Eden High Series 2 Book 3
Read Eden High Series 2 Book 3 Online
Authors: Jordan Silver
Copyright © 2016 Jordan Silver
All Rights Reserved
JACE
***
I
hate sleeping alone anymore. Taking her home last night had been hell, but she was right. Asking her to move in here was too much. I just wish I could shake the feeling of dread each time she was out of my sight. I know she’s safe at home with her family, but whenever she’s not with me I lose my mind.
I rolled out of bed and headed for the shower. I’d see her in a little while and then maybe I could breathe right again. Fuck that. I went back to my room to grab my phone. She answered on the first ring like she’d been waiting for me. “Morning baby, how did you sleep?”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too, I woke up reaching for you.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet I love you too.” She grinned and the sound eased the knots in my gut. “I’ll be there to get you soon baby go get ready for school.” After she made me embarrass myself by sending her kisses over the phone we hung up and I went to take that shower. A very cold one.
“Son are you up?” Dad came into my room while I was towel drying my hair. “Yeah what’s up?” He looked around the room like he hadn’t seen it in days, which was about right. Since Sian my parents hadn’t been visiting my wing as often as they had in the past. They were giving us our privacy, which I appreciated but I did miss our little talks and mom’s nosy ass dropping in unannounced to check up on me.
“ Nothing’s up, I just wanted to see how you were doing. I’m leaving for the city a little early today so I won’t see you for breakfast.” Uh-huh, he wasn’t fooling me, there was something else on his mind.
“What’s really going on dad?”
“I just got off the phone with Chad. We were discussing the situation with you and the cops and the Mandy girl and we both agree that you need to steer clear. She’s not going to be in the hospital forever, she should be going home soon, which means back to school. I need to know that you’re not going to do anything stupid.”
“Dad…”
“I know what you’re going to say and I admit, if I were in your shoes I would feel the same way, but I’m asking you to leave it alone. Let us handle it. Chad and I have talked about this and we’ve got it son, let us take care of it. Don’t forget, Sian’s his kid he doesn’t want her hurt again and you getting involved will only drag her into the middle of this thing.”
Dammit, I hate going against him, hate keeping things from him. But I wasn’t sure I could give him what he was asking for now. “I’ll try dad but if she starts anything I can’t promise I won’t finish it.”
“Good enough. Give your old man a hug I gotta go.” I didn’t even bother telling him that I was too old for this shit, he wouldn’t listen anyway, no more than mom does when she corners me. “It’s all going to be fine son trust me.”
***
MANDY
***
I
need out of this hospital. It’s served its purpose, but now I need to get out there and do what I do best. There was too much left undone and I was afraid if I left it too long things might only get worse. Things have been spiraling out of control with me not being there to keep them on track. I hate feeling this out of the loop, like I had no power over anything. That look’s never worked for me.
I like being in control, it’s the only way I know and I’m good at it. All those grown men, powerful men, at the end of my little fingertips. It fed the need in me among other things, but this was no time to think about that. I had work to do. Soon enough I’ll be able to relax again once I got all this behind me, but for now I had to do cleanup.
I had a good thing going until lately, and I could pinpoint exactly when things started going to shit. It started when that ugly freak moved here and moved in on my man. Sure Jace and I were on the outs by then, but I was working on getting him back. Then she showed up and pushed herself on him. There’s no way I would ever believe he preferred her to me, so there must be something else at play.
It couldn’t be sex, because Jace and I had amazing sex when we were together. No way that country bumpkin was better in bed than me. Or maybe he was more into the innocent little virgin act. I don’t buy that either. We’d been good together, with him I didn’t have to pretend, or imagine that I was anywhere else to get off.
So what was it that he saw in her really? What could someone like her have that I didn’t? She didn’t even belong, wasn’t part of our crowd. I’d known Jace since we were kids, well since mom married up and we moved out here. He’d never shown any interest in me until last summer. Of course I’d worked my ass off to bring that happy occurrence about.
I knew who he was, had always set my sights on him. Even as a ten year old I had a pretty good idea what I wanted. I liked pretty things and who better to get them for me than the heir to everything Hollywood. Sure they were other rich kids, sons of leading actors or movie producers, but everyone knew that Jace’s family were the cream of the crop in our circle. I wanted the best and he is it. Not to mention he looks like a walking sex dream.
I’d gone out of my way to be everything I thought he wanted. By the time we hooked up I’d already started my little collection, but so what? men do it all the time, why can’t I? But after we became a couple, I’d put all that aside. I knew if I played it right I could be set for the rest of my life.
But then just a few months in, something changed. He grew distant and cold, and then he broke it off. I know there was no way he saw through me. But now I’m not so sure. The last few times he’s looked at me like I was something horrible. I can’t stand it. Can’t stand that he’s now with her. And the way he’d protected her from me. It was not to be borne.
I calmed myself down before the machine next to me went haywire and the nosy ass nurse came waltzing in here with her crap. I didn’t need any more needles or pills. What I needed was out of here.
I felt helpless just laying here, something else I hate. I worked too hard to get where I am and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some hick from the sticks come in and rain on my parade.
Now that I’m laid up here, that bitch Sian has been running my school like she thinks she’s the queen of Eden High, or at least that’s the way that idiot Liz had made it sound.
It just burns me up to even imagine it. Her walking the halls with my Jace and everyone thinking they were the new ‘it’ couple. I didn’t like the lilt in Liz’s voice when she was relaying the news either. I’m gonna have to remind her who owns her stupid ass too. A week and a half away and already things were getting away from me.
Plus, I have to get out of here so I can find out what the hell is going on and which one of the assholes in my little black book tried to do me in. I leafed through my meal ticket as my mind raced with all the possibilities. It was true that I’d been squeezing all of them in one way or the other, some of them going back at least a year. But why would any of them risk going to jail?
That was too much to think about now, let the cops handle it. I had other things to take care of first. Like erasing that bitch from my life once and for all. I may not have the answers for the other, but that I knew I could do. On my own this time since I’m surrounded, by idiots who don’t know their heads from their ass.
It would be great if I could get the ball rolling from my hospital bed, but I don’t trust this place. Who knows who’s listening in on the phone or even right outside the door? I’d already pushed my luck too far as it is and the cops weren’t being too helpful these days. Not since Jace’s dad had scared them off. But I had my ways around that too once I was out of here.
Shelly has been a gold mine but I’ve used up my resources there I think. She might be a little slow but she’s not that dumb. After that last stunt with Jace she was looking at me a little skeptically. I’m afraid if I keep using her she was bound to catch on and I wasn’t sure I was done using her yet.
That’s why I don’t have too much dealings with females, they’re a suspicious bunch by nature. But men, they’re easy. Except Jace. I’d slipped up really bad with him. I just couldn’t figure out when or how. But all was not lost. I refuse to believe that. Jace is my prize, he’s my reward for everything that I had to put up with in this world.
I could hear the comings and goings of the hospital staff outside my door as they went about their business. I held my breath until all was quiet again and no one came into my room. My little puppet in security is getting way too attached. I think the idiot’s in love or some shit. As if. He found himself sneaking into my room for seconds late at night and out of desperation for a quick fuck fix and not wanting to let him know that I was done with him, and having to put up with drama I’d given in; bleh.
Whatever, it’s time to get back to the real world, time to finish what that asshole screwed up. Time to plan my grand return. I could already feel the excitement growing. Taking my diary out of hiding, I read over some of what I’d written since I’d been here and added to the notes I’d started working on the night before. I can’t slip up now or shit would hit the fan and I am far from ready for that so I still need to stay in character. These notes help me remember shit.
Everyone seems so taken in by the poor little innocent who was attacked in her own home in the dead of night and left for dead, why not run with it. I really should’ve been an actress because if I met that bitch in real life it’d make me barf, but I find that it suits my purposes just fine for now to play the part.
Though I hate weakness and all those mealy mouthed females who’re always whining and moaning about life’s little fuck-ups, I could see the merit in it when it’s needed. See how some women might use their feminine weakness to their advantage. But I much prefer being the alpha. Besides it was a bit late for this leopard to change her spots, and if I had to do it for too long I’d shoot myself in the fucking throat.
With that said, I plan on milking this shit for all it’s worth. Who knows, I might get some good shit out of it. Mom is already being oh so sweet, and even my stepdad has thawed a bit towards me. If nothing else comes of this, there’s that. It’s always good having someone with power on your side. Plus I’ve been thinking of making a move on him if he gives me one more of those soulful looks. I think he almost believes he’d misjudged me. It might be worth my while to play on that.
I double-checked my escape plan, which I hoped I never had to use. I like being just where I am now, like the power I wield over half the men of the city not to mention those nitwits who were willing to do anything I ask just to bask in the glow of my presence. Having to start over somewhere else isn’t exactly something I’m looking forward to, but I will if I have to.
My escape hatch as I like to call it is a list of offshore accounts spread out from the Caymans to Switzerland. Something else I learned fucking powerful men. Pillow talk has enlightened me to some much-needed tricks of the trade of the rich and famous. Good thing mom had upped her clientele way back when, because if I had to pull this shit using the deadbeats she used to screw when I was a kid, it would take forever.
I got that warm tingle I always get when I look at all I’d achieved. Not bad for a seventeen-year old who was barely making Cs in school. Well, that’s what I really made, but not what my reports say. Teachers are easy as fuck. Show them a little leg touch them in some strategic places and they’re putty in your hands. The bonus is that I always have them on the hook once they cross that line. Dumb fucks, the promise of a hot roll in the hay with yours truly keeps them drooling much longer than if I’d given in already. It also makes them go above and beyond just in the off chance that one day I’d give in and let them have my young tight pussy.
Lying back against the too soft pillows, I let my hands drift down between my thighs to ease the sweet ache as I let my mind wander to all I’d accomplished thus far. I wasn’t even eighteen yet and my bank account looked better than most people who’d been working their asses off for decades. Fucking hacks.
I had money, a name that meant something now since my adorable stepdad had changed my name to his when he married mom, and spectacular looks. What more could a girl ask for?
I pulled the silver mirror mom had brought her baby girl from under my pillow and studied myself. At least the asshole that did this to me hadn’t touched my face. I was still the most beautiful girl in the city. Yeah, but Jace still won’t give you the time of day.
The thought had me lowering the mirror in fury. I hated the sting of tears that formed at the corners of my eyes. So weak and pointless, but they always came when I thought of him. He was the first person to treat me like this. Even my stepdad who suspected me of trying to off his brat wasn’t so cold. He kept me at arm’s length sure, but he hadn’t cut me off completely. Jace on the other hand acted like I didn’t exist and the worst part was not knowing why.
I’d put on my best performance with him. Well, in the beginning I did, before I got to know him and really fell in love, something I’d promised myself I would never do. Love was for the weak minded, mom was always in love when I was a little girl and where did that ever get her? Sure she’d landed on her feet, but I’ll bypass the bullshit flowery sentiment thank you very much.
But with Jace it had been hard not to, he was perfect. He’d broken down all my barriers, all those walls I’d built as a child had come tumbling down like ash. For the first time I’d seen someone else as something more than just another mark for me to use. He’d made me feel special in ways that I never had and I’d started dreaming.
