“I doubt her father requested cameras to be installed in her bedroom and bathroom,” Vincent says. His tone and expression reek of distrust.
“Oops. My bad.” I smirk at the self-righteous asshole. I’m focused on him, so I don’t see Ash reaching down to grab my junk the same time she bites down hard on my arm.
I yell as pain throbs between my legs, and I see stars. My arm drops from around her as I hunch over, cupping my balls and cursing under my breath.
“You were spying on me in my bedroom and in the shower?” Her screech stabs my eardrums and pierces through the fog in my head. “How the hell did you do it? We found the fucking camera the first day, and I checked for devices again after you broke into my room.”
“Those phone apps don’t work with more sophisticated devices,” I admit because there’s no point in concealing the truth any longer. “I planted the first camera on purpose so you’d find it and think you were safe.” I straighten up in time to see her clenched fist come at my face.
Her first punch lands squarely on my nose; the second glances the side of my jaw. “Ouch.” That actually fucking hurt. Where did my little minx learn to punch like that? I rub my sore jaw as my hand darts out, grabbing the side of the couch to stop myself from falling. Jase would never let me live that one down.
“Nice one, sweetheart,” Vincent says.
“I was taught by the best.” She waggles her brows at him, and I can’t stop the growl racing up my throat.
“That was an asshole move,” Bree says, shaking her head at me.
I shrug as I adjust my sore dick behind my jeans. “Never claimed I was a saint, and don’t look to me for remorse because you won’t find any.”
“Guilt is for the weak,” Ash snarls, folding her arms over her gorgeous rack and staring at me like I’m the Antichrist. “I remember.”
I look down at her, unable to resist winding her up further. “I haven’t shown the footage to anyone. It all just went into my personal stepsister porn collection.”
This time, it’s Stewart who punches me in the face. “You’re a prick,” he says.
“And you’re a hypocrite.” I shove him away from me. “You both film her all the time.”
“We have her permission, and it’s fully transparent,” he roars, lunging for me again.
I can’t resist pushing his buttons some more. “I suppose I shouldn’t mention that I only messed around with Julia so I could get access to your house to plant a camera in your bedroom?”
“Motherfucker!” Jase roars, slamming his body into mine and taking us both to the ground.
“I knew this truce wouldn’t last,” Ash mutters as Jase and I roll around the floor and throw punches.
The Fox brothers pull us apart a few seconds later, yanking us to our feet and separating us. “Grow up, both of you.” Victor chastises us while jabbing his finger in my face. “I don’t care what your motives were. No one deserves to have their privacy breached in their own home. You owe Ashley, Chad, and Jase an apology, but this isn’t the time or the place.” His gaze dances around the room. “Aren’t we all dealing with much bigger problems? Like how Carter has hacked into the feeds and he’s been spying on all of you too?”
Well, fuck. That’s the confirmation I was after. I wonder how long he’s been spying on us and how come Doug didn’t spot it. Carter is too smart, and we need to get ahead of the game ASAP.
I shove Vincent off me from behind. “Fuck off,” I snap, turning to glare at him.
“Sit your ass down, Blade.”
I swing my gaze on Victor. “My name is Ares. I don’t answer to Blade.”
Victor’s expression softens a little. “I’m aware of your new identity. I was the one who came up with it after all.”
“You can’t take all the credit,” a woman says from behind. I whip around, startled to find Mom standing in the doorway. “I do believe I was the one who chose the name Ares.”
“Hera!” Ashley sprints across the room, throwing herself into my mom’s arms. “We thought Rhett had you!”
Mom hugs her close, running a hand up and down Ash’s back.
“He did have you,” I say, walking toward her. “He showed me.”
“Victor and Vincent got me out.” She draws me into their hug.
“Our guy would have gotten you out too, but he was vastly outnumbered at the ambush. If he had tried something, it wouldn’t have ended well, and it would have tipped Carter off,” Victor says, staring me straight in the face.
