Page 7 of Acid

I raise a brow at him. "Okay, first, it's only a prospect cut; I need to prove myself, and secondly, don't you have a certain redhead to go see?"

He grins. "Every brother here knows you'll pass the next year with flying colors, and you accepting it was something we believed you'd fight us on. Also, I called Cass this morning after something came up. She’ll be popping by later."

I shake my head at the idiot. He's six years older than me, due to become president, yet he doesn't see that he’s fucking up with his girl, a girl that deserves to be treated like queen.

When they got together, I wasn't surprised. Cass works so fucking hard to prove herself to her parents, she needed to let lose a little, and after he convinced her to give him a chance, she fell hard for him. But since she gave in, he’s made her do all the running around while still allowing his old fuck Faith, someone he grew up with, to hang around him.

Cass is hanging on by a thread and is ready to run, and he needs to understand that.

I go to refute, knowing Cass just wants him to open his eyes and be there for her more instead of making her do all the work in their relationship while he continues to hang with his old flame, when my phone rings, a phone that I may or may not have stolen.

"Ah, come on, we're supposed to be celebrating," Steal groans, and I snort, stating, "It could be my brother.”

He sighs but nods as I get my phone out of my jeans pocket, only to frown.

"It's Cass," I murmur in confusion because she normally just messages if she needs me to keep an eye on her sister.

Steal steps forward with a scowl on his face and demands, "Why in the fuck is she calling you?" I give Hammer a smirk, who tries to hide his laughter at his son's jealousy.

Shaking my head, I answer my phone, but before I can speak, Cassidy's sobs hit my ear, and everyone freezes, clearly hearing her as Steal steps forward, panicked, his hands fisted at his side.

"Ollie," she cries.

"Cass, what's wrong? What's happened?" I demand as I put my phone on speaker.

She cries louder, and I swallow, concern about Perrie hitting hard, my pulse racing at the thought she could be hurt.

Perrie has become my best friend, and yeah, I'm in love with her. I know it, my heart knows it, fuck, even her dad knows it. She's my everything, but friendship is where we will stay, and not just because of my past, my filth, but also because the girl is only sixteen.

"Cass, take a deep breath, talk to me…. Is it Perrie? Is she okay?" I ask calmly, despite the fear running through me at the possibility of something happening to her.

I hear her try to take deep breaths before she croaks, "She's gone! Perrie's gone, and I-I…. Oh God…."

Her sobs echo in the room as Hammer grabs Steal who attempts to step forward, most likely to grab my phone while I try to calm my beating heart.

"What do you mean she's gone, Cass?" I demand, harder this time, trying to get through to her.

"D-ad…h-he," she cries, "he's dead." I step back, the brothers around me looking at the phone in shock. "He-he had a-a heart attack at the gym. P-Perrie was there and t-tried to-to do CPR, but they-they lost him in the ambulance."

Fuck! John….

"I-I…when the doctors confirmed his death, she ran, Ollie, and-and I-I…Mom collapsed, and the doctors need forms filled out, but Perrie's gone, and I-I don't?—"

I cut into her ramblings, and rasp, "I'll go find her, Cass." I make eye contact with Steal as Cassidy's sobs fill with despair. "I'll go find Perrie; I have an idea where she is. Steal will come to you. Which hospital are you at?"

"Mem-Memorial," she sobs, and Steal nods.

"He'll be there in ten," I confirm before hanging up. I look at Hammer, who looks grief-stricken.

John was well known.

"I, uh, need a lift to Halliwell's Gym; that's where she'll be," I say, and he nods. I turn and walk out of the quiet clubhouse, not quite understanding the fact that John is gone.

He helped me, gave me a purpose in that gym, and now, he's gone….

I walk to the truck they hauled me into an hour ago while Steal runs to his bike. He lifts his hand as he spins out of his space, and then out of the gates, as I climb into the truck, Hammer not far behind me.

It takes half an hour before Hammer pulls up in front of the gym, and I swallow hard.

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