CAMILE
As I holdonto Ghost and try not to notice the hardness of his abs beneath his t-shirt, my mind whirs with all that’s happened today. Rook taking me for a ride had been kind, and it had been fun, at first, until those men turned up. To be honest, they were more interested in making Rook’s life difficult than they were in me. Even when one of them grabbed me, it was because Rook was getting stressed with them and kept repeating that he had to keep me safe.
Then Ghost turned up, and he had been so rude to me. The way he spoke reminded me of how my father can get sometimes, as if I’m an idiot who has no clue how to behave.
I’m not a goddamned idiot, and all I’ve ever done is consider how I’m supposed to behave.
Instead of being treated with respect, I’m used like a pawn, and manhandled, and told what to do, and fucking shot at.
An anger like I’ve never felt before bubbles up to the surface. Screw these men. Screw them all!
Screw my brothers, too. One for basically deserting me, and the other for turning hard in order to follow in Daddy Dearest’s footsteps. Screw Ledger. Screw my father, and Jack, and Ghost. Even Ace, with his flirty smiles, can just fuck off.
My entire life, I’ve been told to keep myself pure and perfect,for a man. Told how to dress,for men. Here, in this place, the women are all waiting around on, pining after, and performing for…men!
I’m sick of it all, and I need my friends back at college. Mackenzie, Ophelia, and Vani will know what to say, and more importantly they’ll listen and consider my feelings instead of just doing whatever is right for them.
Once we get back, I’ll demand Jack take me home to the college. Once there, I’ll plan my escape for good.
My heart beats too fast at the thought of what I’m contemplating, but I can’t do this anymore. I can’t marry some man I don’t know, who my father picks for me, and become a doting wife.
Slowly, I’ve seen my friends blossom and grow, and I want that. Not necessarily the exact same way they have it, but I want the chance to find out what happiness looks like for me.
We finally pull up outside the clubhouse, and Ghost climbs off the bike, offering me his hand to help me dismount.
“We need to speak with Jack,” he says without even glancing my way.
Stalking off toward the clubhouse, he turns and gestures for me to follow him with an arrogant flick of his fingers.
I grit my teeth.Fuck you, Ghost,I mentally curse, but I have little choice but to go with him.
He takes the door to the left of the bar and walks down a corridor to knock on a door near the end.
“Yeah.” The deep voice sends a shiver down my spine. That’s Jack’s familiar timbre.
Ghost pushes into the room, and I reluctantly follow.
Jack looks up and frowns. “What’s going on? Why are you with her? Where’s Rook? Did you find anything out about Ledger?”
“One,Rook fucked up. The Numbnuts were pushing his buttons and literally pushing her.” Ghost jerks his thumb my way. “Rook rode up to the ridge, so probably got followed. I told them to fuck off back here and wait to see you, and Rook as well. Then I brought Camile back.Two,I did find something, and I need to hack into the area’s security cameras, so that’s next on my list when I can grab Cryptic to help me.Three,I’m with her because she needed protection. If we’re going to leave the girl with a prospect, then it should be within shouting distance of the clubhouse.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Jack explodes from the chair he’s sitting in like a powder keg of male anger and pissed-off energy. “I thought it would be pretty obvious that I didn’t want Rook driving off with the girl.”
“She’s causing a stir,” Ghost observes.
¡Ay, Dios mío!
“Sheis here,” I exclaim. “I am right in front of you. And you know what? I’ve had enough. I want to go back to the college.”
“Not safe,” Jack interjects.
“I take full responsibility for myself. I’m an adult. So, please, take me back.”
“No.” Jack shakes his head.
I blink at him in surprise. “No?”
Really? How dare he?
