Page 13 of Gambit's Property

“Fuck, Striker, knock from now on, and that ain’t fucking happening. That’s like making out with my sister, so nope.” I laugh as I sit back down.

I watch as the two of them hug and joke for a moment. She jokingly calls me a cradle robber, and I ignore it because it’s true. I’m thirty years old, and Franci is only eighteen. I should let her finish college, but I know she wants a family. I know she’s just going to college to bide her time until she finds someone to make a family with. I’ve read her diary. I know her darkest secrets. That she touches herself while she thinks of me. I know what she craves in the bedroom, and I plan to give her every fantasy she desires.

“You know she’s legal, and there’s no way this fool would go after her just for tail. He wouldn’t do that to you.” Striker defends me.

She stops, turns to look at me, and then back to him. She finally realizes I would have stopped if I could. I’m serious about Franci. I’m going to get her pregnant and marry her, in that order.

I decide we all need a drink and pull out my bottle and some glasses.

“Open up, take a swallow, before the Blackness overtakes you,” we all say the toast Deere came up with before he was killed. It stuck after that, even if it sucks.

The Black Unit was the best before we lost him. It’s as if he was the glue that held us all together. I rub my right pec where my tattoo is. If I ever find the person who killed him, I’ll bury them alive and dig them up to do it all over again.

She stands up after a bit and turns to walk out.

“Rogue, we are here. You call, and we are there for you. You don’t call again, we’ll still be there,” Striker says, and I agree with him. We can’t lose another member of our unit.

CHAPTER 6

FRANCI

Ismooth out my short suede skirt, knowing I need to calm down. I’m so freaking nervous. I can’t believe I’m going to a Greek row party. I didn’t rush any of them because I didn’t find one that I liked, but today, after of my microbiology class, one of the hockey players invited me to his frat house for a party.

I continue walking across the quad with the other girls from the dorm who are also attending the party. I laugh and pretend to have fun, but I honestly don’t want to be here. It’s been about a month and a half since I last saw Gavin. I don’t feel him in my room anymore. I think it was all just a side effect of the sleeping pills. My heart is broken, but I’m determined to go out and party. I got my shot last month at the campus clinic. I might lose my virginity tonight. Maybe that will make me more desirable to older men. I’m pretty sure it’s just Gavin I’m attracted to, but I’m willing to try anything to get over this heartache.

We walk up the steps, and for a moment, I think I feel someone watching me, but I chalk it up to the wind blowing against my neck. I have my hair up in the space buns Erika taught me to do. Just last week, I spent the weekend with her and Gray. After Ley had to take out a gunman in the ER at the hospital, I needed to be close to family, and Ley and Leif weretogether. They haven’t told us yet, but I’m sure they are seeing each other.

I step through the door and into Oz, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve never been to a party like this before. I went to classmates’ birthday parties, but this is a kegger. The room is thick with smoke from cigarettes and pot. I cough for a moment, my eyes watering as I try to see through the dimness around me.

“You made it,” a voice says, and I almost jump when he touches my waist.

I pull away, not liking the way he’s looking at me. He hands me a cup, but I shake my head. I know better than to accept a drink from someone that I didn’t pour or open myself.

Clayton—I think that’s his name, or something like that—takes a sip and grabs my hand. He leads me through the crowd of people to the kitchen. There’s a keg, a bowl filled with liquid and floating fruit, and several bottles of other alcohol on the table. Coolers line the wall, filled with beer and other beverages. I’ve only had a sip here and there of vodka. I don’t normally drink.

I watch as he moves to the makeshift bar and starts pouring juice and some alcohol into a glass. He opens all the bottles in front of me, so I take the drink from him. I almost ask him for water when I remember I’m here to get over Gavin. I gulp the drink down, barely tasting it, before I hand him back my cup.

“More, please.” I bat my eyes as I talk in a sugary sweet voice, hoping he’ll refill my drink. Sure enough, he makes me another cup, and this time, he toasts with me.

“To having a good time,” he says, and we both take a sip. I allow him to take me to another room, where a pool table is and two couples are playing. “Want to play the winners?”

“Sure.” I smile up at him as I take another sip. I don’t tell him that I’m good at pool. Gray has been teaching me.

Whatever he made is really good, and before I know it, I’m out and he runs off to make me another. Our turn comes up atthe pool table, and we’re doing great. We’re five or six games in, and I’ve had at least four Solo cups of mixture. This latest one tastes a bit different, but I think it’s because my whole body is tingling. I’m having a hard time focusing on the balls too. He’s laughing and whispering with his friends as I lean against the table and watch our competitor shoot. I know they are talking about me because I’ve seen him point in my direction a couple of times. I’m curvy, and boys are attracted to me—until I start talking about science or sharks.

Clayton waves for me to go, and as I stand up fully in my heeled black boots, I suddenly feel dizzy. I grab my cup and take another gulp, trying to cover up the fact I’m obviously a lightweight. I’m embarrassed, but the others around me laugh, so I try to laugh it off too.

I hear a commotion, and the next thing I know, Gavin is standing in front of me. He looks me up and down, and I smile big.

“Hello, Mr. You’re-Too-Old-For-Me,” I slur, and he grabs my cup.

He takes a sniff before he throws it at the wall. He grips my chin softly and tips my head up so he can look in my eyes.

“How much have you had to drink?”

“None of your business,” I reply.

Clayton walks over. “Come on, lover, let’s get you away from this party crasher.” He takes my arm and starts to pull me away, but Gavin pulls me back.

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