I don’t have heels, but this dress doesn’t need them. It comes mid-thigh and clings to me like a second skin. I saunter out of the bathroom all casual like, pretending to focus on untangling my hair as if I wear stuff like this every day, even when my heart feels like it’s going to pound out of my chest.
Reuben is busy texting on his phone. He glances up at me as I walk across the room. My stomach somersaults at his double take.
“Ready?” he asks. I nod, keeping my eyes away from him in an attempt to cool down my cheeks.
It doesn’t help, of course, but I have no right to complain. I know this dress is trouble—that’s why I chose it.
While I’d been rifling around in my closet wondering what clothing best suited a date with the devil—or four of them, in this case—I’d realized something.
They’ve been controlling me like a puppet. They wanted me gone so they bullied me. And if I’d had a choice, I’d have left. They want to turn me against Father Gabriel, and expect me to prove that he’s not a pedophile.
I guess alcohol does put hair on your chest, because I’m done being their marionette doll.
I’m wearing this dress because that means Zach’s brothers—and hopefully Zachary himself—will be so distracted that, for once, I’ll have the upper hand.
It’s not the best plan, but it’s a plan.
What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter Four
Trinity
When the Brotherhood had invited me over, I’d expected to meet them somewhere inside the dorms. I get that they can’t be seen together or it would blow their cover, but I didn’t realize we’d be going back to their man cave.
I’m sitting in Zachary’s wooden chair. It’s hard and too high—my feet dangle unless I point and touch my toes to the carpet. The guys are sitting on the big sofa staring at me like they can’t decide whether to kill me or fuck me.
Apollo just makes Reuben look even brawnier by comparison, especially since Reuben’s biceps are almost bulging out of his t-shirt.
“Where’s Cass?” I ask, shifting in my seat.
“He’ll be here soon.”
“And Zachary?”
“Gone to town,” Reuben says. Apollo immediately elbows him in the side. “Shut it!”
“What?”
“She doesn’t need to know that.”
“Why not?”
Apollo frowns at him in reply before they turn their gazes back to me. I lick my lips and shift uncomfortably.
“Do you want a drink?” Reuben asks, standing before I have a chance to reply. He pours one for each of us and hands them out before sitting down again.
My nose wrinkles when I catch a whiff of the eye-watering booze in my glass. “What is this?” I ask, swirling it around.
“Whiskey,” Apollo answers. “Not the greatest, but this far away from civilization it’s this or moonshine.”
“What’s moonshine?”
Reuben chuckles wryly. Apollo snickers. Then both their faces go blank. “Fuck, you’re serious,” Apollo murmurs. He shakes his head as he lifts his glass to his lips. “God help us.”
I frown at him, about to ask just what the hell that was supposed to mean when there’s a snap of fabric behind me. I twist in my seat, facing Cass as he storms into the lair.
“We’ve got company,” he says, and then his eyes fall on me. A smug smile replaces his frown. “Welcome back, my little slut.” His eyes rove over me like a physical touch. “Damn. You look good enough to eat.”
I drop my eyes and try to hide behind my glass as he strides deeper into the sitting area. I’m starting to regret wearing the dress.
“Guess who’s back?” he says, stabbing a thumb over his shoulder.
“Not Zachary,” Reuben says. “Not unless he left early.”
“No, not Zachary,” Cass says, deepening his voice as if trying to imitate Reuben. “Those other two fucks.”
“Again?” Apollo sits forward in a rush, dragging his hair out of his face. “Christ, you’d think they’d have better things to do.”
“You going to stop them?” Reuben asks, putting his empty glass on the ground.
“They’re already headed down here.” Cass grabs his hips, twisting to face me. “We should gag her.”
Reuben’s already on his feet. I throw up my hands, miraculously still holding onto my tumbler. “No. No gagging. I’ll be quiet.”
“Can’t take a chance,” Cass says, shaking his head as he goes over to the bookshelf and rifles through a pile of clothing. He whips out a bandanna and twists it into a thick rope like he’s done this a thousand times before.
I’m on my feet a second later, my glass tumbling out of my hand and landing silently on the carpet. “No, please, Cass.”
“Grab her,” he says through his teeth.
I make a dash for the exit, but a thick arm slings around my throat and drags me back. “They won’t be long,” Reuben says, almost kindly, as he turns me around for Cass. “But they can’t hear you.”
“I wasn’t going to—”
Cass shoves the bandanna between my lips and ties it off behind my head. Then he pats my cheek and draws me out of Reuben’s grip.
I’d been willing to hear them out.
But this?
It’s obvious they’ll never trust me, so what’s the point in trying to change our fucked up dynamic? I’ve gotten myself enmeshed in their plans, and the only way out is along the path they’ve chosen for me. I hate them for not letting me choose. But why did I expect any different of the big bad world my parents kept warning me about?
“Put her in there.” Cass points to the bedroom. Apollo grabs my wrists and starts dragging me across the room.
I shake my head and dig in my heels.
“Relax, Trin,” Cass says.
I’m one-hundred percent focused on Apollo, but I can practically hear Cassius rolling his eyes at me. “Your virginity is safe.” He lets out a dark chuckle. “For now.”
My enraged shriek comes out as a manic moan.
“Shh,” Apollo says, hauling me the rest of the way. Reuben holds the curtain back as Apollo pulls and Cass pushes. I end up tripping the last yard and falling on hands and knees inside their soft, dark sleeping pit. I scramble up in a rush, my fingers tugging at the gag.
Reuben’s hand closes over mine. He’s just a shape in the dark, if a massive shape, but his presence calms me. He doesn’t try and shush me, or drag me, or do anything. He just gently guides my hands away from the knot at the back of my head until they’re in my lap.
Two more shadows slip inside and merge with the darkness.
Despite the blood singing in my veins, I can hear them breathing.
And then the muted sound of fabric rustling. I sit up straighter, and Reuben’s hands tighten around mine. It should have calmed me, but now I can feel his pulse, and it’s racing.
Who the hell is coming?
“Here?”
“Further back.”
“But this is where we—”
“Want someone to find us again like last time?”