Wiping my tears with the back of my hand, I stare at Jack and hold his intimidating gaze. I remember those moments between us, when he dragged his thumb down my lip and used his big body to press me against the wall, and I play my ace card.
“I think some distance between us would be a good thing.”
Bingo! His gaze darts away from mine, and his shoulders slump as something in him gives.
“Fine.” He nods once. “But only if you let me talk to Vani and the others, and we make sure you have someone to stay with for a few days.”
That means my friends will all know what happened—if they don’t already—but to be honest, I relish the thought of being able to talk to them. Vani might be pissed when I turn up with her dad, because she once accused me of having a thing for him, which I vehemently denied, but once I explain that the compound was the closest place to seek help after the attack, and that I want to be back at the college, I hope she’ll see it was innocent.
“I’ve still got some of my stuff at your house.”
“That’s fine. We can swing by and grab it.”
“Fine.”
We leave the clubhouse and stop by Jack’s. He opens the front door for me and waits.
“I’ll change and leave the clothes on the bed if you give me a minute,” I offer, referring to the clothes I was given to borrow.
“Nah. Keep them on. I am sure they won’t mind you borrowing them a while longer. They’re better for riding on a bike than those sky-high heels and a strappy top.”
Not wanting to argue anymore, I nod. “Okay. I won’t be long.”
I hurry into his house and collect the few belongings I had with me, including the clothes I’d worn on my date, stuffing them into the bag Jack had brought the items he’d collected from the ol’ ladies. I pause by the laundry basket and add something extra. I hope it’ll go unnoticed, but I couldn’t bring myself to give him up completely. Isling the bag over my shoulder and head back to where Jack’s waiting.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Ready.”
He leads me to his bike. It’s parked up a few feet from the clubhouse, and it’s a beast of a machine. Trust Jack to ride something so intimidating, just like the man himself.
Once I settle on the back, my arms hooked around Jack’s waist, I begin to doubt my decision. Heading back to the college is risky. Ledger could come after me there, and my friends might quickly grow tired of me and my drama. They’re not used to me being someone who has drama following her. I’ve carved out my place among my friends by being the stable, dependable one all the others come to for advice. Maybe they won’t appreciate me being the one who needs advice for a change.
The door to the clubhouse opens, and a woman pushes a man out into the light, screeching something I can’t make out.
He stumbles away and then turns grabbing his crotch, leering at her in a gross way. “Hey, cutie,suck this.”
She gives him the finger and turns back to the clubhouse, slamming the door shut behind her.
“Fucking cunt.”
The man spits on the floor near us as he storms by, and I shudder in disgust. This place is far too wild for someone like me.
That makes my mind up. Leaving is the right thing to do. I can’t stay somewhere that’s so alien to me and expect to fit in.
Once I’m back at college, I can take my time to figure out my next move, because I don’t know where life willlead me next, but I don’t want it to be into a forced marriage, even if it means my father disowning me.
The realization of this hits me in the chest. I still have no idea how I will survive, but if I want to have any kind of a life, I’m going to have to figure it the fuck out.
Jack revs the engine and the bike jerks forward, taking me from the compound.
I twist to look over my shoulder in time to see Ace wander out front and stop short, staring as I disappear from view.
14
ACE
My mouth dropsagape as the gates open for Jack’s bike, and he rides out of the compound with Camile clinging to his back. She turns just before the gates close again, and her gaze locks with mine briefly before she turns away once more, leaving me bereft.
