18. Chapter 18

I can't believe Ace suckered me into this stupid party. I much rather be cuddling on a couch with a pretty dark-haired woman than trying to weave in and out of sweaty ass bodies. This music is horrible, the booze is warm, and Liam has no idea how to throw a party. No wonder why Cam never let him help plan any.

Why you have to get shitfaced to show off is something I never understood. Have a few drinks and be a decent person. I guess getting drugged and raped has jaded me about college parties. I know Ace understands why I don't like being here, and I get it's important, but pushing the memories back is getting complicated.

Maddox wraps his arm around my shoulder, dropping his head to mine. "I got you, brother. Our demons won't win today."

Today, being a keyword. "Thanks. I just want to end this already."

"I know. Give Atticus a little while. We can't jump in feet first. I haven't even seen Liam yet."

Now that he mentions it, I haven't either. He planned this stupid thing, and Liam can't even mingle with his loser friends. Shane and Emery are hanging around the island drinking and trying to pick up some chick with big boobs. What Ace has planned won't work if Liam isn't around.

"Are you sure Jinx is safe tonight?" My stomach crashes just thinking about her. What if that stalker of hers finds her? Now that we suspect it's Roan, anything can happen.

Maddox swallows his beer, and without looking back at me, he says, "Spencer wouldn't let anything happen to her. He knows what would happen to him if he did."

But it's like the Devil has different plans for us because time stands still when the front door opens, and Jinx walks in. She drags Spence onto the makeshift dance floor and dances like no one is watching. Her black jumpsuit shows off every curve when she swings her hips to the music, and a relaxed look washes over her face as she dances.

"She looks calm tonight," Maddox says.

"I was just thinking that it probably has something to do with Cam not being here. I don't want to interrupt her, but Atticus is gonna be pissed."

I can watch her dance for hours, even with her dancing with another man; it's the hottest thing I've seen. Watching her with Mad or Ace fascinates me, but I didn't think this would. Fuck. I adjust my pants before moving toward her. It's my turn.

I move behind her, lightly tracing her spine before grabbing her hips and pressing her ass into my hips. I notice Spence grin at me before he walks off.

"Little swan, what am I going to do with you?" I move a hand around her stomach as we move together.

She angles her head and smirks. "I can think of something, only if you are up for it." She grinds low, pressing on my dick.

I take a deep inhale, filling my lungs with smoke from the surrounding joints and cigarettes. I don't think I'm ready to take this where Jinx wants. Who knows if I'll ever be ready for sex again. I spin her around and pick her up. Her legs wrap around my waist, rocking her hips. I watch as her nipples harden under the dark fabric of her jumpsuit, teasing me with desire.

"Use me, Jinx," I whisper next to her ear. "Show all these people what they can't have."

Doing as she's told, she moves with the beat of the music, her nails dig into my neck when she brings her face closer. "Ash, I'm coming. Oh, God."

I press our lips together, swallowing her moan as she comes on the dance floor. That might have been the hottest thing I"ve ever seen. I grin against her lips.

"We're gonna get our asses chewed out in ten seconds." I spot Atticus storming in our direction.

"Worth it." She chuckles, resting her head on my shoulder.

"The fuck was that? You realize you are in public. Jesus Christ, Ashton, you should know better," he hissed harshly before looking at Jinx. "Don't even get me started with you. Where the fuck is Spencer?"

Jinx pops her head up, narrowing her eyes. "Leave him alone, this was my idea. It's the only time I can enjoy myself. Don't be a fun sucker, I'm safe here."

He points his finger but doesn't say anything because she's right. Where all here, and if that dickbag stalker of hers does show up, it would look weird. Adults aren't welcome here, and it would be game over instantly.

"Fine, but you stay with Spence. We have shit to do. I mean it, Odette."

She wiggles out of my hold, getting into Atticus's space.

"Listen here." She pokes him in the stomach. "You aren't the boss of me so stop acting like it." She whirled around toward the kitchen without looking back.

"I suggest we work fast before she gets drunk. Where is Liam?"

Ace shakes his head, walking away. I follow where Maddox is still hanging out. Ace nods for him to follow. I hate when he doesn't tell me shit. Why be so secretive? All I asked was a simple question. He leads us down the hallway, past the bathroom, and into the office.

I stop short when I see Liam gagged and tied to a chair in the middle of the room. Blood running down his forehead, past his swollen eye, and onto his white polo top. I turned a questionable gaze to Atticus because this was not part of the plan.

"I went off script," he says with a shrug.

"I'd fuckin' say. What the hell happened!" I point at the douche in the chair. "This isn't going off script, Ace. This is beyond that."

"Either way, I found him, and we have him. Now, can we start already?"

Maddox walks to the desk, opening the top drawer. When he walks back toward us, he's holding a pair of scissors. I watch Liam wiggle his wrists the closer Mad gets. Even if he tried to scream, the music was blaring throughout the house, and no one would hear him.

"This would have been easier if we had the proper tools, but we use what we have. It'll hurt you more than us. But you won't say a word, anyway. You're a fuckin' coward, aren't you, Liam? That's why you always did what Cameron told you to do." I take the scissors from Maddox. "Next time someone tells you to drown a person, get it done the first time, or don't try at all."

Atticus pries at Liam's hand as I open and close the pair of scissors and smile.

"Which finger are we gonna try to cut off?" Maddox asks.

Liam screams in the cloth that's rammed in his mouth.

"The pinky? Good choice. You'll still be able to swim. Lucky you." He'll be fine, just like I could swim with my head injury. Ace holds his finger, and I position the scissors on the middle joint.

Liam shakes and starts crying. It's sad, really. But he asked for this. I slam the scissors closed, and he screams. This would've been easier with pliers. I open the scissors and repeat the process. The top half of his pinky lays in the puddle of blood on the floor, and Liam has gone still.

"Leave him. Someone will find him." Atticus spits on him before walking away.

I know he wanted to torment Liam and Cameron more, and I know he will if they try anything again. Ace isn't afraid of killing someone; he damn near killed the assholes that sliced Maddox's face.

I take one last glance at Liam before closing the office door behind me. When he wakes up, I hope he thinks about not being friends with those who will never have your back. A true friend will be there when you call in the middle of the night with a stupid plan and ask when and where. They will never try to talk you out of something, and they will have a backup plan, be your ride or die. Those are true friends. Not ones that make you do something stupid and then leave you to the wolves.

Having Atticus by my side is a given; we're stuck with each other for life. Not because we are twins but because we've gone through so much together, nothing separate. It's crazy the more I think about it. It's always as a pair. Even when that bitch raped me, Atticus helped me. He was by my side, feeling my pain like it was his own. I owe him so much for that.

"What in the fuck?" Maddox yells.

My attention swings to where he's looking, and I have the same question. We weren't gone that long, were we?

The dance floor has become a Beer Pong tournament with Spencer and Jinx on one side, booing away as one of the guys across from them throws the ping-pong ball across the table. I've never seen her act like this before. Who the fuck is this Jinx?

"I have so many questions. Where do I begin?" I stare away.

"I know where to begin. It's with that so-called best friend she has." Atticus pushes his way through the crowd.

"Shit, he's gonna cause a scene, isn't he?" Maddox looks at me.

I roll my eyes. "What do you think?"

I don't know what he's going to do. He's been unpredictable lately, and I don't like it. I understand trying to protect Jinx, but he's going to the extreme now that the suspect of her stalker is walking around. If we're around her, she's safe. Playing a little game of Beer Pong isn't going to hurt her.

"Atticus!" I yell. But he ignores me. There is only one way to stop him, which goes against the brotherly code. I walk faster, getting behind him and wrapping my arm around his neck tight.

"The fuck, man."

"I can't let you, and she needs this. Stop acting like an asshole." I tighten my grip, moving his head into my armpit.

"She should be having fun with us, not him." He squirms under my hold.

"Don't try to control her either. Now tell her we're heading back, you say goodbye and we'll wait for her when she returns. Trust me, brother." I wait for him to nod, and then I release him.

She's safe, she isn't alone. If anything were to happen, we would find out.