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“Hey, have you seen her yet?” Mason turns to me. We’re all standing along the back wall near the fireplace of whatever room this is in Chad’s mansion of horrors. We weren’t kidding when we said he was not someone she should even talk to. Mommy and Daddy have gotten him out of a lot of shit that would have landed him some time in the slammer.
Fucking Chad.
Turning to Mason, I do another quick sweep with my eyes. “No. And I haven’t seen Oliver either. So, my money is on him picking her up.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. Shit. Maybe we should have approached that differently. She’s fiery. Phoenix isn’t going to take to being told what to do.” Mason shakes his head.
“We aren’t here to be her friend,” Dax jumps in. “So, I don’t care about her feelings or how she responds. She’ll learn soon enough what happens when she crosses us. She will get what’s coming to her.”
Dax has a huge stake in all of this, and I understand why he’s so hell-bent on making her his target. First, he’s under orders from his father. And to be honest, his father is not one to be screwed with. Gregory Emerson’s a very powerful man. Second, finding out that Phoenix’s family had something to do with the disappearance of his mom and now shows up here at Darkwood is very fucking suspicious.
I just have this feeling that we are going about this all wrong. She seems too aloof. She doesn’t want attention. She’s not seeking Dax or any of us out. Something doesn’t add up right.
But of course, I won’t say anything. Our fearless leader calls the shots, and Mason and I respect him enough to follow. He has always made sure that we end up on the winning end, and I won’t question him outright about it now.
“Hey, are you still planning on throwing your birthday bash at your place in a couple weeks?” Mason leans over to Dax, who throws back the rest of the whiskey in his glass and places it on a table in front of us.
He nods. “Yeah. Dad’s going away on business, so we’ll have the place to ourselves to throw it.”
Mason and Dax go on about the party when I sense a sudden shift in the room.She’s here.
I turn towards where the entry is, and her vibrant red hair stands out among the crowd of bleach-blondes and box-brunets. She has on a black skull t-shirt with a red plaid skirt. Her legs are covered in fishnet stockings, and she has on the damn black Doc Martins that caused a serious stir today. If it wasn’t for her hair that makes her stand out, her outfit definitely would. Her makeup consists of just her eyeliner, heavy and black. Damn, she’s a fucking knockout.
Phoenix is the complete opposite of every single girl on this campus. That’s why I think Dax has this all wrong with her. She isn’t here to be married off to some rich asshole. She isn’t here to find a trust fund. She isn’t dressed in flashy and barely-there clothes.
Something has been bugging me with the information I found. I can’t figure out what I’m missing, but there had to be a reason Beverly Emerson’s death was covered up. She’s an enigma.
“Hey. She’s here, with Oliver.” I hit Mason on the arm and point in her direction. Chad Oliver stands next to her, his hand on her back. She fiddles with the hem of her shirt for a moment; she’s probably a bit nervous. This really doesn’t seem like her thing.
“Red didn’t listen.” Mason shakes his head. “She’s in so much trouble.” He rubs his hands together in excitement, practically jumping up and down.
“Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her out of your sight.” Dax walks away, and I head over to a corner where I can keep lookout on her.
Phoenix looks around the room, trying to look at each face as if she’s looking for someone. Or multiple someones. And I know who she’s on the lookout for.
The kings.
But she won’t see us. We all have taken up spots around the house to stay out of sight but still keep an eye on her to make sure that Chad doesn’t try something. He won’t take what’s ours. And she may fight it, but sheisours.
It’s our job to get her out of here, to ruin her.
She plasters on a fake smile, but when Chad looks away it disappears. I can tell she really doesn’t want to be here. Phoenix wrings her hands together, only breaking them when she accepts a drink from Chad.
Shit.
I pick up my phone and text the group chat.
Me: He gave her a drink.
Mase: Fuuuck.
Dax: Don’t let him take her out of this room.
Mase: Should we cut in?
Dax: Not yet. Maybe he’s not stupid enough to try something like that with her.
Me: It’s Oliver. He is that stupid.