As we go back intoMakson Ridge, I hear the sound of the other guys as they begin to beat the living hell out of Marty.
I cringe.
I start to shake.
Cullen slides his right arm around me.
“I’m sorry this ruined our night,” he whispers.
“Can we talk upstairs?” I ask.
“We can do anything you want, love,” Cullen says.
“Even if I want to get dressed and go back to the dorm?” I ask. “So I can just… I don’t know…”
“You want to be with your best friends,” he says. “You want to think. You want to be alone.”
I nod.
Cullen’s hand slides along my right cheek. “That’s fine, love. I just don’t want you to think you were here for a good fuck and then a goodbye.”
“No,” I say. “I would never think that.”
Cullen kisses my forehead.
We walk back upstairs and go to find my clothes in his room.
Once I’m dressed, Cullen waits for me outside the bedroom.
“Is it safe to leave?” I ask. “I mean… are they done beating up Marty?”
“You know he’s wrong, Jaci.”
“I know.”
“You know we have to send a message.”
“Cullen, I know,” I say. “Marty and I…”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“It was never like that with us. He wanted it. I never did. But we were friends. I got out of there, Cullen. Out of that house. Off that street. Out of that town. Marty didn’t. He’s stuck there forever.”
“That’s his problem,” Cullen says. “The way I see it? You paid your dues there, love. You survived in that environment waiting for this one. And if you think this one is all roses and cash…”
“I’m not an idiot,” I say. “It’s far from it.”
“Then we understand why tonight had to happen,” Cullen says. “If you don’t belong atDSCyou don’t come near this place. I don’t care who you are.Thorn. Savage. Heir. In fact, your friend was lucky. If that was one of theSavages…”
“Quinn?” I ask.
Cullen nods. “That’s right. My brother would have hurt him a lot more.”
“Will you give me a ride?” I ask.
“Anything for you, love,” Cullen says.
He moves closer to me.