I tensed up. “What?”
“You know the drill. Three strikes and it’s over for us.”
These messed-up fucking rules. “What happens to her if we mess up?”
Gideon shrugged. “I don’t know. I never thought we’d get a single strike so I didn’t ask.” He ran a hand down his face. “Two strikes left and we’re only into our second week. You know we’ve got ’til Halloween night, right?”
I hated this. “Let’s not talk about it.”
“Dante, that’s not that far away.”
“We didn’t care about the deadline when we came back to school, Gid. We’re going to make it.”
Gideon hit the bag, but there was no more fire in it. The guy was fucking ripped. I could only imagine having a dad like Lucas Flores and being the only son came with a shit ton of problems. Gideon was a mess. There was no denying it. His dad had made him the privileged heir. The one expected for greatness. I knew without a doubt it took a toll on him. There was so much expected of him.
“We’ve got this,” I said.
“I don’t think we do.” He stepped away from the bag.
I was the only one he allowed himself to be vulnerable with.
“She’s living with us now. Part of the problem has been erased. We completely surround her. She will be ours in no time.”
Gideon opened his bottle of water and took a long swig. “Dad has told me if she doesn’t come willingly that night, we take her by force.”
I tensed up.
“Yeah, that’s how messed up this shit is.” He shook his head. “Everything is riding on it. You know it.”
“Dude, we’ve got this.” I went to him and slapped him on the back. “We can win this shit if you come and help us win her over.”
“Sian hates us.”
“Where is all this defeated crap coming from? I’m getting bored of hearing it.” I slapped him on the back again. “We’ve got pizza. Come on. Stop being a damn party pooper and be the leader we all expect you to be.”
Another slap on the back and rather than linger, I got to my feet and made my way back to the dorm.
Everything was fucking shit and I didn’t know why I continued to deny it.
We were screwed if we didn’t fix this. I’d never heard of a selected not being successful. We would be the first if we didn’t get Sian to submit to us.
Entering the dorm, I saw the pizzas had arrived and Sian was nowhere in sight.
After picking up her pizza box, I went to her room. There was no room in my book to mess up. I wasn’t going to allow us to fail.
Chapter Nine
Mateo
Sian living with us was supposed to make this easier. I wasn’t a fool. I saw the tension in my friends. The countdown had already started and she was nowhere near comfortable with any of us.
Dante seemed to be the most active, going into her room and eating with her. She wanted us to leave, but we camped out on her bedroom floor, eating our delicious pizza in awkward silence.
After the pizza, we left her alone. I only saw her leave her room to go to the bathroom. When she emerged, her long hair was wet, and she’d taken a change of clothes with her. In she went to her bedroom, never emerging unless she needed to use the bathroom.
We ordered more food, which arrived. Dante and Gideon both entered her room to eat with her.
The door stayed closed.
Now, on a Monday we waited for her. I was starving.
The door didn’t open.
“What’s taking her so long?” I asked.
My stomach chose that moment to growl. I was so hungry. I’d forgone my usual trips to the cafeteria in case Sian emerged. My time had been wasted, but at least I now understand a couple more algebra equations to help me get by. I fucking hated math, but to take over my father’s media empire, I was going to need it.
Gideon lost his temper, cursing as he walked over to her room and slammed the door open.
“She’s gone,” he said.
“What?” Dante asked.
“Her bed is made. I’m guessing she left early.”
We were all angry as we left the dorm. This was supposed to be an important day. Our girl between the four of us. It was a signal, a signpost, but now, we were all alone. The whispers would start, which meant our fathers would all be getting in touch, asking us if we had control or needed assistance.
Fuck. Shit. Fuck.
Sian was at the cafeteria with Heather. I should have known it.
I let the guys go and crowd her as I went to get some food. I needed a full stomach to deal with this woman. She was so fucking irritating.
Irritating or strong?
I would be lying if I said I didn’t like her fire. The girl who’d presented us the rose wasn’t the girl I wanted to be taking to the cove Halloween night.