Page 96 of G.O.D.S Omnibus

Unknown

Mr Z. Save my number.

Me

We need to meet. The sooner the better.

Mr Z

How about dinner tomorrow? I’ll send a car to pick you up.

Me

Ok

Mr Z

See you then and play nice. I will explain tomorrow.

I tuck my phone back into my bra, Colt watching while he slips a hard lolly into his mouth.

“Who was that?”

“Mr Z, he wants to meet for dinner tomorrow and tell me why he has all of my handlers posing as school staff.”

Colt laughs and holds out a pink lolly to me. I take it and unwrap it. The door to the room is thrown open—nearly smacking Colt in the shoulder—and we both stare at Brennan standing in the doorway. He looks down at us, taking in the way we’re sitting. I don’t miss the slight jealousy that washes over his face before he pulls himself together when he realises we’re not doing anything.

“Colt, back to class. Jolie, my office.”

Colt stands and helps me up before he leans down and picks up his lolly stash from the floor, shoving them back in his pocket.

“See you at lunch, Cupcake. I’ll introduce you to my team—they’re going to love you.”

He moves towards the door and Brennan steps back to allow him to walk past. Colt slaps Brennan on the ass and takes offrunning down the hall. I snort at his antics and know we will be good friends.

“Lead the way,” I say, my voice laced with sarcasm as I lift my hand into the air in a gesture for him to start walking.

He doesn’t attempt small talk, and the silence is deafening in the empty hallway. I walk a few steps behind him all the way to a staffroom in the science building. Just as I’m about to ask why we’re here, Creed walks in and locks the door. Oh joy, this might be about to get good. I wonder if I can use sex to get out of this? I doubt it—Creed would know that I’m not feeling it and call me out.

“How are we going to do this? Tag team? Pig on a spit? I’ve never had two at once. I’m willing to gi?—”

My words are cut short when Creed rushes towards me and his hand wraps round my throat. I take a few steps backwards to brace for his attack, and my back hits a wall as I look up at his stone-cold face. The fire burning in his eyes tells me he’s pissed.

“What is your problem?” he demands, not letting his grip loosen so I can take a breath. “I get that you’re mad, but life goes on.”

I push at his chest with everything I have. He lets go of my neck and steps back, but he’s still too close for comfort at this point.

“What is my problem? Come on, Creed, you’re not fucking stupid, so don’t play dumb. You think you can do what you did and there wouldn’t be any consequences? Well, think again. I don’t want to see you, any of you.” I cut a glare to Brennan, who is standing back just watching the encounter. “You all just need to leave me the hell alone.”

Creed laughs. “Now who’s playing stupid? You don’t have a choice. We’re your team and you just have to get over it. You don’t have to like what we had to do, but don’t think for one second that they just let us win. They were just as ruthless aswe were, but lucky for us, we have years more experience and maybe we just loved you more. We never forgot about you like they did.” He spits the last sentence out with venom.

“And whose fault was that? You all wanted to play the hero and didn’t even give them a chance to help you. They didn’t love me less. You just had an advantage of knowing that I was alive,” I admonish, stabbing my finger into his chest.

“Besides, let’s face it, what did your protection get me?” I tick each one off on my fingers. “Foster brothers who liked to creep into my room at night, a sense of not belonging, an unhealthy attachment to needing to be wanted so I used my body to get a feeling of love. So, congratulations to you, we may have to be a team, but I won’t forgive you. And that is on you.”

With my feelings now out in the open, I turn and storm towards the door, unlocking it and flinging it open. I turn back, and Creed just smirks at me, making my heart sink. Laughn used to do the same. Tears prick at my eyes, and I exit before they can see me cry. They’ve seen me vulnerable too many times. I need to be stronger and one step ahead of them from now on.

Chapter Three

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