Page 22 of Freestyle (Boys of Frampton U #2)

The guy blinks through the haze, as if the weight of his mistake is finally settling in but by then, security is already rushing in, dragging him toward the exit, shouting warnings he’s too wasted to comprehend .

I turn fast, heart still hammering as my eyes lock onto Rowyn.

She presses fingers to her cheek, her breathing uneven, her expression caught between shock and anger. Nix steps toward her, glancing over the mark forming on her skin.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice strangely soft despite the chaos still buzzing around us.

Rowyn exhales, nodding once, but I know her well enough to see the lie.

Nix watches her for a beat longer before looking at me. “Let’s get her out of here.”

“I can’t leave,” she argues, holding her cheek. “Can’t you see I’m working?”

Without a word, I grab her arm tightly and pull her to a secluded area of the bar, pushing her against the wall, pinning her in place.

Her eyes widen in surprise, then narrow in anger.

She struggles against my grip as I lean in, my lips brushing against her ear, the heat of my breath causing shivers to race down her spine.

“Another man just put his hands on you, sweetheart,” I whisper, my voice low and possessive. “I won’t allow that.”

She scoffs, her eyes blazing with defiance. “Are you crazy? You don’t own me. I’m not yours.”

Nix chuckles, a low, dangerous sound. “Oh, baby girl, you are. Don’t you remember anything from last night? ”

“Yeah, it was just another hookup, so fuck you,” she hisses, squirming in our grasp.

“No, fuck you,” I growl, pressing my body against hers, the heat of my frustration mixing with desire. “We own you, Rowyn. Your body is ours.”

“Whatever. Just get out of here before my boss sees you two. I need this job, and shit like this happens. It’s no big deal.”

“What the fuck? This has happened before?” Nix growls beside us.

“Comes with the territory. Now, let me go.” She pushes against my chest, but I don’t budge.

“We aren’t leaving here without you, sunshine. So, do you want to do this the hard way or the easy way?”

“I’m not going anywhere with either of you. You’re fucking crazy to think I would. Just leave me alone.”

Her voice softens, desperation creeping in. “Listen, I have to pay my tuition in a couple of weeks. I can’t afford to lose this job. Please, just let me work.”

I exchange a glance with Phoenix, whose expression remains cold. “You’re not coming back here,” he states firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“I can’t just quit! I need this job!” Rowyn pleads, frustration and fear mingling in her voice. “You don’t understand what this means to me!” she cries. “You can’t just kidnap me. I’ll-I’ll call the cops.”

“Oh, little juvie, do you really want to involve them?” I smirk.

Her eyes widen, and she clamps her mouth shut.

“How do you know about that?” she asks, her voice laced with panic.

I smirk at her, enjoying the power I hold over her.

“Sweetheart, we know everything about you. We have our ways.” My words are laced with a hint of threat, and I can see the fear in her eyes. “You have no idea what you just got yourself into, Rowyn. But trust us, by the time we’re done with you, you’ll be begging us for more.”

She tries to hide the fear in her eyes, but I can see it clear as day.

I lean in close to her, my breath hot against her ear.

“And we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty to make sure you stay in line.

” I grab her chin, forcing her to look into my eyes.

“You’re ours now, and there’s nothing you can do to escape us. ”

“Fuck off, Gray. I’m not afraid of you.” She spits, her eyes blazing with defiance. I chuckle, leaning in closer until our lips are just a hair’s breadth apart.

“Oh, baby girl, you should be.” I whisper before pressing my lips to hers in a bruising kiss .

She gasps, her lips parting in shock, and I use the opportunity to deepen the kiss, my tongue exploring her mouth.

When I finally pull back, she’s breathing heavily, her eyes glazed over with a mixture of fear and desire.

“You’ll learn to submit, sweetheart. And we’ll enjoy every moment of your struggle. ”

Her eyes fill with tears, and she shakes her head. “No, you can’t do this.” She protests weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. I gently brush a stray hair away from her face, my touch surprisingly tender.

“We can, and we will, baby girl. You’re ours. We protect what’s ours,” I say as my smile darkens, relishing the chaos we’re causing.

I look to Nix, and he nods in agreement. I lean over, grabbing Rowyn by the waist and tossing her over my shoulder.

“Put me down, Gray! Nix, help me out here, please?”

She kicks and screams, trying to get away. “You two are fucking crazy, you know that, right? I have to work! You can’t do this!”

“Keep your mouth shut, Rowyn,” I warn her, my grip tightening.

“Fuck you! You don’t tell me what to do, asshole! Now let me go! ”

“You heard the man, Rowyn. Keep your mouth shut,” Nix says, stepping in front of me as he slaps her ass hard, eliciting a surprised yelp from her. She begins punching my back, her efforts futile but endearing.

As we step outside, the cheers from the bar fade into the night, but the tension between us remains thick. Rowyn tries to pull away from me, but I tighten my grip, my determination unyielding.

“Let me go!” she demands, her voice sharp with frustration. “I’m not going anywhere with you two!”

“Sure you are,” Nix replies, his tone dripping with condescension. “You think you have a choice? That’s cute.”

“Yeah, it’s adorable,” I add, smirking. “You really think you can just walk away from us? You belong with us now, whether you like it or not.”

I place her down next to my car. Rowyn glares at me, her eyes blazing with defiance. “I’m not your property, Gray! You can’t just bully me into doing what you want!”

“Bully?” Nix chuckles darkly. “Oh, sweetheart, this is just the beginning. We’re not asking nicely because we want to be your friends. We’re doing this because you need us to keep you safe from yourself.”

“Safe?” she scoffs, shaking her head. “You’re the ones making me feel trapped! ”

“Trapped?” I echo, stepping closer, invading her space. “No, Rowyn. This is about protection. You can’t see it now, but we’re doing you a favor. You’re too stubborn to realize how much danger you’re in.”

“Danger?” Her voice wavers, uncertainty creeping in. “You think I can’t handle myself?”

I lean in closer, my breath brushing against her ear. “You can’t handle those guys at the bar. You think they see you as anything more than a pretty face? They’d chew you up and spit you out without a second thought. We aren’t letting that happen.”

Nix steps beside me, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “You can fight us all you want, Rowyn, but it won’t change a thing. You’re coming with us, and you’ll thank us for it later.”

“Thank you? For what? For dragging me away from my life?” she retorts, but there’s a tremor in her voice that tells me she’s wavering.

“Exactly,” I say, my tone low and commanding. “You think you can keep living this way? You’re too good for this place, and we won’t let you waste your potential on a bar full of losers.”

Rowyn’s expression falters, the fight in her eyes dimming as she considers our words. “I don’t need you to save me,” she insists, but the conviction is fading .

“Then prove it,” Nix challenges, crossing his arms. “Come with us and show us how independent you really are. Or stay here and let those guys continue to gawk at you like you’re some prize to be won.”

“Don’t you dare put that on me!” she snaps, but I can see the conflict brewing inside her.

“Then make a choice,” I say, leaning closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. “Stay and risk losing everything you’ve worked for, or come with us and let us show you what it means to be truly cared for.”

“Cared for?” Rowyn echoes, her voice shaky. “You mean controlled.”

“Call it what you want,” I reply, my tone firm. “But we know what’s best for you. You’re coming with us, and you’ll appreciate it.”

Nix smirks, his eyes glinting with mischief. “And if you don’t, we’ll just have to make your life a living hell until you do.”

Rowyn’s breath hitches, and for a moment, I can see the gears turning in her mind. “You’re both ridiculous. You’re not giving me a choice, you’re giving me an ultimatum,” she says, but her defiance is faltering, and I can sense her resolve crumbling.

“Ridiculous or not, we’re not letting you go,” I say, my voice steady. “So, what’s it going to be, Rowyn? Are you coming with us, or do we have to make this even harder for you?”

She hesitates, her eyes darting between us, and I can feel the weight of her decision hanging in the air. “You’re impossible,” she finally mutters, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Maybe,” I reply, a smug grin spreading across my face. “But we’re your impossible now. So, let’s go.”

With that, I take her hand, intertwining my fingers with hers, and Nix steps closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. The crowd inside the bar may have cheered for her, but now she’s ours, and we won’t let her go.