Page 4 of Forever Filthy

“I had a friend hack her system and decline all her college applicationsexceptfor CHU.” Both their eyes widen as I smile smugly.

“You did what?” Archer rasps out.

“She still has to graduate college before she can fully lead the Saints. Vivian is going to be touring CHU,” I tell them.

“I know that look,” Hayze mutters.

“What look?” I snap.

“The one you have right now, fuck face. It's yourI have a planlook.” I grin but neither Hayze nor Archer smiles. Arch seems to be too lost in his own head to even fathom what is happening around him. “Archer and I are done with this shit, even if she does come here…” Hayze clamps his mouth closed and drops his gaze to the ground, unable to finish.

“She will come here, I made sure of that when I?—”

I snap my mouth shut when Archer pushes into me, getting right in my face. “Wedon’t know her. If we fucking did then she wouldn’t have married your fucking ass,” he roars. Guilt churns inside me at the sight of pain etched into his features. I had no idea Archer felt this strongly about Vivian. I always knew he was soft for her and that there was a spark or whatever the fuck you want to call it, but I guess I just chalked that shit up to her being the one none of us could have and you know the old saying, you always want what you can’t have.

“It’s not what you idiots think,” I grit out, then shove Archer back. He tries to come at me again but Hayze darts his arm out, stopping him.

“You came here to do what, Ez? Rub it in that you got the girl, then fucked it up so you came crawling back?”

I shake my head. “You have it all wrong, Draven. I married her to save her fucking life and all of yours!” I snarl.

“No, you may have saved her life but you fucking ruined ours and you ruined our brotherhood for the sake of you wanting to be the fucking hero. I hope it was worth it, asshole,” Archer spits then stalks off. Hayze stares after him for a second, then sighs and scrubs a hand down his face.

“Why are you really here, Ezekiel?”

I meet Hayze’s gaze and I hate that I can see so much apprehension in his eyes. Never before has he ever looked at melike this and I fucking hate it. Archer may be right, I think I really did break us and I don’t know how to fix it.

“I meant what I said. I want her, Hayze.”

“Since when?” he shouts.

“Since always! I was just never obvious about it like Archer who followed her around like a love sick puppy.”

“If you want him to forgive you, then you need to give her up.” I balk at him.

“What?” I grit out.

Hayze shakes his head and then glances in the direction Archer stalked off. “He’s in love with her, Ezekiel. He has been for years. Him finding out the way he did that you married her nearly fucking broke him. He was ready to go against Vox and take every broken bone he would have given him just so he could date his sister. Can you say you would do the same for her?”

Chapter Four

Vivian

“Are you sure you will be okay with running things?” I ask Tate who waves me off as she wipes down the bar. My nerves are frayed. Three weeks ago we opened Lividica and the opening night was a hit, the partners were put in their place and some were kicked the fuck out. I got what I needed from that night.

“You’ll be gone for a couple of weeks. I can survive without you breathing down my neck. Go check out the campus.” I purse my lips, hating that I am lying to her but the truth is, I don’t know who I can trust right now. I’ve been getting letters every week. At first they were harmless but then suddenly they shifted, they became more sinister. I have a feeling I know who it is but I can’t be certain. I mean, I did ruin a few lives a year ago, so I guess you could take your pick.

“It doesn’t matter if I fall in love with the place, it’s not like I could actually go there.”

Tate’s brows furrow as she looks at me. “Why not? I mean no offense but you reek of money so it’s not like you couldn’t afford an Ivy League school.”

I snort at her observation. Sometimes I wish I had someone to talk to aside from David about all of this shit but I have no one. Taking the crown meant losing everyone I cared about. I justified my actions from that night by telling myself I was doing it to save them all, there is no way Thomas Valerian and his evil prick of a son Nexus would have let my brother and his friends live if Nexus married Nova. I wish I could talk to Tate about all of this but she has no idea who I really am, she just thinks I am a trust fund brat who opened a sex club.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I gotta go but I’ll call you later and check in.” She’s already turned away and waving at me over her shoulder before I finish speaking. I fucking love her attitude and how she gives zero fucks about what people think. I climb off my stool and head out of the back of Lividica and meet David in the lobby. He's talking with the manager of the hotel so I hang back and pull out my phone. I sigh at the sight of unopened messages from my brother. I have plenty from Hayze and Ezekiel as well as Nova but not one has come from Archer. He hasn’t tried to call, text, or even come back to Hollow Hills since I banished them. I have no right to feel hurt over this, but it doesn’t stop the feeling from sneaking up on me.

I clutch my phone and close my eyes as I try to breathe through the pain in my chest. I never meant to hurt Archer when I agreed to marry Ezekiel. Marrying Ez was a strategic move, having his last name gave me the power I needed to set them all free but what I didn’t expect was for them all to act like butt hurt bitches and turn their backs on me. I guess I deserved their anger but all they had to do was fucking fight! The onlyone who actually did was my brother. Fuck those three assholes, they never lifted a fucking finger to try and stop me or show me I meant a goddamn fucking thing to them. Turns out, they are just like every other gutless motherfucking mommy’s boys who never want to show their feelings because they think it makes them look weak. Real men can express themselves and be open and honest about their feelings.

By the timewe reach the CHU campus I am exhausted, my back is aching and my neck is stiff as fuck from the long drive. I haven’t had a break since I took over the Saints. Everyone, including David, thinks I am here to tour the campus since all my other applications were declined. At first I was hurt and pissed off until I did some deeper research into the school and its board members and was shocked at what I had learned about the five youngest members who actually own half the school.

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