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Everlee popped her head out from the kitchen and waved at me. “Glad you like it!” She laughed as she disappeared.
“She’s having fun with all the guys’ attention. Maybe she’ll find someone soon.”
“You never know what’s around the corner.” Jag sat on the couch and pulled me into his lap.
Kane and Quinn joined us, and I listened to them talk about football and the upcoming game. I felt calm and at peace with my life for the first time in years. I’d fought my ass off and had to claw my way out of hell to get there, but even Peter had served a purpose. I’d learned a lot of skills with his sick games. At least I could be grateful for that.
The afternoon turned into an evening as our group ate, drank, and laughed. Not only was the house full of love, but so was my heart. Although I had the girls at the academy, I still had a huge hole inside myself after I lost Jagger. Not anymore.
* * *
Jagger and I returned to my bedroom around ten-thirty. The guys had left, and I suspected they were going to meet up at the society.
“How did your friends take the news about you leaving the society?” I sank onto my bed and stretched out.
“They weren’t surprised. We can use the rooms if we want since you’re one of the first girls to be invited that joined.” Jagger climbed onto the mattress with me, smiling.
“Oh yay!” I laughed. “I won’t lie, I would have been sad if we couldn’t pop in on occasion.”
Jagger cupped my chin and turned my face to his. “My girl likes to be dominated, huh?”
I rolled my eyes. “You already know that. If I didn’t, I would have dipped out after the first time I was there.” I traced my fingernail down his chest. “Who runs the society, Jagger?”
An ornery grin graced his gorgeous features. “I’m sworn to secrecy, so if I did know, I couldn’t tell you. But we have no fucking clue.”
I sat up and crossed my legs. “What? You don’t know whose running it? I figured by now you would.”
“No. We’ve talked to him, but he has his skull mask with the disguiser on as well as his cloak.”
“Do you guys have an educated guess after spending time with him?”
Jag shook his head. “We thought it was someone on the football team, but he had the girls ready for us right after the games.”
I cocked a brow at him. “Jag, he could have set it up earlier that week. He only needed a few people at the door to lead each girl to the rooms, right? The Black Widow didn’t need to be there.” My mind scrambled with the ideas of who it might be. “I still think he’s a football player.”
Jag laced his fingers behind his head, thinking. “Why?”
“I mean, I’m not with you guys, but I know Anderson and you are members. If I had my guess, so are Quinn, Kane, and Sterling.”
Jagger clenched his jaw, the muscles twitching.Bingo.
“You’re all football players, but more than that, I’m guessing the society is also a brotherhood. It makes sense; it’s like the fraternities. Sure, it’s about parties and getting laid, but it offers a lifetime friendship. That’s why I think it’s one of your teammates or he wouldn’t have selected the guys that he did.”
Jagger’s eyes narrowed. “I am curious to find out. Since this is the first year, I suspect he’s checking to see if he can trust everyone. Hell, I would remain anonymous, too, until I was sure the society was going to work and there were good people in place.”
My phone buzzed in the back pocket of my jeans and I removed it. “Huh. Speak of the devil.” I held up the screen to Jagger.
“Are you going to answer it?”
I stared at the name, wishing Theo wasn’t calling. I’d had an amazing day and he would most likely ruin it. Against my better judgment, I answered.
“Hey.” It was a big change from how I typically greeted him. That time, my voice wasn’t full of love and eagerness to hear how he was doing.
“Thanks for taking my call, Ari. I know you made it clear where you stand, but I have some news.”
“Jagger is with me. Can I put you on speaker?”
“Sure.”
