Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
He nods. “That’s what I was thinking. I’m guessing he and William are trying to figure out how to deal with the business. Buy out his share of the company or something.”
I shake my head. “He’ll never sell. If they so much as tried to buy him out, he’d know they were up to something.”
“They’ll figure something out. No way in hell they’re going down with him.”
That’s one thing we can agree on. I check my phone for the time and see a text from Ryan on the screen.
Where u at?
There’s a party tonight, and since Hadley won their game, everyone’s going to be there to celebrate it along with making the most of the last weekend before break ends. I told Ryan I’d think about it before I left, but after today, there’s nothing I’d rather do less.
Nah, just getting back into town. Gonna call it a night.
He responds almost instantly.
So you won’t mind if I keep your girl company tonight then?
What the fuck is he talking about? Before I get the chance to ask, another text comes in.
Scratch that. Looks like someone beat me to it.
Attached is a video of Valen at said party. I squint at the screen as if that will help me see more clearly through the drunk bodies and flashing lights. I don’t have to have a clear picture to know she looks good. He zooms in on Valen and Shayne dancing just in time to see some guy move in behind Valen. The video cuts off before I can see what happens next.
“Change of plans. We’re going to a frat party.” I show Thayer the still of the video.
He shrugs. “Contrary to what you seem to believe, we do things separate sometimes. I’m not going to a fucking frat—”
I hit play on the video. He takes one look at the guy trying to grind on Shayne and Valen, his mouth snaps shut, and we both head back for the car.
Me: On my way. Let anyone touch her and I’ll kill you.
Ryan: Thought so.
Holden
The air is thick with the scent of sweaty bodies and beer. We push through the crowd and I spot Shayne and Valen surrounded by people in the kitchen. Instead of yelling over the music, I jerk my chin in their direction to let Thayer know where they are.
“Ames!” Clay, a guy on the basketball team, shouts, stepping in front of me, effectively blocking my path to Valen. “You ready to play next season?”
“That’s the plan,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder. “Congrats on the win.”
He gives me an animated play-by-play of the game over the sound of the music blaring from the speakers, gesticulating wildly with a beer in hand. When I look back at Valen, the guy from the video is lifting a red cup to her lips. She jerks back, shaking her head. He doesn’t take the fucking hint and tries again, this time shoving it past her lips.
I move Clay to the side, quickly walking toward her with Thayer hot on my heels. Valen handles her own, though, slapping the cup from his hand. It sloshes all over him before falling to the floor. I can’t tell what she’s saying, but I can tell that it isn’t pleasant by the fierce look on her face and the finger she stabs into his chest.
My dick twitches in my pants and I look over to find Thayer watching the scene with amusement written all over his face. If it was Shayne, it’d be another story entirely. I reel in my temper, knowing Valen has it handled. I’m not exactly playing it cool, but Thayer hasn’t called me on it, so I must not be as transparent as I feel.
I can tell Shayne shouts something along the lines of “get the fuck out of here,” and the guy runs off with his tail between his legs, soaked and humiliated, finally leaving their friend group alone. Cheerleaders. They’re not in uniform, but the hair and the temporary tattoo of Hadley’s seal on their cheeks gives it away.
The handsy fuck shouts at people to move out of his way. I know Valen already handled it. She doesn’t need a knight in shining armor to defend her honor or a protective boyfriend who punches holes in the drywall in his spare time, so I should leave well enough alone. But when he tries to pass me, my foot darts out in front of him, causing him to trip and fall on his face.
He starts to yell, pushing himself up off the ground with his hands, but I stop him with a foot between his shoulder blades, keeping him pinned to the floor. When he stops struggling, I remove my weight and squat down next to him. He rolls onto his back, glaring up at me as he gasps for air, but he must be smarter than he looks because he doesn’t say a word.