Page 18 of Dark Things (Payback Duet #1)

The hair on my arms rises, and I suck in a breath through my nose. Hearing his voice again makes a shiver travel down my spine. I’m not sure I can handle it after the confrontation with Brooks .

I take a step back, trying to blend into the crowd, but he turns around and my whole body turns numb. I’m rooted in this spot, my legs won’t work. I look around, wanting to get away from him, but he’s too much in my space.

“Hey, are you okay? Chad’s a dick, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.” He offers me a smile.

At first, I just stare at his face. A face that I once knew better than my own, but now all it does is raise the temperature inside of me. Fury radiates through me, but there’s nothing I can do about it right now.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I grit out, stepping around him, but he steps with me.

“I heard about what happened with Brooks. Seems like you’re making friends wherever you go,” he says with his classic smirk. “At least this time there isn’t coffee on your shoes.”

I take a shaky inhale and try not to let my anger come to the surface, but it’s so hard to hold it down.

The last time I saw Colt before the coffee incident, he was crouching beside my body before I passed out.

All I saw was the blood on his face and the sorrow in his eyes.

It hits me like a truck, and I close my eyes for a moment.

“Not my fault your friend associates with vapid bitches who forget the world doesn’t revolve around them. Seems to be the current theme at Skyton.” This time it’s my turn to smirk, giving him the attitude he deserves.

“We’re not all that bad. Let me get you a drink, make up for that coffee, and I can try to change your mind.”

One time I would have done anything to sit with Colter and drink a beer and chat. Now I’m five seconds away from pulling my knife and plunging it in his throwing arm.

I hold up the can of margarita. “Got one already, and I’m sure you have a life to get back to. Some of us don’t have that type of freedom.”

Before he can answer I push past him, bumping his shoulder, and walk outside. I can’t stay in that house knowing he’s there, knowing he was just in front of me, talking to me.

Aslyn appears at my side, looking back to where I was standing. I glance behind me and see Colter standing by the door watching me. He was the one person who always made me feel safe, but now there’s nothing more than rage pouring off me. I snarl before turning around.

I take another big gulp of the margarita in my hand and turn to Aslyn. “Want to dance?”

She must see I’m not interested in talking so she just grabs my free hand and pulls me along toward the makeshift dance floor. There’s a crowd already, but we squeeze past and let them swallow us.

The music isn’t the best, but I down the rest of my margarita, toss it in the garbage, and let the beat flow through me. I raise my arms up and close my eyes for a moment, just letting it all sink in. When I open my eyes, Aslyn is laughing, euphoria shifting over her face.

“I love this song!” she screams over the music. I nod my head, going with the happiness she’s radiating. None of this is my scene, but I won’t take moments like this for granted.

My attention is pulled to look behind her and on the fringes of the crowd are the three guys I no longer want to see.

Why can’t I get a normal college night instead of having the past hit me in the face at every turn?

Colter, Brooks, and Staff are standing, arms crossed and staring at us. Fuck, I don’t need this right now.

Aslyn clasps my hand and shakes me a bit. I turn my attention back to her and try to forget that they’re here. My hips swing to the beat and I try to lose myself in the music, but a nagging feeling doesn’t let me forget where they are.

Just as I’m about to suggest getting another drink, arms wrap around me from behind. My body stiffens but as I look down I see familiar snake tattoos and the scent of Haunt’s body wash hits me.

“You seem to be getting a lot of attention, gioia mia ,” he whispers in my ear. Goose bumps form all over my arms and I lean back into him.

“Seems like I can’t go anywhere without an audience lately. It’s starting to get fucking annoying. ”

He chuckles, kissing my temple before spinning me around. He hands me another canned cocktail and then extends one out to Aslyn. She gives him a bright smile and raises it in salute.

Cat comes bounding over and gives Aslyn a hug before doing the same to me. She jumps up and down on her toes before spinning in a circle and yelling the lyrics to the song playing.

Haunt laughs and pulls me a little out of the way so we don’t crash together. His eyes crinkle at the corners, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so unburdened. It hurts a tad because I’ve never been able to make him feel truly unchained.

Cat grabs onto Aslyn’s hand, and they start dancing together.

Haunt opens up my can for me, before twisting off the cap from his water.

He looks at me from the corner of his eye, but I school my face.

I don’t need to make him feel bad for my stupid shit.

He doesn’t know what’s going on and I refuse to make our lives worse by dumping it all on him.

I take a few gulps of the drink and look up at him. He leans down and presses a kiss to my lips. Nothing obscene but enough to get my attention.

“Dance with me,” he whispers into my lips, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me closer.

I wrap my free hand around his neck and begin to sway to the beat. We move as one, in sync, as if we do this everyday.

His huge thigh moves between my legs, and I start to grind on him. A smirk crosses his lips as he bends down and bites my neck. I move my head to the side and close my eyes, getting lost in his scent and the soft lips that are traveling up my neck.

“When we get home I’m going to fuck you so hard,” he growls into my ear. A shiver runs over my body, and I lean further into him, our jeans rubbing up against each other.

He spins me around and pulls me flush to his body. I can feel how hard he is, and can’t help but wiggle my butt in response.

His hand runs from my waist to just below my breasts, holding me flush against him as the beat continues and we get lost in the music.

When I’m sweaty and way too turned on, I grab his hand and lead him through the crowd.

I stop and mouth to Cat and Aslyn we’re going to take a break.

They acknowledge us, but it seems like they’re in their own world, dancing a little too close for just friends.

It makes me smile. They’d be so cute together.

Once we’ve gotten out of the crowd, I take a deep breath and plop down into a lawn chair. Haunt isn’t having it though, he pulls me back up and spins around to sit before pulling me into his lap.

“Ready to tell me about what happened before?” he asks, kissing my temple before leaning back in the seat.

“Which part? Mary or Chad?” I ask, taking another sip of my drink .

“Who the fuck is Chad?” he growls. His body shifts and he glances around.

“Frat boy. Wanted to get grabby. I stopped it before it could go too far, but fuck, what a cliche. I mean, how are guys still walking around like they can do whatever they want?”

His jaw clenches, “Need me to go find him and teach him a lesson he won’t forget?”

I lean down and peck him on the lips before straightening up. “No, I think he got the message. Let’s just enjoy the college experience while we can.”

He nods, “Tell me what Mary's deal is. This is the second time she’s approached you. Is it over the Brooks thing again?”

“She flipped out on me for no reason. I couldn’t hear what her and Brooks were saying from their table, but when he went to leave, she stood up and started screaming it was my fault.”

His grip on my waist tightens, and he looks behind me, something catching his eye.

“She won’t be a problem anymore,” Brooks says from behind me. “I wanted to apologize before, but you rushed out of Manny’s before I could.”

I clench my hand into a fist on my lap before turning and facing him. And he’s not alone. All three of the boys I once loved stand in a semi-circle in front of the chair.

“Don’t worry about it. I can take care of myself.”

Haunt gaze slips to mine before he turns his attention back on the guys. “Reb isn’t the type to leave it alone once someone starts with her, so when you see Mary again, let her know it’s be wise not to fuck with her again.”

He stiffens under me. While I appreciate him going to bat for me, this is such a small problem, I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.

“Well, I broke up with her, but if I do see her again, I’ll relay the message. Can’t say I’ll be looking for her, though,” Brooks says, his hands slipping into his pockets as he rocks onto the ball of his feet.

I get caught in the past.

Brooks was always shifting when he was nervous, excited, or uncomfortable, and I can’t help but want to jump up and pull him into a hug. It’s maddening.

I need to keep the rage close to my heart because the alternative would be disastrous for me. And if Haunt found out about what they did to me, I’m not sure what he’d do.

“Do you want another drink?” Colter asks, his gaze traveling up and down my body as I try not to squirm in Haunt’s lap.

“I’m driving, but gioia mia , you want another? We have a little time before we have to go home,” Haunt asks, leaning down and nuzzling my neck.

I close my eyes for a moment and lean into his touch, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. All three guys standing in front of me clock the motion and there’s nothing but heat in their awareness .

“I wish there was whiskey. I hate those damn canned drinks.”

Staff reaches into the pocket of his jacket and hands me a flask. “It’s bourbon.”

I take the flask from his outstretched hand, and our fingers brush for a moment, a buzz of electricity hitting me before I lift it to my mouth and take a healthy swig. It goes down as smooth as butter, and my stomach heats with a nice burn.

“Orphan Barrel?” I ask, handing the flask back to him.

He raises his eyebrows and takes a sip right over where my lips just were, and a shiver runs through me. He doesn’t look away for a moment, then screws the top back on, and our eye contact breaks.

“You’ve got a good palate. Most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.” His eyes are alight with curiosity, and I shrug.

“Live in Kentucky long enough, and you get pretty good with tasting the different notes. I’m a fan of their Indigo’s Hour, but that’s Lost Prophet.”

Haunt laughs and turns to the guys, full-on smile with crinkles next to his eyes. “Don’t let her fool you, Reb can pick out the difference in the amount of time it’s been aged. She’s like a bourbon expert.”

I slap his arm, but return the smile. He’s always teased me about being a bourbon snob. “Just cause you’d rather drink Coors than a quality liquor doesn’t mean the rest of us have to suffer. ”

“Hey, Coors is the only beer choice. All that other shit is unnecessary. Don’t get me started on those microbrews.”

The guys laugh, and I can’t keep myself from relaxing. This is the longest I’ve been in their company in five years, and I don’t want to like it, but it feels like a part of me is complete again. I want to hate it, I do, but it’s like no time has passed.

Cat comes stumbling toward us, arm hooked into Aslyn’s. She starts to tip and Brooks manages to catch her by the elbow before they all go down to the ground.

“Yeah that’s our cue,” Haunt says, lifting me off his lap and setting me on my feet. This brings me closer to the guys, but Haunt is right behind me, crowding into my back.

“You don’t have to leave for me,” Cat slurs.

“Yeah okay, and I’m the shittiest twin in existence. We’re going home. Night, guys,” Haunt says, fist bumping the guys.

I don’t extend the goodbye, but busy myself with making sure the girls get to the truck. But just before I leave, I see the shift in Colter. I’ve caught his interest, and that’s not a good thing. He’s always loved a good mystery, and I think I’ve just become his next one.