“It’s a place in the woods, a ravine. An old house sits in it. We fixed the place up when we got here, so it’s a decent party spot. It’s considered neutral grounds for kings and lords too, so be aware you may see Ivanov and his crew. It’s the one place where we put our differences aside and just relax.”
“So you’re all friends there?”
“Fuck no. We just try to keep that shit to campus and life. The dip is a place to let go. It’s a safe space, so to speak.”
I didn’t bother asking more questions. I didn’t even want to go. I just wanted to lie in bed and watch TV without some asshole forcing himself on me.
But I needed to put these lords and kings in their places, so a party in the middle of the woods was where I’d start.
Twenty-Six
Levin
Vincent is late.” Dom stared out at the setting sun through the trees, looking like he wanted to murder someone. A muscle thrummed along his jaw as he flexed his hands in and out of tight fists.
“He’s with Bianca, right? He’s probably balls deep,” I muttered, leaning against the railing of the old dip house and slurping on my beer.
People were already partying and laughing.
“He’s never late,” Dom continued. “And he wouldn’t do that. She’s being punished for earlier.”
I’d heard about earlier. She was still pissed off about Dom putting her down on all fours. Of course, he then had to take this to a whole other level by fingering her to teach her a lesson. If I knew Bianca like I thought I did, his actions only pissed her off more.
She hadn’t spoken one word to me. She did my trig for me and cleaned my room silently whenever she came over, leaving behind some lavender scent I couldn’t get enough of.
Bianca D’Angelou was quite the woman, but I didn’t trust her further than I could spit, and it had nothing to do with the fact David D’Angelou was her stepdad or that she’d been engaged to Hail. She was up to something. I knew she was.
She was pissed at us, and it was only getting worse. After my attack on her, the cafeteria shit, and now Dom finger fucking her while Vincent watched… we needed to tread carefully. I felt like we were making a bigger enemy of her than we’d intended. Of course, with the lives we led, enemies were a common occurrence.
It didn’t matter. I kept telling myself that over and over. I’d fucking bury her the moment I found out whatever it was she was planning, whether Dom was OK with it or not. The world could use one less D’Angelou in it, even if she was there by a misfortunate incident. Besides, death would eventually come for her. It always did to people who lived our lives. She’d only escape destiny for a moment before it took her, and we couldn’t spend our lives protecting her. Bianca D’Angelou had an expiration date.
It was a morbid as fuck thought, but one could only dance with the devil so long before the devil took his due. A sad fact even I hated thinking about.
“He’ll be here.” I grabbed a bottle of whiskey and dropped my can into the trash. I took a swig, letting it burn its way down my throat.
Dom straightened up and pushed away from the railing. I followed his gaze. Vincent and Bianca had arrived. Her in that red dress made me go momentarily stupid, but I pulled my shit together quickly as Vincent led her over to us.
“Why are you late?” Dom demanded, his eyes raking over Bianca.
I knew that look. He was doing all he could to not lose his shit on them while simultaneously wanting to throw Bianca to the ground and fuck her raw.
“Got sidetracked.” Vincent offered up a lopsided smile as Bianca stared back at Dom, her face expressionless.
Dom glowered but didn’t press the subject. If I had to guess, he didn’t want to demand what had sidetracked them because then he really would lose his cool. Instead, he reached for Bianca.
She stepped into his open arm, and he immediately wound it around her waist.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Vincent winked at her before Dom led her to his seat which overlooked the party without answering her.
“On your knees,” he said as he released her and sank into the leather.
Her eyes widened as she stared at him, her lips parted. She peered at Vincent then me.
“Are you deaf, D’Angelou? Knees. Now.” I reached out and placed my hands on her slender shoulders and forced her down in front of Dom who surveyed her with cool eyes.
He ran his knuckles along her jaw. “You were late. I don’t entertain tardiness. You’ll remain on your knees right here all night.”