Entering the mansion through the back door, I make my way into the kitchen to find Hayden. He’s attractive. He’s tall and muscular, but not bulky. I can see a tattoo of wings that wrap around his throat, but his white button-upconceals his arms. That dark blonde hair and blue eyes probably have all the girls at his feet.
“Hey,” I say nervously.
“Hey, babe. Come back for me so soon?” That sexy smile graces his handsome face, showing off his perfect, straight, white teeth. I think the alcohol and weed are affecting me, because my body wants me to take him up on that unspoken offer. I don’t show that, though. Instead, I roll my eyes.
“No, but I do need a refill.” I shake my cup of ice at him, and he takes it.
“Crown and Sprite, right?”
“Mhm, and one for Jessie.” I shift from foot to foot as I feel the wave of alcohol and weed hit me. It’s been awhile since I’ve had alcohol, so it’s hitting my system hard. I should’ve eaten something before coming here to help with that.
Holding out the two drinks, I take them, but he doesn’t let go. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you.” He winks at me, finally releasing his grip on the drinks.
I linger by the pool for a moment, feeling eyes on me, but I chalk it up to paranoia. I’m at a party with at least a hundred people; of course, somebody here is looking at me.
Ryder
After I showered and cleaned off all the caked blood, I grabbed my laptop from the backpack I sat on the bench at the foot of my California king bed. The mattress dips under my weight as I sit on the edge and open my laptop to view the security cameras around the house.
I have cameras strategically placed, so there are no blindspots. I have plenty of security in and around the property, so I don’t think anyone would be stupid enough to do some dumb shit here, but I have no trust in anyone. I can’t let my guard down for a second, because that’s when somebody will fuck with me.
The party is going pretty tame at the moment. Everyone is bunched up with their friends, either talking, dancing, or in the pool. Zooming in on one of the quadrants, my head tilts as I stare at a pretty brunette. A brunette I’ve seen before and have been texting. Kelsey.
She’s smiling, standing around the bonfire with some people I’ve never seen before. They must be some of the freshmen from campus that my sister invited. I told her to keep this party minimal because the last thing we need is confidential information being leaked outside of the group. This is far from minimal, and it has me fuming.
Who did you come with,Little Bird? I’ve been calling her that because she seems flighty. She is the kind of girl to fly away at the sense of danger, which is my main concernwith her being here tonight. She has no idea what she’s walked herself into. If she did, I doubt she would be here.
Hell, if I had known she was cominghere, I would have stopped that immediately. I have the urge to go pick her ass up, kicking and screaming, to lock her in this room with me until the party is over.
Exiting out of the security panels, I close the laptop, shoving it back into the backpack, and make my way back downstairs. The wooden steps creak with each step, but it’s hardly heard over the music blaring from the speakers.
Spotting Hayden in the kitchen with two blondes clinging to his side, I head straight for him.
“I need to speak to you,” I say, looking down at the two girls, “Alone.” The girls take the hint, brushing his biceps like needy dogs.
“See you around, Hayden,” The one on the left speaks before strutting off in their blood red bikinis. Any other time, I would have taken one or both up to my room, but that guy isn’t me anymore. I only have my eyes set on one girl, who shouldn’t even be at this party tonight.
“What’s up, bro?”
Digging my phone out of my pocket, I pull up a picture I took of my birdy from the security footage. “Who did she come with?”
He studies the picture for a minute, then his lips purse. “I’m not sure, but she knows Jessie.”
I nod, “Did you see who she came in the door with?” I tried looking at the cameras, but too many people stood in the fucking way, blocking the view of her entering.
“No, man. Sorry. Who is she?”
“Nobody. She shouldn’t be here.”
That’s all he’s getting from me. His face morphs into one of concern, and his demeanor switches from playful to serious. Maybe that came out wrong. “She isn’t dangerous, if that’s what you’re thinking.” I needed to clear that up before my guys do something stupid to piss me off. Nobody hurts her, except me. He nods, going back to flirting with some new girls who step up needing drinks. “See you later.”
Turning and heading back up the stairs, I keep my head down when I catch a glimpse of Lexie socializing with some guys from the society, hoping she doesn’t see me. I make it to the second step before hearing her squeaky voice call out to me. Son of a fucking bitch.
“Ry, wait up!”
“Leave, Lexie,” I growl.
She gives me her classic pouty lip, “You never turn me down,” She whines.
