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LANDON
Someone banged on my basement door. I stood up from the couch, where Poison and I were plotting on how to fuck over Principal Vaughn, and jogged up the steps to answer the door. Outside, Jace Harbor stood with Allie.
“What?” I asked.
With bruises all over his body, Jace pulled out a wad of cash and slapped about five hundred-dollar bills into my hand. “Watch Allie.”
I glanced over at Allie and lit a cigarette. “Looks like you need a smoke, Jace.”
Jace started toward his car. “Don’t let anyone fucking touch her. I’ll be back.”
Allie’s eyes widened, and she followed Jace back to his Maserati. “You’re leaving me with them?” she asked, grasping his wrist and tugging him back.
Jace snatched his hand out of her grip and turned toward her.
“Please,” Allie whispered. “Don’t go back.”
“Get in the fucking house,” Jace said to her, pointing at me.
She grasped his hand. “Please, let me at least clean you up.”
After a couple moments, Jace pulled away from her again and slid into his car. “Later. I’ll be back for you.”
I watched him throw the car in reverse and back out of the gravel driveway, and then I flicked my cigarette onto the ground and stomped it out with the heel of my boot. “You coming?” I asked her, wondering if Imani would show up tonight, too, at some point.
Allie walked into the house and down the steps. I closed the door behind us and followed her. Kai and João looked over at her when she walked into the room, Kai raising his brows at me. We didn’t have time to fuck around tonight.
“Jace,” I said as a lousy answer.
Kai nodded to another couch across from us for Allie to sit on and handed her a cold beer. Allie sat on the couch awkwardly, crossing her arms over her chest, and glanced around the room.
João looked over at Allie, then at the unopened can in her hand. “Loosen up, buttercup. Take a swig.” He took the can from her, opened it up, and handed it back.
To my surprise, Allie took a sip.
“Feel better?” João asked.
“No.” She blew out a harsh breath, then grabbed some napkins from the table, placing them on the back of her head to stop blood. “I’m not.”
I sat on the couch next to her and tossed the cash Jace had given me onto the table. It was rude to ask what happened—hell, I’d hated when people asked where I got some of my bruises from when Dad was still around—so I shrugged my shoulders. “Don’t worry about Jace. He’ll be all right. He always is.”
“You don’t know what he’s going through.”
“His dad hits him. Everyone here knows it. He brought you here because he doesn’t want you getting hurt. Daddy is probably off drinking or some shit.” João waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not a secret to us. He’s handled worse shit than that. Am I right?” João said.
She stayed quiet and took a huge fucking gulp of the beer, staring aimlessly at the paint chipping off the wall.
“So, how’s Imani?” João asked, lighting up another cigarette and blowing the smoke out of his nose.
She arched a brow at me and narrowed her eyes. “Why are you guys blackmailing her?”
I looked over and chuckled. “Wouldn’t you love to know? What we do with Imani is none of your business.”
“Yes, it is. She’s my best friend, and I don’t want you guys ruining her life like you ruined Jace’s. I’m sick of you butting into everyone’s business. Stop bothering good people and bringing them down.”
While João and I looked over at her, Kai flicked his cigarette into the ashtray and slumped down on the couch. “She’s had a hard night,” he said, waving us off. Well, mainly João. “Let it slide.”
Allie glared at Kai and crossed her arms over her chest. “I want to go home. I need to make sure that Jace is okay. He can’t stay with Harlan tonight. You know what he’ll do to him.”
