Pin-up wasn’t as frightened as I thought she was. Sure, she was scared, but she was full of fire and seemed ready to do whatever it took to get away from us. Pin-up wasn’t stupid. She realized the situation she’d stumbled upon was dangerous for her.
Behind her, Milo took a deep breath and donned the mask he wore on campus, the one that said he was your best friend and would do anything for you.
“Cute. We’re not going to hurt you. We just want to chat. What’s your name?”
She twisted until she could see all three of us at the same time. We had already boxed her in. No getting away this time.
Emmett scrunched his face up as he stared at her. For once, his gaze was on a face and not the rack. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. “I’ve seen her around. I think she’s in my econ class.”
She twisted around again, her heels clattering against the asphalt. The whites of her eyes were starting to show. If she got spooked, she’d try to run again. That wasn’t going to happen. Until we knew what we were going to do with her, I refused to hurt her. For my peace of mind, I prowled around her, outside of Emmett and Milo. My muscles were loose and moving. The first step she tried to take, I’d be on her.
“Listen, babe. You aren’t leaving until we get some answers. How about we go back to the Shack and get to know each other?”
I nearly rolled my eyes. Like that was going to make her feel safe with us.
“This has been fun and all, but I can’t hang around. This bitch has things to do. And my girlfriend’s waiting on me. You don’t want her to call the cops if I don’t find her, do you?”
Right, Super Model. How could we have forgotten she had someone who would be looking for her? Just what we needed, more complications. I had never hurt a woman, but my fingers twitched with the need to take care of her right here. Our future was on the line, and when it came to us or her, I’d choose us every time. I could carry this stain for Milo and Emmett. They would never be able to handle it. They were too soft.
“We’ll take care of that. No need to alarm anyone,” Milo crooned to her.
Emmett pulled out his phone. My guess, he was messaging Charles. Johnny and Jamie would be butt hurt if they knew we cornered their select for the night. Derek was mostly useless, so that left Charles to hunt down the friend and let her know she left with the Kings of Alpha Delta Omega. The friend would think she was in for a hot and heavy foursome. She might even be excited for her.
Milo pointed down the alley heading back to the club. “Let’s go. My car is right down the street.”
Enough of this.
I took her arm, tight but not enough to bruise, and started marching her toward the Caddy. She was tense, walking like she was heading to her execution. Maybe she was? I placed a firm hand on her hip to ensure she didn’t get any crazy ideas. Milo and Emmett took up either side of us, ready to tackle her ass if needed.
We rounded the corner, meeting the end of the admission line. Emmett put a little extra swagger into his step as he tossed an arm around Pin-up’s shoulders. Milo was already smiling at people as we passed. Everyone knew who he was. It was both a gift and a curse.
Our options lessened significantly. Almost a hundred people witnessed us leaving with her. Milo caught my eye, and he nodded. He came to the same conclusion.
Parked in VIP, the SUV was ten feet away. We could count small blessings we didn’t have to walk our unwilling prisoner across the dark and long parking lot. Emmett opened the back door for us, and I helped Pin-up get in. More like made sure she didn’t escape.
For the last few minutes, she had been completely silent. I slid in next to her and buckled her in, then myself. Her hand gripped the seat belt so tightly, the whites of her knuckles showed. Milo started the car, and we were gone.
The station Milo picked earlier came on over the speakers. The music was a welcome filler. Sometimes people didn’t like the silence. Didn’t feel comfortable with it. After so many years without a voice, I found I often craved it. But I could appreciate the music right now.
The silence would unnerve her. We needed her as relaxed as possible until we got her in Milo’s rooms. Milo drove fast, but definitely not breaking any speed limits. No matter. Within twenty minutes, we pulled up to the front of the Shack.
I hated this place. It reminded me of everything wrong in my childhood. Milo and Emmett knew the bones of what happened, but they didn’t know everything. And I would protect them this way. To know why I lost my voice, it would drive them to do crazy fucked up things. Freedom was so close. We just needed to stay on the track. Maybe one day, when this life was a memory, I’d tell them.
Milo parked right in front of the house. As President, no one would give a shit, or if they did, they’d keep it to themselves. He got out and opened her door. Harsh light from the street highlighted the paleness of her skin, the fear on her face. Even knowing she was up shit creek, she met my gaze, then what I’d assume was Milo’s before she climbed down. Only then did I get out, but I stayed close to Milo as he walked her up the steps.
She twisted her head this way and that. If I were her, I’d be memorizing the layout, looking for a friendly face, anything to be able to escape later. A few of the guys were playing beer pong in the living room. They had full view of us as we passed down the wide and open hallway. Her discomfort was obvious in the line of her shoulders and the stiffness in her gait. She wouldn’t find any friendly faces. She might not know it, but what she had walked out on, every member here was shackled by the same chains. There would be no heroes for her here.
Milo placed a proprietary hand on her back as he walked her up the wide, Victorian stairs. Sometimes he laid on the charm so thick, I doubted he remembered it was an act. A means to an end. Back when we were kids, he was more of an introvert, preferring the company of books over people. But to get the information we needed, one of us had to be the president, and it damn sure couldn’t be me.
A new freshman, Ethan, passed us on the stairs. He glanced at Pin-up, but quickly looked away. His family was Alpha Delta Omega five generations back. He knew the drill.
The walk to Milo’s room never seemed so long. He led her up another staircase to the third floor. Emmett and I had rooms on the second floor like the other upper year brothers. The freshmen and sophomores had rooms in the basement. But the pres, he got the entire suite on the third level. What was a fraternity if not status and perks, and the pres had the highest status in the house.
Emmett stopped her at the top of the stairs with a hand to the wrist as Milo unlocked his door. Inside, his king size bed dominated the far wall. In all the space in between, he had a few couches, a wet bar, and a desk. Not exactly the posh furnishings some of the other brothers would prefer, but it suited him perfectly.
I went in last, locking the door and leaning against it. Emmett led her over to the couch, and took a seat next to her. He stretched his legs out, clasping his hands behind his neck. When she glanced at him, he winked and slid further down in the couch.
Milo sat on the table in front of her, scooting it back to allow her a small amount of space.
“Alright, first things first. What’s your name?” Milo smiled.
Pin-up straightened, glaring at Milo for all she was worth. Yes, I could like her if she didn’t represent our downfall.
“I think we all know you only care about my name as a way to gain leverage over me. So, no.” She pursed her mouth in a way that brought attention to the fullness of her bottom lip.