Page 23 of Darkened Truths
Zander practically throws me in Wes’s arms when he arrives and walks in the opposite direction without so much as a word. Thank goodness Wes has no problem holding me, otherwise I may have landed face first on the sidewalk. Wes wraps his arms around me with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Ouch, Zan. No goodbye kiss?” I ask with a fake pout. Zander doesn’t even give me the satisfaction of responding, just keeps walking. I smirk to myself when I see him shove his balled fists into his pants before others obstruct my view of his retreating form.
“I’ll give you a kiss, Hellcat.”
“I’m sure you would, Sugar Plum.” He laughs and shakes his head. Out of all of them, Wes is the easiest to get along with. He’s a go with the flow kind of guy and I enjoy his company. He’s hot and funny. What’s not to like? I’m sure if Leah were here, she would tell me to hit that, even if his buddies were trying to make my life a living hell. Well, one friend. Zander hasn’t said or done much to me. It only seems to be Julien, who has a stick up his ass.
“Sugar Plum?” he asks, amused.
“Oh yes. Since you three like nicknames so much, I figured I’d give you each one of your own. Want to know Zander’s?” Wiggling my eyebrows in anticipation and wait. He circles his fingers along my spine and nods, that sexy as sin smile still plastered to his face. Wriggling out of his grasp, I put a step between us. I don’t need dirty thoughts to run through my mind, and his touch is affecting me. I clear my throat and focus on the conversation again. “Daddy.I just know he loves it.” I clasp my hands behind my back, clasping my fingers and pushing my chest out proudly as I sway side to side, a big grin on my face.
The sound of Wesley's laugh—rich, deep, and undeniably sexy—sends a jolt of arousal through me, and I instinctively squeeze my thighs, trying to regain control of my body. How is that even possible? It’s a laugh. It’s not like he’s touching me. Why can I not get a handle on my sex drive around these men? They’re bullies. All three have already made it known I’m not welcome here. Yet, I keep finding myself drawn to them. This isn’t normal, it can’t be. There’s got to be something in the air that’s making me go crazy.
“I’m sure he loves that.”
He drapes his arm over my shoulder and directs me away from the buildings. I stiffen under him, the playfulness from moments ago gone, and a bad feeling settles deep in my gut. My class is the other way. I remember because I mapped out where it was yesterday with Ava. Going anywhere alone with the Kings is a bad idea. I look around for some help, but no one seems interested, keeping their heads lowered or turned away instead. I push against him, but he continues to move us forward as if I were an insignificant gnat. Aside from collapsing like a sack of potatoes, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop him.
“Where are we going?” I ask when we step into the parking lot. There are a handful of cars, most of which belong to the faculty, but there are some students milling around othervehicles. The flashy ones make me roll my eyes in annoyance. It doesn’t surprise me that wealth loves company. I'm sure there are many spoiled brats here. So are you, my brain reminds me. I like to think I wasn’t this pompous. Do you really need a bright yellow Lamborghini Revuelto in a small town close to the White Mountains? The roads can get slick, and I’m not sure a sports car is the smartest choice.
Headlights flash and it snaps my mind back to the here and now. He opens the door to a black SUV for me and leans against the door, his arm slung over the top of it, waiting for me to get in..
“A surprise.” He gives me that panty dropping smile again and wiggles his brows like I did to him earlier.
Yeah right. A surprise off the side of a cliff, maybe. I’d be crazy to get in the car with him or with any of them. I can handle a babysitter walking around campus. It’s unnecessary and a nuisance, but I can handle that. But, to climb willingly into a car where they can take me to God knows where? That’s not happening.
“No thanks. Not big into surprises. I need to get some reading done. The life of a criminal is more studious than I imaged it to be.” I step back, preparing to turn on my heel, but he grips my arm tightly, pinning me against the side of the car. The dark metal is warm on my back in the morning sun.
He lowers his head and voice, all traces of the golden boy, gone. His stare is hard, his jaw clenches as the muscles in his neck dance in tune, and he’s pressing his hard body into mine, leaving no room to breathe, let alone escape. My brain yells at me to get my ass in gear, but I can’t get my body to listen.
“Get in the fucking car,” he demands. When I stand there blinking at him, like a deer in the headlights, he adds, “Don’t make me tie you up and throw you in the trunk.” His eyes turn feral as he presses the thick length of his cock against me, hardand unmistakably ready. A cruel smirk tugs at his lips when my breath catches. “Actually,” he says, voice low and laced with menace, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear with disturbing gentleness—a jarring contrast to the threat still hanging in the air. “I like that idea better. Let me tie you up and throw you to the wolves, Riley. Watch what’s left when they’re done. How much do you think your father would pay for you? I know a lot of skin traders. Keep up this fucking attitude of yours and let’s see how brave you are when you’re being beaten down, drugged, and fucked in the ass.”
My heart thumps wildly and my knees feel like they’re going to give out at any moment. I force oxygen into my lungs, but it does little to ease the lightheadedness. Another panic attack is on the brink, and I know I have no option but to force it down. I’m going to be fine, I half heartedly tell myself. He can’t know how much his threat affected me. He’s joking. Right? His face is stoic, giving nothing away. I press my back into the hard surface, attempting to force space between us. This is the Wesley everyone fears. His easy going persona puts them at ease, but this version signs their death warrant.
“Now I won’t ask you again. Are you going to be a good girl and get in, or are you going to be a brat and force my hand?”
He wants me to defy him so badly—and if I weren’t terrified he’d follow through on his threat, I might, just to see what happens. He wants to dish out some sort of punishment and his eyes are gleeful at the prospect. I have no doubts he knows people who would use me for blackmail, or to get to my father. Despite my original thoughts of being safe on campus, I know that’s not true. There are safeguards in place, sure, but nothing is one hundred percent foul-proof.
I give a jerky nod of my head. Wes gives me enough space to slide past the open door into the seat. Then, when I’m settled, he slams the door closed, making me jump out of my skin. I yelp inand cover my mouth, hoping he didn’t hear it. He gets into the driver’s side and starts the engine without giving me a second glance.
“Where are we going?”
He doesn’t answer, just shifts it into drive and peels out of the parking lot. I grasp the door handle to keep from shifting in my seat. No words pass between us. Just his death grip on the wheel, knuckles bleached with tension.Breathe, Riley. A rivulet of sweat drips down between my breasts and I wipe my sweaty palms on my skirt. My mind races with my thundering heart, each pulse a threat to my control. Not knowing what will break first, my sanity or my restraint, but something’s about to snap. I don’t like this. I never should have gotten in the car with him. Nope. I should have called his bluff. Although, deep down, I don’t think he was telling complete lies. Wesley is like everyone else here. He has connections to dangerous people who do bad things.
Finally, we make it to the edge of campus when he stops the car and steps out. He whistles as he swings his keyring around his finger, catching the key fob each time it connects with the palm of his hand. Each step around the front of the car brings him closer to me. I sit there, seatbelt still on, when he stops next to me and opens the door.
“Out,” he demands.
I look up at him and shake my head. “I think I’m good.” A cold dread washes over me. My gut screams at me. When your brain and heart are unreliable, you can always trust your gut. And I sure as hell plan on listening to it now. Nothing good can come from getting out of the car.
With swift movements, he unbuckles the belt and drags me out, my feet getting tangled in my bag.
“No. Let go of me, Wes.” I nearly fall on my butt from the force, but right myself at the last moment. I rub my upper armto soothe the pain of his manhandling. If they keep this up, I’ll have a nice collection of bruises on my upper arms from all three of them. He directs me around the back of the car, and that’s when I see Julien standing there with Derek. His nose is swollen, and deep purple bruises have formed under his eyes. I don’t have a lot of experience, but it looks broken. Derek is also sporting dried blood on his upper lip and scowls at us. Julien, on the other hand, looks as put together as ever. Not a dark hair out of place.
Horror rips a gasp from my lips as I worriedly shake my head. I take a step closer, but Wesley holds me in place. I jerk my gaze up to his and he shakes his head, a frown settling deep on his face. “Sorry, Hellcat. You started this.”
I didn’t start anything. All I did was stand up for myself from a couple of bullies who are trying to dictate my life. I’m playing the game they’ve forced me into, so how is this my fault?
He wraps his arms around my body and pulls my back flush with his front. He kisses my cheek, then presses his against mine. “Watch. Julien’s a master at this.” His deep timbre vibrates my skin, and a dread settles deep in my stomach. My eyes flutter closed, not wanting to watch.
