“No one quits the fraternity,” he growls quietly, walking away. “He’s all yours, boys.”
Adrian’s smile becomes broader. “Bye, bitch,” he says, then scurries back to Daddy’s side.
I roll my eyes.
Everyone pulls their knives and balls up their fists.
He was right. No one quits the fraternity. If I want out, they’ll have to kill me first.
I’ve done it once or twice myself to some other poor bastards who thought they could escape this madness.
The thing is … I am their commander. I shaped every instinct they have, and I know exactly where they’ll fail. I know their habits, their triggers, their weak spots.
Max always leaves his left side open when he lunges. He never listened. Milo stalls when the target talks. He needs silence to pull the trigger clean. Pathetic …
Ibuilt these motherfuckers, trained them to survive, yet they still want to go against me.
I shake my head and put her hair pin back in my pants pocket. I throw the gun on the ground.
“This is going to be fun.” I click my tongue. “Let’s see what uncle Adam taught you.”
Present
Things don’t always play out like we planned. Alaric wants me dead now. I guess standing up to him bruised his royal majesty. But that’s not what he’ll get.
After beating up half the fraternity—I ate some punches, too—Michael dragged me outside and pretended to kill me. Just bam! Performance of the year.
Alaric thinks it’s over. I challenged him, and killing me would settle the score, so, for now, disappearing is the only smart move. Because if he ever learns the real reason I walked away, he’ll come for her, and if that happens, all of this will have been for nothing.
I have no idea what is happening to me. I would never abandon the task—let alonethistask—for a girl.
But apparently, she’s not like the others. God, how cliché can I become? I don’t even know why; I barely know her. But ever since I touched her, I haven’t been able to think straight.
Hours. It’s only been a few hours. I’m being pathetic. Maybe creepy or even childish. Maybe all of it.
Fuck it. I want more.
I go back to my place to grab some essentials—mostly my guns and knives—and leave for good. I’m surprised that Alaric hadn’t gone to burn my apartment to the ground since I’m dead now. I’m almost hurt, as if he didn’t want to deal with me anymore. I know that eventually he’ll send his loyal rats to burn all proof that Adam Manson ever existed.
Maybe I need to change my name … Or just my last name, since I already told her my name.Back to my old tricks.
I wouldn’t want them getting in my way if they ever track me down. Besides, the only person who knows I’m alive is Michael, and I know he won’t say a word about it. I shouldn’t trust him … but I do anyway.
I need to do something with the bike, too. There’s no way I’m ditching this baby; she’s coming with me.
Once I’ve got everything sorted and left my old life behind, I ride back to her place to pretend I’m the hero she needs.
I pull up to the big iron gate and take off my helmet so they can see who it is. The gate swings open, and I ride straight into that massive, fancy garden. It’s pretty simple, just some square and round bushes, but the place goes on forever.
Upon arriving at the front entrance, that Wes guy is there, waiting.
“Well, well … look who came crawling back to be someone’s pet.” He sneers, wearing that stupid grin.
“If I didn’t know you, I’d think you were jealous, Wesley,” I mock, pulling off my gloves with my teeth.
“It’s Wes,” he corrects solemnly.
“I’m sure it is.”
