He hadn’t mentioned that about the last relationship he’d been in, but he’d been adamant about not wanting one while he was here. I guess there’d been a reason.
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” I admitted.
He shrugged. “It is what it is, and I deserved it. I deserved a lot of things.”
But had he deserved a beating? I chewed my lip. “What did you do to Royal? Did you do something? Something specific beyond handling him?”
“You could say that.” He pushed off the door, shaking his head. “I may have suspended him from a building.”
What the fuck?
“What?” I asked. “Why?”
“Because I did and could. We were both fighting for number one around here. Anyway, he got his just desserts in the end.”
“How?”
He took out his key. “He finished his haze, that, and I didn’t.”
All this was madness what these boys put each other through, and when Ramses put his key into the door, he waited before turning the knob. He put out his hand, and I stared at it again.
I pushed my hands into my coat. “Let’s just keep things casual in here, okay? I don’t want to create any more waves.”
I didn’t want any more fights, and though I think he understood that, his expression did shift. He passed it off quickly, though, donning his signature Ramses grin before lifting a hand over me to move forward. He turned the knob, and not only did those wide doors open, so did the grandness of the place inside. I’d never officially come through this way, crystal chandeliers above glistening the hallways. Immediately, a staff member aided us by taking our coats, and after we denied drinks, Ramses guided us through the official headquarters of the Court. I’d been told the Court used it for all their business dealings and events, but it was also where the younger members hung out. I’d lived here f
or a short time, but never came down to really mingle.
For obvious reasons.
I’d been basically kidnapped the first two times, and the last, not any better. The place was pretty frickin’ beautiful, though, classic with its wood panel walls and hardwood floors. The place shined like polished oak, and immediately, Ramses’ and my presence was known and traveled through hallways filled with both boys and girls. The girls wore necklaces, some in packs without their guys, and I hoped to God we wouldn’t be seeing Mira today. If so, I believed another epic throwdown would be going, but this time between Court-kept girls. I had no beef with her at the present, but I found it hard to believe she wouldn’t have a few questions and/or take a few shots at me after what happened with Royal and Ramses. I wouldn’t just let someone push me around, so I knew if she threw a shot, I’d be throwing one right back.
“Just be casual,” Ramses said to me, greeting a few boys who came up to us, still wearing their academy uniforms. Ramses and I had changed out of ours, but I noticed quite a few people still had them on, even girls. I recalled Royal and Knight mentioning they lived here, and they might not be the only ones.
“So Mallick finally makes his appearance amongst the brotherhood,” came a guy, a redhead who immediately grabbed and shook Ramses’ hand. He had a couple others behind him, more boys who exchanged greetings with Ramses.
“I guess so.” Ramses grinned at the acknowledgment, snapping when he came out of it. He clearly knew these guys, whether from school or whatever I didn’t know, but not only was he friendly with them, they did the same, which got me thinking about something Royal said again. He told me these guys wanted to beat him up for his past.
Well, it seemed all that was under the bridge now, the phoniness of this place quite frankly pissing me off. More than one guy waved over to Ramses, and after Ramses introduced me as his girlfriend, they were suddenly wanting to pull him into more conversations.
“We got to talk about what happened today, dude,” said the redhead. He looked around. “You and Royal getting into it? You’re bold, dude.”
Ramses bunched his curls. “Yeah, it was pretty dumb. Got us both suspended and me put under lock and key.”
“I’ll bet.” Redhead smacked his chest. “What was it really about? We heard, uh…”
The guy took notice of me, and immediately, Ramses raised a hand.
“Really, just an old beef. We should be past it now.” Ramses’ lips pressed tight, and noticing that, the redhead and his friends smiled. They immediately moved away when all of the sudden familiar faces came into the room.
LJ and Knight dominated, two girls under each of their arms. They got bro hugs of acknowledgment right upon crossing into the space, and suddenly the redhead and his friends weren’t so bold themselves. They stepped back from Ramses, averting their eyes from LJ and Knight. I had no idea where Jax or even Royal was, but tonight, the presence of those two seemed to be enough to make the redhead step back.
Ramses didn’t make a move, and neither did I as suddenly LJ and Knight were very aware of us. They dropped arms from their girls, coming over, and when LJ raised a hand, I braced myself. I figured I’d have to step in yet again, but not only did LJ and Knight stop a safe distance away from Ramses, LJ kept his hand raised. He held it for a shake.
Ramses gave it to him.
They both brought it in, hugging too despite the stiff look from Ramses. He instantly locked up but did give into it. After the shake with LJ, Knight gave him the same. They fist-pounded after.
“Good you made your way over,” said LJ, deliberately not looking at me. Knight did the same too, standing beside his friend. He always played the position of bodyguard in their group. Something I definitely noticed. LJ waved a hand. “You been to the clubhouse yet?”