Page 77 of The Claiming

“Do you want all the details?”

He smirks and I shrug. “Only the one that explains why you’re off your head on drugs.”

He pales as I hiss, “It’s fucking obvious, Jesse. You’re still tripping, so I’ll ask you again, what the fuck is going on?”

He rakes his fingers through his hair and sighs heavily. Then he glances around before leaning in closer.

“It’s Jenna, man.”

“Miss Sloane?” I raise my eyes and he nods, a small smile creeping over his face.

“She’s something else. I’ve never met anyone like her before. The woman we see in the classroom is nothing compared to the one she is inside.”

“I’m listening.” I make out I’m interested in the gory details and I am. But not for the reason he thinks, and he smirks. “Man, she is so cool. She has moves I never knew were moves until I’m losing control of my body.”

He whispers, “She has some powerful shit that she rolls up from a tin while she sits astride me. Then she lights it and takes a drag before offering it to me and it’s sexy as hell.”

I say nothing and he grins. “Sex with Jenna is fucking wild, and it’s not just sharing a spliff. She’s into all kinds of shit and I am ruined for any other woman because what she doesn’t know isn’t worth bothering with.”

“I wish I could say I am happy for you, Jesse, but this is going to end badly and you know it.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t worry, bro. Jenna has it all worked out. She told me she does it all the time. I’m not the first and won’t be her last.”

“And you’re happy about that?” I raise my eyes and he shrugs.

“It’s not happily ever after, for fuck’s sake. I’m using her just as much as she’s using me. I realize that. It’s sure making this semester a memorable one.”

“Then you should consider her position in this.”

He shrugs. “Why? She knows the score.”

“Listen, I’m no stickler for the rules, but she’s facing a jail term if she’s caught. Sex with a student and supplying him with drugs is illegal and all it takes is for one fucker to find out and you’re both in serious shit.”

“But they won’t find out.” Jesse’s eyes flash. “Because onlyweknow about it and you’re no grass, Frankie. Are you?”

I react quickly and before he knows what’s happening, I have him pinned up against the wall, my eyes burning with anger as I hiss, “Don’t question my loyalty, Jesse because I am the only one who has your back right now. I don’t use others to solve my problems. I do it myself and it’s not pretty. Question me again and you’ll discover what that involves. Do I make myself clear?”

He nods, defeat bitter in his eyes as I relax my hold.

“Clean up and meet me back here in thirty minutes. We have a mystery to solve and I want your mind sharp and your appetite for revenge sharper because the fucker who is masquerading as one of my centurions, will wish he had never been born when I discover who he is.”

Jesse nods and heads off without another word and my anger merely grows when my thoughts return to Jenna Sloane. Jesse is old enough to make his own decisions and I’m not about to interfere with that, but if she’s dealing in drugs, that’s another matter entirely.

It’s ironic when drugs is a by-product of our family organization but I have learned enough about them to know they are never going to trap anyone I care deeply about and Jesse, for all his flaws, is as close to a brother as my real ones. Jenna Sloane had better watch out because I would kill for my family and her sex won’t save her fate if she steps over the line.

THIRTY-EIGHT

CASSIE

It didn’t take us long to move our belongings, and I was surprised at how happy I was to make the switch.

I didn’t miss the curiosity of the other students as they witnessed Jack and Frankie hauling our stuff across campus to The Elusive house. By now, everyone knows I am Frankie’s girl. He may as well have announced it on the campus What’s App group because word travels fast around here. I note the guarded expressions of the other students as we pass and the reverence in their eyes as they openly stare. It amuses me more than anything because as always there is a king of campus and Frankie, for all his faults, is that king. I will never be considered his queen, though. That’s not how I roll and if he believes for one second he can control me, he has another thing coming.

We soon make our way to the dungeon, and I’m happy to have a full day to search it thoroughly. When we step inside the dark place, a shiver passes through me as its history swirls around me. It’s a sinister place for sure and knowing what happened to Abigail only increases the vile nature of the place and I am determined to find whoever did this and our search begins now.

We split up and as we crawl through the stone opening to the chamber where the tunnels are, Frankie is right in front of me and helps me out into the chamber. Ali and Santi are searching the cells and the main chamber, and Jesse is helping with the tunnels.

Jack and Siri join us and Frankie says with steel lacing his words. “We all take a tunnel each. I’m searching the one Abigail took, Cassie the next one, Jack and Siri the other two. Jesse–” He turns to face his best friend and I’m surprised at the anger reflected at him.

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