Chapter 20

Twenty

Regan

T he rumble of their bikes came long before they actually pulled in.

Harper jumped up and down.

She was more excited than me for all of them to come. My hands wrung together, wishing I could find anything else to pay attention to besides the sounds of their bikes getting closer. They had to be coming up the driveway now.

Rook would be here with all his friends, around my friends.

"What was I thinking?" I asked, grabbing Harper's arm. "Did I just make a terrible decision?"

"Maybe," she said with a smile. "But I think it's going to be a really fun, terrible decision."

The bikes revved, and my eyes went wide as I watched six of them drive down the path around the house and park on the back patio.

I ran over to Rook, already knowing his bike now. My face heated at how well I knew him and his bike, but I pushed that aside as he pulled off his helmet. His dark hair was tousled from the ride, framing his sharp jaw and piercing eyes. Tattoos peeked out from under the sleeves and collar of his hoodie, and his confident, dangerous aura made my pulse quicken.

"I told you to park in the front," I said, trying not to melt at the sight of him. He seemed to look hotter every time I saw him.

"Well, hello to you, too, Rebel. I'm not parking my bike out of my sight when I don't know anyone here."

"No one here is going to mess with your stuff."

"Can you guarantee it?"

I knew most of the people already here, but not everyone. Friends of friends that I couldn't assure him didn't know him or wouldn't mess with the bike.

"No," I growled. "Keep it out of the way, though. If someone messes with it back here, it's your problem."

"A little ray of sunshine today, aren't you? I thought you would be happy we were here. Was I supposed to decline the invitation?"

"I don't know. I mean, no, I wanted you to come. I'm just…nervous. You're nothing like my friends, and they are nothing like yours."

He set his helmet down and threw his hands over his heart with a frown. "Aww. We're just star-crossed lovers. Will this turn into a street fight, or are you and I going to kill each other at the end in the name of true love?"

"Ha. Ha. You make jokes now until you want to punch one of these guys. Then what?"

"Then I punch them and kidnap you. Actually, that sounds like a great plan. Better than the one I had."

Evie slid off the back of the other bike, which I was pretty sure was Aiden's, and came to stand next to Rook with a grin.

"Hey," she said. "Nice to meet you not on the back of the bike."

"Evie, I'm assuming?"

"That's me. Thanks for inviting us. I rarely get out around people who aren't…" Her voice trailed off as her eyes glanced around us. "Doing the things we do. You know?"

"Well, I'm glad you could come."

Evie shrugged off the jacket, revealing her dress and, apparently, her knife on her leg.

Harper stepped up next to me, her mouth dropping open.

"I just came to introduce myself, but oh my god, I'm obsessed with you," she said to Evie.

Evie's smile widened. "Well, then, I'm obsessed with you, too. Can we meet everyone?"

Harper agreed, grabbing her arm and heading off into the crowd. Rook watched them for a second before looking back at me.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

"For?"

"You two being nice to Evie."

"Why wouldn't we be?"

"I don't know. She has trouble with girl friends. Between her level of crazy, the way she dresses, and hanging out with us almost exclusively, girls tend to either not be nice or try to use her."

"Use her for what?"

His face hardened, his lips pressing together hard. "To get to us. She's had some shit friends that used her because they liked one of us. Then some that used her just to get in the group. She's given up a bit, and I think she's been a little depressed about it. She couldn't believe she was invited today." He smiled at me, and my heart stopped. It was a real smile, not those evil little grins he liked to give me. "I had to show her your text to prove it."

"Oh," I said, looking over at Harper and Evie. I wasn't sure what I would do without Harper. Even with all the guys around, sometimes you needed other girls. "Does that mean she'd like to hang out with me and Harper sometime?"

"I'm sure she would," he said. "Can't promise she won't cut anyone, but she would probably like a break from us."

"Who wouldn't?"

He laughed again, stepping closer to me now. "If you wanted a break from me, why ask me to come over?"

"It's a party. Everyone is invited."

"Of course, and you always invite people like us to these things?"

"Sometimes," I said as he leaned down.

His hands rested on my waist, pulling me closer until his lips were at my ear. "And do you let these people stay in your bed at these parties?"

"No." My fingers fisted into the hoodie he wore, wishing he would go a little lower to kiss my neck.

"Thankfully, you're making an exception tonight."

"I am?" I asked, my eyebrows jumping up. "Says who?"

"Me."

"What if I say no?"

"What if I say I don't care?" he asked.

His hands wrapped around the sides of my neck, pulling me in until our lips connected. Each slow flick of his tongue made me open more, my body falling against his until he had to hold me upright.

"Based on that kiss, I don't think we have a problem. I'm going to find a drink. You can find me."

"Excuse me?"

"Problem?" he asked, stopping to face me.

"Yes. You came to my party, asked to stay the night with me, and then casually tell me I can come find you if I want? Why wouldn't you be hanging out with me all night?"

"I said you could come find me if you wanted."

"So I have to chase you now?"

He grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me in again until our lips were a breath apart.

"Why wouldn't I want you to when it worked out so great for me last time?"

"It's not going to happen this time."

"I bet it will."

"I bet it won't."

"I will take that bet, Rebel. I bet you by the end of the night, you will be begging for me to take you up to your bed. I bet you will be ready to drop to your knees and be my pretty little slut again." He ran a finger over my bottom lip, smiling, before he leaned down to kiss me. "I can't wait to see you beg for me," he whispered. "I'm sure I'll see plenty of you soon."

Before I could respond, he took off, disappearing into the crowd and heading towards the bar.

If he thought I would be waiting around chasing after him, he was about to be in for a shock.

After another hour of walking around, having a drink, and talking to a few friends, I headed over to Evie, who was sitting and watching the party go on around her.

"Having fun?"

"A lot, actually. Thank you again."

"Anytime. I wondered if you would want to come over again. Maybe hang out with me and Harper one day?"

"Did Rook force you to ask me?"

I laughed, leaning on the bar top next to her. "Not at all. I'm the one that brought it up, actually. "

"Oh. Well, then, yeah, I would love to."

"I'll text you next time we go out. Do you have a bike?"

"Ew, no. I ride with Aiden usually. Rook takes me sometimes, but no one really wants to be that close to their brother."

"So you don't want to drive one and they don't care?"

"Why would they care? The only time they care is when they want to take someone home, and apparently Aiden has no game because that is a rare occurrence."

"Um, have you seen Aiden? I don't think he would need any game if he wanted to take someone home."

She glanced over at him, but then her attention quickly went back to her nails. "Yeah, I guess."

"Maybe he just likes taking you home."

She rolled her eyes. "Doubtful. He feels obligated. Rook has basically made him my bodyguard. He's forced to be around me."

"I don't know. I'm sure he could say no, but I don't know much about your friend group."

"Oh, well, you know Rook. Aiden is and has been his best friend for the last ten years."

I looked over at Aiden. Confidence radiated off him. He was muscular, and his dirty blonde hair was cut shorter, but it was still a mess. Not quite like Rook's messy hair. He had one of those smiles that made girls lose their minds and tattoos that snaked down his arms. He had that same quiet authoritative look like Rook had, like people would respect him when he walked into a room, and I wondered how they had gotten that.

He glanced over at Evie again, a scowl crossing his face before he glanced back at the girl he was talking to. Evie noticed, but continued on. "Hero is over there at the bar with Mason. He has been with us for a few years now, and Mason, too. Those two are close, but complete opposites."

I turned my attention to them. Hero was taller, and thinner, but still muscular. The first thing I noticed about him was green eyes. I didn't know that I'd ever seen such green eyes on a guy, and while he was good-looking, too, something about him made me uneasy. She pointed out Mason next to him. He looked more like Rook. Dark hair, dark clothes, tattoos covering his arms and one on his neck. He seemed funny, but the dark, brooding thing really made me keep my distance still.

"Zack and Kane are the two over there by the pool," Evie continued. "They have been around for less than a year, so everyone still keeps them out of the loop a bit, but they are funny." Those two looked less like the group, and I wondered if it was because they were newer. They had fewer tattoos, less of a menacing look, and while they both were apparently fine with the killings and hiding bodies, they both seemed friendlier.

"And you?"

"Well, Aiden lovingly refers to me as psycho. I don't get out much, and really the only thing I'm good at is computers, so, you know, not much."

I laughed, smiling when she turned to me. "You are saying this to a girl who is basically locked in her house watching TV and drawing all day. I think that's a lot. I think that's plenty, and it sounds fun."

She gave a tight grin, but jumped up. "I'm going to find another drink and bother Aiden a bit more. Good luck with my brother. He's…a lot, but he's the best. Promise."

I searched for his face in the crowd. It had been a while since I'd seen him, and I tried not to wonder if it had been on purpose or not.

My heart sank when I didn't find him, but I ignored it. He was ignoring me, I could ignore him. I grabbed another drink, taking it to my friends and quickly downing it.

Somehow, another hour went by, and I had lost count of how many drinks I had thrown back. Soon, I was bleary-eyed, trying to make it around the pool, realizing immediately he would find the farthest spot and sit there.

I saw Rook right away, and I didn't love what I found.

My stomach rolled and my hands clenched at the girl leaning over to touch him. It was innocent enough, the hand on his arm. He sat back, saying something to her, which made her laugh.

Did he really come to my party and say he was staying the night with me, only to flirt with other people?

Or maybe this was a part of his game.

My palms grew hot and itchy as I watched. I needed to get closer and hear what they were saying. Maybe he wouldn't even notice if I sat down near them.

His bright eyes locked onto mine the moment I stepped closer. Someone came and sat down in the only open seat making the panic of embarrassment bubble up in my chest. There were no open seats now.

Rook's head tipped with a smile before he kicked out his legs more and patted his lap.

I would have to walk over, in front of everyone, and sit on his lap. It wasn't just a seat, and I knew it. It would be a clear show that I was here with him.

He wanted to challenge me to be a rebel, and just like every time before, I would take it.