AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Asia,” I hear Eastern begin, but I hold my hand up. He growls in anger at my reaction. Screw him.
“Don’t!” I snarl.
Camden lowers my hand, his touch surprisingly gentle given he’s giving off a very cleardon’t mess with mevibe. But I ignore that fact and force myself to take my measure of him. He’s around my age, even though he looks at least five years older. He works out to maintain his physique, yes, but also to curb the rage I see bubbling just beneath the surface. That rage is schooled for now, and even though I don’t understand why that might be given the way I’ve acted, it is. He owns his shit, whether it’s the women he fucks-and I’m pretty sure he fucks and not makes love-or hisboys.Camden is a leader. You follow him, and you obey. That much I do know. Except for me, I don’t obey anyone.
“Eastern works for me now. In actual fact, he has his first job tomorrow. If he pulls it off, then I’m open to him bringing you in,” Camden says, assessing me, waiting for my response.
Ignoring him completely, I spin on my heel to face Eastern. “I thought you were doing a run for Nash. That’s what you told me, Eastern. What else have you been lying to me about? Can I trustanythingyou say?” I’m referring to his confession in the garden not more than half an hour earlier and he knows it.
“Of course you can trust me. I’ve got your back, remember? I wanted to tell you before, but shit happened with the court case…” He runs his hand through his hair, and I wonder for a moment where his Crombie hat is. Not that it matters. “I brought you here tonight so you could meet everyone… Opal is part of Camden’s crew. She’s sorry if she pissed you off, but if you let me introduce you to her, she’ll tell you that herself. Jade is her twin sister, so you’ve met both now. And this, of course, is Camden.”
“I’ve also met one of his otherboys, the same prick who was snorting coke in the kitchen earlier and is now laid out flat because I punched him for making a move on meuninvited.”
Eastern’s eyes darken. “He didwhat?”
“Asia dealt with him. AJ is going to have a sore head tomorrow,” Camden says from behind me. His voice is level, neither annoyed nor impressed by the fact I knocked out one of his crew.
“So, let me get this straight, you’re not running drugs for Nash…?” I question, only just noticing that the room has cleared apart from a dozen or so people, the music has turned down too and I can actually hear myself think. The rest of the partygoers are heading out into the garden but despite all the space now surrounding us, neither Eastern nor Camden have backed off. That should worry me, but tonight it would seem I’m off my game.
“Nash is a cover, Asia. The figurehead of my crew so to speak. His age gives him respect my youth doesn’t yet command with the big players. But rest assured, I am this crew’s leader and I hold all the fucking strings.”
There’s a warning in that statement that isn’t lost on me. Camden is telling me he’s the puppet master and heownsEastern. It pisses me off more than I can say.
“Eastern is one ofmy boysnow. Question is, Asia, do you want to be one of mygirls?” Camden asks, stepping around me and standing beside Eastern. Shoulder to shoulder they’re a fine-looking pair even though they’re complete opposites in every way. Where Eastern is approachable, warm, good looking in a boy next door kind of way with a slight edge, Camden is aloof, confident, exotic anddangerous. Not that it matters in the slightest because there’s no way in hell I’m going to be a part of his crew. No way.
“I’m not into sharing,” I respond, making sure to look him up and down. “Besides this is the twenty-first century, why should I be one of your girls when I can haveboysof my own?”
If Camden is annoyed by what I’ve just said he doesn’t show it. If anything, he looks impressed. Next to him Eastern looks like he’s about to have a stroke.
“The offer will be extended only once,” Camden warns, crossing his arms over his chest as he waits for my answer. His thick forearms are corded with muscle and I can see the edges of an intricate tattoo beneath his t-shirt. This guy has no right to be so built at such a young age. It’s indecent. Dragging my gaze away from him and settling on Eastern, I refuse to respond to his offer. I’m nobody’s possession, and I don’t do gangs. End of discussion.
“I can’t believe you’re in a gang, are youinsane? What have we always said to each other, Eastern?” I ask.
“I was going to tell you tonight, Asia. You know why I have to do this,” he pleads with me.
“Tell him you’ve changed your mind. There are other ways you can help Braydon.”
“Once in, you can’t get out. They’re the rules, Asia,” Camden says coolly.
“Fuck the rules,” I shout, narrowing my eyes at him. “Give the job to some other fool.”
“No can do,” he snaps back, those beautiful topaz eyes flashing with anger.
“This is bullshit. Who the hell do you think you are, taking advantage of someone who’s desperate?” Around us I hear the murmurs of the remaining group of people who I’m guessing are the rest of Camden’s crew. They’re standing round the edges of the room, giving us space but clearly interested to see where this is going. Beneath the fog of booze and weed, I feel a low level danger rolling off them. One word from Camden and we’re fucked, or rather I am, given Eastern is part of Camden’s crew now.
“You’re feisty, ain’t ya?” Camden laughs, showing off a golden molar I hadn’t noticed before now. But his laugh isn’t warm, it’s full of warning.
“I protectmyown,” I retort, not backing down. I know I’m pushing my luck, that I’m facing off with someone who has the power to make my life a living hell should he choose to, but I can’t seem to stop. I’m leaving for Oceanside the day after tomorrow and I won’t be here to protect Eastern or his family. I need to get him out of this mess now. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that.
“Give the job to someone else and let Eastern go,” I press.
“No.”
My fingers ball into fists, all common sense well and truly evaporating beneath the storm brewing in my chest. It’s never very far away and I’m going to show this arsehole who he’s messing with. Eastern’s my family and I will doanythingto protect him.
Camden’s eyes flash with a darkness that matches my own when he sees the intent in my eyes. “Careful, Asia. You really don’t want to make an enemy of me,” he growls in warning. That low level danger I feel ratchets up a notch.
“Too fucking late,” I snap, pulling my fist back ready to knock Camden out, but it doesn’t smash against his face as I intended. Nope. The next thing I know I’m being thrown over his shoulders, the rest of his crew catcalling and jeering as he carries me out of the house. His grip on me tightens as I struggle against his hold.
