Page 63 of Pin-up Girl

Sliding into the front seat, I sighed in bliss from the heated seats. Bless Milo for turning those on too. It took about five minutes for them to come outside and lock the place up. They had already decided not to kill me, but apparently, our little heart to heart wasn’t enough for them last night.

I bought that, I got it. But it still chafed, when I knew I’d done everything I could to help them.

Cold air wafted through the car as they each climbed in. Milo fiddled with the music, turning on some random playlist and adjusting the heat.

“So, the fire tower, does one of your families own this?” I watched the place get smaller and smaller in the side mirror, until we took a turn and it was gone. The drive down the mountain was steep. I was surprised I hadn’t noticed last night. Oh yeah, I was scared as shit while tucked away in the hatch. That was probably why.

“Actually, I own it.” Milo glanced at me before turning his gaze back to the road. “I have a trust fund, and when I turned eighteen, I bought this plot of land and the old fire tower as a place to escape the real world every now and then.”

“Did it work? Were you able to escape?” I took my heels off and shoved my feet under the heaters in the floorboard.

Milo shrugged. “I don’t know that we’ve ever really been able to truly escape. But it’s peaceful up here.”

I didn’t say anything after that. I’d never been able to escape or have somewhere pretty and peaceful to go. Seeing Ellie was the one bright spot in my life, so I couldn’t relate.

About ten minutes out from his dad’s house, he started to lay out his plan. That was his thing, wait until we were almost where we were going to get everyone up to speed. I don’t know if that was to make sure we remembered it, or if it was an afterthought.

“In a rare show of fatherhood, it appears like Marsten Kingston has my back. But I don’t trust it. We can share some information, but not all. I don’t want to give him too much ammunition against us.”

Emmett chimed in from the back. “Yes, but your father has also had you followed for years and knows every time you’ve taken a piss. Will he be angry if he’s revealed this, tried to help you, and then you ignore him again?”

“No, I think if he figures out what we’re doing, he’ll be amused more than anything. He seems to get a sick kick out of my rebellion.” Milo scratched his chin.

“Will he let Cassidy go?” She was my number one priority right now. We’d been sent on most of our jobs together, and while she wasn’t the kind of girl to let someone get close, she was the best friend I had.

“Yes, he’s not in the habit of getting his hands dirty. I was truly surprised when he said he’d keep her. But he’s going to want to know what we’re going to do with you and with her.”

That was easy. “You’re using me. I used you, so you’re turning the tables, and you have some very strong leverage against me, only you won’t reveal what it is to your father. From my short encounter with him, he won’t expect you to.”

Milo nodded, and when I looked back at Jules and Emmett, they seemed agreeable.

“Perfect.” Now we could focus on the more important decisions.

The guard waved us through, only this time, there was another car parked in front of the house. Red and flashy, I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but it was expensive.

The door opened as we were getting out, and if I didn’t have my hand on the door, I would have tripped right on my fucking face.

The twins from the frat were strolling out with Cassidy between them.

Chapter Seventeen

What the fuck?

Emmett put a hand to my waist to steady me as he watched the same shit show I was. Why would the twins come here, and more importantly, why would they take Cassidy with them? How the hell did they even know she was here?

“Jamie, Johnny.” Milo greeted in an ice-cold tone. “What a surprise, seeing you at my father’s house.” He looked past them to the house, but the door was still closed.

“We just came to collect Cassidy here. Apparently, it was something you were supposed to do, but you were otherwise…indisposed.” Johnny looped a finger through Cassidy’s belt loop, as if they were dating. The way they were leering at her, it wasn’t exactly what they had in mind.

“Cassidy, go ahead and jump in the backseat.” Milo turned to me. “Get in the car with Cassidy. I’m just going to have a quick word with my father, and then I’ll be back. Johnny, Jamie, thanks for trying to help out, but it’s not needed.”

He jogged up the steps, disappearing inside in a few short seconds.

“Hey, Cass, come on. I’ll sit in the back with you.” I reached for her, but Johnny tugged her back by the belt loop, causing her to fall into him. He caught her in his arms, grinning at her like he wanted to eat her up with chocolate syrup and a spoon.

With her heels, Cass was the same height as him. She was also a hell of a contrast with her dark complexion and hair against their ginger hair and fair skin. She stared at him with a deer in the headlights look, probably unsure if she could piss him off or not. There wasn’t a frat brother or sorority girl she didn’t know. That we didn’t know.

“Sorry, Romeo. We don’t have time for you to get to know Elise’s friend.” Emmett removed her from Johnny’s arms and shuffled her toward the car. “Go ahead, climb in.”

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