7. Chapter 7

I know I told Ash that I wasn't going to be an asshole, but my last nerve is beginning to waste away. When you tell me you're going to be some place, fuckin' be there. I try to take a calming breath but fuck that shit. I storm into the office to find Prescott, Cam, Liam, and some preppy douche who looks like he's trying too hard to get his youth back.

I feel like I stumbled into a secret society because no one has said anything. But the way Prescott is glaring at Cam, I can only imagine what the dipshit did this time. I still don't trust the prick or his little sidekick for what happened with Ash. One of them is guilty of drowning him, and I won't be holding back when I figure it out.

"Atticus, so good of you to join us." Prescott steps forward. "I was going to make introductions later, but since you're here. This is Bran. He'll be taking over as the new coach. Bran, this is Atticus Banks. He's one of our finest swimmers."

Bran reaches his hand out for mine, and even if I don't want to, I shake it.

"Finest? Is that so?"

"No. My brother is the best. If you can keep the team's captain from trying to kill him, that is." I quirk a brow at Cam. I want him to say something. Tell me that you did it. I'm waiting.

The coach turns his head to Cam, his eyes bore through him. "He did what now?"

"Don't listen to him. He's full of lies. It wasn't proven." Cam shoves me, moving me back. And my anger got the best of me. I moved to push him back when Prescott grabbed my shoulder.

"Woah. That's enough. Back away from each other."

I back away toward the door. "You watch your back, Cameron. Either he deals with you, or I will." I point to the new coach, looking him dead in the eyes. "Figure your shit out, or I'm off the team."

Cam can think that he won by hiding behind the coach, but I'll win. One way or another, he won't be smiling for long. When I step back into the hall, Jinx isn't there still. My blood boils even more. Where the fuck could she have gone? Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I find her number. I'm tired of her shit, I get that she doesn't like us following her around, but that doesn't give her the right to ditch out on us. She knows anything can happen to her.

Her phone rings before going to voicemail. I hang up and call again. I head down the hall when I hear ringing from the girls' restroom. If she's hiding away from me, I swear to God. I crack my neck and breathe deeply. Pushing the door open, I step inside to find it empty.

I push each stall door open until I come to a locked one. "Jinx, I know you're in here. Come out before I drag you out." I shake the door, but she hasn't made a peep. "Jinx, fuckin' answer me." Sweat trickles down my spine, and my mind spirals back to when I found Ashton lying on the bathroom floor. I thought for sure that was the day I was going to lose my brother—if I was a minute late. My stomach sinks even further. Without thinking, I open the stall door, finding Jinx curled up on the floor.

I drop to my knees, gathering her up. "Little grim, tell me what happened?" My eyes roam over her face, trying to see if she's hurt. "Talk to me, please."

A grim expression cuts across her pale face. "I ran into Cam and Liam in the office."

I take a deep breath and control myself from going back in there. "What happened? And don't you dare lie to me."

She buried her face against my throat and groaned. "Cam was just being Cam."

"And I'm the Queen of England."

"She's dead!"

"Yeah, and so is Cam when I'm finished with him. Now tell me what he did." I weave my fingers in her hair, tugging her head back. Her eyes slowly close. "Jinx, don't make me work for the answer."

"I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen." Her eyes misted with tears.

I clench my teeth hard, trying not to lose control. But the longer she takes to explain right away, the more my mind wanders, my body locks in rage. "Touched you where Odette? Because I'm thinking the worst here."

She turns, reaching for her phone. I watch as she opens the screen to a text message with a picture of her sitting in the office with Cameron next to her. I rip the phone from her hands, getting a closer look, and I find that prick's hand under her skirt.

"Who sent the picture?" I squeeze her phone tight as I continue to stare at the photo.

"My stalker did."

My eyes snapped away from the phone to her. "You mean Unknown was this close to you? Jesus Christ, Jinx. And no one in the office noticed what was going on?"

She shakes her head. "Liam was blocking everything from Florence."

I open her group chat she has with us guys because I won't be able to stop myself if I go after Cameron alone.

Jinx: It's Ace. Meet me by the office ASAP.

I move to stand, but Jinx stops me. "What are you going to do?"

"Kill Cameron."

Maddox: On my way. What's going on?

"You can't kill him."

"Watch me."

Ashton: Same. Fill me in, bro.

"Backup is coming. Let's move it." I push off the floor, setting her on her feet. "Don't fight me on this. That asshole needs to pay for what he did."

She pulls my shirt, getting close to my face. "I said no killing, you'll ruin your future, and I'm not worth that."

"That's not up to you, and if you ever speak about yourself like that again. I'll spank you until your ass is red, and it hurts to sit. Now get in that hall and wait for the guys to arrive."

The only thing she needs to worry about is getting her ass back to her dorm. Cameron will be lucky to be sucking soup from his jaw once I'm finished with him. No one touches my girl, and can talk about it. Stepping out of the restroom, the guys are already waiting for us by the office. Maddox spots us first and snaps his eyes to Jinx.

"What the fuck happened?" he calls out as he storms close to us. He tilts her chin up, looking at her face. "Baby, talk to me."

Ashton hasn't moved from his spot. From the look on his face, he knows something horrible went down. Once he finds out precisely what happened, I don't think I'll be able to hold him back; he'll do more damage than I will.

She looks up at me, and I nod with understanding. "Maddox, take her to her room. I'll text you what happened."

"Yeah, okay." He wraps his arm around her shoulder. "I'll take care of her. You two do what needs to be done."

I watch them both walk away before moving to Ashton's side.

I watched as his nostrils flared. "Who?"

"Our favorite captain. He took it into his own hands to touch what's ours." I opened Jinx's phone and showed him the text. "Her stalker pal also had an eye full."

"Sonofabitch. Where is Cam now?"

"He was in the office, but if I would guess, he's at the house."

He scoffs, rolling his eyes. "He's such a pussy. I can't wait to put him in his place. I've been waiting since day one."

We take off for the Blackwood House. I'm glad we don't have to live there anymore. It's one of the things I'll love Prescott for. The other thing is for bringing Jinx into my life. I'll admit it's the only thing my mother did right.

With every step I take, the more my anger builds. It amazes me that Cam will still try and push the limit with us but to bring Jinx into this. I won't have it. She doesn't deserve that. The house comes into view, and Emery is sitting on the steps.

"Where's Cam?" Ash yells out.

"W-what?" Emery's head snaps up.

"Don't act stupid. You heard us. Where's the cunt hiding?" I storm past him, heading for the front door.

Emery stumbles up the stairs after us. "Wait, Atticus. Stop." He reaches for me, but I turn the handle, pushing the door open.

The house is dark, and a party hasn't been held in weeks, which is odd for Cam. From what we were told, he usually hosts one almost every week. He's gone downhill since before the swim meet, but that won't stop me from busting his face.

"Cameron! I know you're in here. Get your ass down here!" I holler up the stairs.

"If you were a smart man, you would find him for us," Ashton tells Emery.

Emery shakes his head. "You don't get it. The new coach let him go as captain. Cameron isn't taking it well."

"I guess that's too bad for him. Get him in here." I slowly turn my head to face Emery. "Or you'll take his beating."

He points to the patio door. "He's out back."

Ashton rushes for the door, slides it open, and doesn't stop. I ran to catch up to him.

"You fuckin touched my girl?" He rips Cams out of the lounger, getting into his face. "Didn't we tell you already not to go anywhere near her?"

Cam tries to shove Ash away, but Ash holds tight. "Get off me, you psycho. You don't own a person."

I stand behind Cam and nod at Ash to release him. Cam turns around, and his face pales. He goes to move, but I copy him. He isn't going anywhere.

"I can own her, and what we say goes." Cam doesn't have time to register that I'm swinging my arm. All the rage I've been holding in collides with his jaw. He falls to the ground, grabbing his face. Ashton jumps in, kicking him in the ribs.

"You fucked with the wrong Banks, prick." Ashton smashes his foot into Cam's side again. I hold Ash back, letting Cam breathe for a second.

"Fuck you," he wheezes out. He rolls onto his knees, coughing. "You aren't gonna keep me away from her."

"Think again." I grip his hair, expose his face, and slam my fist into his jaw again. The sound of his jaw breaking makes my heart happy. He grabs his face and cries in pain.

"I suggest you get someone to drive you to the hospital quickly." Ashton shoves him as he walks by.

Emery stares wide-eyed as we walk past him.

"You okay, brother?" Ash asks as we step out the front door.

I flex my hand. "I'm fine. I swear if Cameron touches or talks to her once more, he's fuckin' dead."

I shouldn't have to tell him. I only share amongst my circle. Even then, it's hard to imagine Maddox or Ashton touching Jinx. I remind myself that they won't steal her away from me, that they love her as I do and would do anything for her.