Page 23 of Play The Game

He smirks at me and rubs his chest where I’d bumped into him. “Now, now, Mounty, don’t be like that! I’ve been looking for you everywhere! My brother did warn me that you’re a hard girl to catch.”

I roll my eyes and take a step around him, holding in the wince. The last thing this week needs is my leg acting up, and I can already tell ice cream and coffee are not going to be enough to stop the impending bloodshed if it doesn’t turn around soon.

He steps in front of me once more, blocking our path again with that same creepy smirk. “I just wanted to make sure you haven’t been whoring over the summer break? I know that’s the common occupation for girls like you, and I need to know you didn’t have to earn the roof over your head. I’ve taken over Thomas’s position as bet keeper.”

For. Fuck’s. Sake.

I’m rendered speechless for a second over his disgusting arrogance. No matter, Avery has my back and speaks for me.

“There is no bet; even if Joey were still here, that little game of his is over with. Now move, Darcy, before I make you disappear in a permanent sort of way,” she says, sweet and dangerous.

Little Darcy has no survival instincts and his mouth just keeps running. “Just because Joey graduated, doesn’t mean the bet isn’t ongoing. I’m happy to clear the cobwebs out, Mounty! Maybe the time away from cock has tightened that slum pussy of yours up a bit.”

Deep breath in. Deep breath out…

Is what a normal person would do.

Me?

I break the fucker’s nose with the heel of my palm and then punch him so hard in the dick I think his fucking ancestors feel it.

The squealing sound that comes out of him is magical.

Avery giggles and records the entire thing on her phone. I think about telling her to put it the fuck away because I’m going to gut the creepy fuck, but then I hear a bag drop to the floor and see the blur of dark hair and solid muscle fly past us to pin little Darcy against the wall.

“Say it again, Darcy. Proposition my girlfriend again, I want to hear it for myself before I put you in a fucking coma.”

I swear to God, my heart stops.

The activity in the hall stops too, all of the students cease moving, talking and fucking breathing now that there’s an enraged Beaumont snarling in their presence. I have to remind my body that the Jackal doesn’t own me, and I can be with whoever the fuck I want, but there’s still a drop of panic hitting my bloodstream at Ash’s words. God, even worse than the panic is the way my bottom lip wants to drop over it, too, which is a whole new life experience. I’ve never pouted over a god-damned thing in my life but, fuck, I wanted more time to ourselves, without the fucking gossips and the threat of the Jackal hanging over all three of them. I can never catch a break.

“I didn’t know she was yours!” sputters little Darcy, literally sputters because there’s blood pouring out of his nose and mouth, spraying onto the ground at their feet. Avery cringes away from them, tugging my arm, but I’m slow to follow her. I want to watch, I want to know how Ash is going to play this.

“She’s mine. She’s Arbour’s, and she’s Morrison’s. If I find out a single dickhead has propositioned her, I will take them out. Gone. No fucking more.” He speaks loud enough that the students watching all hear his words, and I blush from the looks I’m now getting.

There are quite a few girls dumb enough to glare at me, and Avery starts taking notes on her phone. I roll my eyes at her. I don’t have time to deal with petty teenage bullshit. Let them be jealous, fuck, I was writhing with it when I thought Annabelle had what I now do.

Ash moves a hand to grip little Darcy’s throat, squeezing tight enough that his eyes get panicked as they start to bulge out of his head. “My beloved sister is going to pass along the Mounty’s bank details and you’re going to deposit the sweep in there. It’s her fucking money. If I catch you within ten feet of her again… gone, Darcy. Gone.”

Little Darcy’s phone pings, and Avery gives him a sarcastic little wave. Ash drops his hands and takes a step back, swooping down to grab his bag, then he glares around the room until the captive audience scurries away.

“I had it under control,” I grouse, and he snorts at me.

“Just let me defend you for once, Mounty, for Christ’s sake. Besides, we needed to get word out somehow that you’re our girlfriend and not just a random fuck. No better way than making someone bleed.”

Avery gives him a look over my head. “You had better not be fucking her.”

Ash watches me take one wobbling step and then sighs, slinging an arm around my waist to mold me into his side. Avery tucks her arm into his on the other side, but the stern look stays on her face.

“Avery, please. At some point Lips is going to want to fuck me.”

Nope.

I try to pull away from him, but he laughs at me, the dick, and tightens his arm.

“Lips, I’m firmly team Morrison on the v card debate,” Avery says, her voice too fucking loud as we walk through the halls teeming with students.

Why? Why?! What have I done to deserve this?!