Logan chuckles. “She’d punch you in the throat for calling her that. She doesn’t belong to us. She’s one of us.”
“Okay, then where is she?” I arch an eyebrow at him.
“She’s here.” Zoey comes out of the doors. “Sorry, cheerleading meeting. What can we do for you?”
She watches me as she moves to stand with her boys. I don’t care that they say they don’t belong to each other, it’s clear they do.
“Ava Ross starts classes today. We have our hands full with our girl. I need people to protect her from Tanner Lewis and anyone else who might be after her.” I lean against the building and study them.
This time they don’t bother to look at each other. They also don’t appear that surprised.
“Ava?” Reeves rubs his jaw. “You put this idea past her?”
Zoey smiles. “Reeves might have had a crush on Ava a few years ago.”
I blow out a breath. “You over that?”
Reeves smirks and shrugs. “Probably.”
Caden’s going to kill me. “Fine, play boyfriend. I don’t care. I just need her under your protection so she doesn’t get caught up in whoever is after us.”
Reeves smiles broadly. He’s almost as big as I am and he’s only a sophomore.
The doors open behind me. Caden steps out, leading Ava. Her green eyes widen when she sees who’s with me.
“What is this?” Ava tries to back up, but Caden grabs her arm.
“It’s called you want to go to school here, then you need people to protect you.” Caden holds her next to him and looks over the guys and Zoey. He grunts and looks at me likethis is it?
“I have Cassidy and Beth. I don’t need anyone else.” Ava’s gaze lingers on each of the guys. Her cheeks flush red and I’m not sure if it’s embarrassment or anger.
“If she’s going to be hostile about it, we’ll need two favors.” Zoey crosses her arms and glares at Ava.
“Deal.”
“What the fuck, Luke?” Ava looks at me like I just sold her for a goat.
Caden lifts Ava’s chin. “You want to go to this school, you take what we give you. Otherwise, I’ll tell our parents you’re in danger here and they need to find another solution for you.”
Ava glares at Caden and it looks like she wants to stomp her foot, but she controls it. “Fine.”
“Great.” Logan’s sarcasm is thick. He shakes his head and rubs his chin while looking Ava up and down. She’s got on a skirt and t-shirt and sneakers. “So, do we get to publicly spank her to claim her? Or is that just a you guys’ thing?”
Caden growls and grabs the front of Logan’s shirt. “Watch your mouth.”
Logan laughs like he didn’t just provoke a beast. “Calm down. We’ll take care of your sister.”
Caden releases Logan. “If she gives me any reason to pummel you?—”
“Look.” Zoey walks over to Ava and wraps her arm around her shoulder. Ava flinches from the touch, but Zoey only smirks.“If she gets out of line, how about I volunteer to bring her back in? That way you don’t rearrange my boys’ faces?”
Caden narrows his eyes. “Don’t think I won’t hurt them if she gets hurt.”
“Caden, you can’t seriously be considering this.” Ava ducks out from beneath Zoey’s arm. “I have friends. I’ll be fine. Tanner is a dick, but he doesn’t get to me anymore.”
“You want to stay here, these are the terms.”
Ava looks at the guys waiting to hear the verdict. Her eyes narrow on each of them before she sighs. “Fine, but only for a while.”
