My shoulders stiffen as I exit the chat. He’s been threatening me for so long now; it’s time he knows I am not to be threatened.
“Agnus?”
“Yes.”
“Can you drop me somewhere?”
I hit the number on my contacts list and smile for the second time today.
Ronan should not have messed with me. If he bites, I’ll always bite back.
11
Ronan
“What does it mean when a girl cockblocks you?”
Cole doesn’t lift his head from the book; it’s one he’s been reading a lot lately, titled The Anatomy of Evil. He has phases where he spends a long time reading a certain book until he memorises the whole thing.
“You mean something similar to how you’re now blocking me from reading?”
“It’s not the same, you can’t fuck books.” He raises an eyebrow, and I hold out a hand. “Don’t even voice that thought, Captain. Now, back to my question: why?”
“Why are you asking me? Why not ask the others?”
“Because Aiden is shagging Elsa — not that he shares wisdom — and Xander is at rehab, so you’re all I’ve got.” I pause, grinning. “Besides, you’re the smartest.”
“Nice save.”
“What am I if not a good sport? Isn’t that right, Captain?”
He flips a page, momentarily ignoring me. I tagged along with him and we’re now at his house, or rather his stepfather’s house, Sebastian Queens. The future prime minister of the United Kingdom and one of Dad’s allies. He likes to keep everyone who matters near – like Teal’s foster father, Ethan Steel.
Cole’s room is impersonal with a bed and a desk and nearly nothing memorable. He does an impressive job of keeping it boring and filled with books.
Unlike me, Xander, or even Aiden, Cole doesn’t like having people over.
Told you, he’s kind on the outside, but a dick on the inside.
“If I answer your question,” he says, “are you going to leave?”
“Depends on whether or not you’ll bluff me.” I need to get that out there because the fucker has a tendency of telling you what you want to hear just so you’ll disappear, kind of like how I throw out smiles to maintain peace.
Still sitting on his bed, he leans on a fist but doesn’t release the book. “Give me details.”
Fuck yes.
I drag his desk chair over, flip it around, and sit down so my arms are on the top. “So here’s the thing: my friend was about to get a blowjob, and this girl interrupts me — I mean him, not me. As you know, I have no problem getting sex. He’s a loser.”
“What other friends do you have aside from us?”
“Just someone. Also, I have Lars.”
“Lars is thirty years older than you. Are you sure you want to consider him a friend?”
“I do, and you’re so fucked, Captain. I’m telling Lars, and he’s a snob who holds grudges and writes about them in his little black book, so no tea for you, and he won’t lend you novels from Father’s library.”
“Then maybe I shouldn’t be helping with your…I mean, your friend’s problem.”