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Dean nods and shifts closer to me as another group of students move past us. “I don’t blame you. It’s boring, and I’m pretty sure I read all these books in high school already. Hated them then, so I’m not sure why they expect me to give a shit now.”
“And now we have the honor of paying for it.” I make a face. “Lucky us.”
He laughs. It’s a nice sound. Warm and open, and the way he smiles makes his eyes even brighter. “So, hey,” he says, changing the subject abruptly. “I know we don’t really talk or anything, but you seem pretty cool, so was wondering if maybe you’d like to get lunch or something—”
Before he can finish his sentence, an arm drapes itself over my shoulder.
I tense in surprise. I’m ready to knock the arm away and read whoever it is the riot act for daring to come up and touch me, but then I turn my head to see Levi standing there.
He leans into me possessively, eyes narrowed as he looks Dean over. Then he smiles all of a sudden, looking flirtatious and happy when he turns back to meet my gaze.
“Hey, babe,” he says in that low tone that makes me want to punch him in the dick and then kiss him senseless. It’s not even remotely close to being fair.
I just stand there, surprised and not sure what the fuck he’s thinking, and then he ups the ante by dropping a kiss to my cheek and looking right back at Dean like he’s daring him to finish the sentence he started earlier.
“Oh,” Dean mutters. “Sorry. I didn’t know.”
He looks as surprised as I feel and more than a little put out, but he—wisely—doesn’t say anything, instead just giving me a tight smile and then going on his way.
I wait until he’s gone and we’re mostly alone before I round on Levi, jerking out of his hold and wiping at my cheek like I can get rid of the feeling of his lips there. It’s more for show than anything, because I can still feel the lingering warmth, and I know my cheeks are pink. I hate, absolutely hate, how easily these men affect me.
“What the fuck was that?” I demand, jaw clenching as I glare at him.
He just shrugs, looking like he’s not sorry and doesn’t care one way or another if I’m pissed off about it.
“What were you gonna do, Mercy? Go out with some guy while you’re under our watch? Gavin’s been pretty damn lenient about this whole thing, letting you stay in school while your dad pays off his debt. But there’s no fucking way any of us are going to babysit you on a date, and there’s no way you’re going on a date without one of us there. See how the math doesn’t add up? I was doing you a favor.”
“A favor?” I repeat, incredulous. “I don’t know if anyone’s ever explained the definition of the word ‘favor’ to you assholes, but you clearly don’t get what it means. Holding someone hostage doesn’t count as doing them a favor.”
Instead of responding to that, he just glances after Dean, narrowing his eyes. “You seriously wanted to go out with that pretty boy?”
No. Not really. But…
“That’s not the point!” I glower at him. “The point is, my body is my own. Who I fuck or date or what the hell ever is nobody’s business but mine. It sure as hell doesn’t concern you or Rory or Sloan. I don’t know why I have to keep saying this, but just because I have to live with you temporarily doesn’t mean you own me. I can do what I want.”
Levi… doesn’t seem convinced. There’s a look in his eyes that seems to suggest he thinks it’s very much his business, and he should have some say. It’s a little possessive, a little hungry, and a little too full of over-the-top male pride for me to deal with for another fucking second.
I roll my eyes and march away, ready to be done with this asshole and his bullshit, but just like I knew he would, he follows me anyway. Of course. Because he’s my goddamn babysitter. I have to deal with him until the day is over, and then I can go back to the house and slam a door in his face.
The worst part of it is that I know he’s not wrong.
He might not’ve acknowledged my words about being their hostage, but that’s still what I am. Just because I get to leave the house sometimes and they’re not keeping me locked up or chained to the bed or something, it doesn’t change the stark reality that I’m faced with.
While I’m staying with them, they have some level of power over me. Just because they choose not to exercise the full extent of it often doesn’t change the fact that I’m in a precarious situation.
As long as I’m under their roof, I can’t live the way I want to. Not without their say-so.
I clench my jaw, refusing to let my gaze drift over to Levi where he walks by my side.
Please, Dad. Hurry up and do whatever they asked you to.
I still need more time with these guys if I want to gather damaging information about the Black Roses, but at this point, I’m not sure I even care about that anymore.
I just want out.
12
“Fuck, Scar. I don’t know how much longer I can deal with this.” I let out a plaintive groan, lying flat on my back on my bed. “It’s like being in fucking prison. All week, I’ve got Levi on my ass, following me around, making sure I can’t do anything fun, and then when I’m here, I have to deal with all three of them. I go to class, I come back, and I hide from them in my room—because if I don’t, I’m likely to punch one or all of them in the face at any given moment.”
