Page 37 of Cannon
“We all fucking know there are cameras in here. I just figured I’d say hey.” His eyes scan the room. “You’ve looked for them, I take it?”
I groan. “Yeah. Can’t fucking find them anywhere.”
We’re quiet for a few moments, then Dane turns to look out the window, speaking very low. “And that other thing you mentioned? What’s going on with that?”
I think Dane’s trying his awkward best to ask in code for an update on what I said about the guys the last time he and I spoke—that they weren’t who I’d thought they were. “Learning as I go.”
He turns back to me, giving me a nervous smile. “Same.”
EIGHTEEN
ARCHER
At twenty-five pastnine Saturday night, despite the ruckus created by all the brothers gathered in the living room, I hear Elliot creep down the front stairs and along the hall toward us. The click of her heels on the hardwood floors is a dead giveaway.
She’s been keeping to herself again—I fucking hate that lock on her door—so we’d all been halfway wondering if she’d show up tonight. Dane assured us she seemed like she would; said he’d tried to reassure her that we only want to make sure she’s okay.
Anyway, no one else seems to notice her approach. But I do. I’ve always got my eyes—and my ears—on Elliot.
“Where the fuck is she? I want to get over there and see what skirt there is to chase,” Alec grumbles.
He’s such a prick. As a junior, he’s been to this event two times and knows there are very specific rules in place. Seeing who he can fuck around with isn’t part of it. Then again, he’s always been one to push the boundaries. Selfish, greedyfuck.He’s of the misguided opinion that he should be able to get away with shit because he was our initiate two years ago. I would have thought that after being dragged to that awful house earlier this week that he’d have realized that’s untrue. Hell, even the head thumping he received from Cannon yesterday should have saidsomethingto him. He even has a big purple goose egg on his temple as a reminder. But that’s Alec for you. Not too bright. And he doesn’t seem to ever learn his place.
Stuart nods. “Yeah. If she’s not down in the next five minutes, I vote to leave her ass here.”
Kingston whips around so fast, I don’t think Stuart sees the hand shooting out to slam him to the wall and hold him by the throat. “Don’t fucking start, you fucking obnoxious piece of shit.” With the growling voice and the positively lethal way Kington is staring directly into Stuart’s eyes, I’m surprised the dude isn’t pissing his pants. It’s a real shame Kingston is in a long-sleeved button-down tonight, because otherwise, we’d be seeing an impressive demonstration of how his muscles bulge as he easily controls Stuart with one hand.
A moment later, Elliot glides into the room, looking like a dream. Her head held high, confidence oozes from her. All heads turn in her direction.
Earlier this evening, while she was napping, I slipped a note under her door—for the record, not the same handwriting as what’s been on the fucked-up notes she’s received—suggesting Elliot wear a dress in black, if she had it, and heels.
Butfuck.I wasn’t expecting this. Elliot’s a stunner in a curve-hugging strapless number that hits her at mid-thigh. She’s rocking the stiletto heels I’d noticed in her closet that first time she’d let me dress her for a frat party. And, though I prefer Elliot without much makeup, I have to admit the red lip on her is fucking amazing.
Her tongue darts out to wet her lips before she boldly states, “Someone told me we’re going to some sort of party tonight.” Her eyes find Kingston, and they widen at the scene she’s walked in on, but she makes no comment… if I know her at all, in her head, she’s busy trying to deduce what the hell happened right before she walked in—and whether it had anything to do with her.
Alec snorts from where he’s standing next to me. “If that’s what you want to call it, sure.”
Knowing Kingston is occupied with Stuart, I don’t bother to second-guess myself. My hand darts out and grasps the side of Alec’s head, and I shove him hard. He stumbles into Cannon, who rights him, then slams his hand down on the idiot’s shoulder, clamping down with a vice-like grip. There’s an uncomfortable rumble through the remainder of the group, first because the evening is already starting out with assholery. And second, because no, it’s not a fuckingpartywe’re going to. It’s designed to look and feel like one, though.
My eyes shoot to Elliot where she’s temporarily frozen in place by the reaction her words caused. It’s best to get her focus off what’s coming this evening. She’ll find out soon enough that it’s a little different than she’s thinking. Last year, we showed up and there was a wrestling match—an all-female mud wrestling match set up in an elaborate ring in the middle of the ballroom at Bainbridge Hall. Zero fucking clue how they’d convinced these girls to get dirty with each other in itty bitty bikinis. But they’d been a sight to behold, each pair coming out of the ring with mud in every nook and cranny. It’d been…hot.No other word for it. And a real crowd-pleaser.
Glancing at Stuart, whose face has turned an impressive shade of beet-red, I grit out, “See, man? She’s not late at all, so cut the shit. And she looks better than all ten of us combined.”
Elliot’s face flushes at my words, but she swiftly tears her eyes from mine. I wonder if she—and everyone else—can see that I’d like nothing more than to walk over there and pull her body against mine and tune out all this bullshit. I’ll go to thispartybecause I have to… but I’ll spend all day tomorrow recharging from it. No one ever pegs me for an introvert. I’m a good conversationalist and kinda funny, if I do say so myself, but I always feel out of sorts after I’ve been around too many people. Maybe I can convince Elliot that I need her to hang out with me tomorrow. Not to talk, really. Just so I’m not so alone.
Kingston’s head swivels from Elliot back to Stuart. “Not another word.” He gives one last vicious squeeze before he lets go and pivots to face the entire brotherhood. “Donotgive me a reason to leave you behind. You were invited tonight because they think you’re one of the elite. Understood? Now,proveyou’re capable of representing Hawthorne Hall.”
There isn’t a brother in the room who dares utter a word. They all simply nod as they straighten ties, brush invisible lint from their sleeves, or shove their hands into pockets.
“Get out to the SUVs. We’re leaving in ten minutes, each initiate with their sponsors in a separate vehicle.” When no one moves, he points to the front door, cocks an angry brow at them, and thunders, “Don’t make me fucking tell you again. Go!”
Properly chastised, the other two groups shuffle toward the foyer, Dane giving us—Elliot?—a small wave, while we stay put. Kingston is clearly waiting for everyone to exit so he can have a word with us before we leave the house.
My eyes roam over Elliot’s pretty features, noting the firm set of her jaw, the lifted chin, and the way she won’t look any of us in the eye. We already know Elliot can hold a grudge, so none of us should be surprised by this turn of events. She knows this is it. She’s readying herself for a battle. I groan inwardly at the prospect… but it also kinda excites me to see the badass in her return. This is gearing up to be one hell of a night.
I draw in a breath, crossing the short distance to her, and touch my hand to her shoulder. “I see you got my note. You look”—I hook my thumbs behind my suspenders and let loose with a long, low whistle—“phenomenal.”
She nods, finally acknowledging me. “I did get your note, thank you.” Her gaze moves swiftly from my light-gray button-down shirt to my darker gray pants, then travels all the way down to my snazzy shoes before lifting to mine again. “You look nice, too.” She tucks her bag under her arm and looks away, her eyes landing on the lion’s crest over the mantle.
