Pure Vengeance

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Adrian

“Anything to report?” Declan asks me as I walk into the house after football practice.

“Not yet,” I say. “Other than he’s going to be at that house party tonight over at the sorority.” I head upstairs before he can question me further.

I hear him ring the bell to summon us, and I head back downstairs.

“Right everyone, Noah and his brothers are going to be at the sorority party tonight. We’re going. All of us.”

Everyone murmurs their agreement, and I feel like I’ve been sucker-punched. Why did I say anything?

Declan meets my eyes and I nod, out of habit. I just agree to do whatever the fuck I’m told. By Noah, by Declan. By my stepfather. By my coach.

I’m just a submissive little asshole with no balls.

I used to have a lot of confidence, but this whole thing with Noah has me rattled. The night we slept together I felt something... more. I felt as though we connected. The way we were together, I wanted that. He wanted that. Then he got angry and ran me off. I don’t even want revenge anymore. I just want to know he’s okay. I’ve heard rumors he’s been getting high as a kite at parties. I don’t want Declan to call the cops on him, so I’ve said nothing, but I need to make sure he’s okay.

I shower and change into khakis and a fraternity shirt. I run a hand through my hair and stare at myself in the mirror. I look like shit. I haven’t been sleeping; having such vivid dreams of Noah isn’t conducive to a good night’s sleep. I splash my face to try to wake myself up. I head downstairs where the others are waiting, and we head out together like a pack of wolves on the hunt. We’re going to attack from all sides.

We get to the party and it’s pumping. There are bodies everywhere, and I don’t know where to look first. Maybe I can find Noah and warn him before it’s too late, without anyone seeing me. I break away from the main group as they greet girls at the door, and I wander through the party.

There are people downstairs and upstairs. He could be anywhere; this is hopeless. If my frat brothers catch me warning him, the jig will be up. Everyone will consider me a traitor. I push through the bodies as quickly as I can, trying to wade my way through the various drunk people. How are people drunk already? Did we come late? When did this party start?

I go upstairs, but I find nothing there except for a couple shagging in a bedroom. I go back downstairs and decide to head outside.

I freeze when I get there. Noah is talking to a guy. He looks like he’s drunk or high or something. They’re leaning into each other as they speak. I need to get him out of here.

Before I can make a move, a hand grabs my shoulder. “You found him. Good.”

Declan calls for Kyle, and we all stand there watching them for a moment.

“Are they flirting?” Kyle whispers.

I watch them, torn between jealousy and worry. I hate that Noah is openly flirting with a guy, but I know he must be high as a kite to be doing it so publicly. He’s put in so much effort to maintaining his self-image that I can’t imagine he’s in his right mind right now.

I see Kyle take out a phone and take pictures.

“Hey,” I say, grabbing the phone and deleting the pictures. My shout attracts attention, including Noah’s.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Kyle hollers, taking his phone back. “Are you ashamed of your brother who’s flirting with a guy?”

“You don’t need to be ashamed, Ace. It’s not you flirting with a guy.”

“He’s not flirting,” I say. “He’s talking to someone. There’s no need to make insinuations.”

I can sense Noah’s gaze on me as we argue. Some people around us turn to listen. Declan frowns and says, “I thought you were with us on this, Carter.”

Again, my nickname is dropped because I’m in trouble.

I clench my fists. “He may be our enemy as a frat brother, but he is still my brother. I have to set some boundaries, Declan.”

“You mean your gay brother?” Declan says.

“He isn’t gay. I would know if he was. I’ve known him half my life,” I say. “Now cut it out and enjoy the party or fuck off.”

“You’re going to regret your choice of words, Carter,” Declan says, and walks off with Kyle.

I’ll be punished, badly, when I get back to the frat house, but I couldn’t let them spread rumors about Noah. If it got out, his reputation would be ruined, and his father would find out. Then there would be World War Three.

I turn to look at Noah, but he’s gone. I see him heading back inside through another door, taking something out his wallet.

I move to follow him, but I’m blocked by his frat brothers. “Why don’t you just leave Noah alone?” the one called Richard says.

“He’s my brother, I don’t need to leave him alone.”

“He doesn’t need you to defend him, he doesn’t need you causing a scene and making things worse,” Richard says.

“If that’s how he feels, he can tell me himself,” I say, pushing past him.

Wading through bodies again, I see Declan and some brothers talking quietly in a corner. He shoots me a deathly glare. The hair on the back of my neck stands up on end. I push my way away from them, stepping carefully over people who’ve apparently decided to just randomly sit on the floor.

I go back upstairs, and I see Noah go into a bathroom and shut the door. I go to the door and knock on it. “Noah, it’s me.”

“Fuck off!”

I stand there awkwardly. “I’m not going to,” I call, hoping he can hear me over the noise. “I was just trying to protect you.”

I hear him sniff, and I know in my heart he’s snorting something. I don’t know what he’s on, but he’s on something and not thinking straight.

I stay by the door, waiting for a good half an hour before it opens. A guy walks out of the bathroom, looks at me, then heads downstairs. The door lock clicks again, and I wait some more. He’s in there, and the jealousy inside of me is raging. What was he doing with that guy? Was it just drugs? Did they do more? What the fuck was he thinking? He just almost got caught by the Alphas.

The door opens, and Noah comes out, sipping a beer. “Go home, Adrian.”

“Don’t be a fool,” I hiss. “Look at you, you’re high as a kite. You’re not thinking straight. If anyone saw that guy come out before you, this will be all over campus.” I keep my voice low. “Now you need to sober up. Come on, you’re coming with me.”

“Who made you the fucking boss?”

“Will you please come with me?” I ask. “I mean it, Noah, this is your reputation on the line.”

He looks at me and points at me. “You can’t mention me being high again.”

“Fine. Deal,” I snap. “Come on.”

I put an arm around him as he stumbles as he walks. I help him down the stairs and out the front door. I take the beer from him and toss it on the front lawn before I help him toward his fraternity. We take forever to get there because he keeps stopping and looking around in amazement, commenting on how beautiful everything is.

We get there eventually, though, and I dump him on his bed.