Page 13 of The Secret's Out

Just leave me alone.

However, no matter the amount of inner begging I did, I knew I was out of luck when next my hair was tugged back violently, causing my steps to falter and I cried out in pain.

After righting myself, I turned around to face my assailant, only to cringe when a hand was wound around my waist. I tried to step away, but it tightened.

“Come on, girl. I know you said no to Cameron, but you’d be willing for me, yeah?”

Dropping my bag, I raised my hands and pushed against Scott’s chest. Scott was nearly as bad as Cameron, which could explain why they were best friends.

“Leave me alone,” I said, raising my glare to meet his eyes and then I cursed my lips as they trembled.

He chuckled. “I can’t do that. I’ve always wanted what Cameron wants and I plan to get it this time.” Two guys behind him laughed. When had they arrived?

It was then my heart seized in my chest as soon as I heard a certain noise.

My already tense body froze solid.

My eyes widened.

Was it?

Could it be?

Family?

“What...?” Scott said.

Blinking rapidly, I looked around everywhere to find that noise as I pushed harder against Scott’s chest. He started saying something to me, but my ears and eyes weren’t for him...no, they were for the two Harleys riding through the campus car park and coming to a stop just at the edge of the lawn.

My struggle continued. Couldn’t Scott see my attention wasn’t on him? Couldn’t he and his friends sense the trouble they would be in, depending on who was on those two bikes?

Suddenly, Scott must have noticed others around us looking toward the new arrivals. Scott stood straight, and I saw out the corner of my eyes as he gestured to his friends to the two men hopping off their bikes. Scott’s arm fell from my waist. I sagged in relief and drew in a deep breath. Only Scott’s hand quickly and tightly gripped my wrist.

It seemed he wasn’t willing to let me go as we all watched the two Harley riders unclasp their helmets, remove their sunglasses and place both on their seats. When they turned back to face me, I gasped.

Home.

Family.

Love.

Safety.

My free, trembling hand came up to my mouth to cover it as Caden and Eli stalked their way toward us. They both looked amazing, but also very unhappy. Caden dug a baseball cap out of the back pocket of his jeans and placed it on his head backwards. He seemed somewhat calmer than Eli, who was rolling his head side to side, also clenching and unclenching his hands.

They stopped just a foot in front of us. Caden’s gruff voice barked out, “You wanna let go of her.” It wasn’t a question. Every syllable was a demand, but Scott wasn’t smart enough to know that.

“Nope. You want to fuck off and mind your own business?”

Caden’s eyes hardened. His gaze travelled to Scott’s hand around my wrist. Slowly, he pulled his glare back up to me, and his eyes softened.

“Caden,” I uttered, my gaze flicked to the fuming man next to him. “Eli,” I whispered. Eli’s eyes touched mine briefly only to move back to Scott’s quiet friends watching the whole scene apprehensively. Eli was in the zone. That wasn’t good.

My eyes went to Caden, only his focus was back on Scott. He sighed and then snorted. “You don’t know it, but you’ll soon get it. She is ours—”

Scott burst out laughing. He tugged on my wrist so I was looking at him. “So you don’t hold out for everyone? Knew you were a slut.”

“Pick,” Eli growled, using Caden’s biker name.

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