Page 3 of Silver Tears
“Uh-oh. You look like someone pissed in your rice crispies,” she says, taking note of the deep frown on my face.
“It’s been a shitty night. Don’t ask,” I inform her, as I take the bottle of cider she offers me and take a drink.
“Well then. It is a good job I’m here to put that smile back on your face,” Ruby says. She places a finger at either side of my mouth and forces a smile onto my face. “See! Much better. You’ll get wrinkles frowning like that. Now smile and dazzle, my bestie.”
I can’t help the half-grin I give her. Ruby can always pull me out of my moods and have me smiling and laughing again. I smile when a hand appears at my waist and a warm body cages me in from behind. “Hey there, baby.”
I turn around and smile up at my boyfriend. “Hey.” He leans down and kisses me, and I melt into him. Ryan is the captain of the Hawk Bay High football team. He’s without doubt one of the hottest boys at school, and he’s mine, despite other girls constantly trying to get his attention. We’ve been dating for nearly three months, and I still have to pinch myself sometimes that he’s my boyfriend.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Ruby says, shaking her head and grabbing my hand. She tugs me out of his hold. “You don’t get to hog her all night, Ry. My girl and I are dancing. You can have her later.”
* * *
Ryan laughs and reluctantly lets me go. “You can have her for now Rubes, but later she’s all mine.” I don’t miss the slow perusal he does of my body. He winks at me, biting his lower lip before disappearing into the crowd.
Ruby and I spend the next hour dancing like our lives depend on it. My shitty evening at the hands of Seb Collings falls to the back of my mind. I smile when a firm male body comes up behind me, placing his hands on my hips. “Let’s go upstairs,” he murmurs into my ear, and I nod my head in response. “I’m stealing her now, Rubes. It’s my turn,” he tells her, as he takes me by the hand, and we wind through the crowd and up the stairs.
Ryan pulls me into an unlit room and, as I shut the door, he pushes me against it and cups the back of my neck. “You look like a sexy schoolgirl in that waitress get-up,” he growls as he smashes his lips against mine. I kiss him back with equal fervour. “I want to fuck you tonight, baby.”
I still, and don’t miss the way his jaw tenses. “We’ve been dating for three months, Milly. I have needs.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not quite ready for that.”
He pulls away from me and walks over to the bed, sitting on the end. “Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your place?”
“I know,” I say. My voice is barely a whisper. I don’t know why I’m holding back with him. He likes me, I like him. And he’s right, it’s been three months. “Soon. I promise. I just need more time.”
I don’t miss the frown that crosses his face. He leans back on his elbows and studies me for a second or two. “I’ll wait. For now. Now how about you put that pretty mouth to good use,” he says as he reaches for his zipper and pulls out his cock. “Get over here, on your knees.”
SEB
My phone rings again, and I frown when I see Tam’s name. The girl is persistent, I’ll give her that much.
“I warned you,” Archer says from where he sits opposite me, busy with his phone.
“You did. I should have listened. She won’t let up.” I divert all my calls to voicemail, hoping to get some peace. If I’d have known sex with her would have led to this, I’d have stayed well clear.
We’d been called to an urgent meeting by the elders and are getting ready to leave the lodge. I hate how we’re at their beck and call, always having to do their dirty work. Yes, I know this society helped our families achieve the wealth and dominance we have today, but did we do it without dirtying our hands? No. One day, though, we’d be free. Me and the boys have been secretly building our own empire and faithful followers. Not yet, but someday we’ll be free.
“How does it feel to be an engaged man?” I ask my best friend. Arch has fallen hard for our Little Red. I never thought I'd see the day when he would be so pussy whipped. She is perfect for him, though, and she’s part of the family now. I’d do anything for my two brothers and my pain in the arse twin, and that now extended to Eliza. I’d never considered the perks that being in a relationship could offer. To me, it has always seemed like a noose around one’s neck. Having sex with the same girl bores me; I crave the chase.
“It feels good,” Archer says, a half smirk appearing on his face. “It’s crazy, you know. There’s something so primal about knowing that my ring is on her finger, and it tells everyone else that she’s no longer available.”
I nod my head in semi-agreement. I can see the appeal somewhat. “Any developments on this stalker?”
Archer frowns, shaking his head. I know he’s pissed that he can’t protect her. We'll take them apart piece by piece when we find them. I pull on my gloves and pull out the handgun. “Does this guy deserve what’s coming to him tonight?” I ask Arch. We are to deliver a message to a businessman who ignored our elders’ warnings and conducted business with the Silver’s.
Archer sighs looking straight ahead at the road. “He went against the society he swore to serve. However, he’s a businessman, and he made a business decision.”
“So, no.” I shake my head in frustration. “I’m sick of being a part of their games, Arch.”
“I understand, pal,” he says. “Remember the long game, yeah?”
We park up a street away from the target’s house. Rafe is already here. He’s been busy disabling the cameras and alarm system while we picked up our gear.
“All ready?” I ask him. He nods his head and throws his trusty knife into the air, catching it and tucking it into his jacket pocket.
“Let's wrap this up and go drink, party, and fuck. The sooner it's done, the better,” I say with a sigh. I’ve grown up around violence. Nothing really shocks me anymore, but that doesn’t mean I agree with beating the shit out of a guy who is simply trying to earn a living.