Mercy: A Dark College Romance (Somerset University Book 3) Read online

  “No.” I squeezed her hand. “I understand risking everything for your future. I’ve put everything—even my life—on the line so that I could be where I am today.” I dropped my voice, peering hard into her eyes. “But I didn’t do it alone. If you’re in trouble or in over your head, you can tell me, Teagan. I will do whatever I can to help you.”

  She scrunched up her face. “Why would I be in trouble? Because of the club?”

  “Because I know there’s more behind your disappearance than you’re saying. You can deny it and pretend everything is fine, but I know it’s not. Things have not been fine in this sorority for a very long time.”

  Her expression smoothed out, drawing blank.

  “You can talk to me or not. Either way, I’ll find out what’s going on.”

  “There’s nothing going on.”

  “But there is.” I smiled.

  “Ladies?” Jade cut through the tension. “Everything all right in here?”

  I raised my voice. “Everything is fine, Jade. I’m putting the garlic bread meatballs in the oven now.”

  “Wonderful.”

  We stood there long after she was gone, locked in an unwavering gaze. Teagan was first to break.

  “I won’t confess to something that never happened, Val.”

  I lifted my shoulders. “You don’t have to. Like I said, I’ll find out either way.”

  “You do that.” Teagan backed out of the room. “You know, life isn’t one big conspiracy. Someone isn’t always trying to pull something over on you.”

  “Yes, they are.” I returned to my meatballs, calmly folding and laying them out. “If you don’t think so, it means they’ve already fooled you.”

  MAVERICK

  “I just got off the phone with Candace.”

  “What’s the verdict?”

  I tipped over the chip bag and littered a little salty goodness around Adam’s sandwich. He was taking lunch out on the terrace like the lordly gentleman he’d become. But even lordly gentlemen liked peanut butter and banana sandwiches with a side of kettle chips.

  My mother called me halfway through Dad duty to fill me in on the dog situation.

  “Her plan was to breed Nala,” she said. “Purebred blue heelers go for a thousand dollars a pop. Unfortunately, this particular litter—”

  “—was sired by a roving tramp.”

  “Precisely. She won’t be back for another month, but in the meantime, she’s happy to hire a pet sitter to take them off your hands.”

  “She can consider me the pet sitter. Turns out, we like having them here. Milo and Teddy kept Jaxson company while he was sick. And Olivia has claimed Dixie. I’m serious. She said she’ll fight anyone who tries to take her.”

  Mom’s laugh rang through the phone. “You can tell her that won’t be necessary. Candace plans to find new homes for all of the puppies, so if you want one, she says you guys have first pick.”

  I stopped at the sliding glass door so Adam didn’t overhear the conversation. “We definitely want one. Maybe two. Adam’s been great with them. Very responsible. Val thinks he’s ready for a pet.”

  “Your father is interested too. Because we don’t have enough pets,” she said under her breath.

  “Mom, all you’d have to do is hold Chester and you’ll melt like a popsicle.”

  “My track record with resisting you boys and your animals speaks for itself. I love you, darling. See you soon.”

  “Bye, Mom.”

  I went outside and set Adam’s lunch in front of him. The chair beside him held a brown wicker basket and a little mewling Pepper who was trying to figure out how to escape. Adam had taken strongly to her. She was at the top of our list for his puppy surprise.

  Plopping down on the other seat, I inhaled a deep breath. Today was the kind of perfect day that made even the most miserable shut-in want to be outside smelling the roses.

  “We should go to the beach,” I announced. “What do you think, little man?”

  “Yeah,” he cried. “Can Pepper come too?”

  “Pepper’s not quite ready for the beach. How about I round up the daddies and we’ll meet Mom there?”

  “Okay.”

  Two hours later, I was packing Adam and the beach gear in the car. Val called as I hopped in the front seat.

  “I hear we’re going to the beach,” she said.

  “Too good a day to waste it. You can join us or steal this opportunity to have alone time. Steam in the tub with a book and your chocolate stash.”

  “Tempting. Very tempting. But I can do that tonight after we put Adam to bed. I’d rather be with my boys.”

  “We’ll be at the beach house. You have a suit and everything there, right?”

  “I do, but it’s an old one. Doesn’t fit right now that the Sallys have me packing on the muscles. Mind grabbing me one from our room?”

  “Of course.”

  I hung up, twisted to tell Adam I’d be right back, and hurried upstairs. Jaxson, Ezra, and Ryder went on ahead to open the house and check to make sure we were stocked up in case we spent the night. Olivia and Caroline were staying in. Caroline invited a few friends over for dinner, and she and Olivia intended to enjoy an evening with members of their generation.

  I bounded up the stairs and spun at the top for my room. My cell buzzed in my hand.

  “Hey, babe,” I greeted. “Need something else?”

  “I could do without you calling me babe.” A dry, distinctive voice filled my ear. “Bad time, Rick?”

  “No.” I slowed to a stop. “What do you want, Aiden?”

  “You missed the game last week. I’m wondering if you’re no longer interested in hanging out.”

  “My girlfriend came back from vacation. I was interested in spending time with her. I’m still on for the game if you guys are.”

  “We are,” he stated. “This Saturday. Nine o’clock. I’m sure she’s not waiting for an invitation, but tell Valentina I can’t wait to see her there.”

  “You understand we’re there for the game and only the game.”

  “Whatever you want. It’s up to you how many of the after-game activities you partake in.”

  “How many other activities are there to partake in?” I asked.

  “You’ll see.”

  Click.

  I swore under my breath. I knew I’d have to go back and I knew Valentina was resolved to go with me. I just didn’t think I’d have less than three days to talk her out of it.

  “NOT HAPPENING.”

  Val pressed the chocolate-covered strawberry to my lips.

  The two of us lounged on a beach towel. Legs tangled. A bowl of treats between us. A perfect day lending us more fortune with a light, cool breeze and a nearly empty beach. Jaxson, Adam, and the guys raced through the surf. Their shouts mingled with the crashing waves and invited us to join. Everything was set up for a flawless family outing.

  If not for Aiden Connelly.

  “Val—”

  She shoved the strawberry in, laughing as I coughed around it. Val took the chance to get ahead of my argument.

  “I spoke to Teagan today,” she began. “She told me the club has been around for years and I would’ve known that already if I had been given the book.”

  “Book?” I asked around my mouthful.

  “A book passed down from president to president. In it there’s supposedly an explanation of the club and its rules. The way she made it sound, I get the feeling the club is like the frat on steroids. She didn’t give me enough details for me to be sure, but she did say it was never limited to frat brothers or sorority sisters.”

  “We need to see that book.”

  She grinned. “I thought you’d say that.” Closing the scant distance between us, Val nipped my chocolatey lips. I was on her in a blink, pushing her giggling into the sand, and deepening the kiss. Sweet cacao, sun, wind, and Val swirled in an intoxicating mix, scattering my neat, organized mind into disarray.

  Our tongues and moans entw
ined. I fisted sand to keep my hands from roaming her body. If I touched her, that bathing suit was coming off.

  My cock twitched at the mere thought of making love to Val on the beach.

  She giggled, feeling the shameless thing begging against her thigh. “Down, boy. Our son is ten feet away.”

  “Our bedroom is two yards away.” My voice was a low gruff. “I’ll race you there.”

  “And I’ll give you a head start if”—she trailed her finger over my lips—“you promise we’re in this together.”

  I came down like she threw a bucket of seawater in my face. “That’s cheating.”

  “I know, right?” Her impish smirk enticed me not to care. “I’ve got a few more sexual tricks up my sleeve to get you on board. You can pretend I haven’t already and let me run through the whole seduction.”

  “I will take that option. Let a man preserve some of his dignity.”

  Her throat bobbed as she laughed. I couldn’t resist kissing the soft, unblemished skin.

  “Think Aiden will give you the book?”

  “Now that I know about it, what would his excuse be for not letting me see it? I’m president now. Refusing would make him look shadier than he already is.” Val draped her arms around my shoulder, drawing me in to rest in the crook of her neck. “I’ve been a Sally for two years and their president for one. I can’t believe I didn’t get a whiff that this club existed. I wonder who started it and why.”

  “Tribalism,” I said softly. “That instinctual urge to create an us versus them even within the most exclusive groups. The Sallys and Sams won’t be the first to create a secret collegiate society. Yale had Skull and Bones. The University of Virginia has the Seven Society. Rutgers has several.”

  “The book must outline what the criteria are. I bet Aiden handpicks the guys he wants like he picked you. If he went around shouting about it in the Sam house, I would’ve known earlier. Why do you think he wants you?”

  I shook my head, brushing my nose along her throat. “I don’t think he did. Sawyer invited me to the game. The whole time I was there, I felt like I was auditioning. Sawyer wanted me in and the guys approved.”

  “Are we thinking that this club is behind everything? The disappearances. Aiden’s file.”

  “I think we’re finally closer to figuring out the truth.”

  She heaved a sigh. “In that case, I better get you upstairs and make my case for why I should join the club too.” Val tilted my head up. “I’m sure you’ll find my arguments very persuasive.”

  I lurched to my feat, hoisting a shrieking Val in the air. Apparently that Aiden shit couldn’t ruin everything.

  Chapter Six

  Valentina

  “Val, are you sure about this? An undercover spy, you are not.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I held a pair of Tiffany diamond butterflies to my ears, thought better of it, and reach for the hoops instead. “I’m stealthy.”

  Sofia snorted from her comfortable spot on Maverick’s chaise. She had no less than five puppies on her lap and was loving every minute of them. “You are filter-less, my friend. Don’t think I didn’t overhear the throwdowns between you and Aiden in the council meetings. He, or anyone there, will say something that pisses you off and you’ll let them have it right in the ass.”

  “Ugh. Don’t give me that visual.” Earrings chosen, I stepped into the closet to pick my shoes. “I’ll be on my best behavior tonight,” I called out to her. “If their guards are down, they’ll tell me everything I need to know about this club.”

  “It won’t be that easy, Val. It never is. Didn’t Teagan mention an initiation?”

  “She did. How bad would you guess it is?”

  “I know a couple of guys that had to shave their heads. These secret societies don’t mess around, boo.”

  My Caverley ankle boots winked at me from the other side of the closet. They’d been spared Romeo’s outside-the-pee-pad accidents and begged for a night out before they became the next target.

  “Unless they ask me to do something illegal, I’ll stick it out.” I pulled on my boots and stepped out, twirling for Sofia. “How do I look?”

  “I’d definitely hop on your ass when the orgy starts.”

  “Shut up.” I nabbed a pillow and lobbed it at her head.

  “Hey!” She laughed. “You can’t throw things at me when I’m holding puppies.”

  “That’s not a rule.” Although a peek in the mirror confirmed I was on the right side of gorgeous.

  My black lace dress flirted just above my knee, but the front slit cut higher still. The dress itself was effortlessly beautiful in its simplicity. My finishing touches—diamond choker, classy earrings, and boots—put the entire ensemble over the edge.

  “Do you need to get this dressed up to hang out in the Sams’ basement?”

  “Maverick says the dress code ranges from Vera Wangs to sneakers and puka shells. I’m falling somewhere in between.”

  “Val, seriously. Do you want me to go with you? We’d be outnumbered but between the three of us, we’ll put up a hell of a fight.”

  I bunched in next to her, hugging her tight. “Thank you, but we’ll be okay. Besides, your godson is looking forward to baking cakes with you.”

  “I can’t leave my date hanging,” she murmured. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  “I’m sure. I’ll text you every hour if that’ll make you feel better.”

  “It will.”

  A knock preceded Maverick entering our bedroom. “Ready to go?”

  He opted for somewhere in the middle too. In Maverick’s case, him on the laid-back spectrum was Boris Kodjoe. The “suit, cuff links, and gold tie pin” spectrum was Tyson Beckford. The man looked like a supermodel in everything he wore and the blue blazer and black jeans did nothing to tone him down.

  If there is an orgy, they’d be hopping on his ass first. Damn. Maybe Sofia’s right about needing backup.

  “Maverick, did you get a chance to talk to the owner?” Sofia asked.

  “Shit, yeah, I did. They’re giving them all away, so if you want one, claim them.”

  Sofia squealed. Picking up one of the dogs, she kissed all over his yapping head. “I’ll take Blue.”

  “And I’ll take you.” Maverick held out a hand for me. “Unless you’ve changed your mind and decided to bake cakes with your best friend and favorite son.”

  “I did not.” I grasped him firmly. “Night, Sof. I’ll text you later.”

  Maverick and I left the house with no further arguments or plys for me to stay.

  We arrived at the Sam house at nine o’clock on the dot. Aiden came out as Maverick held open my door.

  “Good. You’re here. We can leave.”

  “Leave?” Maverick repeated. “Why would we leave?”

  “We switch up locations of the game, so people don’t ask what we’re doing in the basement every week,” he explained like it was obvious. “Let’s go. We’re taking my car.”

  “No. We’ll follow behind you.”

  “No. You won’t. Nasir’s guards only let in guests who have their license numbers on the approved list. His parents’ rule, not Nasir’s. They won’t let you pass the gates unless you’re riding with me.”

  Jaw tight, Maverick shared a look with me. He didn’t want me there at all. Discovering we were being taken to an undisclosed location and wouldn’t be able to leave on our own might be the nail in the coffin that made him stick me in the car and go home.

  “Hurry up. I’m parked in lot 4G.” Aiden strolled down the walkway and turned up the street. He didn’t consider waiting for us.

  “Forget this, Val,” Maverick hissed. “We’re going home.”

  My love is as wonderful as he is predictable.

  “He’s taking us to his friend’s house, not an underpass cockfight.” I rubbed his shoulders. “Relax. Everything’s fine. And if for one second it’s not, we’ll call Ezra to come get us. Okay?”

  “He could�
��ve told us we were going somewhere else. Better yet. We could’ve met him outside of the gates. He’s messing with us and I’m not about it.”

  “Aiden Connelly would jerk his nana around for shits and giggles. It’s second nature to him by this point. Don’t let him distract us from what we’re here to do.”

  “Are you guys coming?!”

  Maverick kissed me. A soft brush of the lips.

  “I know, baby,” I whispered.

  We didn’t say anymore.

  Silently, we gathered our things from the car and followed Aiden to the parking garage. He led us up to the top floor where a lone Jaguar gleamed under the flickering fluorescents.

  I wonder how he’ll explain his newest possession to his parents. Of course that assumes he truly was born, and not stitched together by an absentminded mad scientist who forgot his heart.

  “Want to ride up front, Val?” he asked.

  “Thanks, I’m good.”

  He shrugged a telltale suit yourself.

  “What’s the address?” Maverick demanded.

  “Why? Going to give it to friends so they’ll storm the place if you’re a minute past midnight?” He tsked though Maverick didn’t confirm it. “You gotta trust a little, Rick.”

  The ride to Nasir’s was as awkward as the silence smothering us. Aiden drove us in the opposite direction of where we came, taking us further from Evergreen Estates. It was only when he turned on Seabreeze that I realized where we must be going.

  “The beach?”

  Aiden nodded.

  “Nasir’s a commuter, isn’t he?” A handsome face and three-pierced ear floated in my mind. “Winston too.”

  “And Rowen and Hayes,” he confirmed. “They don’t spend a lot of time in the Sam house except for bonding activities. And the parties.”

  “I vaguely recall those guys. But I don’t see why a bunch of guys too busy to hang around would be chosen for your club out of everyone.”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” he said easily. “They were chosen by my predecessor. I inherited them. Cool bunch of guys, though.”

  “Why—”