Page 58 of Redeemed

By the time we’re pulling up to the party, it’s been forty-five minutes since we got kicked out. Lucas and I are two blocks from the house, and we pull our masks over our faces as we jog to meet up with Colton.

“We’ll have to be quick,” he says as we move toward the house. “In and out, no distractions. We’re in masks and different clothes, but that doesn’t mean we’re completely unrecognizable.”

“I don’t know, man, most of the people at this party are pretty wasted,” I say.

“Yeah, but not those other masked guys, and they’re the only ones we really have to worry about,” Lucas points out. Then he stops abruptly, forcing us to as well. “Do you think…?”

“The thought crossed my mind,” Colton replies.

“What?” I ask.

“Wes, Cal, and Kellan. It could be them.”

“Oh, shit. You know what? The body types match up. Although… I dunno, seems like a lot of trouble for them to go through just for a party.”

“Unless there’s more here at play than we realize,” Colton says.

“Do you think it’s something we need to be worried about?” Lucas asks.

“I suppose we’re about to find out.” Pushing past Lucas, Colton adjusts his mask. “Now let’s move.”

The party is still in full swing. Wes, Cal, and Kellan are nowhere to be seen, so we get inside without any issues. We make a beeline for the painting, shoving through the crowd in the front hallway.

“Hey, do you know where Aaron is?” some guy shouts.

“Yeah, he’s fucking that quiet goth girl,” someone responds. “What’s her name? Haven or something?”

Colton freezes. With his shoulders bunched up, he whips around and locates the two guys talking. Grabbing one of them by his costume, Colton slams him into the wall. “Where is she?”

“W-what?” the guy sputters.

“Haven. Where is she?”

“D-downstairs. There’s a bedroom—”

Colton is already stalking away, and Lucas and I are close on his heels. We’ve never interfered with Haven’s sex life before, other than knowing every boy—and the occasional girl—she’s touched. After what Haven did tonight, Colton must be feeling differently.

We storm down the basement stairs. There’s a group playing pool and a few couples making out on couches in the corner. We ignore them and make a beeline for the closed door to our right. Just as we reach it, Haven’s voice floats through.

“Wait. I—I don’t think I can—wait, Aaron, stop.”

Oh, hell no.

Haven fucking other guys already pisses me off to an irrational degree. But some asshole forcing himself on her? Absolutely not.

Colton all but kicks the door down before charging inside, me and Lucas right behind him. Aaron jumps back from Haven, although it looks like he already pulled away.

Good.If he hadn’t, I’d beat him to death right here.

Actually, I might do that anyway.

“What thehellare you doing?” Colton growls as he rips off his mask.

Haven cringes away from us. Her skirt is still on, as is her bra, but she looks uncomfortable at how exposed she is. Quickly, I shut the door behind us.

If I had my way, no one would see Haven like this except me, Luc, and Colt. I’ll always hate her for what she did, but that doesn’t stop the possessiveness I feel toward her. That pisses me off, too—how jealous I get over her for no goddamn reason.

Like he’s some knight in shining armor, Aaron slides in front of Haven to shield her from our view. “Fuck off. No one invited you to join in.”

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