Page 6 of Forever Filthy

He shakes his head and the look vanishes. “Yeah, I guess I’m just so used to everyone knowing who I am and who my family is.”

“What do you mean?” I press.

“Everyone at this party has tried to kiss my ass so they could get in my good graces so I could put in a good word with the board so they won’t get kicked out for failing their classes.”

I frown up at him. “Why would they want to kiss your ass?”

He sighs and scrubs a hand down his face. “My father and four uncles own half the school and sit on the board of CHU.” Surprise ripples through me, I replay his words a few times until they sink in.

“I swear, I had no idea who you were. I only came tonight because I was handed a flier when I arrived…” Feeling suddenly out of place, I try to flee but he grips my wrist, halting my escape.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to accuse you of anything, it’s just hard… you never know who is real and genuine anymore?—”

“Or just using you because of what your last name is?” Surprise flickers through his gaze.

“Yeah,” he breathes out.

“I get it, back home I never really had any friends because they always wanted what my last name could get them or just to get close to me so they could fuck my brother and his three best friends. Well, everyone except one. Nova never cared about my last name or my brother and his friends.” Longing hits me hard and I gasp for air at the mention of Nova. I miss her so much. “I have to go,” I rush to say and yank my hand free of his hold. I ignore him calling out for me to come back as I run back to the dorms.

This was a stupid idea coming here. I run along the beach, choosing to go the long way around so I wouldn't bump into anyone along the footpath. I don’t know why I ran but I just had to get out of there, it was too much thinking about…them. I thought I was past this point where just the thought of them would bring me to my knees. I guess I was wrong.

I stop running and bend over, placing my hands on my knees as I try to drag in a lungful of air. I tense when I get an eerie sense that I am being watched. I slowly push up and discreetly look around. Trees line the bank on one side, on the other is nothing but open ocean. What I didn’t take into account when I ran off was that it’s pitch black out here except for the lighting of the moon. I wrap my arms around myself when a cold shiver works its way down my spine. I take a deep breath and try to reason with myself that I’m just envisioning this feeling of being watched because of the letters, but then I see a shadow emerge from the trees.

Chapter Five

Vivian

Fuck!

My breathing quickly turns ragged as the figure comes closer, forcing me to take a step back, I dart my gaze to the left and my eyes widen when I see another figure. Fear grips me in its clutches. I turn to run back the way I came, but there is another person standing there. I’ve never been in a situation like this before, I was never alone. I always had my brother or one of the guys with me but now I’m here on my own… trapped.

I peer over my shoulder and curse under my breath. Unless I plan on swimming away from these three, I have nowhere to go. They all move in sync and come toward me. With no other option I force myself to stand tall. I am Vivian Tempest, Lordess of the Haven Saints and I will bow to no one. The closer they getI can see they are dressed in all black, but when the one directly in front of me steps into the glow of the moon everything inside me stills at the sight of the mask. I dart my gaze to the other two and the sight of both of them wearing those masks has anger spiking to life inside me.

How fucking dare they!

I clench my hands into fists at my sides as they all creep in closer, forming a semicircle around me. Thanks to their clothing and masks I can see nothing but their eyes. I don’t need to see more than that. I know those three sets of eyes all too fucking well. Those eyes all looked at me with betrayal and heartache the last time I saw them, these bastards made their choice.

“I’ll give the three of you traitors five seconds to turn and walk away or I’ll have you hunted by The Brotherhood.” I’m proud of how my voice doesn’t waiver. I run my gaze over them and force myself to remember that they left me. They chose my brother and refused to fight. I know I have no right to feel the way I do but they hurt me. Left Horn—Hayze Draven, steps forward, forcing me to take a step back which has him halting his movements.

“We aren’t in Hollow Hills anymore, Vivi baby,” he says.

“Don’t fucking call me that!” I snap.

“You can’t banish us from here, Vivian.” I cut my gaze to the Right Horn—-Ezekiel Tempest, my husband and glare at the bastard.

“Fuck you,” I grit out.

“Are you offering?” I turn and face No Horns—Archer Malik, the boy who broke my heart.

“Oh, look you can speak!” I snarl. Archer steps forward but Ezekiel snaps his arm out, halting his movements.

“You banished us, we never turned our backs on you, Vivian.” I scoff and shoot Ezekiel a scathing look. Out of the three of them he has always been the one to never spare my feelingsand always call me out on my shit. I may not have ever had a relationship with Hayze and Ezekiel but a part of me has always felt so connected to them.

“You turned your back on me the minute you allowed me to think my brother had murdered you.” Ez sucks in a sharp breath at my admission.

“And what about us?” Archer pushes. I run my gaze over the three of them. They wear these masks to conceal their identities and used the Filthy Few as a way to garner intel on the Saints but somewhere along the way they lost humanity to these masks. They thought I had no idea about the Saints or the Filthy Few. I allowed them to believe that since it made them feel better thinking they were protecting me, but I watched them change every time they put those masks on. They stopped being the four guys I cared about most in the world and they became… monsters who gave zero fucks about the people they hurt as long as they got the information they needed.

“There stopped being an us when you chose to leave me behind and run after my twin,” I answer without remorse. “I have no idea how the three of you found me or why you are even here, but you will stay the fuck away from me. I don’t need you or want any of you in my life.” I don’t wait for a response as I turn and attempt to flee, but Hayze cuts in front of me and blocks my path. “Move!” I snap.

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