Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High Book 2) Read online

  “I’m cooking. This kitchen is the bomb. I’ve missed cooking. Earl doesn’t let me do this on the boat.”

  “You call it a boat?” Drake asked.

  “It’s what it is.”

  “It’s a yacht, Ashley.”

  “Don’t care. It is what it is. I don’t have to remember every single little detail, do I?”

  Drake shrugged. “When Earl’s done with you, you can always come here and we’d put you up.”

  I watched the sadness Ashley quickly tried to hide. Fuck! I had a horrible feeling she was already falling for Earl, and what was worse, he was only going to hurt her.

  The bastard.

  ****

  Vadik

  I was tired, hungry, and wanted Emily.

  She wasn’t in the kitchen. We’d missed dinner, and after Ashley had left with Earl once again, she’d disappeared.

  I checked her room, the garden, and as I came to the office, about to head on inside, the soft sounds of a piano playing drew my attention.

  Drake had played for her last time, and he’d gone with Caleb to run an errand. Even though we had our fathers to deal with, work itself didn’t stop moving.

  We were still the bosses and had to make sure our work didn’t implode on itself.

  Emily sat at the piano, alone.

  From the haunch of her shoulders, she looked sad. Stepping into the room, I was as quiet as possible, listening to her play.

  Her fingers were light on the keys as she moved achingly slowly from one tune into another. When I sat down beside her, she didn’t jolt or act startled.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she said.

  “You didn’t. You sound beautiful.”

  “I don’t play all that much. I’m not good at it.” She stopped playing, putting her hands between her thighs.

  I didn’t understand the sudden change in mood. Reaching between her thighs, I took one of her hands within my own.

  “I’m here.”

  “I know.”

  “What is it you need? Tell me and I’ll try to get it.”

  “It’s nothing, Vadik. Really.”

  “Emily, I wasn’t born yesterday. I know you’re upset. Let me help you in any way I can.”

  She sighed. “I was thinking about Ashley.”

  “I know.”

  She turned toward me and smiled. “Is it that obvious?”

  “You’ve become her protector. Of course, it is.” I kissed her knuckles. “Do you have any reason to believe he’s been a monster to her?”

  “No. Quite the opposite, in fact. I know it makes me seem strange, but I just, can’t we get rid of him?”

  I looked down at her hands. “Yes, we can, Emily. You know that. We can take out whoever we want. It’s what we do.”

  “There’s a but there.”

  “There is always a but.”

  “Tell me why,” she said.

  “There are always consequences, Em. Like the men who took River when he was sixteen. They had to pay the price, but we also did. We had to fight and learn to take care of ourselves, even more than before. It swings both ways. Earl is not alone. He has contacts. He probably suspected before he arrived that we wanted to kill him. Anyone with any sense wouldn’t enter Crude Hill without safeguards in place.”

  She turned toward me. “Ashley’s falling for him. Her feelings, they’re not … he’s going to hurt her. I know he is and I can’t think of a single fucking thing to do to stop it.” She let go of my hands and covered her face.

  I felt her pain but I had no way of relieving it.

  I wrapped my hands around her.

  She didn’t cry. She growled and pulled away, getting to her feet. I couldn’t help but admire the shape of her ass as she started to pace the length of the piano. I watched her. She hadn’t put a bra on and the shirt clung to her body. Her nipples were nice and tight.

  My cock instantly responded. I stood up, trying to relieve the pressure in my pants, but nothing would do as I watched her.

  She suddenly turned toward me and when she flung herself into my arms, I held on tight. Running my hands to her ass.

  “Make me stop thinking about them. About her.”

  I squeezed her ass cheeks, hearing her whimper as I applied a little more pressure than she was used to.

  There was no a good surface in this room, but I didn’t care. Removing my clothes, I broke the kiss long enough to get us both naked. The moment she was, I took a step back to admire her body. Sheer fucking perfection was what she was.

  She sank to her knees before me. Her fingers wrapped around my dick, working the length up and down. Her tongue flicked over the tip leaking my pre-cum.

  I ran my fingers through her hair, taking hold of the length in my fist and holding her tight.

  She whimpered but covered the tip of my cock with her lips. With my grip, I forced her to take as much of me to the back of her throat. She gagged on my length and I relieved her, letting her breathe before sinking inside her again.

  Saliva covered my entire shaft. She pulled off my cock and ran her tongue all over my dick, sliding down the vein and coming back to suck me again.

  I pumped within her mouth, feeling the start of my orgasm, but I didn’t want to come inside her mouth. Pushing her away from me, I got to my knees. With my grip tight on her body, I moved her to exactly where I wanted her to go. Holding her in place, I found her entrance and fucked her tight and fast. She moaned my name and I loved the sound as it echoed around the room.

  In and out.

  I spread the cheeks of her ass to see my cock riding her cunt. So pretty. So perfect.

  All mine.

  All of ours.

  I couldn’t explain how I felt with her or my friends. If it was anyone else, I couldn’t share her. Wouldn’t want to. Gael, River, and Vadik, they were more. They were everything. They were our life. Every single part of it, and I didn’t want to lose them or Emily. The life we had planned to spend together was the life I’d always wanted.

  I held myself perfectly still at the hilt within her, feeling her pussy ripple on my length.

  Reaching between her spread thighs, I started to stroke her swollen clit, bringing her closer to orgasm. I had no interest in stopping, but I needed her to come first.

  The moment she did, I worked her pussy until she was screaming my name. I loved the sounds on her lips.

  Only when I couldn’t stand to wait anymore did I grab her hips and fuck her until I came, releasing wave upon wave of release into her body.

  Afterward, I collapsed on top of her. Her knees had already given out. I kissed her neck and wrapped my arms around her.

  “Did I ever mention that I missed you?”

  She giggled. “I think I’m getting the idea.”

  “I thought about you every single day. Not a moment went by when we all didn’t regret letting you go,” I said.

  “I felt the same way. All four of you. I’d dream of you and I’d think what life would have been like if only we’d gotten the chance to be.”

  I pulled out of her tight pussy and she turned to look at me. I brushed a stray curl off her forehead and dropped a kiss to her lips.

  “There is something I want to show you.”

  Getting to my feet, I offered her my shirt as I pulled up my jeans. I’d already snatched her used clothing from the floor so she couldn’t change into it.

  I took her hand and she didn’t fight me, which I considered a bonus. After walking out of the room, we headed upstairs. I went to my room, and more specifically, the closet that I had removed all my clothes from.

  I had drawers, and I hung my suits when I needed to wear them on my bathroom wall. Switching on the closet light, I stepped back and allowed Emily to see what I’d created.

  She gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. “Vadik?”

  “I know this is stalker territory and I am sorry about that. Actually, no, I’m not sorry. I … this kept me sane. Or as sane as was possible.” Eve
ry time I missed her, I drew. She was my muse. The very object of my obsession and I had channeled that need into my art.

  “They’re beautiful.”

  “You are beautiful,” I said, touching her shoulder. “You’re not afraid?”

  She shook her head. “You know, Ashley talked today about having a guy who is so completely devoted to her. How can this scare me when it’s exactly what I want as well? Only I’ve been lucky because I’ve been able to find four guys who want me, not just one.” She turned toward me and there were tears in her eyes. “I wouldn’t go around showing everyone this. They might get the wrong impression, but wow, Vadik.”

  “You’re the love of my life, Em. I had to have a little piece of you in some way.”

  I thought I would’ve scared her with this, but instead, it had done the opposite. She threw herself into my arms and I lifted her, carrying her through to my bed. This was my dream. To have her in my arms, to make love to her, and every chance I got, to make her mine.

  My dream had finally come true.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Emily

  They had locked me in my fucking bedroom.

  I tried the door for a second time and stepped back, even angrier than before. Caleb had come marching in the door because there had been a sighting of their fathers with a small army. To save me or to keep me safe, they’d locked me in my bedroom like I was some spoiled child.

  I slammed my hand against the wood. Drake was nowhere to be seen. There was a guard outside my door, who’d been told to ignore all of my requests.

  Annoyed, I used my foot and tried to kick it in.

  Nothing.

  “Fucking assholes.” I was so pissed. “If you think you are going to get to sleep with me, you’re so wrong. Do you hear me? I don’t care who hears. You’re not coming near me. none of you are.”

  Again, I slammed my hand against the door.

  Stepping back, I took a deep breath.

  Sitting on the end of my bed, I ran my hands down my thighs. They wanted to play at protectors, that was fine, but I should get the choice of how I stay safe, and being locked in my bedroom wasn’t going to cut it.

  The house was already driving me crazy.

  I stretched my neck to the left and the right. Taking a deep breath, I turned toward the doors overlooking the garden.

  “Don’t do it, Emily. Don’t do it.” I spoke the words aloud even as I walked toward the door. I put my hand to the cold glass.

  I’d been too busy fighting with Caleb to even give these doors a thought. Had he?

  I didn’t know.

  Licking my lips, I tested the handle and laughed, quickly slapping my hand over my mouth to keep quiet. I looked toward the door, expecting the guard to come in at any moment to take all of this away from me.

  He didn’t.

  Opening the door, I stepped out onto the balcony. It had started to get cold and the wind took me by surprise. The drop wasn’t too far. If I was careful and lowered myself down, I’d make it.

  But, just in case, I rushed back into the bedroom, stripped the bed down, and grabbed the sheet. I tied it around one of the balcony’s posts. I was being completely irrational, but Caleb had taken this one step too far.

  I got it. They were all worried about me. I accepted that, but I was not going to be a prisoner in that house anymore.

  I’d tasted freedom and I wanted it back. There were many things I could live with. Their reputation, what they did to stay in control. I could handle all of it, but being a prisoner, not happening. Not anymore.

  Climbing over the balcony, I grabbed the sheet, knowing if I fell wrong, I was so going to suffer for it.

  Why was I doing this?

  I was afraid of heights at the best of times.

  Taking a deep breath, I tried to shimmy down, but I felt the blanket move. As I looked up, sure enough, the knot wasn’t strong enough.

  Before I even had time to move, it was untied and I fell down, hitting the ground beneath me. I rolled over with a groan, wanting to go back five minutes to remind myself I wasn’t some kind of wall-scaling expert. I was a human.

  I didn’t have much time to lick my wounds or revel in the pain. Voices came closer and I got to my feet, moving into the shadows. Guards passed and I just hoped they wouldn’t catch sight of the blanket.

  They didn’t show any signs of seeing me.

  When they were out of earshot, I moved out of the shadows, coming away from the wall, and I smiled. So far, so good.

  Now, all I had to do was make a run for it. I’d show them. I’d show all of them.

  I made it around to the main drive, seeing four cars parked in the driveway.

  Rather than attempt to run on foot, I tried each door. Getting to the last one, I slid into the driver’s seat and looked for the keys. When I found them, I smiled.

  After clapping my hands together, I slid them into the ignition just in time for the door to open.

  I stopped and turned to see Drake in the passenger seat.

  “Planning a little escape?”

  I turned the ignition over and he put the car into reverse.

  I wasn’t a very good driver. Ashley was the one who could drive.

  “Emily, what the fuck?”

  “I don’t give a shit what Caleb and the others say. I am in control of my own life.”

  He slammed the door closed but I didn’t care. I was too far gone on my own anger to give a shit about what he had to say or do. “I will not be ordered around like a child.”

  “Even though you’re behaving like one.”

  “Fucking asshole. Do you think I’m in the mood to be told what I am or not reacting like? Huh?” I pressed my foot on the gas. “I suggest you make those gates fucking open, Drake. I’m not going to stop.”

  “Turn the car around.”

  “No.”

  “Emily, this is stupid.”

  “Being forced into a bedroom is stupid. This is one last-ditch attempt at freedom, and guess what, buster, I’m taking it.” I burst out laughing, feeling like a crazy person had taken over, and maybe they had.

  I wasn’t going to be forced into my bedroom to be told what to do. My dad was long gone.

  Caleb certainly wasn’t going to get away with acting like it.

  The gates started to open, but rather than slow down, since they weren’t open wide enough, I scratched the car on the way out, taking a sudden spin to avoid a couple more parked cars.

  Again, I wasn’t a very good driver. I often took public transport for safety reasons.

  Putting the car into gear, I lightly pushed my foot on the gas and we started moving.

  “Do you want me to take over?” Drake asked.

  “No.”

  “How did you get out of your bedroom?”

  “Why were you back? I thought you were out running errands.”

  “I did all of them and I came back. I happened to notice you nearly fall and break your neck. What the fuck were you thinking?”

  I glance over at him. “You were in the garden?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then why ask me if you’d already seen what I was doing?” I asked.

  “Wanted to see if you’d lie to me.”

  “Are you for real right now?”

  “What? You’re the one who actually tried to scale out of a window with a badly tied bedsheet. What the fuck were you thinking?”

  “I think it’s clear I wasn’t exactly thinking anything now, was I?” I asked with a growl.

  “How about I drive?”

  “Not a chance.”

  “Em, you can’t do this.”

  “I can do whatever the hell I want, and if that means I put my life at risk, then so be it.” I pressed my foot to the floor and I knew, of course I knew I was being completely ridiculous. The only place I’d wanted to be for the past seven years was with those four impossible, irritating, annoying men. They were the Monsters through and through, but they were all mine. I knew it now
more than ever.

  There were times I had no idea how it was going to work. Four men, one girl. Would they get bored of me? It was a freaking possibility. A scary one, in fact, and it terrified me that I would never be enough for them, or they would realize how inconvenient it was to have one woman, and they’d trade me in. Not to mention how they would feel if I was to actually become pregnant. Would they want me then? Could we even survive with kids? I’d seen firsthand what it was like to be a kid in this world. To have parents who were monsters. Just the thought of my men hurting our child, it wouldn’t happen. They were Monsters, but not like their parents, not when it came to their own flesh and blood.

  All of these thoughts were not exactly good to have as I was traveling haphazardly down a street that I specifically recalled led to the Crude Hill High School. It would only be fitting if I actually ended up driving this death trap into the school. It was the first place where all of my troubles began. Not that I could call falling in love with Gael trouble, but if I hadn’t reacted when I did, he would’ve been dead now, and me, well, I’d be at Earl Valentine’s mercy.

  I couldn’t help but wonder, though, if he wasn’t such a bad guy. During the day I’d spent with Ashley, she didn’t show any signs of emotional or physical distress. She may think I’d developed a crush on her with how many times I kept on staring at her. I loved her as a friend, but I was worried about her. Earl wasn’t a good guy, but maybe, like with my Monsters, he was good for her. Maybe he loved her and that was what made him a good guy. Again, I didn’t really know. I was hoping. That was what I was doing. I couldn’t help but hope she was happy. That she was in the best place possible with Earl and he’d give her a wonderful life. If not, then I would have no choice but to kill him.

  Ashley deserved the best life. She’d given me seven years, and I hadn’t exactly been the nicest person to live with. I’d sobbed, and when she’d found positivity, I hadn’t.

  Running my hands down my face, I wanted to do nothing more than sob, but instead, I controlled myself. Taking long deep breaths, I slowly brought the car to a stop, up to the curb on the school grounds.

  I hadn’t even bothered with the seatbelt.

  “Emily?”

  I fumbled with the car door handle and finally got it open. Spilling out of the car, I wasn’t exactly graceful, but I got there.