Page 66 of The Claiming

Frankie shares a look with Jack and then says in a voice that offers no disagreement, “Until he’s caught, you are both moving in here.”

“No!”

We both react at the same time and Jack adds, “I would be happier knowing you are here. He could just as easily get to you in your dorm, given that he managed to abduct Abigail from a tunnel in a fortress and place her back in her bed without anyone noticing.”

“Fuck you, Jack. You know full well I can look after myself.” I am unnecessarily aggressive when I understand he only has our best interest at heart and he raises his eyes.

“Something to tell me, Cassie?”

I hate how he can read me like an open book and as I glance at Frankie, his smirk does little to dull my anger.

“We’re not your property.” I bite back, not really sure where that sentence even came from. I am struggling and losing my shit and I’m fully aware it’s because more than anything, I want to experience every delicious second of what being Frankie’s girl involves, but Jack is complicating things. He is still a huge part of me that I always thought the man I would end up with is him.

THIRTY-ONE

FRANKIE

I fucking love Jack Anderson. He voiced what’s been on my mind since I met Cassie and they will blame him for it. I want her with me, in my home and in my bed, and this is the prefect excuse. Siri too. I will be able to honor my promise and show my uncle I am looking out for her and, with them under our roof, their safety is guaranteed. Not from me, though. Cassie is definitelynotsafe from me because what I have planned for her is nothing short of depraved.

She is fighting against the idea and I’m fully aware why. She wants me—more than she cares to admit, but she is struggling with her friendship with Jack. There is something between them she is holding onto and if I’m right, she has feelings for him she hasn’t faced up to yet.

Until she does, I intend on taking full advantage of the situation and facing up to the most delightful challenge of my own.

The door opens again and Santi appears with one of the cheerleaders and he groans. “Fuck, it’s busier out here than inside.”

She giggles as she hangs off his arm, and I wonder why these girls think they are so special. Santi will use her for sex and then ghost her. She’ll assume he’ll fall deeply in love with her well used pussy and she’ll be credited with taming one of the beasts that reside in this house. It’s a game I’ve played too many times already, which is why I resurrected The Claiming. It was the best idea I’ve had in a long time except for one thing. Somebody took advantage of the situation to commit a disgusting crime and catching him and making him pay is high up on my list of priorities.

I jerk my head toward the house.

“Let’s leave Santi to his fun and show the girls their rooms.”

The others follow me and, as I stride ahead toward the front of the house, Cassie catches up with me and hisses angrily, “I’m not agreeing to anything.”

“Relax, baby, you’ll have your own room and it’s way better than the dorm. Siri will be next door to you and it’s at the opposite end of the house to me.”

She falls silent and as we head through the front door, I note Ali turning away a group of students who didn’t make the list.

He raises his eyes and I say in his ear, “We have two new house guests. I’m just showing them to their rooms.”

“If you say so.” He rolls his eyes and leans back against the wooden beam by the steps.

As we head inside, the music thumps from the basement and I can only imagine what debauchery is playing out down there right now. It’s not uncommon for the guys to fuck their girls where they stand which definitely stretches the limits of the women who head there willingly. As I said, I’m bored with it and as we take the staircase, Cassie is silent beside me.

I don’t reassure her and soon stop at the first door to one of the guest rooms, of which there are four.

“Here you go Siri, home from home.”

I open the door and she laughs softly. “You got that right. This could be my room at–”

She stops as I throw her a warning glare because just saying the words will be like pouring gasoline on a fire. We don’t talk about our home for a reason. Not the one where we all meet up as one big happy family. People wouldn’t understand the life we live and it’s a secret best kept if we want to enjoy life at Rockwell.

She compensates by adding, “Home.” before directing her brilliant smile at the others.

“I’m not complaining. At least I’ll have my own bathroom and closet. Thanks for the add, Frankie.”

I prod the beast by saying, “You can repay our generosity by taking on laundry duty.”

“Fuck no!” Siri yells and her eyes flash as she sneers, “I wouldn’t want to put one of your groupies out of business. I’ll do my own, but you can fuck off if you think I’m touching any of your dirty smalls.”

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