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Chapter Thirteen
Cyrus
Wiping the steam from the mirror, I stare at my reflection with a grimace. The shower didn’t help with the puffiness around my eyes. By the time I made it back last night, I spent hours crying. I shouldn’t have been surprised my father sent me here to use me as a bargaining chip for a business deal. I overheard a few conversations last night that were not meant for my ears.
I knew Zeke used to be curious about other girls, but he always said it was me and him, and that he wouldn’t let this world swallow me whole, that I was too pure. I watch myself laugh at the thought; I may have been pure, but his death ruined me, sucked the purity from my body and left a shell of myself. The black bags I can hide with makeup, my cheeks sunken in slightly makes it look like I have intentionally lost a few extra kilos.
“Hey.”
I jump, pulling the towel tighter around my body.
“Shit, Lux, you scared the crap outta me.”
She smiles and shuts the bathroom door before walking closer. “The guys are gone, working out. Did you get the answers you were after?” I nod, I don’t know what her agenda is yet.
“Not that I know what to do with that information, I still plan to get as far away from this place as I can when I graduate.”
She leans against the basin next to mine, crossing her arms over her chest. “Do you really think it’s that simple? This may all start as some silly high school game to these guys, where they fight for the right to have power over a girl, but senior year it changes, contracts will be signed, and your life will be in the hands of a man.”
I’m not surprised by her admission, not after the things that I overheard last night. Zeke would always tell me about how after high school, we would have to get married, and I was perfectly okay with it. We were not the only ones that had to get married young. It was almost a rite of passage where we come from. My father and mum were married at eighteen, just after they graduated from high school. Mum would always tell me how lucky she was to have grown up with my dad, that it made the process of being married so young easier.
“How do you know all this?” She shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“Rogue and I have been best friends since diapers, his father is my godfather. It has never been a secret I would end up with one of them, everyone just presumed it would be Rogue, but anyway. I wouldn’t say the girls don’t know, the families are usually involved somehow, they know how our world works.”
“It’s a bunch of bullshit.” I snap; I don’t mean to take my anger out on her, but she seems so blasé about it all. Up until now, in the back of my mind, I knew things like this happened, but I was protected against just how much it was happening, and it makes me mad. They get to control us over a damn fight.
“Amen, sister, but you know self-medication takes all the pain away.” She takes a strip of pills from her pocket and holds it up towards me. I shake my head, and she retracts the offer, popping out two pills and swallowing them.
“I have been there, done that, and have the sex tape to prove it.”
“No way, you just seem so…”
“Innocent.” I say, cutting her off. I hold my arms out in front of me, most people presume they’re from trying to kill myself. I would be lying if I said I haven’t thought about slicing through the stitches after it first happened. But then I think of Zeke and how these scars are reminders of what I did to him, and if I ruined that by cutting myself open, I wouldn’t forgive myself. Not that I have even tried the whole forgive myself thing just yet.
“Exactly but wow, so that’s why you cover up. Be prepared for things to change after today, though. There will be a series of fights after next week, and they will have their ranks posted soon, their nomination will go in, and once a guy wins the first fight, he gets control. It’s super complicated.” She waves her hand. “How do you think Luna was banished? Wilder ordered it to happen. It’s messed up, but with Diesel at the top, and for some strange reason, you just came out of nowhere. There has to be a reason. He will control what happens to you, he can order everyone to make your life hell.”
“Why would he make my life hell? Why even fight for me at all if he hates me so much?”
“Because even they don’t have control. It’s the higher ups that control everything. Diesel is unpredictable, so my best advice, don’t underestimate him.” There goes the theory that the kids have the power.
The door crashes open, and two of the triplets stop in their tracks and stare at us. I know it has to be Rogue and Ryot. I have come to tell Rebel apart from those two. Lux grabs my arm, her fingernails digging into my skin. I unwrap her fingers from their onslaught.
“Um, I will leave you three to whatever this stare down is." None of them address me, so I grab my shower bag and leave.
I look back before the door swings shut, and I see both guys standing on either side of her. She looks so confused by their presence. Turning abruptly, I run smack bang into a hard sweaty chest. His tattooed hands land on my shoulders, pushing against me, avoiding any further contact between our bodies.
“What’s the rush, little creature?” His voice sends a fire straight to my stomach, one that has my body betraying my brain.
“What’s your problem?” I snap, my temper from the past day starting to pour from my mouth. "You call me that stupid name and you prance around this school like you’re a fucking king, and I’ve never done a damn thing to you."
His gaze turns to a glare, one of a predator hunting its prey. “Your eyes are too big for your face. Little creature sounded better than calling you Gollum.” He runs a finger down my cheek, a fake smile appearing on his face. “And you will see soon enough why they call me The Alpha. I earned that title, not because I’m a Briar, but because I’m a fierce motherfucker, and I take what I want and let no one stand in my way. Not even some rich little princess who thinks she’s better than everyone else.” His lips are suddenly on mine again, and all sensibility is thrown out the window, and I melt into his arms. My fingers softly brush his jaw, his body goes rigid.
“This is all a game, and I never lose. Tell anyone what you know, and it won’t just be you I come for. We wouldn’t want your father involved in this.” He whispers against my lips, ripping my towel from my body. My brain has to clear the clouds to catch up to what is happening, covering up would be the natural reaction, but the lust still lingers while I watch as he walks away. It’s only when Rebel calls out ‘Lookin’ good fresh meat’ that I notice we have an audience.
I could have made a world record with how fast I made it to my room, reminded of why Diesel is such a dickhead. Maybe he is my karma for Zeke, I don’t deserve someone like that again. I could never love them in the way they would deserve. Someone like Diesel, who I know would hurt me at the end of the day, could be a good distraction. Maybe I could start moving forward if I get what I deserve.
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