Page 30 of Buried Secret 295

“Well, from where I am sitting, she basically told you to fuck off, yet here you sit. Didn’t she somehow damage your male ego yesterday? Some might want a weird form of revenge after that.” Red crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. Someone is awfully protective of her.

“Maybe I am oddly into it? Or that was just foreplay, and I want to see what I am up against. I haven’t had someone fight me like that before, and it piqued my curiosity.” I answer slightly vaguely because how can I explain the need to track her down and be around her? It feels weird.

She glares at me like somehow I am the enemy. “You better not fuck with her. I just got her back.”

Am I trying to fuck with her? I didn’t think so, but somehow, she reminded me of Knox. Probably the way she is currently fighting with Samuel. She moves like Knox, who is more of a brawler than a classically trained fighter. Her style is something that isn’t taught. I fall into the category of classically trained. Maybe that’s why I lost. My parents could afford the best trainers, teaching me the techniques that would make me excel. “Not sure what exactly I want with her,” I answer honestly, because I don’t know.

“Well, maybe you should figure that part out before messing with people's lives?” She shoots me a look that says challenge me motherfucker. “Tell Salem I have to go to class, but to get a hold of me later.”

I nod, but then get lost in my thoughts again as I watch her. She would make a fortune at the Underworld fights that Knox takes part in. I have watched a few of his fights, and they are brutal. His parents run the place, and how they can encourage that seems insane. There are no rules or regulations, and I have yet to wrap my head around them. As close as I am to Knox and Atticus, they grew up differently. Their family didn’t have any expectations for them. They were free, reckless, and wild most of the time, something that I am often envious of. They are always there to help run events and maybe one day add on or take over for them.

I wish I had that sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, Knox and Atticus’ family love them. They trusted them both on a level that I still don’t understand. I find myself envious of it. My parents think I am dumb and gullible. The sad part is that I let them think that. I keep promising myself that things will be different once I graduate. Part of me wonders if it will or if I must walk away from them. Will they let me? That remains the question.

My attention snaps back to Salem, finishing her session by throwing knives. Once more, my pants get tighter. I definitely have a danger kink going. Her aim is amazing, landing exactly where she wants them. Salem smiles and laughs at Samuel, and jealousy flares inside of me. I want her to look at me like that.

Without thinking about it, I am walking towards her. I wish I had a plan for what to say to her. I watch her as she gathers all of her stuff, and I say the only thing that enters my head to her. "The gothic chick had to leave." Salem looks at me unamused before looking over towards the bleachers before walking off, not even looking at me. Damn, not even a “fuck you, Gage” out of her mouth. I walk behind her while trying to get her to speak to me. “Where are you going?” I knew I should have waited to tell her about her friend when I was closer.

“Fuck off, Gage!” She calls and flips me the bird, but she still looks over her shoulder with a small smile. My eyes watch her ass as she walks with a slight sway to her hips. Yep, she likes it. I am so okay with walking behind her as long as I watch her hips sway like that.

I shake my head and take off after her, turning into her puppy once more. “Gage, come here.” Samuel’s voice cuts any thoughts of following. My eyes look at Salem one more time before going towards Samuel.

Damnit, never meet your heroes, they say. I run over to where he stands. “Yes, sir?” The man is slightly intimidating. His shirt is sweat-wet from catching her punches.

“Keep showing up. She might need a sparring partner and might use you instead of me.” He chuckles darkly. “You might even learn a thing or two.” He walks away. The man gave me a way to spend more time with her. It’s not like she can tell him no. She is here to get better. I missed the opportunity to spend more time with Salem, so I decide to pick his brain.

“What’s the deal with her?” I question him before he can walk too far.

He scoffs at me and rolls his eyes. “Why are you asking me? I only just met the girl. You’re the one following her like a lost puppy. That girl is going to eat you alive.”

“And wouldn’t that be a way to go out?” I smile and decide to play the part of the dumbass. Sometimes, people let their tongues loosen when they think you’re only a pretty face.

When Samuel says nothing, I shrug and start towards the hub, wanting breakfast. I am a few feet away when he stops me by yelling. “You seem like a good kid, so here is some advice. Stop mentioning Marcus around her. That’s a good way to get your ass kicked.”

I wave and shake my head and add more pieces to my puzzle of Salem. When I walk into the hub, my eyes widen at the flierswith Salem’s face all over them. No wonder she was so prickly to me this morning. I walk a few feet before Lulu comes walking up to me. “Hi, Gage.” She says in her sing-song voice, her blonde curly hair bobbing with her walk.

“Lu, how’s it going?” We almost hooked up when we first met. Things were getting hot and heavy. Then Knox cock-blocked me. Knox didn’t want her to collect me. I honestly don’t know how she does it. Maybe she had a magic pussy or something, but she keeps men on rotation happy to service her anytime she needs it. Not that there is any shame in that, but I didn’t like her enough to want to be a part of it. That doesn’t mean that she stops trying.

After getting to know her, I can say I don't want the woman. Especially now that I am slightly obsessed with her sister. I motion my hand around the room. “You’re handy work, I take it?”

Lulu rolls her eyes. “She has no right to be here. She better keep my father’s name out of her mouth.”

I stare at her because the whole thing seems a little dramatic. Not that I expected anything less when Lulu is involved. “Isn’t that her name as well?”

She throws her hair over her shoulder, and her pouty lip sticks out more. “That’s the thing, apparently not, which is why she ran away all those years ago. My parents are very tightlipped about the whole thing. I think they adopted her, maybe. She looks nothing like the rest of us. Good riddance. Now, she is popping back up out of nowhere, accusing my father of giving her to the anti-fae movement prisons.” She rolls her eyes before fluttering her aqua eyes up at me. “It’s been disproven. She has been a real headache for him either way.”

I know almost better than anyone the lengths parents will go to keep a secret from being unburied. Marcus has a lot more to lose than my family. “So, your family has had no contact withher?” Salem said her dad paid for Samuel. More puzzle pieces of Salem.

Lulu scrunches up her face like the very thought is painful before huffing. “No, and she better not even think about it. I am sure she will soon need a handout. Probably more blackmail.”

“Well, you made it pretty clear that she isn’t welcome.” I motion around the room. “I am going to get breakfast and catch you later.”

She loops her arm around mine and starts walking me to the cafeteria. “Do you want to eat together?” When we get into the doors, I unhook her arm from mine.

“Rain check? I am meeting up with Knox and Atticus.” She pouts when my phone rings. “It’s mom. I’ll catch you later.”

I walk far enough away and answer the phone. “Mom, how are things?”

“Impossible. I am calling to let you know I am probably sending Leo away again.” She says it like she is talking about the weather or a pet.

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