Damage Me (Crystal Gulf Book 2) (7 page)

Emery shrugged, but when she looked up her wolf’s smile was broad and dripping blood. “I’ve had better.”

I didn’t understand what that exchange meant until Piper and I piled into my car, and Emery and Jasmine slid into the backseat. Emery had sex with Jona to get into the party. A nauseous feeling settled in my stomach. I understood I wasn’t like these girls. That didn’t make me more or them less. This wasn’t about who was better; this was about the rules. Rules I was breaking for Piper, because I did not enjoy the idea of losing her to them. Their darkness was hovering in the car, making it hard to breathe as I drove across the tracks. The night seemed blacker, or maybe it was that I hardly spent time out after the sun set unless I ran late studying or stopped by to see Mom at the bar.

Something about the darkness always made me unsettled.

Tonight I was out with a pack of wolves, and I was their sacrifice, slinking within the black of the night, enveloping myself in their sin. Chills broke out across my skin, and I looked over into the passenger seat at my best-friend. Her long tan legs poked out of her skirt. It was at that time I realized exactly what I’d done. I was dressed just like them. The desire to go home and the desire to save my friend swirled around in my brain as the girls talked about wolfish things, confusing me.

Mom was going to kill me
.

“Turn here,” Jasmine ordered.

I followed her instructions and ended up on the notorious frat house alley. A straight stretch of road where the college kids bloomed. Rows and rows of houses flying Greek letters proudly aligned the street. The dark sky could not douse the fluorescent lights pouring from the houses. Women wearing close to nothing danced in the middle of the street. Men surrounded them, salivating.

What was I doing here?

Jasmine and Emery weren’t the only wolves in Crystal Gulf. I’d known this; it’s what Mom protected me from. They were everywhere. I think even at one point, Mom might’ve been a wolf too; that’s why she feared it so much. She was that girl in the street with a drink and sin in her lungs. I was her lamb, her one chance at rectifying the wrongs in the world. And I was about to do the one thing she never wanted me to do. I’d done it before, but this time, felt different. I’d gone with only Piper, not the two sin twins in the back. Somehow letting them alter my thoughts felt like they were really altering far more.

They were changing
me
.

“So we all meet up here at … say two?” Jasmine checked.

“Sounds good to me,” Piper agreed, checking her makeup in the mirror.

“Two’s fine,” Emery said, joining them.

I felt six eyes on me once more. Two o’clock was almost tomorrow. We were going to stay out here until tomorrow? I looked away to hide my unease, mumbling, “Two’s good for me too,” under my breath.

“I’ll just take these,” Jasmine said, reaching into the front seat to take my car keys.

I watched them fearfully. Without my keys, I would be stuck here. I didn’t want to be stuck here.

“Let’s go,” Piper hissed, tugging on my arm.

I followed all of the girls out. Once I left the safety of my car, I could hear the music from frat house alley under my feet and the rap music blaring from the house the girls were walking toward. There were no Greek letters on this one, so I assumed it was lucky enough to be close to the constant party going on down the street. Country music mixed with the rap. It was twang and urban, creating an intimidating mixture.

I ran to catch up in my heels and saddled alongside Piper. She looked down at me, grinning from ear to ear.
This
is why I came here. For that smile, for Piper to shed whatever was bothering her. I wrapped my arm around hers and smiled timidly back. I could do this.

Just pretend
, I thought supportively, figuratively patting myself on my back.
Lambs get eaten. Your claws are temporary
.

I let Piper lead me into mayhem. Red cups, women wearing nothing, asses against groins, and smoke in the air. I had to admit there was a level of excitement in the atmosphere. It traveled over my spine, giving me chill bumps. Everyone looked like they were having fun. I wanted to have fun too. Granted that fun involved the beach and the sun, not vodka and rap music. I started to lose my cool at the thought. I couldn’t pretend to be a wolf. I shouldn’t have to either.

But it was like Piper knew I was fading. She gripped my arm and pulled me after her and the girls. They headed for the stairs.
Why were we going upstairs?
There was nothing good upstairs at a party. When we got there, we went down the hall and Emery knocked on a closed door.

“What are we doing?” I asked over the bass of the music.

“Pre-gaming,” Jasmine explained, winking. “Don’t look so scared. Piper, talk to your friend. She’s annoying me.”

Piper gripped my arm too tightly, warning me. “Hillary’s got no problem pre-gaming. Does she?”

“What is pre-gaming?”

All three girls laughed, breaking the tense bubble, just as the bedroom door opened.

Oh, my
…

A tall guy wearing nothing but ripped jeans answered the door. He had tattoos wrapped around his torso and side, coloring his muscled abs. There was a beer in his hand, and his nipples were pierced. He was disturbingly good-looking, with hair shaved close to his scalp and startling intense eyes. When he smiled crookedly at us, I felt a nervous twinge in my stomach.
Wolf leader!
My brain screamed.
Run!
I was about to do just that when the wolf leader talked.

“Ladies,” he greeted, his voice a rumble.

“Sorry we’re late,” Emery spoke up, and then glanced at me. “Some of us needed a little coaxing.”

His eyes landed on me, and the look in them darkened. “Who’s this?”

“Hillary,” I squeaked.

His grin grew. He parted the crowd and stood in front of me. “You look familiar, Hillary. You ever come to my party before?”

He smelled like cologne and beer, and his eyes were trapping me. “No. I don’t think so.”

“No. Probably not.” But his gaze narrowed and he leaned closer. “Your eyes are crazy familiar.”

“My brother’s eyes look just like mine. Maybe you know him?”
Why was I talking to him?

He frowned, shedding his wolf persona for one that was more honest. “The only bastard with those eyes I’ve met is Bach. Please don’t tell me Bach’s your brother.” His face paled.

It was my turn to frown. “He is.”

He stepped away from me and pointed with his free hand, face ashen. “Out.”

“Why?” I demanded, confused.

“Does Bach know you’re here?” I looked away, and he groaned. “Get out, Hillary. I’m not getting my ass beat for you.”

A sudden flash of anger settled inside of me. “Bach isn’t my boss. I’m eighteen. If I want to come to a party, I can.”

“Dude, I didn’t even know Bach had a sister. Look at you. You’re like a damn baby. All sweet and shit. Get out of my house.” He grabbed my upper arm and began leading me to the stairs.

“Jona!” Emery called.

He looked over his shoulder at her. “You girls go to my room. I’ve got some goodies on my dresser. Get ready for me.” He winked, giving them a flirty smile.

Emery and Jasmine went into his room without looking back, leaving Piper in the hall.

“Piper,” I growled, ripping my arm free of Jona’s grip. “Wait for me.” How dare he threaten me with Bach? I was a grown woman. If I wanted to accompany my friend to a party, I could do so. Bach was not my boss. He refused to know me. He couldn’t control my life too. I stomped back over to Piper.

“We just want to have fun,” she said. “Relax.”

“Relax?” He ran a hand over his head anxiously. “Do you know who Bach is?”

“Not really,” she admitted.

Piper knew the bare minimum about Bach. She was as shocked as me when I told her about him, but talking about him made me long for him, and I tried to prevent that longing because deep down I feared I could never have my brother the way I wanted, which meant I could never have my father either. Sadness flashed through me, making my eyes sting.

Jona looked into my eyes, cursed, and then growled. “Fine, Angel, but if you get out of hand, I’m calling Bach first thing. And if I get my ass kicked you owe me big time.” He held his hand out to me. “Big time,” he stressed.

I took his hand, feeling like I’d just won something, but that I had no idea whether I’d want the prize or not. “Don’t call me Angel.”

“But isn’t that what you are? Isn’t that why Bach kept you from here and why you’re looking at me all confused? You’re an angel until you prove otherwise. Now go downstairs while me and your friends get ready.” He gave me a firm look and crossed his arms over his chest.

“What are you guys going to do?”

“You really want to know, Angel?”

“No,” I admitted. “Piper?”

“Go,” she said, releasing me. “We’ll be down in a minute.”

“But,” I stammered, not wanting to be alone.

Jona bent over suddenly and threw me over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” How dare he! I tried to keep my skirt down.

He pinched my side. “You’re even sweet when you yell.”

He walked down the stairs with me bouncing on his back, weaving through the bodies on the first floor. I spotted an upside down kitchen counter and then he set me down on my feet in the kitchen.

“You want some advice?” he asked, giving it to me anyway as I huffed in irritation. “Stay in the house. Don’t go in the garage. Don’t drink anything unless you open it. And remember something.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, tapped away, and then held it up. Bach’s name was on the screen. “I can call him in a second.”

The music was so loud I had to lean in to hear him. There were people drinking beer and picking at a pizza on the counter. The women were dressed like me and the men like Jona, jeans and sin, tattoos and alcohol. I looked away for a safe spot, landing on the fridge with a boob magnet. It was better than naked boobs. Which I feared I could locate without a problem.

“Bach isn’t my boss.”

“Then I am.” Something over my shoulder caught his attention before he could continue. “Justine!” he shouted.

I looked over to find a breathtaking woman approaching us. She was dark hair, dark brown eyes, and confidence. Her skin was slightly tanned from the summer heat, and her lips were the color of bubble gum. When I turned back to Jona, his mouth was hanging open.

“What, asshat?”

He grinned suddenly, a much more natural smile than any he’d given the girls or me. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, putting his mouth over her ear. As he talked, Justine’s eyes widened with shock, and then a naughty smile lifted her pink lips as her eyes landed on me.

“No way,” she said, laughing. “Yeah, sure. What are you going to be doing?”

Jona looked away, and I caught the slight tightening of her eyes. “I’ve got to finish getting dressed. She’s all yours, Angel.” He nudged me forward closer to her and then left the room.

Justine glared at his retreating back before looking at me. “You look just like him. It’s crazy.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I agree. If you want to party, by all means, party. You want to party, don’t you, Little Miss Perfect The Second? Piss brother Bach off?”

“Who’s the first?” I wondered, hugging myself. A guy slipped around me, eyeing my legs. I looked away, shrinking from his laughter.

“Harley.” Her expression changed, saddening almost. “I could use a new Little Miss Perfect. You want a drink?”

“Was Harley your friend?”

She shrugged. “Harley’s, you know, out being perfect. She doesn’t have time for anyone but Bach. Yes, or no?”

“Umm …” I panicked. I didn’t want to drink. “I’m driving.”

“You can sleep here. There’s a spare bedroom upstairs.”

“I don’t really drink.” Besides a few sips of Mom’s wine when she wasn’t looking when I was a child, I’d found no joy in consuming alcohol.

She chuckled and shook her head. “No wonder Bach kept you a secret. You’re a snooze fest.”

Is that why Bach pushed me away? Because I was boring? Nothing like the people he wanted to know?

How dare him.

I wanted him; he knew the part of me I never got to meet. He was my only shot at ever knowing what it felt like to be whole. To learn he was ashamed of me, hurt on a level I’d never felt. My heart burned, and my body heat flared with the rush of my anger.

I could show him. I could be just like these people.

I could be a wolf.

“Okay. I want a drink.”

Justine grinned darkly, pleased by my act of defiance. “That’s right. When it comes to Bach, you have to beat him at his own game. We’re winning tonight.”

She led me into the wolves’ den.

***

My first shot burned like fire.

Justine gave me a grin that was less proud, but more determined, as if ridding me of the things Bach did not like was her mission.

It tasted like bitter flames sliding down my throat. I tried to spit it out, but she shook her head, glaring as the men in the garage piled around us. I was overwhelmed. There was rap music and vodka, men and their eyes, and then there was Justine, shoving shots in my hand, urging me away from the girl Bach didn’t want.

I’d spent my life craving the other side of my family tree. I wanted to understand what it felt like to have a father. A man who was proud of the woman I had become. Someone who gave me the part of me I was missing. Was it fair to put that on Bach? Probably not, but he was all I had. My father was in prison, would be for a long time. I couldn’t have him. But I thought perhaps I could’ve had my brother. Apparently my brother wanted nothing to do with me. His bastard sister, the one he hadn’t claimed.

The sister he avoided.

Betrayal and heartache settled inside of me, making the shot easier to take.

Justine led me over to a sitting area in the garage. There were men and as she greeted them I studied them all out of fear. Where was Piper? I wanted my keys so I could leave. This wasn’t my world. I wanted out, into my own bed, and to fall asleep knowing who I was, instead of ignoring the half a person Bach shoved aside.