To Capture a Thorn (The Society 2)

I looked toward the guys and knew they were as shocked as me. William looked the happiest. She was giving up the life she wanted for us.

“But make sure they know that,” Sian said.

With that, she turned on her heel and left the room, leaving us all in stunned silence.

“There can’t be any games,” Gideon said. “When this goes live, we must be able to take care of it. No mistakes.”

“We’ll handle it, but this isn’t what Joan wanted,” Lucas said.

“Joan’s not here anymore.”

I’d heard enough. They could argue and fight about what was in Sian’s best interest all they wanted to. I went to her to see how she was holding up, and found her in the library.

She stood looking out at the rain. Her arms were folded and she seemed so sad.

“Hey,” I said, coming to stand beside her.

She glanced back and her smile was somewhat pinched.

I hadn’t gotten the chance to really speak to her after her nearly killing Chloe. “How are you holding up?”

“Surprisingly good. I mean, considering my best friend is dead, I nearly killed a girl, the loss of my virginity is going to be out there for the world to see, oh, and my dad is threatening to kill my mom who he has spent my whole life drugging up and manipulating. I’m … peachy.”

After that long response, I felt my own head spinning. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled her close. “I’m here.”

“I know you are. I know you all are here for me.”

“You don’t have to do this, Sian.”

We all had until the end of the week to make a decision. Actually, Sian had until the end of the week to stay or leave. I honestly thought she would have chosen to leave. Why stay here? The long list she’d given showed there was nothing worth staying for.

“I’m staying because … I love you guys. I know it’s odd and I probably shouldn’t love four men, and it has so many things wrong with it, but I don’t care. I love you all and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” She lifted her head up to look at me. “Is it so wrong for me to want to be here with you all?”

“We come with a lot of baggage.”

“Guess what? So do I. I have a lot of baggage. Too much to count, but if I’m willing to overlook yours, will you overlook mine?”

I cupped her cheek, running my thumb across her bottom lip. “Always. For you, I will do whatever it takes.”

She pressed her lips against mine, and like so many times before, I felt like I was finally home.

Chapter Thirteen

William

I wanted to jump for joy.

But I didn’t.

I wanted to tell the world how fucking happy I was.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I found Sian in the games room, a pool stick in her hand as she bent over the desk, badly hitting the balls and failing to pot them in. The girl couldn’t play the game at all, and this made bad look even worse.

With my arms folded, I waited, watching her miss balls that should have been easy.

“What?” Sian asked.

“What? That’s all you’ve got to say to me? What?”

She looked up after missing yet again another ball and shrugged. “You’ve come here to moan. I can see it.” She pointed up and down at my body. “You’ve got something you want to say, so say it.”

“Why?”

Sian smiled as she potted a ball. From the look of the table, the first one. “You know, this is a lot harder than it looks.”

“It takes practice and skill.”

She held out the stick for me. “Show me.”

I took it from her. “Tell me why you made that stupid choice,” I said.

“This coming from the guy who begged me to stick around.”

I bent over the table and potted two balls one after the other. “I want you to stay with me, but I offered to come with you.”

“You couldn’t. We both know that and I’m not willing to take on the wrath of The Society.”

Tomorrow night, the video of us together would be leaked, followed by Alexander’s video. I’d heard my father on the phone making all the necessary arrangements.

“Do you know if they agreed?” I asked.

I nodded. “Everything is in order. You’ve got until a minute before the footage airs to change your mind.”

“I won’t change my mind.”

When I missed a ball that I shouldn’t have, as it was perfectly lined up, I handed her back the stick. She bent over the table, distracting me with that perfect ass.

I didn’t want to leave her alone.

Folding my arms, I tried to stay angry.

“Don’t be pissed at me, William. Do you really think I was going to leave you guys?”

I watched her pot the ball and turn toward me. “If you were sensible, yes.”