Page 13

Chapter 13

Scarlett

“I still think you should take a day off from school,” Mom’s worried voice comes from the doorway of my bedroom.

“Can’t,” I mutter, slipping a notebook in my backpack. “I have a presentation this morning. Besides, I need to get my internship hours recorded.”

She comes into the room, concern etched on her face. “No. You can’t go back to that godforsaken place. I forbid it.”

“Do I need to explain why I need those hours again?” I ask, raising a puzzled brow at her. She was standing right in that very same spot while I lamented over the curveball Professor Green had thrown at me.

“I understand how important it is to get that credit, honey, but I’m sure if you file a complaint with the school, they’ll move you someplace else.”

“It’s not that easy. First, I need to prove that someone drugged my drink and tried to have their way with me, and I don’t know how to do that.”

I don’t want to talk about it anymore, either. Waking up to the memory of some stranger crawling in bed with me, right before I lost consciousness, is the scariest thing I’ve experienced in quite a while. Thankfully, there were no signs that he violated me.

“You should start by approaching Aiden,” Mom points out. “He brought you here. I’m sure he knows what happened—”

“Of course he knows. He’s the captain. I’m sure he’s behind it all,” I snap, anger resurfacing at the mention of his name.

Mom sighs. “I cussed him out the other night, but when I calmed down, it got me thinking. Would he have brought you home if he was guilty? Besides, he bought you a new bike.”

“Maybe he had a rare attack on his conscience,” I reply with a shrug, slinging the strap on my shoulder. “Either way, I’m not letting anyone stop me. If they attack me again, I’m going to have proof, count on it.”

“Just be careful, sweetie,” she replies, and she pulls me into a hug, I hear the front door open.

It’s Theresa, red-faced and out of breath as if she ran the entire distance from her house to ours. “Good, you’re still here,” she pants, slipping something in my hand.

“What’s this?” I ask, eyeing what looks like a perfume bottle. I doubt my sister would run two streets to give me that.

“It’s pepper spray,” she explains. “Keep it close by. Anyone comes at you, just hold and squeeze. Simple.”

With a wry smile, I slip it in my pocket. “I doubt this would be enough, but thanks anyway.”

“God, I still feel terrible.” She pulls me into a hug. “I shouldn’t have convinced you to go.”

“It’s not your fault. Besides, it could’ve been worse,” I reply, my chin resting on her shoulder.

Mom scoffs softly, her expression still concerned.

“What?” I ask pulling back.

“I’m worried about how you’re handling all this, honey. You always seem so calm and collected, which is admirable, but I can’t help wondering if you’re going to snap one day. A lot has happened in less than a year and you’re taking it with so much grace.”

“Because my eyes are on the prize, Mom. I’m going to get us out of this neighborhood or die trying.”

She shakes her head. “Don’t say that. You’re going to have a long, fruitful life. We don’t use that D word in this house.”

That comment earns her a soft smile, then I pinch her cheek. “Gotta go, guys.”

“If that pepper spray fails, just kick them in the balls!” Theresa calls after me as I climb onto my bike. I respond with a casual wave before pushing off. The second I pedal past the welcome sign of my neighborhood, that sense of bravado immediately wears off, making me wish I’d stay home curled up in bed, hoping that by some miracle, the Wolves will get hit by an amnesia spell that makes them forget I even exist.

“Cute bike,” Tabitha comments as I secure it to the stand. She hands me a folder as I join her.

“Yeah, thanks,” I mutter, glancing back at Aiden’s gift, wondering if I sold a piece of my soul by accepting it.

Moving briskly down the hallway, I skim through the folder, double-checking that all our talking points are included for the presentation. Tabitha nudges my side. “People are staring at you.”

“Huh?” I glance up, frowning at the glances trained in my direction. For someone used to being a shadow, this is puzzling to me.

A tall, brown-skinned girl suddenly steps into my path, looking me up and down. “You’re selling yourself short with those baggy clothes, FYI,” she says. “You’ve got a banging body.”

“Um… thanks?” I reply. Without another word, she looks me up and down again, then goes off.

“What was that about?” Tabitha asks as we start moving again.

“Oh, I went to Cameron’s party on Saturday night,” I comment casually, and she gasps loudly, coming to an abrupt halt.

“You went to the Wolves’ team party?” she exclaims.

“Yeah… that’s what I just said, wasn’t it?”

Her expression simmers into a disturbed look. “Oh, my God. This is upsetting.”

“What’s upsetting about me going to a party?” I ask, puzzled.

She turns to face me. “I think my third eye has been blocked, Scarlett.”

Still puzzled, I shift to let a group of guys pass by me. “Can you quit being so cryptic?”

“I’ve been sensing danger around you for the last couple of weeks, Scarlett, and they’ve been getting stronger since you started doing that internship. There’s some darkness surrounding the Wolves, darkness that could consume you. At least, that’s what I sensed. The fact that you came back from their party unscathed makes me wonder if I’m as in tune as I thought.”

I suck in a sharp breath as goosebumps cover my skin. “I guess not,” I reply, walking off before she says another word. I don’t believe she’s gifted or anything. The Wolves’ attack was just a weird coincidence, nothing more.

“As a precaution, keep watching your back around them,” she warns me. “If I were you, I wouldn’t chance another party with them.”

Oh, trust me, there’s not enough money in the world to make that happen.

Despite my disbelief, Tabitha’s warning plants a seed in my head that gets watered by my earlier anxiety, which transforms into full-blown terror by the time I’m done with my classes for the day. Slow, tentative steps take me to the sports department.

Melissa glances up with an expectant smile that dwindles as I approach her desk. “You okay?” she asks. “You look like someone who just saw a ghost.”

“I’m fine.” The quiver in my voice is a dead giveaway.

Melissa slowly rises with a frown. “Scarlett. Are you sure you’re okay?”

The worry in her tone almost frees the dam of tears that want to break free. I blink the urge away, instead, forcing a smile. “Do you mind if I work in the office for the week, at least?”

“Uh…” She looks around her. “I’m not sure if there’s anything in here for you to do, sweetie. Besides, I’ve already assigned you to refreshment duty for the Wolves’ practice match, which…” She glances at her watch. “…begins in ten minutes.”

I nod vigorously, disappointment swirling in my stomach. “Oh, okay. I’ll just go.”

“Scarlett?” she calls as I reach for the doorknob. “Be honest with me. Is there something bothering you?”

For a moment, I contemplate letting it all out, but it’s my word against an entire team. With no proof, I have no ground to stand on. If I put myself in that spotlight, I probably won’t make it to graduation.

“No, nothing,” I reply, forcing another smile. Melissa doesn’t seem convinced, but she lets it go.

“Oh, before I forget, Aiden came here twice to check if you had arrived,” she says.

With my body half-way out the door, I pause, a sudden chill clashing with my curiosity. “Did he say what he wanted?”

Melissa shakes her head. “He seemed quite urgent, though.”

I continue on my way, my eyes darting from left to right, my hand curled around the bottle of pepper spray as I brace for another attack. Aiden checking on me—not good, but whatever they’ve got planned, they’re in for a huge surprise.

With no incident, I make it to the refreshment room where I start collecting bottles of vitamin water, stock them in an igloo, then have an attendant place it on a trolley. As I push it toward the slope that leads to the rink, I realize this won’t be as bad as I thought. The entire coaching staff will be here, watching them. They can’t touch—

“Scarlett.”

Relief immediately vanishes as I come to an abrupt stop, my hands curled around the trolley handle. Keeping my eyes straight ahead, I whisper, “Give me a break, Aiden. Please.”

His cologne washes over me as he walks past, coming to stand in front of the trolley. I lift my chin, hating that I’m attracted to a guy I detest. Because in this moment, as frustrated and anxious as I feel, I can’t deny how gorgeous he is, especially with that lock of hair dangling over his eye. He sweeps it away, hitting me full blast with a loaded stare that sends warmth flooding my insides.

“How are you doing?” he asks.

I raise my brows at him. “Is that a rhetorical question? I’m sure you know how I’m doing. After all, I’m sure this is not your first rodeo.”

He catches my meaning at once. “I’m not in the business of drugging women and having them violated, Scarlett, and I don’t appreciate your insinuation of me.”

“I don’t care what you appreciate. You made Noah invite me to a party where I almost got—” I suck in a breath, remembering my panic while lying in bed with that creep, knowing I got drugged, scared that I couldn’t do anything to stop his plans for me. “What you’ve done, if I had proof, I’d go straight to the cops—”

“Which would be a waste of time, considering I did nothing to you—”

“You run this team, Aiden. The entire school knows that. You say jump, they ask ‘how high?’. They’re not going to make such a drastic move without your say-so—”

“I need you to hear the words that are coming out of my mouth, Scarlett.” His voice is low, carrying an edge that sends a cutting response flying down my throat. Wetting my lips, I wait for him to go on.

“What happened on Saturday night had nothing to do with me. Noah invited you on his own accord. Those plans were his and his alone. Lucky for you, I happened to spot you two from the balcony. I saw him forcing that drink on you. It still scares the shit out of me when I imagine what would’ve happened otherwise.”

The emotion hanging on those last words makes my entire body shudder. I hug myself to somehow keep still. His expression looks sincere, pleading. “Please believe I had nothing to do with it,” he says. “I wanted you out of here, not…”

Call me a fool, but I believe him. It explains why he took me home. For the first time since I woke up yesterday morning, I feel a semblance of normalcy again. “Thank you,” I reply. There’s no need to elaborate. He knows exactly when I’m thankful for.

He nods. “It’s the least I could do.”

As he walks off, heading toward the rink, I call after him. “The guy who… do you know him?”

Tentatively, he nods.

“Would you mind giving a statement to the police? I want him arrested.”

Aiden’s mouth twists, he contemplates something for a moment, then comes back to me, saying in a low voice. “Don’t worry about him. He’s been handled.”

“What does that mean?”

“He won’t bother you again.”

“That explains nothing,” I throw back, folding my arms over my chest.

Aiden’s eyes drop there, and a soft smile emerges. “You are such an enigma,” he says.

Although he’s smiling, I can’t tell if that’s a compliment. “Don’t change the subject. Why won’t that creep bother me again?”

His smile slowly fades, but a sparkle remains in his eyes. “If I tell you, we just might go back to being enemies, Scarlett. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t enjoy being your enemy very much.”

“You’re still my enemy,” I point out curtly.

His eyes still sparkle as he shrugs. “Well, you’re not mine.”

With that, he gently eases me aside and takes over the trolley. Ignoring my protest, he pushes it down the slope. Shaking my head, I follow him down to the rink where he sets the trolley by the benches. All eyes are trained in our direction, but he seems unaffected by the attention. Giving me a wink, he makes his way over to the team.

I’m mind boggled, still trying to understand what just happened. Aiden being nice to me is up there with the likelihood of aliens taking over earth. Wonders will never cease, I guess.

After going about my other tasks, I return to the rink close to the end of their practice. Aiden is currently in possession of the puck, darting across the ice with a speed that blurs his figure. He swipes it to Odean, then zips around another player in time for Odean to send it back.

I know nothing about hockey, nor do I care to learn about it, but I’ll sit for ages watching Aiden play. His asshole behavior aside, he’s clearly talented, evident just by how many times he slammed that puck to the back of the net.

And how amazing he looks doing it, too.

I drop myself on the bench as the coach blows the whistle and beckons to a player. While they talk, Aiden removes the helmet and wipes the sweat from his forehead in what looks like slow motion from where I sit. It’s conflicting. I’m disgusted at myself for fantasizing about a guy I can’t stand, but I can’t stop. I’ve lost count of how many times I imagined Aiden doing things to my body with those fingers. I can’t recall how many times I’ve orgasmed while fucking those fingers in my head.

Long, thick, hard fingers.

My body rocks on the bench in an attempt to soothe the sudden ache between my legs. I wonder if his cock—

A sudden yell brings me back to reality. I stand in a rush as Aiden goes down, his body sailing across the ice. He collides with the fence with a thud that evokes several curses and shouts. Half of the team rushes over, blocking my vision. When it’s clear, I see Noah and Cameron moving with him, his arms thrown over their shoulders.

It’s weird that I feel such resounding relief that he’s okay. Sitting back on the bench, I watch as the medic tends to him. Soon, he’s right back on his feet, reaching for the skates they’d taken off earlier.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Coach demands. “Becker, take Aiden’s place. Aiden, sit this one out.”

“Like hell I will,” Aiden grunts, yanking on the right skate.

Coach huffs. “Is it me, or didn’t you just slam that two-hundred-pound body into that fence? A muscle might be sprained or worse.”

“I feel perfectly fine.”

“Aiden—”

“Coach, I’m good.” He stands with a grin, then pats Becker on his back. “Better luck next time, dude.”

He goes off and takes his place in the center and play resumes without a hitch. When they’re finally done, I steer the igloo over to them, then get out of their way, glad that they don’t acknowledge me. Once the igloo is empty, I haul it back on the trolley and push it toward the exit. From the corner of my eye, I notice Aiden watching me.

“You look much better,” Melissa comments cheerfully as I sign out for the day. “Watching those hunks going at it on the ice will do that to you, huh?”

I smile in response before walking out. She’s five-percent right. Watching that dark-haired hunk play will distract anyone from their problems, even if he is the problem.

After stopping by the recycling club for our monthly meeting, I turn my thoughts toward home. Dark-grey skies are a sign I need to hurry. I absolutely hate riding when it’s dark. I set the bag fully on my back and hurry across the front lawns, taking a shortcut to the bike stand.

Halfway there, I see him.

Aiden makes his way along an adjoining path, heading in the same direction. His strides are unusually slow, almost gingerly. When he’s almost at the end, I catch it.

A slight limp.

He stops, takes a deep breath, then moves on, walking much slower. Without thinking too much of it, I hurry to catch up with him. He startles when I pull up to his side.

“Goddamn it, Scarlett. You almost gave me a heart attack,” he grumbles. “What do you want?”

The fact that he’s so grumpy after making ‘peace’ with me earlier, it definitely confirms what I suspect. “Put that ankle in cold water until it gets warm,” I advise, and his frown deepens.

“Why would I do that?”

Yep. I guessed right. He doesn’t want anyone to know .

“You have a muscle strain, at least,” I point out quietly.

Aiden’s brows raise, then awareness fills his face. “You study physiology. Of course.”

“How did you even know that?” I ask, puzzled. We don’t take the same classes anymore.

He shrugs. “I have my sources.”

My hands fly to my hips. “I guess that same source told you where I lived, huh?”

Another shrug. “Maybe.”

“Mhm. I guess you don’t want another remedy to cure that strain,” I reply with a smug smile.

“You have a remedy.” It’s not a question, but I still nod, grinning.

Waiting.

With a conceding sigh, Aiden throws up his hand. “Fine. I did a background check on you after the incident.”

I gape. “Seriously?”

“Don’t look at me like that. I wanted information that would explain why you’d rat out your own team,” he says with the nerve to look offended.

“I bet you found plenty of reasons, huh? Primarily, I did it for money. I’m so poor and desolate that I’d take money from a rival to sabotage you.”

My tone drips with sarcasm. Yet, he stares back at me like a child who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, pushing past him. I can’t believe he thought I’d stoop so low.

He grabs my arm, sending an instant thrill rushing through my body. I shouldn’t like his hard grip on me, but hell, I do. I also like how amazing he smells, sweet but spicy. It makes me want to back up and lean against his hard body. Instead, I pull away.

“You wouldn’t understand why I went to such lengths, Scarlett.”

“Try me. You’d be surprised.”

He shakes his head.

“I deserve to know, don’t you think? Considering how you invaded my privacy.”

“Maybe at some point. Maybe when we truly become friends,” he replies.

“Friends?” I scoff-laugh. “More like frenemies.”

He smiles softly, eyeing me. I ignore the responding flutter in my stomach. “Does this mean you’re going to help me?”

“I just might, but under one condition.”

“Which is?”

“I help you with some physical therapy and you keep your dogs off my back,” I barter.

Aiden sticks out his hand within a second, still smiling. “Deal.”

We shake on it. He holds me a bit longer than necessary, looking deep into my eyes. “Location and time?”

“You tell me.”

He’s still holding my hand. “My place, tomorrow morning at eleven. I’ll send someone to pick you up—”

“No. I’m riding my bike, which I should probably thank you for, but considering how you slashed my tires, nah.”

Aiden smiles. “I’m sending someone.”

“No.”

“Scarlett.” The way he says my name is way too sexy. “That wasn’t a suggestion. There’s no way I’m making you ride all the way up that hill.”

“And there’s no way—”

“Shush.” He presses my lips together with two fingers. “Be ready by ten-thirty, understood?”

“You’re such a goddamn bully,” I grumble to his back as he slowly walks away. I hear a chuckle, then he waves over his head. I roll my eyes, hating that I feel excited over this. I don’t care if he saved me from getting violated; Aiden is still the enemy.

A drop dead gorgeous, dripping with sex enemy.

An enemy whose touch I don’t mind.

An enemy who triggers the filthiest thoughts when I’m in bed at night. Thoughts that are riding the forefront of my mind as I watch him slide into the driver’s seat. Thoughts that make me wonder how he’d react if I straddled him on that seat right here, right now and begged him to fuck my brains out.

Shaking that insane urge off me, I continue on my way. It doesn’t matter that Aiden triggers my naughty side. He’s the devil. With whom, quite unfortunately, I just made a deal.

Something tells me that at some point, there will be hell to pay.