9. Just A Little Fun

9

Just A Little Fun

Violet

Marijuana clogs the air as I step inside Sigma House. Music hammers through the speakers, and people spill from the front door as Mila leads the four of us into madness.

It's unimaginable how anyone can live in a place like this. And one step inside offers me a new perspective on what my boyfriend might have been up to when I wasn't around.

I've never been jealous—I'm too busy to keep tabs on anyone but myself. So I didn't think twice about the Sigma Sin party rumors, assuming if Liam was dating me, he cared enough about me to want to be in a relationship. But walking through the doors of Sigma House, I'm faced with a scene that makes me wonder how much I knew about the person I was dating .

And it makes me question how good he was at hiding the other sides of himself.

The stench of pot and booze fills the air. Girls walk around wearing next to nothing. A few dance topless on a table in the center of the room while two people at the edge of the room are fucking in front of everyone.

Somehow, that's the least shocking thing happening, given there are two men chained to large wooden crosses against one wall. People walk by and draw on them with Sharpies, and the guys who are chained up must be initiates because they don't flinch as someone draws cocks on their faces.

"This was a bad idea." Maybe one of my worst.

I turn to Patience, who is staring wide-eyed as she looks around the room. At her side, Teal scans the scene unaffected—bored even. While Mila is grinning and looking ready to party.

"There's Marco." Mila waves at someone above us, her smile widening.

She might say nothing is going on with her and Marco, but as I look up at the balcony on the second floor and see him smiling back at her, I'm not so sure.

Above us, Marco is leaning on the railing, flanked by the Sigma Sin Kings of Hell.

Declan is on his left, looking amused as always, likely feeding on the innocent souls the moment they step through the door.

Directly to Marco's right is Kole, sipping a drink, appearing just as bored as Teal. His eyes find mine the second I look up, and I might as well be staring into the soul of the devil as a chill shimmies up my spine.

Next to Kole are Maddox and Asher. Liam told me they pledged two years ago after Patience's brother was put in the hospital, so they're newer members. Maddox and Asher laugh amongst each other, which makes them seem somewhat approachable compared to the rest of the group looking down on us, even if I know they aren't.

And finally, at the end is the reason I'm here—Braxton Westwood, Liam's brother.

His attention is on me the moment I look up. He's two years younger than Liam, but basically his twin. He has the same Westwood glow from being born and raised with money. Whiskey-brown eyes as light as his hair and a chiseled jaw that clenches when he spots me.

Guilt rises with the bile in my throat the longer I stare at Brax. He and Liam were close, and if my run-in with Declan and Kole is any indication, he doesn't know his brother is dead yet.

Brax tips his head to the side, motioning to the staircase as he lifts off the railing.

"You good?" Patience asks, leaning closer, her attention also on Brax.

"Yeah." I nod. "I'm going to go have a chat with him."

"Text if you need me." She holds up her phone. "I'm going to keep an eye on those two in the meantime."

She glances over at where Mila's dragged Teal to the bar, and the bartender is handing them shots.

"Good luck."

Patience rolls her eyes. "Same. "

She brushes past me, squeezing my hand as she passes, and I try to bury the anxiety welling up as I push through the crowd to the bottom of the staircase.

Upstairs is off-limits, and it's made clear by the initiates guarding the bottom steps. They only part for Brax as he makes his way down.

"Bold move, Vi." Brax crosses his arms over his chest, his teeth clenching as he stops in front of me.

"What is?"

"You can't just dump my brother and then show up to party." He lets out an annoyed chuckle. "Besides, you never came to these when you were together. Not sure what makes you think you're welcome now."

"Dumped him?" I'm shaking my head, unsure if it's the music or if I'm not hearing him correctly.

"Don't pull that shit."

"I'm not." My eyebrows pinch. "What are you talking about?"

Brax digs his phone from his pocket, skimming through it, and then turning it around so I can read the texts on the screen.

Brax: Where are you at?

Liam: I won't make it tonight.

Brax: What the fuck?

Liam: Vi left me, stupid bitch.

Brax: Then come party. More than enough pussy to go around here.

Liam: Not feeling it, leaving town to blow off some steam. I'll hit you back when I clear my head.

Brax pulls his phone away and tucks it into his pocket .

"When did you get that?"

"When do you think? Last night." Brax's jaw clenches again as he tucks his thumbs in his pockets.

I always thought Brax was the nicer brother. Or at least more approachable. But I'm realizing now I was wrong.

"I didn't dump him, Brax." And I'm sure Liam isn't the one who sent those texts.

Saint is playing a much bigger game than I thought.

"Why would Liam make that shit up?"

"I don't know." I shake my head. "We fought, that's it."

Another lie to add to my growing list. But it's better than being on Brax's bad side right now when I need him to give me an inch so I can figure out what's going on.

Brax scans me. His whiskey eyes run from my blue turtleneck to my pleated skirt. I look like a Catholic schoolgirl, but it's as good as I could do, given the marks Saint left all over my body.

When Brax's gaze meets mine again, he relaxes his shoulders. "You didn't dump him?"

"No."

It's technically the truth. Even if it still doesn't mean we're together.

"Fuck." Brax brushes his fingers through his hair and tips his head back, groaning. "He's such a fucking pussy sometimes, but I should have figured he's not stupid enough to go AWOL over some chick."

He looks back at me, and it's clear he sees me like Sigma Sin views all women—like objects. Not worth the trouble or grief.

"I guess." I shrug .

There's no use trying to stand up for the dignity of women while wading in a pool of Sigma Sin debauchery.

"Well, sorry, Vi." Brax rakes his hand through his shaggy hair once more.

"Sorry?"

My question snaps him out of his head, his jaw clenching. "Nothing. Never mind."

I can't help but wonder what he just thought, even if I know there's no use trying to get it out of him.

"Well, Liam's not here, so I guess you made the trip for nothing. But you can stay and party if you want."

"Thanks." I force a smile. "I might."

A hand plants itself on Brax's shoulder, and Kole stops beside him. I didn't notice him walking down the staircase after Brax.

"You two good?" Kole asks, not that he seems worried about anything with the cold, emotionless stare he offers me.

Brax nods. "Misunderstanding."

Kole looks up to take in the scene just as a body comes out of nowhere and plows into me. I'm stumbling, ready to fall on my ass, when Kole grabs my arms and steadies me.

The intensity of his grip, mixed with the rage brewing in his dark eyes, makes me pull away. If Saint saw that, he'd probably make Kole his next victim.

Taking a step back, I take a deep breath as Nixon grabs the railing, steadying himself. "Shit, sorry, Vi."

Nixon smiles, finding his balance after running me over. He steps closer, reeking of pot. Even if he's found his footing, his pupils are blown, and his steps are unsteady, so I'm worried he might fall into me again.

"Hey, Nix." I force a smile when he gets a little too close.

My first month at Briar Academy, I made the mistake of letting Nixon take me out for coffee. Now, every time I've seen him since, he tries again.

"It's been forever." Nixon grins, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and leaning his mouth by my ear. "Never did quite make it to that second date."

He pulls back far enough to wink at me, and my stomach instantly curdles.

"Can we help you with something?" Kole interrupts the uncomfortable staring contest between me and Nixon.

He looks Nixon up and down, pausing where his arm is wrapped around my shoulders. His familiar, cool expression is unflinching.

"Oh hey, man." Nixon tips his drink up like he's just now noticing Kole and Brax standing there. "Badass party."

The slightest pinch forms between Kole's eyebrows. So faint I almost miss it.

He's annoyed —maybe?

Nixon is oblivious; his grip tightens as he turns to face me again. "I was just—Shit."

He spills his drink down the front of my shirt, and now I'm a beer-covered mess.

"Crap, sorry about that, Vi." Nixon reaches in to brush my chest, but I pull back.

"It's fine." I run my hands down my front.

It's not. I'm soaked. But I don't need Nixon trying to help me out when this bad night just keeps getting worse .

Brax laughs while Kole watches us like we're a boring movie playing out in front of him.

"Let me get that." Nixon reaches forward again, and I subtly dodge him.

"I'm fine, promise." I turn to Brax. "Can I use your bathroom?"

He juts a thumb to the left. "There're bathrooms attached to the spare rooms downstairs. It's quieter down there."

"I'll show you." Nixon smiles, and I really wish he would stop trying to be helpful when I'd rather he turn his attention to anyone else.

"Thanks," I mumble.

Heading into the crowd, I glance back at Brax and Kole, who are still standing together at the bottom of the staircase. Behind them, Maddox is making his way down it, watching me, looking less friendly than he was a moment ago when he was upstairs talking to Asher.

"I'm such an idiot." Nixon takes another drink of his beer, pulling my attention. "Really, I'm so sorry about this."

"It's fine."

"It's not though."

"Nixon, I'm good."

And I'm getting more annoyed by the second. Because even if I don't like being drenched in alcohol, his following me through the crowd is worse.

"Are we going in the right direction?" I ask when I reach another wall .

Sigma House is a maze, and every room looks like a strobing labyrinth.

Nixon straightens up, looking around. "Crap, no."

He points over the group of people surrounding us to an archway on the opposite side of the room. "The staircase is over there."

Of course it is.

Fighting my way through the crowd again, I finally find the staircase. Unfortunately, Nixon follows me down it, stopping at a door on the left and propping it open.

Downstairs is quieter than upstairs like Brax said. But it isn't empty. A giggling couple dips into one of the rooms, and the girl is ripping at the guy's shirt, making it clear what this part of the house is used for.

"Clear." Nixon walks into a room on his left. "This place is incredible. I mean, shit, this is a guest room?"

The room is large and mostly empty. A giant bed sits on one wall, a dresser on the other, and a chair in the corner. Across the room, I spot the door that must lead to the bathroom.

I breathe a sigh of relief. "Thanks for leading the way. I'm good now."

Nixon turns around, smirking. "Come on, Vi. What about that second date we never got around to? You clean up; I'll wait."

"I've got a boyfriend."

Nixon approaches, and I step back.

"Liam?" He tips his head back and laughs. "Is it one of those he can do whatever he wants, and you're loyal to him anyway situations? "

My stomach turns at his insinuation. At another reminder that I'll never find someone who will want me for me. Who will understand me just as I am. Who won't cheat on me when I don't immediately give it up to them.

"Come on, we all know he fucks around."

I don't—or I didn't .

The moment I walked into Sigma House, I suspected it. I don't think it's possible for any of them to be faithful, given the scene upstairs.

Nixon takes another step toward me, and I step back. What started flirty and playful feels like it's changing, and it has the hair on the back of my head standing on its ends when he refuses to let this go.

"We don't have to fuck, so it's not even technically cheating." Nixon grins. "Just a little fun."

He sticks his tongue out and wiggles it at me.

"What do you think?" Nixon's grin is wide, but then his gaze darts over my shoulder, and I watch something shift in his expression as his amusement slowly falls.

I smell Saint before I feel him.

Oak. Trees. A forest fire.

And then his body presses closer. He wraps a hand around my waist and splays his fingers over my stomach, pulling my back to his front.

"Yes, Violet." Saint leans down, whispering in my ear, "What do you think?"