A Rose to Keep (The Society 1)

“No. It made me sound like I was losing my mind.”

“And it’s important for you to sound super cool with her?” Mateo asked.

Heather spun in a circle, looking at each of us in turn. “What do you guys want?”

“Simple, we want Sian to want us.”

“And what makes you think I will help you guys? She doesn’t like you, and to be honest, I don’t blame her. Out of the blue, you put her at the center of attention. It doesn’t bode well for anyone. In case you didn’t get the memo, she hates, and I mean hates, attention. She has a plan.” She pressed her lips together.

“A plan.”

“I’m not telling you guys anything. You can’t scare me. Just get the hell out.”

“You’re in love with her,” I said. I’d noticed the way Heather looked at Sian, the subtle touches. The sweet caresses. The way she cared for her. It went beyond friendship.

Heather’s hands clenched into fists. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“It’s pretty simple. You want access to Sian’s pussy. It’s written all over your face every single time you look at her. It must suck for you. To want someone you can’t have,” William said. “I wonder how she’d feel if she knew her best friend was only sticking around because she wanted in her pants.”

Heather folded her arms. “Now that is a lie.”

“Yeah, but planting that little seed in Sian’s head, I wonder how that would work for your friendship.” William chuckled as he finished.

“Why should I help you?”

“You will if you want to have anything to do with Sian.”

“You guys don’t control her.”

“Oh, but we will.” I stepped toward her. “We will control every single element of her life. Where she goes. Who she dates. Where she studies. It will all be in our power. Heather, you think the selection process ends at graduation? No, this selection process is a fucking lifetime, and believe me, it still stands today.”

“You’re an asshole if you think Sian will ever fall for that. You’re playing with the wrong shit there.”

“Are you willing to take that chance?” I asked. The power we would hold one day was absolute. She could try to argue with it, but it would only get her hurt, especially if she got in the way. “You’re a lonely girl, Heather. Your family doesn’t give a shit about you. Even though you work your ass off to achieve everything you have, it’s like you don’t exist.” I tutted. “What if I say one day, we can make every single one of your dreams come true.”

“No,” Heather said.

“You will get to see Sian as much as you want. She’ll never belong to you, that’s for sure. We both know she sees you as the best friend. Your life will be comfortable.”

“I will not agree to Sian’s pain. I know what she wants out of life, and it’s not to belong to four men or some kind of secret society.” She shook her head. “No.”

I stepped toward her. “Do you think this is a choice? Sian’s fate has already been written. The moment we put the rose on her table, she was ours. It’s just a matter of time before she is. You’ve got ’til tomorrow morning to give us your decision.”

Spinning on my heel, I took a step toward the door.

“Do you even know everything about her?” Heather asked. “Why she’s vegan? Why she won’t cut her hair? Why she’s so determined to live her own path? Why she hates this fucking school?”

I didn’t know she was vegan. I figured the pizza was just a personal preference. I’d recognized the hint about the hair. There was a lot we didn’t know about her, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t find it out.

“My offer still stands,” I said.

We left the room with William closing the door behind us. On the way over to our private dorms, my cell phone rang. Without looking at the call identifier, I knew who it was. He didn’t like how long this was taking.

“Evening, Dad,” I said.

“Update.”

“We’re working on it.”

William, Dante, and Mateo headed straight into the dorm, leaving me to deal with my dad. He was a meddling bastard.

“Working on it. For fuck’s sake, son. At your age, I had already fucked our selected six fucking times.”

“Sian is not … she’s different.”

“Of course, they are. They’re all fucking special. Get it done.”

“Her parents don’t know,” I said.

“Excuse me?”

“Sian’s parents are not aware she’s been selected or turned down the rose.”

My father laughed, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “They know, Gideon, but thank you for the update. I will take care of it.”

The line went dead, and I headed inside, feeling a little sick about what I’d just done. The guys were all waiting for me when I entered.

“I told him about the parents,” I said.