Reign (The Sainthood - Boys of Lowell High #3)(48)

“It could be a trap,” Saint suggests.

“Nah.” Galen shakes his head, and waves of dark, silky hair fall into his eyes. He tosses them aside with a flip of his head. “He still thinks I want Lo dead. I can tell him I’m even more bloodthirsty now that I was almost killed in the explosion that was meant for her.”

“Cold.” Saint grins wickedly at his cousin.

“But perfect,” Caz adds.

“Perfect would be his head on a spike,” Saint snarls. “He’s lucky he’s still in one piece after the shit he said to you back there.”

“I was so tempted to slice off his dick,” I admit. “Like, I seriously had to talk myself off that ledge.”

Caz chuckles. “You couldn’t deprive us of that sight. When you chop his cock off, I want a front-row seat.”

I lean back for a knuckle touch. “Deal, dude. Wouldn’t want to deprive you of such quality entertainment.”

_______________

I SNEAK OUT later that night to meet Ashley after the guys have gone to sleep. I’m planning on a quick snatch and grab so I’m back in the house before they notice I’ve left. It’s why I asked Ashley to drive to Prestwick Forest to meet me.

I drive through the main entrance to the woods and pull into the parking lot, alongside Ashley’s car, and kill my engine. “Girl, this place gives me the creeps at night,” she says, exiting her car the same time I exit mine.

I shudder as I remember the time the guys dumped me in a pit filled with bones in the dead of night and left me to crawl out by myself. “You’re preaching to the choir,” I agree, opening the trunk of the Gran Turismo. Luckily, I emptied it out before coming here, because the four framed photos are big, and they barely fit.

“Those are seriously hot.” Ashley grins, propping her hip against the side of her car as I close the trunk. “And I like that you didn’t ask Michelle to cover up your scars or your injuries.”

“I’m proud of my scars,” I say. “And I never hide them. They remind me every day that I’ve faced off with monsters and come out stronger.” I pull myself up on the hood of my car. “I did consider hiding the bruising on my ribs,” I admit. “For about five seconds.” I flash her a grin. “Because the sentiment is the same there. That bitch tried to take me out, but she failed. I’m still here, and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

“Amen, sister. I think they make the photos hotter, and I’m sure the guys will love them.”

“I hope so, because I’m replacing the nude posters on their walls with my own version.” I’ve been planning it from the instant I stepped foot in their place.

Ashley tosses her long hair over one shoulder, grinning wildly. “I so want to be you when I grow up.” I toss her a grin. “Why weren’t we friends before? It was such a wasted opportunity.”

“We’re friends now.”

“You should come to the party Friday night. I know my guys would love to hang out with your guys.”

Ashley’s house is a regular party scene because her rents are rarely home, always overseas on business. Friday party nights at Ashley Shaw’s has been a Lowell Academy tradition for the past couple years now.

“We have this thing we gotta do Friday, but if it goes okay, we can drop by.”

“Cool.” She slides down the hood of her car, wiping her hands down the front of her jeans.

I’m a little less elegant getting off the hood of my car, but I manage.

She leans in, hugging me. “See you Friday.”

“Thanks again, Ashley. I owe you big-time.”

“It’s nothing.” She shrugs. “It’s what friends do.”

We leave at the same time, exiting the forest in different directions, and I’m sure it hasn’t escaped her notice I’m not heading in the direction of Lowell.

Leaving the pictures in the trunk, I slip into the house, resetting the alarm.

“Where did you sneak off to?” Theo’s voice is low as I tiptoe, in the dark, past the couch.

“Oh my fucking God!” I screech. “You almost gave me a coronary.”

“Sorry.” He gets up, coming around the couch, smiling as I rub a hand over my chest. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“And I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“I get alerts anytime the alarm is activated or deactivated,” he explains. “What were you up to?” he asks again, pulling me into his hips.

“I had something I needed to do.”

His brows climb to his hairline. “In Prestwick Forest parking lot in the middle of the night?” he asks, confirming he checked the tracking app.

I tweak his nose. “I was picking up your wedding presents. I want it to be a complete surprise, so don’t say anything to the others, please?”

“You didn’t have to get us anything, but I’m sure we’ll love it.” He pulls his fingers along his lips in a zipping motion. “And these lips are sealed.”

We part ways at the foot of the stairways, and I kiss him softly before he goes up one set of stairs and I take the other. We decided not to christen our new bed until after the wedding ceremonies tomorrow, so Saint is sleeping there while the others take the other three beds, and I move between them as the mood strikes me.