Dylan prompted, intrigue in his hazel eyes.

“I’ll let you know her outfit details on the night so you know who to match my key with.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s just some girl I’ve wanted for awhile now. Figured this would be a fun way to have my way with her.” I lied.

“Come on, Jace. We’re bros. No secrets.” He pushed.

I laughed in an awkward attempt to avoid telling him it was Lily.

“I’ve already paid you for the room. I just needed the extra tokens and for you to make sure the girl gets the same key.”

“Yeah, I had you down for the Lover’s room. It’s a great little place for the two of you,” Dylan pulled out his cell and showed me photos of the room he’d saved for me.

A bed sat in the center covered in rose petals, candles scattered along the shelving around the edges of the room. It was a sickeningly sweet love nest of red silk and satin material. Romantic.

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