Page 18 of Play Dirty (Villalargos University #1)

Chapter Thirteen

Nico

O ne of the many things I hate about Velarium is being their errand boy and doing their dirty work. Sure, sometimes it feels good to fuck shit up, release all this pent-up anger— so does stalking my English professor.

Since most of them are married, engaged, and have important careers, the gatherings at the club only happen on Saturdays and randomly every once in a while during the week.

And if you need it before then, for private events, from what I know, you need a council meeting.

I've sat through many, on my knees with my mouth stuffed.

Humiliated as they talked about the new prospects.

Which reminds me, I need to talk to my guy, Elijah.

First year and with great potential. Too bad potential doesn’t mean shit in places like this.

Unless you have a strong will or sense of self.

Whatever potential you thought you had will be shattered by the time they're done breaking you. I have to hold on to the hate to get me through each painful lesson; what’s worse is that this arrangement has morphed my body. My psyche.

I don’t understand pleasure anymore.

I come when I don’t want to.

I get touched when I don’t want it.

It’s sick.

Yet, I still hold on.

My phone pings, Zander signals me that the petal has arrived.

Zander

The flower has arrived at the garden.

You don’t have to use code words, dumbass. This isn’t a James Bond mission.

Bubbles appear.

Then disappear. Just as I’m about to put my phone back in my pants, his message comes in.

Zander

She’s a blonde.

Most of the girls here are blonde.

His bubbles appear and then…

Zander

It’s Shiloh Johnson.

I don’t write back; instead, I look at the building, ready to call it off and walk away. What better revenge than to allow her to be broken the same way it’s been done to me?

“No, Nico,” June's voice echoes in my brain.

Professor Xavier has been on red alert ever since they found out he was abusing his students, the hypocrisy of them.

It’s like all of a sudden, sexual abuse and exploitation had a code to follow, at their discretion, of course.

This is being one of the higher-ups' kids; is a whole different ballpark.

With a sigh, I call Thiago to inform him, but in reality, I’m killing time. I’m in no rush to save her, but still, the rage simmers inside me as I wait for him to answer. The more I sit on the idea of letting it play out, I just can’t.

But what if this is what she wants?

And this is all being blown out of proportion… Shiloh Johnson is one to sleep around, but the idea of her being forced is too much for me to bear. Slipping on the pig mask, I put the brass knuckles over my gloved hands and head inside. Wyatt spots me and, without hesitation, joins me.

“What are you doing?”

“Finding out the truth.”

He stops. “Wait, what? That’s not what we are here for.”

I point at the club, nose flaring. “Do you know who’s in there? Shiloh Johnson. Want to explain to Mr. J why she is in there? You know what happens behind those red doors. ” I step to the side, opening my arms. “Be my guest.”

He shakes his head, spitting chewing tobacco on the ground. “Fuck you, man.” With that, he heads towards the back, where Zayden was able to open a spot to get us in without a hitch.

No one will know… except a select few. This is why we were chosen.

We are high enough on their bitch rankings that we have certain privileges.

After all, we are exposed to most of the vile shit.

The sound of pained moans mingling with the sound of skin smacking against skin fills the room.

“Fuck.” Zander grits out as he walks ahead.

The tip of my ears grew hot, and thankfully, now all I can hear is the roaring sound of pumping blood. Everything is muffled. We found the door. “Wanna do the honors, pretty boy?” Zander coos, stepping out of my way. Good thing this time I’m not wearing cleats, but my riding boots.

Thankfully, my kick breaks the door open in one try.

“WHAT THE FUCK?” Professor Xavier screams as my eyes immediately find her. Blindfolded and incoherent.

Her mouth is a bleeding mess of spit and cum.

Her perfect, round tits are littered with bites.

I waste no time, pulling him off her. Slamming him into the ground and bashing his head into the tiles until his body stops fighting me. I want to kill him, but instead I focus on the girl with the broken smile, thankful that her eyes cannot see.

And neither can I from the fucking rage — all I see is red. A deep growl rips from deep inside my chest as I grab the corner of the sheet hanging off the bed and wrap it around her. Shiloh’s head lolls to the side; she’s obviously drugged— I’d recognize that look anywhere.

“She’s out of it.” Zander lifts her limp arm and lets it go. After watching it drop, Wyatt kicks Professor Xavier square in the face. “That’s for Mickey, you rapist bitch.”

I almost forgot, Wyatt has a score to settle with our professor, a smile perked on the corner of my lips. “Mr. J would love to know what you've been doing to his kid. But first, Imma make you hurt.”

“Make sure you skin his balls for me,” I say with a wink, sad that I will be missing out on this interrogation, but given that he raped Wyatt’s long-term girlfriend before she dumped him, he will have enough reinforcements with just his rage.

Unlike Thiago and Ezra, Wyatt is vicious.

The money fuels his violence. I regroup as I look at Shiloh, trying not to even think about what will happen once Thiago brings her back home, since I cannot bring myself to.

I couldn’t.

Still, my heart aches and twists at the sight of her.

If anyone could understand the emptiness you feel waking up with your body sore, feeling dirty, feeling useless, and used all at once, it’s me.

That feeling alone is enough to have my knees give out from under me as his voice comes to the forefront of my mind.

“Good boy, Nico, you take me so well.” His voice booms through my head, threatening to take me under, but the sight of her anchors me to a reality where he’s not here, only her.

And she needs me.

I grab the sleeping beauty from the bed, making sure I don’t feel an inch of burning skin, as I cradle her bridal style.

“Asher,” she breathes, calling for her piece of shit boyfriend.

I thought I was lousy, but he takes the cake, and the worst part is that she always forgives him, always takes him back.

I guess money can’t buy love, not even from yourself.

As I reach outside, Thiago’s Benz is already waiting with Ezra in tow. “Where is he?” I motion my head behind me. “Being acquainted with Wyatt’s rage. Maybe Zayden’s too.”

Ezra grins. “Good, fucking asshole.”

“How is she?”

I look down at her, noticing she is still wearing the blindfold. “Naked and raped.”

“Fuck, Reyes, why? So fucking morbid.” Ezra scowls, placing his hand inside his pocket and looking away. Out of all of us, he’s the one who hates it when we have to play dirty. Slipping her into the backseat, I make sure to cover her body before I close the door.

“Is Mr. J already informed?”

“Yes, he’s not happy,” Thiago responds, taking out his vape and pulling on it. Suddenly, Zander steps out from inside. “Ahh, if it isn’t daddy’s little bitches coming to make sure they stay clear of the dirt.”

I step in trying to diffuse the situation, especially outside of the club. “There are cameras.” I remind them.

“It’s okay, that’s what money is for, to buy anything, including silence.

” Thiago hits him low, the words even stabbing me.

Before I have a chance to react, Zander tackles him to the ground, straddling him and placing his hands around his throat.

Ezra and I move to pull him off, but the asshole won’t budge.

“How does it feel, asshole, to be powerless? I should drag you into one of those rooms and show you violation, but you would probably enjoy it. Like your sick father.” He snaps.

Bleeding his wound into Thiago’s already shattered mind. “Do it,” is all Thiago manages to choke out, as his face reddens and his eyes bulge.

“You’re taking this too far.” Ezra drawls before pulling a gun from behind his waist and removing the safety clip. Placing the end of it right up against Zander’s temple. We all stop.

Thiago lifts his hand, “It’s all good, E.”

“Get off him, Zander,” and he does, but not before spitting on Thiago and rushing to his bike. We all remain in silence as we watch him speed out of the parking lot. My gaze drops before landing on the blacked-out Benz. “Where are you guys taking her?”

“Mr. J wants her in her dorm.”

My brows come together; there’s no denying the look on my face. “Her dorm?”

Thiago puffs on his vape, the smoke curling around his lips. “That’s what he said.” He finishes it with a shrug, and for a moment, I wonder if June ever found her like this. Naked, drugged, and broken.

If so, how many times did she clean up her friend or simply be there for her? Maybe that’s what made her stay in this shit hole. After all, grandma was right, ‘no todo lo que brilla es oro’ . Not everything that shines is gold.

This is just shit with diamonds crusted on the top, nothing more than an abuse of power. Students were used as pawns to keep the elite entertained. I scoff. What can one do after you have so much money? So much experience, so much of everything.

Yet have no soul.

“Will someone at least clean her up?”

They both stop, looking down, a look of shame we all know too well. No words are needed; their silence is the answer.