The Fallen Ones (Holloway University #1)

39. Jace

Chapter 39

Jace

“ W e went out again,” Brandon’s voice carried to where I was sitting as he talked with Vince Pace, another elite. I knew Vince. He was just as big a douche as Brandon was. I wasn’t surprised they were friends.

“You get any?” Vince asked.

Brandon scoffed. “Fuck no. She’s cold as ice. Honestly, she’s a bore. Talks about painting and shit. Has this loser guy friend who she hangs all over. I’m only doing this to prove anyone can be broken. Everyone knows she didn’t put out for Jace in all the time they dated. Bitch probably doesn’t even know how to suck cock.”

I gripped the edge of the table so tightly I was surprised a chunk hadn’t snapped off in my hand. I didn’t give a shit if someone talked shit about me. What I did care about was Lily. Knowing this prick was only doing this to get some pissed me off. He thought she was virgin. I ground my teeth, satisfied her pussy had been mine first. That gave me great satisfaction because at least he wasn’t getting it.

It took every ounce of willpower I had not to go to him and beat him into the ground. I’d done that before and it hadn’t yielded anything useful. Aside from satisfaction in knowing I’d busted his nose, he’d kept on Lily like a dog with a bone. The prick was relentless.

“How you going to get some if she doesn’t give it to you?” Vince pressed.

“Easy. Woo her like I have been. I felt her up a little last night. She red lighted me though. For now. I have an evening planned for our next date where she won’t be able to resist spreading her legs for me.”

Vince laughed, forcing me to surprise an angry growl.

“Then what?” he asked. “You going to keep fucking her?”

“Maybe. I fucked Vanessa last night after I got back from seeing Lily. Bitch is all for anything. I told her I was serious with Lily and she tried to convince me otherwise.” Brandon let out a guffaw. I heard their footsteps as they moved further through campus.

I drew in a few deep breaths as their voices faded away. Finally, I turned to see they’d walk toward the parking lot.

Immediately, I pulled my phone out and sent a group text.

Jace: We need to meet tonight. Caleb, your place good?

Damien: Why not mine? Caleb has a shit couch.

Caleb: My place is fine. What’s going on? And my couch isn’t shit. Your ass is.

I rolled my eyes at them before sending the next message.

Jace: Eight o’clock. See you then.

I darkened my screen and stared out at the campus. I knew I wasn’t any better than Brandon in wanting to fuck Lily. I’d gone as far as doing what I’d done, but at least I had feeling behind it. I wanted her. I wasn’t the same guy I was a few weeks ago. I wasn’t bitter anymore. Genuinely wanting to make her happy and prove to her I was good for her weighed heavily on me, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried she’d tell me and the guys to go fuck ourselves after doing what we’d done.

But I knew she liked it too. She wasn’t the same girl she was either. A lot had change, and I hoped it was all for the better.

All I knew was that I wanted to spend the rest of my life showing her how much she meant to me and how much I loved her.

A smile touched my lips.

Love.

I’d never said it to a girl before, but I fully intended on telling Lily the moment the mask came off. I’d do anything for that girl.

She would learn soon enough what my brand of love was like.

“What?” Damien snarled as I told him and Caleb about what I’d heard Brandon and Vince talking about. “Let’s kill him.”

“What? We’re not killing anyone,” Caleb said, shaking his head. “The guy is a dick, but you don’t kill people for that reason.”

“You mean you don’t kill people for that reason. I have no problem doing it,” Damien shot back.

To be fair, I didn’t have issues killing the guy either. There wasn’t a court that would convict me if they knew half the shit I knew about Brandon Rogers. I’d be doing society a favor. Since I knew Lily wouldn’t stop if told to, there had to be another way for us to stop her going. She’d go just to defy me because I secretly thought she might harbor anger against me for not being as understanding as I should have been with her.

Plus, I never told her my mother was involved with Damien’s dad and was the reason for her mother’s death. I assumed that wouldn’t sit well once it came out.

It made me sick thinking about what I’d do if we unmasked and she rejected me because with that unmasking, I’d have to tell her the truth. I already told Damien it needed done. Surprisingly, he agreed with me and said he wanted no secrets once this was put out there.

“Listen, murder aside, I think we unmask. Claim her that way. If she wants us, she won’t go to him. I think it’s our best option.” I looked at the guys.

“I say we fuck her one last time masked and then we tell her,” Damien said. “Give her one more time with us before she finds out the truth. Let her sit on it a few days and then come out with it.”

I nodded. “I’m in.”

Caleb was quiet for a moment before sitting forward. “I’m in too.”

“Well, now that we have that sorted, let’s talk aftermath.” Damien stared at each of us in turn. “What do we do if she tells us to go fuck ourselves?”

I looked down at my feet as I sat on the old couch.

“I just really hope she doesn’t,” Caleb said softly. “Not going to lie, I’d be devastated.”

I nodded. “Me too, but if she says no, there’s nothing we can do but accept it. I think we stick to the plan for tonight. Give her time to think. Hope she holds off with Brandon while she contemplates it. We arrange for a time to unmask for her and then…” I swallowed hard and looked to each of the guys. “We pray.”

“Christmas,” Caleb murmured.

“What?” Damien looked at him.

“Christmas is hard for Lily. She doesn’t have family and likes to spend it alone. I know she cries because she’s lonely. I say we unmask on Christmas for her. That could be our gift. It’s only a week away. It makes sense to do it then. If she accepts everything, it’ll be the best gift we could give her.”

“We should still bring her something,” I said. “Besides our dicks.”

Damien smirked. “I’d like to think my cock is a gift that keeps on giving.”

I snorted at him before looking back to Caleb. “I like it. Let’s go with that plan. Damien?”

“I’m in,” he said easily. “I just want her any way I can have her. If I have to share her and become besties with you fucks, I’ll do it.”

I smiled at him, having missed his crazy ass after all these years. He winked back at me, letting me know the air was starting to clear with us. Once Lily was ours, everything would be perfect.

“OK. Well, let’s do this,” Caleb said in a soft voice. “She goes to bed around ten.”

“And I can pick a lock like a motherfucker,” Damien said. “We sneak in and give her a nice little surprise wake-up call.”

I grinned, liking this idea.

It was settled. We were going to get our girl.