Peony

“You look lovely, my little flower.”

I recoil as The General’s words wash over me, alongside his sleazy gaze. I’ve managed so well at avoiding him since the dinner and hot poker incident. The guys insisted that we stopped hanging out at Zie’s house, and it has worked well for weeks. But Zie assured us he was out of town on business this entire weekend, so we decided to have a pool party. Just the four of us, no girlfriends allowed. No need for me to worry about a jealous boyfriend, things with Billy fizzled out pretty quickly after a couple of dates. I can’t say I minded too much, but all subsequent dates with other guys went much the same way and I”m beginning to wonder if there”s something really wrong with me.

I glance up at the shadow blocking the light from my sun lounger. The General is definitely not away on business. His lecherous expression and the sickening way he licks his lips after scanning my bikini-clad body turns my stomach, almost as much as his vile nickname for me does. Just because the guys call me Peony, he decided to call me his little flower. I’m not his anything and I pray to god I never will be.

My throat freezes and I can’t do anything but gawp at him.

“Dad? What are you doing home?” Zie breaks the silence, coming out of the house with drinks for all of us. I’ve no idea where the others are but I’m ridiculously grateful to Zie for appearing at just the right time. The General raises an eyebrow at his son.

“Partying in my absence, son?”

“It’s just Odile and the guys, dad. Same as always.”

“Hardly. I never see your delectable little flower girl anymore,” he pouts. Zie doesn’t respond to that.

Absentmindedly, my hand traces the small scar on my arm from the last time I saw him. Out of the corner of his eye, he watches me and smirks. Bile rises up my throat.

“Three on one. Now that is my idea of a party.”

“Excuse me,” I say, getting to my feet and rushing for the house. Sweat slickens my skin and my heart pounds as I force myself to walk normally, when all I want to do is bolt for safety.

As soon as I turn the corner and am out of his sight, I race for the open patio doors and smack straight into a hard bare chest with a ‘ooof’.

“Whoa, babygirl, what’s wrong?”

“T-the G-general c-came b-back.” Fuck. I cringe at how my voice shakes, but as Kaiden wraps his arms around me and shoots Axel a look, I realise I’m trembling all over.

“Did he touch you? Odile! Did he hurt you?” I shake my head no.

“He j-j-just looked. And he said—”

“Take her to my house. Now,” Axel demands, before slipping through the door, murder in his eyes.