Page 124 of Fang
I don’t want to deal with Zak. I’m not sure how I will react to his bullying. Part of me still wants to go to the press, tell my side of the story, but right now I don’t have the energy to fight.
As we reach the entertainment room, they have the news playing on the big screen. Loyal, Tiny, and Happy are sitting toone side while Crank, Dex, Viv, Savage, and Bailey sit on the other side.
Fang leads me to a two-seat love seat in the middle of the two groups. He pulls a blanket down from the back, covering me. I cuddle into his side, ready to spend two hours close to him.
“In breaking news, the dean of San Antonio University has been fired after it was brought to the board of directors’ attention that she was sleeping with a student. Trisha has more on this.”
My eyes are now glued to the screen as it pans to a reporter outside of my college.
“Thank you, David. An anonymous report was made to the board of directors that a student had been allegedly sexually harassing another student. When the student attempted to take action, that female student was instead threatened with expulsion and then suspended for many days, while the male student was let off scot-free without even an investigation. The male student has been identified as Zak Brohan, nineteen. He has been a student at the college for only one semester, but the relationship with Dean Carter had started when he was in high school. An inside source reports that they met at an alumni event where his father, Jeremiah Brohan, was the main speaker. Both parties have declined to comment, but Dean Carter was escorted from the building in cuffs earlier today.”
The television cuts to the same woman who suspended me being arrested. The reporter continues to speak, but I can’t hear anything.
“How?” I mutter.
Bailey speaks up. “I couldn’t bear the thought of him getting away with it, so I called Nicole and told her what happened to you. I explained that you had an emergency that prevented you from attending, but your story was important. We didn’t have proof, so I told her that I had my men working on getting it.It took a few days, but Tiny was able to uncover the whole thing. The board of directors will be in touch with you to issue an apology and excuse your absences. They will wipe the suspension from your record too, and I talked them into giving you the next three years of paid tuition and books.”
My mouth falls open. “What? How?”
“She can be a little hellcat when she wants to be,” Savage says, nuzzling her neck.
“I didn’t do it by myself. It was a group effort. You’re one of us now, Cami. It means if someone comes for you, they come for us all.”
My heart feels so full with love and adoration for these people. They didn’t have to get involved, but they did. They solved my issue knowing I was not in a place to. It feels good to know I have people.
It feels right.
“Thank you. All of you. Seriously, this is more than I could have ever asked for.”
“You never have to ask for anything again. We will always have your back,” Viv adds.
“You never had a family, but you now have more brothers than you could have ever hoped for and at least two sisters. You thought you wanted a family, but trust me, after a few weeks with them, you might change your mind,” Fang teases. “They can be annoying.”
“Fuck off,” Happy calls out. “Cami loves me. We bonded.”
I smile at him. “My first brother.”
His face softens. “First of many. You think you can handle it?”
I look around the room. It’s not even just the people in this room. There are other brothers who are at work right now or tending to their own families. They have my back too. Then there are the other chapters that would answer the call if I needed them.
Fang explained it all to me last night after my first nightmare. It helped settle my mind and soul.
Am I ready for this family?
“Absolutely,” I answer Happy. “I am blessed to have you all.”
“I’m glad you feel that way,” Fang whispers against the side of my neck.
“Well, since we are all here, let’s watch a movie,” Savage calls out.
We spend the rest of the night laughing and chatting among one another as movie after movie plays. Some of the people wander off while others join.
It reminds me of when Fang told me about the nights they would spend out by the fire. Everything feels laid-back. Everyone is getting along.
Even with the alcohol flowing, no one seems like they are going to get angry and throw a punch.
This is how it’s supposed to be.
