Tears burned in my eyes, fed by differing emotions and only some that I could name. “W-what is wrong with you?” I shrieked. I clawed at the hand on my throat, bending my nails painfully back. “This isn’t you!”
“You don’t know me.” A real, human feeling finally crept into his voice. Anger. “You never did. You were a pity fuck. A distraction.”
His harsh words wheedled in, trying to destroy the perfect memories of that night. Hadn’t I lost enough already? Now he wanted to take this.
“You’re lying!” I brought my hand up and wildly jabbed. A sharp grunt and his hold loosened. I broke free, spun and grabbed his collar. Royal didn’t stop me slamming him against the wall. “That night was the first time in your sad, empty pathetic life that you felt a real emotion and you couldn’t handle it. You ran from me like a fucking coward and two years later you’re still the same. The Horsemen, Royal?” I cried, shaken with disbelief. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Someone has been running their mouth,” said one of the triplets.
Suddenly hands were on me. Cassius and Clay pulled me off Royal and even went so far as to dust me off.
“That’s enough,” said Clay.
Royal and I glared at each other, chests heaving.
“Settle your shit some other time,” Cassius said. “We got you out here for a reason.”
“What reason?” I threw up my hands, shaking them off me. “If this is about my parents—”
“You know it is.” His soft, low voice tore me away from Royal. Hiro peeled himself off the wall, gliding over to us because even the way he moved had to be beautiful. “You couldn’t be got to when you were enjoying the State’s hospitality or when you disappeared into the Estate. But then we found out you were coming to Raven River... and right to us.”
“Got to? What do you want with me?”
“We’ve been told to pass on a message—”
“—and offer you a deal—” said Clay.
“—that you’d be smart to accept,” finished Cassius.
My attention snapped between the three of them. “What message? What deal? From who?”
Royal pushed Hiro to the side. “Your parents stole money from the wrong person and that person will get it back.”
I swallowed. “Not one of the Horsemen?” I tossed my head, rejecting the idea immediately. “That’s not possible. My parents aren’t stupid. They had plenty of legitimate investors. There’s no reason they’d hit up gangbangers. No,” I repeated. “You four have nothing to say to me.”
“Shut up, Bancroft,” Hiro growled, “and listen. Your parents stole eighty-four thousand dollars from this person. You have until two weeks to get us the money. Make it a flat hundred grand to make up for the trouble.”
My eyes popped. “Give you a hundred grand? I don’t have that kind of money!”
“But you can get it,” said Clay. “From that rich uncle of yours or... from your parents.”
My body shook in Cassius’s hold. He had draped his bandaged arm around my sore neck like we were a couple of friends shooting the shit. “I don’t know where my parents are or where they hid the money,” I gritted out.
Clay winked. “We both know that’s not true.”
“You don’t know anything,” I snapped. “When will you fuckers use your brains? If I knew where my folks and a pile of money were hiding, do you think I’d be here dealing with you? I’d have taken off weeks ago.”
Royal fished an untouched pack out of his pocket. He held my gaze as he lit the cigarette and took a long drag. “If that’s true,” he said, smoke curling around his head and dissipating in the misty afternoon. “It’s unfortunate for you because like we said, they’ll get their money back even if they have to resort to harsher measures.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Clay moved into our path. “It means you’re generously being given the chance to settle this the easy way. Hundred grand by the fifteenth and our business is finished. We never bother you again. If we don’t get the money, you’ll be forced to”—he looked me up and down—“work off the debt.”
Cassius’s arm fell off as I got in his face. “Fuck you,” I said clearly. “I’m wouldn’t give you Monopoly money.”
He blinked lazily. “I strongly suggest you think about this incredibly generous offer and then take it.”
“No. I’m not asking my uncle. I’m not giving you anything. You don’t know how sorry I am for the innocent people who were hurt because of my family. I know they destroyed lives. But ripping off a violent street gang that’s been terrorizing the OB”—I smirked—“well, this is the first time since this nightmare started that I’ve been proud. I’m guessing it’s money they squeezed out of innocent blood, so they don’t deserve to get it back.”
The boys were silent through my speech.
“You can tell that person my answer is no.”
Clay still didn’t speak. He looked at me with an intensity I assumed was meant to frighten me, but as the silence stretched and his eyes swept over my hair, nose, and... mouth, it dawned his interest had another reason.
“Does she taste like cherries too, Royal?” Clay asked softly.
“She does. Fucking delicious.”
Royal’s voice poured in and flicked the heat on. I would have shouted at him to keep his mouth shut if mine would come unglued.
Clay hummed deep in his chest. I was suddenly exposed under his gaze. “Then no, we won’t pass on your message,” he said to me. “Instead, we’ll tell him you accept but you’ll need some time to get the money together. I’ll also throw in a thank-you from you.”
Clay stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I like Cherry,” he whispered, “but I’m sure you and I will come up with our own names for each other.”
I pushed his hand away. “Asshole. Thug. Gangbanger trash.” Each insult brought me closer to him until we were a hair away from talking in each other’s mouths. “Any of those working for you?”
“A bit unoriginal.” His hands found my waist. “Keep trying.”
I made to reply and then his mouth was on mine. Soft lips caressed me, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth.
Ripping away, I nearly fell scrambling from him. My heart jackhammered in my throat as I clapped a hand over my mouth, gaping at him in true amazement.
He kissed me! This random fuck actually kissed me.
Clay licked his lips. “He’s right. Delicious.”
My control snapped. “Get out of here,” I barked. “The four of you. I’m done.”
If I expected a fight, I didn’t get one. They walked off, heading in the direction of the main building.
Royal was last to go. “Two weeks, Cherry.” He flicked the cigarette at my feet. “Let’s keep this friendly.”
“You and I are going to talk.” I returned his threat with my own. “Alone. For real.”
It was impossible to tell what he thought of that, and he didn’t give me time to figure it out. Royal went back inside the cafeteria, leaving me with my memories.