Monsters' Crew (Crude Hill High 1)

Gael leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “Of course. I’ll go and get us a drink.”

Once I was in River’s arms, Gael left.

“What’s with the frown?”

“Nothing. I’m fine. Where were you?”

“Just running some errands for Dad.”

I was growing tired of this. I froze in his arms and had every intention of pulling away, but he held me firm.

“Don’t do that,” he said. “I get that you’re not happy, but I was organizing a hotel room for a guest. That’s all. Nothing dirty. Nothing illegal. Stop worrying.”

I stared at him. I don’t like to be kept in the dark, not when it came to these guys. “You’d tell me if it was anything to worry about?”

“Yes. You look amazing.”

“Thank you.”

I leaned forward and rested my head on his chest, breathing in his scent. All four of them smelled a little different. With River, I always felt there was a hint of metal on him. I imagined it was because he always held a blade or was constantly teasing a knife within his grip.

His hands stroked down my back.

I allowed myself to relax. I’d never truly been able to. Not with any of these people. They were all after what they could get. Trying to find a weakness, even in the kids. I knew what it was like to live as a minion’s daughter, but I couldn’t imagine life as one of their kids. I’d seen the scars that decorated their body. They were worse than mine.

I didn’t want to even think about what that meant.

All the hours spent hurting. It made me want to kill, to hurt.

“Can I have this dance?” Vadik asked.

River nodded and placed me in his arms.

Vadik surrounded me. I wasn’t used to seeing them so well-kept. They normally wore their uniforms creased and dirty. He pressed a kiss to my cheek. River had already left and I smiled up at Vadik.

“What have you been doing?”

“Nothing.”

I sighed. “I know you went and picked someone up. I know River had arranged some kind of hotel room. Don’t do that.”

“We’re trying to protect you, Emily.”

“That’s not protecting me. What do you know that I don’t?” she asked. “Does this affect me?”

“It affects your father.”

I frowned. “What does he have to do with this?”

Vadik sighed and looked around the party. People were staring, but only to admire him. I’d caught sight of some men looking at me, but I didn’t care for their stares.

“Your dad has a few deals that our dads are investigating. Certain rumors are running around, and we need to clarify them. This man who has come, he’s of particular interest. For Crane to arrange a certain kind of deal, the fact our parents were kept in the dark, it allows suspicion.”

Fear traveled down my spine. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew what he was saying without saying it.

“Do you suspect he’s betraying your families?”

“I don’t know, Emily. We all don’t know. There’s only so much we can find out.” He glanced over my shoulder and I followed his gaze to see Caleb nodding toward him. He gave me a smile but then it was gone within the next second.

“Don’t go too far. I’ll be back.” He kissed my cheek and walked away.

I stayed frozen on the dance floor, nerves rushing through my body. I wouldn’t put it past my dad to do something so fucking stupid that it would get him killed. I didn’t like any of this.

I hated it.

“May I have this dance?” a man said, holding out his hand.

“Sorry, I’m just leaving.” I stepped off the dance floor and made my way toward the drinks stand. I didn’t go for the alcohol, but I certainly took a large gulp of soda mixed with sparkling water. I didn’t know why they had decided to mess up drinks, but whatever.

I felt sick to my stomach.

Something was going on, and I didn’t know what, or why, or how. None of it made any sense to me.

I stepped toward the edge of the dance floor, holding my drink, all the time looking in the direction of where Caleb and Vadik had disappeared.

This party unnerved me. Bad things could happen. All it took was the right problem.

I tensed up as I felt someone stand behind me. I went to step away when a hand caught my hip.

“I have to say you’re far more ravishing in person than in any of the photos I’ve seen.”

The voice was dark, husky. It didn’t belong to any of my guys.

Wait, my guys? They didn’t belong to me. I had no hold on them.

I tried to move, but the hand lay flat against my stomach, keeping me in place. Years of training about not creating a scene had been instilled in me. All I wanted to do was kick this bastard in the balls. He knew me and yet I didn’t know him. I stayed perfectly still.