Xander tugs at his collar, clearing his throat. “Little warm in here.”
Briefly glancing up at the ceiling, unconvinced, he sets his sights back on me. “Three o’clock, don’t be late.” Then in a rush, he was gone.
Sneering like our spot was beneath him. When honestly, I think it’s because he got refused.
The rest of lunch, uneventful. Hailey doesn’t push for answers about Finn’s impromptu visit. She knows about my family, Xander doesn’t.
Thankfully neither does anyone else, other than the hellhounds. And I planned on keeping it that way.
My thoughts linger on what Finn could want the rest of the day. The final bell coming too quick.
“Get in the car,” Cole says in way of greeting.
Even after a whole night’s worth of rest, someone was still moody.
All three hellhounds standing before me. All strikingly similar but so different at the same time.
Eli, the leanest. His frame more angular but not any less intimidating. Blazer starched and perfectly pressed. Finn is brawny with wide shoulders and a larger build. His uniform carrying so many wrinkles you’d thought he bought it that way.
Cole the perfect combination, standing between the two. Strong edges, packed in solid muscle. Easily seen under his clean uniformed shirt, never sporting a blazer. Iceman was as intimidating as he was hard as stone to crack.
They trusted each other fiercely. That was evident. Tightly wound together through a unique thread of different backgrounds. All privileged, each mighty. None alone.
They are hellhounds.
I jut out my chin. “Tell me why I should first, and I might consider it.”
I wasn’t naive enough to jump in a car with Cole. That screamed dangerous and borderline abduction. Something I wouldn’t put past him to do if it meant him getting his way.
The smart thing was to put as much distance between us as possible. Especially since the more I was around him, the more my self-control dwindled.
“We started this as a group. We finish this as a group.” Cole’s tone is firm, supreme.
When I give them a confused expression Eli, ever the thoughtful one, gives in. “He’s talking about the lighter.”
I cross my arms. My grin is saccharine. “Does that mean I made rank?”
Cole shoots me a sly smile. “You gotta earn that spot, princess.” Tone nervy and overconfident as always.
Finn nods his agreement, and my lips pull to one side.
“It’s how we do things,” Eli adds.
“Why should I have to go back and risk getting caught when I didn’t want to in the first place?” This is ridiculous. “Finn’s the one who screwed up.”
Cole’s eyes stayed cool, attentive. Listening to my every word.
“You guys can manage on your own.”
“You’re part of this—”
“—I’m not,” I cut in. A mirthless laugh bubbling out my throat. They weren’t getting it. “Ineverwill be. I’m not a Casper. I’m not a hellhound. I’m notanything.” Gasping the only fact that mattered. “You have each other, and I have myself.”
Their silence speaking volumes. My truth sprinkling the air like confetti.
“Count me out,” I huff out, spinning on my heel. Numb to the world.
They would figure it out themselves.