Chapter 47

AUGUST 27 – SATURDAY 7:10 PM

R en

Where were the guys? I didn't see Blake anywhere, but Theo and Liam were near the wall in what seemed like a heated discussion. Dammit. Glancing at Nash's back as he practically pushed people out of the way, I knew interrupting them was the only option.

Before I reached them, I caught the tail end of the convo. "Fine, if that's how you want to be, then I guess you're right, we're over," Theo said and stormed off.

Liam watched him leave, and my hand curled into a fist. "What the hell," I hissed. "Did you just break up with Theo?" Liam's head turned in my direction. "Are you stupid? Yeah, I said it." Pointing the way Theo had gone, I lowered my voice and growled. "He's the best thing that has ever happened to you, and he loves you. Do you really hate me so much that you would ruin the best thing in your life to keep me away from Theo?"

His face turned murderous, but I didn't care. I was so angry that I forgot the reason I marched over here in the first place.

"I didn't break up with him. I gave him my class ring, but he refuses to take it or wear it because of you. So, give yourself a pat on the back. You got what you really wanted."

My mouth dropped, and it felt like he slapped me as he marched off. What the hell? What was Theo thinking? Oh, my head hurt.

"How dare you," Nash yelled, and I whipped around. Oh shit. Everyone went quiet as he faced off with the elegantly dressed woman wearing the same arrogant expression as Nash. Here I thought he got that look from his father. Pushing my way through the crowd, I tried to reach Nash before there was bloodshed. "How dare you show up here on my birthday. You have no right."

"I'm your mother. Of course, I have the right," she said, seemingly unfazed by her volatile and very pissed son.

"No, you lost that right when you walked out ten years ago and never looked back."

"Son, don't speak to your mother that way," Lawrence said as if he was purposely trying to create an explosion. Nash practically snarled at him.

"You don't get to say shit to me," Nash yelled, pointing at his father. Lawrence's eyes were enraged, but under that was something else. I swear he wanted this, and if he wanted this, then I was stopping it. I didn't trust him. "Fucking my ex and my mother—who abandoned me—at the same time. Then you invite them both to my birthday party. You're not exactly father of the year material."

There was a collective gasp, and it was apparent Vicky didn't know as her mouth fell open. Jesus, this was a mess.

"This is not the time or place, son. This is a family matter that should be spoken about in private. Just when I think you've gotten over childish tantrums and you deserve to take on more responsibility in the business, you prove me wrong."

I knew it! Fucking Lawrence.

I had to pass right by Count Dick and Vicky, and just as I was almost clear, Vicky glared at me and then pushed into me. Her red wine splashed out of her glass and soaked the front of my dress. It looked like I'd been shot. I shook my head. The bitch just didn't give up.

"Oops, sorry. I didn't see you there," she said sweetly and grabbed some napkins from the table.

"Don't touch me," I hissed as the crowd glanced between Nash and his mother and me and Vicky.

"I said I was sorry. It was an accident. You don't have to be so rude."

Nope, not today. I wasn't falling for the same trap they just sprang on Nash.

Not caring that I was a mess, I grabbed Nash's hand before he started into another tirade. He didn't move at first.

"Nash," I said softly. He looked down, and his eyes traced my body, obviously not having a clue what happened with Vicky. "Come with me, now. It's important," I whispered.

Nash snatched some wine off the table and raised it in the air. "Happy birthday to me," he yelled, chugging it and slamming the glass down before he let me pull him away. Picking up the front of my dress, I jogged up the stairs and didn't stop walking until we were in his room with the door closed.

"Ah!" He roared, and I let go of his hand.

I kept my back against the door as Nash lost it. Ripping off his suit jacket, he tossed it, and anything else he could get his hands on that wasn't strapped down. Everything from paperweights to swimming trophies became victims. I stared at the floor with my hands clenched tight as something else crashed. I winced as each noise brought back memories of another room being trashed.

No, I couldn't think about that. I swallowed down the panic and the emotions that came with those thoughts.

Suddenly, his feet entered my line of sight. My head shot up, ready for him to throw me next. Instead, he slammed his hand against the door beside my head. I winced but stared into his furious gaze. He looked down at my dress.

"Who did that?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Tell me."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Vicky."

"Bitch," he growled.

I yelped in shock as he roughly grabbed my face and slammed his lips down on mine. All logical thought was wiped clean as he pushed me up against the door and trapped me with his body. My lips parted, and like the other times he'd kissed me, his tongue invaded my mouth and my senses, taking over as the kiss became more frantic. Even though it was a terrible idea, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back with just as much ferocity.

Nash rubbed against me, and I moaned, unable to stop the sound from escaping. Red flags were waving in my mind, but I couldn't push him away. He didn't want me, not really. He wanted to escape his life, and he was using me as an outlet. But my heart pounded out of control in my chest, and a deep-rooted need I didn't want to face rose to the surface.

He broke the kiss with a gasp and pulled my arms from around his neck. "You need to go," he growled. "Or I'm not going to stop." I stared into his eyes and bit my lip as my brain and body fought with what was right. I jumped as a sharp knock vibrated the door right behind my head, making my choice for me. "Who the fuck is it?"

"Us," came Theo's voice, and he relaxed.

Moving away from the door, he opened it, and I fought the urge to pat at my hair and smooth my dress.

Liam, Theo, and Blake's eyes ping-ponged between us.

"Are you coming in or just going to stand there staring all night?"

They walked in and then stopped as they looked at the mess. "I'm going to go with rage tantrum instead of wild sex since you're both still clothed," Theo said, his lip curling up.

"Funny," Nash said as he marched over to his closet and came back out with a pile of clothes. Walking over, he held them out for me. "Only thing I can't give you is shoes to wear."

"This is fine, thanks." I looked at the guys and then Nash. "I'm going to use the bathroom down the hall. Give you all some time to chat." I went to turn away but stopped and grabbed Nash's arm. "I don't know what's going on with your mom, or even Vicky for that matter, and I don't need to know. But they are out to make you look unstable. Whatever their ultimate goal is, it can't be good, and you're better than that. Don't let them make you look a fool. The night is still salvageable."

He snorted but didn't disagree as I walked out of the room and closed the door. Wandering down the hall with the pile of clothes clutched to my chest, I looked around to make sure I was alone. Then I walked around the corner and jogged as best as I could in heels to Lawrence's office. I figured it would be locked, but when I tried the handle, it turned. Shit.

"What do I do now," I asked out loud, not thinking I'd get his far. "Fuck it."

Pushing open the door, I looked inside, ready to offer my best apology and play stupid, but no one was there. I checked the hall again to make sure no one was coming before darting in, closing the door, and locking it. Dropping the clothes on the back of the leather chair, I went on the hunt. My pulse was going insane. This was crazy. What if he had cameras in here?

"I'm in here now." Pulling open the slit on my skirt, I grabbed my phone from the strap that Theo gave me to hold it. Very handy. Turning on my camera, I tried every drawer, but nothing would open. Lifting the grippy pad on his desk, I looked underneath, and nothing. None of the little boxes had a key either. Dammit.

Maybe Count Dick had a secret lair. Pulling on books and statues, I kept expecting something to shoot out of the wall or spin like the gun stash Theo found at my house, but they were just standard books and knickknacks.

"There has to be something. About my dad or me…come on, give me something." I searched the photos and was just about to give up when one caught my attention. No way. Snapping my own photo, I ran for the door, grabbing my pile of clothes on the way out. I tucked them under my arm before easing the lock open and cringing as it clicked. No one barged in, so I took the chance and peeked out. All was still quiet. As quick as possible, I slipped out and jogged on my toes down the hall, cursing the stupid heels all the way into the bathroom. Locking the door, I leaned against it and sucked in a deep breath. Brushing up on my lock-picking skills was a must. Since I didn't have any, that meant learning how, but the fact that the desk was locked intrigued me. Maybe paying Nash the odd visit when his father was away wasn't a bad idea. No…it was a dumb idea. I was no spy, and if Lawrence caught me…I shivered at the thought.

Stripping, I washed off the sticky wine and then stepped into the way too-long track pants. They needed to be rolled up like six times before I tied the strings as tight as they would go. The T-shirt was plain black with a little outline of a swimmer, and I tucked it in so it wasn't hanging on me like a dress. It looked like I was heading to the gym but just fucking extra with the high heels.

I zipped the phone into my pocket and then gathered my dress. Opening the door, I rolled my shoulders and walked out, only to scream as Lawrence grabbed my arm and shoved me up against the wall.

"Mr. Collier, you scared me. What's wrong?"

He smiled, but the evil in his eyes chilled me to the bone. "I saw you. Don't think I didn't," he said, and I swallowed. I assumed he meant the office, but until he told me that he knew I was in his office, I wasn't offering the information.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"You were all over Nash."

"What? I wished him a happy birthday and then got him out of there before the party was ruined completely." He snorted.

"Don't pretend with me. I know you want my son, but he already has an arranged marriage and a contract he must fulfill, and you're not it. Understand?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Even though no one ever specifically said so, I figured he did. It still hurt to hear. Why? It didn't matter, we would never work, but that was beside the point.

"Listen, I don't know what you think you saw, but Nash and I are not a thing. Most of the time, we hate each other." His hand tightened on my arm, and I winced. "Ow, you're hurting me. I thought you were friends with my dad and wanted to protect me. What is wrong with you?"

"Hate and obsession are closely related."

"I think you mean love."

I sucked in a sharp breath as he squeezed so hard that my fingers tingled. "No, I mean obsession. Love is useless. So, listen to me very carefully, Ms. Davies. Stay away from Nash and the rest of his friends."

"Why?"

"The why is none of your business. You should be more concerned with what I'll do to your father if you don't comply." My blood ran ice cold.

"What did you do to my dad?"

"Nothing…much. At least not yet, but that depends on you. Stay away from my son. You're a bad influence on him." He could've said that he liked to dress up as the Easter Bunny, and that would've surprised me less than me being a bad influence.

"I'm sorry. How am I a bad influence?" He let go of my arm and took a step back. "I have straight A's, don't get in trouble with the law, don't smoke, or do drugs. I don't understand."

"Trust me, you are. You may not see it, but I do. Stay away from my son. That's an order, Ms. Davies. I won't tell you twice."

I really wanted to tell him that he'd already said it twice, but I bit my tongue. If he had said this when I first arrived at Wayward, I would've said yes, sir, and run in the other direction every time I saw Nash. Now, I knew too much, and I cared for him more than I should. I held my arm out in the direction of Nash's bedroom.

"Isn't Nash a little old for you to be dictating who he can spend time with? He's not a child. But the stunt you pulled tonight with Vicky and his mother was very childish, and anyone with half a brain saw through what you were trying to pull. Maybe you should be more concerned about that rather than Nash's social life."

My head snapped to the side as he slapped me across the face so hard that I stumbled. My ears rang, and little black dots appeared behind my eyes. He grabbed me by the jaw and jerked me upright. Evil stared at me from his blue eyes, but I glared back, not giving him the satisfaction of tears or yelling even though my whole face hurt from the blow.

"Smart mouth. You have a really fucking smart mouth." He leaned in closer, and a waft of alcohol and his strong cologne hit me as hard as his hand had.

"I get that a lot," I said through the pain. It felt like he was going to crush my jaw with his bare hand.

"Your father warned me about your attitude. He even told me that I'm free to train it out of you if needed."

"Liar," I growled, and he smirked. I didn't believe him. Even with everything that had happened, I knew deep down that my father would never tell someone to abuse me. "You don't scare me."

"I should, Ms. Davies. I can destroy everything and everyone you love until there is no one left breathing. I'm only going to tell you this one more time. Stay away from Nash and everyone in his inner circle, or I will personally put a bullet through your father's head. Then, the next person you love until you get it through your head who is in charge. Understood?"

"You're evil," I said.

He smirked, letting go of my face, and I knew I'd be bruised.

"Funny, I get that a lot." He smoothed down the front of his suit as he looked me up and down. "You're not really dressed appropriately for the party due to the unfortunate accident with the wine. I'll make sure that my driver takes you back to Wayward." I swallowed, panic flooding my system. He took a step and then looked at me and smiled like he hadn't just threatened me. "Have a good evening, Ms. Davies. Oh, and I trust you'll keep this little conversation between the two of us. Don't want to give me a reason to send you a severed body part to make my point."

I watched until he disappeared around the end of the hallway. Shaking, I slumped and rubbed at my sore jaw. Tears stung my eyes. Would he know if I didn't break up with the guys? I covered my mouth. My dad's death or the guys? That wasn't a choice. My heart would die either way. What the hell had he already done to my dad?

I needed to think, and I needed to get the hell out of here. Pushing away from the wall, I ran down the hall, rounded the end, and flew past Nash's door as it opened.

"Ren? Where are you going," Theo called after me, and I could hear him running. I looked back and saw all four of them chasing me.

I raced down the stairs at a breakneck pace and spotted Lawrence with Vicky. Thankfully, he wasn't looking my way as I ran outside. Lawrence's driver was standing by the limo with the door open. I didn't slow as I darted down the stairs and dove into the back.

If he cared why I was acting so strange, he didn't show it. Then again, he might be used to girls running away from Lawrence. He walked around the car and got in just as the guys burst out the door. They looked around, and I put my hand on the glass. Their eyes found me as the tears tore free. The driver put up the center divider, and I broke down into sobs as it felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest.

The tears had barely stopped when we reached Wayward's gate. How could a place feel like home and hell at the same time? The driver pulled around to the dorm, and I pushed the door open and got out before he could move from the front seat.

Standing outside, I stared up at the old building as the car drove away. I dabbed my eyes before walking inside and straight through to the elevator. Thankfully, the few people sitting around didn't notice me. I really wished that Ivy had moved in today, but she was waiting until the last possible minute so she could spend more time with her dad. Of course, that thought had the tears forming again.

Getting out on the fifth floor, I made the walk down to my room. I wanted to tell Lawrence to go to hell, but could I chance him killing my dad? And what if he did kill my dad and still came after the guys to teach me a lesson, to make me bend to what he wanted?

Opening my door, I flicked on the light and screamed as Myles stood from my bed.

"Hello, Snowflake."

"Oh my god," I said and ran to him. Jumping on him, I forgot about Lawrence and his threat for just a moment. "Thank God you're okay. I've been so worried." He chuckled as he held me off the ground while I clung to him.

"Well, at least ya didn't forget about me," he teased as he kissed the side of my neck. "What the?" He ran his thumb up along my skin, and I turned my head so he could see the snowflake tattoos easier. "This is stunning. I love it," Myles said, touching his lips to each one. I couldn't let Lawrence steal this from me. Too much had been ripped away, and he wasn't taking the happiness I did have. "Fuck I missed ya."

"I missed you, too," I said as Myles pulled back, smiling. His eyes suddenly darkened as he grabbed my chin and turned my head to look at my face.

"Who the fuck hurt ya, Snowflake?" His tone was clear: they were dead.

"I can't tell you." I slid down his body.

"Oh, you're gonna fuckin' tell me," Myles said.

"And us," Blake said. I turned to see all four of the guys walk in. Sheer panic had me rushing to the door and looking down the hallway.

"You guys need to go, all of you. I…I can't see you until I figure this out."

Nash marched toward me, grabbed the door from my hand, and slammed it closed. "Not a chance." He looked at my face. "This was my father…don't try to deny it. What did he say to you?" My lower lip trembled. "Did he hurt you anywhere else?" I shook my head. "Did he…did…." I shook my head, and he let out a breath.

"No, he didn't do that." My eyes bounced from one face to the next. "You can't go after him, Nash. None of you can. I need to find my dad first."

Nash's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

I licked my lips. Theo lifted an eyebrow. "I think we've earned your trust. We're used to handling situations and keeping secrets. We've kept you safe all summer. Tell us what happened," he said.

I couldn't argue with that logic. "He wants me to stay away from all of you, or he'll kill my dad and then move on to someone else I care about. Could be one of you or Ivy or even Lizzy." I rubbed my face. "I refuse to let him hurt someone because of me, but…if I stay away from all of you, he wins. I won't let that happen either."

"Son of a bitch," Nash said as he stomped away.

"He says I'm a bad influence. I don't understand."

"He's pinning all of the changes we're making, like my attitude and Myles refusing to rape someone, on you." Nash made little quotation marks with his fingers. "You're a bad influence because he didn't see a change until after you arrived."

"Well, that's not happening. Not the stayin' away or the killin' yer da. Yer safe here, Snowflake. Lawrence has no reach inside the school." Myles walked over and wrapped me up in a hug.

"How are you so sure?"

"That was why he felt the need to threaten you. It's his only card to play to scare you. The question is, why," Liam said. "And why all of us and not just Nash?"

Liam brought up a very good point. Glancing between him and Theo, standing with their shoulders almost touching, it was impossible to tell if they were still at odds.

"Guys, can we deal with this tomorrow? I want to talk to Snowflake alone for a few minutes," Myles said, and if he hadn't said it so seriously, I would've thought he wanted to have sex.

"Wait. Before you all go…." I pulled out my phone. "I may have broken into Lawrence's office."

"You what?" They all said together.

"He didn't see me, I swear. You can give me shit for that later. I found this picture framed on the wall." I handed my phone over, and all the guys stared at the photo.

"Well fuck me," Blake said first. "That's Lawrence and Christov in front of Wayward. They look our age."

Nash zoomed in on the photo of his dad and my possible father, smiling with their arms around each other. "Fuck, this picture has been on the wall my whole life. I didn't even notice it was the same guy."

"So…what do you think it means," I asked.

"I don't know," Nash said, handing me back my phone. "We'll head out, but Princess…never go into my father's office again. He'd either kill you or fuck you for it," he said, and I swallowed hard. The thought of Count Dick touching me with a single finger made me want to throw up, let alone be forced to have sex with him.

"I won't," I said.

"Don't worry, Princess. My father's time is almost up," Nash said as the four of them walked out the door and closed it behind them.

As soon as they were gone, Myles took my hand and led me over to the bed. "I need to kiss ya before we talk." I smiled as he gently cupped my face and kissed me. Touching him meant that I was finally able to really breathe again. He was safe, or as safe as you got in this insanity. "That's better," he said, breaking the kiss.

"What's going on? You look worried."

"I wanted you to hear what I had to do from me before you hear rumors and speculation from someone else."

"Oh…okay," I said, prepping myself, and not sure I wanted to hear this from the look he was giving me.

"But this has to stay between us. The only others that know are the guys, and it must stay that way."

"You have my word, I won't say anything." Reaching out, I touched his face, and he grabbed my hand and held it between his. He took a deep breath, and as much as I wanted to know, I was also terrified of the truth.

"I was ordered to kill Fiona and her entire family."

My mouth fell open. "What?"