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Catch Me 21
I darted down an alleyway and drew in a deep breath. I knew where I was going to pick up this job. The same place I always went. When my father had finally stepped away from the crew, he passed it onto my brother, who was three years older than me, and not very good at standing up to our father. My brother was a pushover. As strong as he was physically, Dad had a grip on him mentally. Which dove this crew into some shady shit for a very long time. But after my brother’s accident, after having the only thing he loved ripped away from him, he finally saw the light.Like I had years before.That’s how the club got passed down to me. From my father, to my older brother, to me. Family lineage, just like tradition stated. But my father didn’t like me having control of the Red Thorns. I wasn’t as much of a pushover. I always questioned him as well as his motives, something he never enjoyed about me. It had been easier to manipulate my brother than it was me. But with my brother no longer be
Catch Me 22
The guy opened the door and Hannah’s face fell. I looked over at her and she peered at me, not wanting to fully take her eyes off the guy. I knew she recognized him. That leather coat and those black jeans. She furrowed her brow slowly before coming into the room, then gripped him by his coat.“Hey. Wai--what are you--?”Hannah looked at me. “Any point to him?”I shook my head. “He said he’s hiding from someone. He let himself in and hasn’t left yet.”The boy growled. “Let go of me.”Hannah shrugged. “Suit yourself. Go hide somewhere else.”She shoved him out the door and he stumbled into the wall across the hallway. He whipped around with wide, shocked eyes, and I wiggled my fingertips at him. Hannah giggled as she slammed the door closed, then flipped the lock for good measure.“See? That’s what happens when you study unnecessarily and don’t pay attention to a damn thing I ask you to do.”I blinked. “Really? You’re doing that right now?”She grinned. “Really, really. Now that we’re
Catch Me 23
I tugged at the white shirt before it thwaped right back into place, making Hannah giggle.“Come on, time’s a’wastin’, hot stuff.”I rolled my eyes. “Never. Again.”I felt my roommate grab my hand before we stumbled out into the hallway. With the music pumping and the strobe lights going again, it felt as if I had stepped out onto another planet. I squinted as someone shoved a drink in my free hand. I had on my only pair of heels, which somehow kept throwing me off balance. Maybe it was the effects of the light, or the fact that Hannah practically tipped the cup to my lips. But the more beer I chugged down, the looser I felt.“Need another?” she asked.I grimaced as the taste of lukewarm beer filled my throat. I forced myself to get it down, but I sure didn’t want another one. I tossed the red cup into the nearest trash can before Hannah started bopping around, dancing to the thumping music and reaching for yet another drink.One of many I presumed she’d already had.I looked up and d
Catch Me 24
“I don’t like the sound of this one, Max. I’ve heard Dad talk about a ‘Dean’ before.”“You think it’s the same one?”He nodded. “Absolutely. You know Dad. He doesn’t keep company much. So you know he’s gotten in with them somehow. And if they work for or with Dad…?”“They’re shit news.”“Yeah.”I growled. “Fuck.”“And it’s not a good sign that he wants your best men. That means this man is already in some deep shit as it is.”“You think I don’t know that?”He held up his hands. “Just making sure you do. I’d rather talk your ear off about it than you go in blind.”“I never go in blind.”He grinned. “Except when it comes to your women.”I rolled my eyes. “So what else is new?”He chuckled. “I’m serious, though. The way I’ve heard Dad talk about this ‘Dean’ guy? If that’s even his name? It’s big. He’s big, and he’s bad. Much bigger fish than the Red Thorns have ever gotten tied up with.”“What have you heard Dad say about this character?”“It’s not what I’ve heard him say, it’s when I’v
Catch Me 25
“Holy shit. You’re jealous.”“Jealous of what?”I grinned as Benji stepped between her and me.“You’re jealous of the girls Maxy-boy here had at the party.”Benji slapped his hand against my chest and I caught his wrist.“Easy there,” I warned.He giggled nervously. “Doesn’t change the fact that you’re jealous.”Daddy’s girl shook her head. “Nope. Not even a little bit.”“Face it. You like Max, don’t you?”“Nope.”“Oh, then maybe you like me.”I shook my head. “Nope.”Benji sighed. “Well, she’s obviously jealous. And that’s kind of cute, don’t you think?”Daddy’s girl glared at us. “I’m. Not. Jealous. I could never be jealous of a couple of college girls with no standards.”“What did you just say?”I placed my hand onto Benji’s shoulder. The boy was always much too fired up. Always ready to prove his worth. Always ready to jump down someone’s throat to prove he belonged somewhere he didn’t. It was entertaining for a while. Until it became too much.Like now.Benji leaned his head towa
Catch Me 26
I wasn’t here to fuck around at the Arcadia Invitational. I was seeded 17th in the Girls 300 Meter hurdles, and I was here to kick ass and take names.I looked to my left. Carly Richardson was the girl I needed to beat to get to the finals. Our times were milliseconds from each other. Our lanes were four and five, and I was ready to ignite like fire out of the blocks. Coach had told me that I didn’t have the acceleration to outrun her in the first 100 meters. I needed to outlast her in the last 100. I watched her jump, slap her thighs and sail through her pre-race routine. Her muscles rippled with effort.Okay. Enough bullshitting.I cracked my neck, did a couple jumps, high knees. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, visceral and real, and my heart rate was elevated. I took a couple calming breaths.Okay, Ophelia. I told myself. The official mounted. It was time to get into the blocks. I did another jump, feeling my legs quiver like jelly. I slapped them. No. Now was not the time for
Catch Me 27
“Don’t get smart with me, bitch.”I start to stand up, but before I can even register movement, her platformed heel hits my shoulder. Hard. I tumble down, my butt landing in the water. A sharp pain radiates up my arm. A breath stills in my throat as I pull my hand up, cradling my wrist.Great. Now I’m soaking wet and my wrist is sprained.“What the fuck, bitch?” I snarl, pulling myself out of the ditch. She’s shorter than me by a couple inches, and I’ve got at least twenty pounds of muscle on her. She doesn’t look as intimidating now. Her blue eyes, still haughty, flash with momentary fear. “What’s your problem?”“Vivian and I are just needing to clean up the white trash in the street,” she snaps. “So next time you go running, make sure to watch where you’re going.”She turns on a heel, stalking back to her car.“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I call after her. My wrist throbs. Goddammit. I’d just gotten over a thigh strain, and I was looking forward to running without pain for o
Catch Me 28
“You know who I am,” Emmett says, sitting on a desk in front of me.“Who are your cronies?” I jerk my thumb to the idiots who dragged me into this room. My body aches from their manhandling.Emmett whistles softly. “You don’t know much about us, do you?”“I’m Vincent,” says the football-looking guy.“Trey,” the blonde guy adds.“They’re fraternal twins,” Emmett offers, carefully watching my face. I don’t know what he expects from me, but he’s disappointed I don’t react more. He sighs. “My, my Ophelia. What are we going to do with you?”“Let me go?” I grind out. I play with my hands like an idiot, struggling to maintain my composure. I can’t let them know they’ve got to me. Bullies thrive off fear. “Like, obviously?”“Oh, we can’t do that.” The ominous tone in his words... It’s down-right chilling. My heart rate spikes as he slowly stands up. “You’ve gone too far.”“I don’t see how,” I say.“Oh, you don’t, do you?” says Vincent, crowding in on my personal space. His legs brush my knees
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