THE REVENGE PLAN

3. Wick-1

3

Wick

If someone had tried to tell me I’d end up in bed with Topher Nicholl’s girlfriend before the day was over, I would’ve laughed in their face.

Then again, this wasn’t quite the situation I would’ve pictured either. I’m sure I would’ve envisioned a scene that involved a hell of a lot fewer clothes, absolutely no tears, and considerably more sweaty-hot groping that took place nowhere near my sister’s dorm room. But here we were, sprawled across Izzy’s bed where I’d carried Haven Gamble—both of us completely clothed—after she’d passed out cold from having a complete, traumatic meltdown in my arms.

I swear, I’d never seen anyone cry that hard before. She wasn’t even the open-weeper, let-it-all-out-for-the-world-to-see sort. She’d curled up tight inside herself and burrowed against me as if trying to hide the pain and contain every single tear inside her until they’d simply ripped themselves free, emotionally shredding her apart in the process.

I couldn’t blame her for falling comatose afterward; it had drained and exhausted me just to watch. She must feel zapped of all energy and sensation right now. I was a little numb and shell-shocked myself.

Okay, maybe not quite that numb. I could still feel every soft, warm curve that was limply draped across my body. She was just as lovely and perfect as I’d always figured she’d be. And, God, she smelled good.

I buried my nose in her hair, inhaling deeply as I tried to identify the scent. I had no idea what kind of shampoo she used, but it was unlike anything I’d ever drawn into me before. It was something powdery and musky with hints of flower, but I couldn’t tell you what kind of flower. It just smelled…good.

A long shudder gripped her, so I pulled her a little closer and stroked her sweet-scented hair, murmuring gentle sounds until she calmed again.

She had stopped crying a good ten minutes ago, but little involuntary aftershocks would occasionally seize her.

Each one of them broke my heart.

Whatever Nicholl had done, it had straight-out f****d her up. Big-time. Made me want to track the bastard down and beat him senseless. But right now, she seemed to need me here, especially when she flinched suddenly and sucked in a breath as if coming awake from a bad dream before she clutched my shirt sleeve for dear life.

So I remained where I was. For her.

“Shh.” I pressed my cheek to the top of her head and slowly swayed her back and forth. “It’s okay. You’re okay. Everything’s over now. Nothing else is going to hurt you. Not while I’m here.”

That seemed to settle her. Her body went lax, except for her hand which continued to hold on tight to my shirt, making sure I wouldn’t escape.

I knew it didn’t mean anything; she probably wasn’t even awake and had no idea what she was doing, but feeling wanted like this got to me. I moved my nose along her hair until my lips just barely rested at the dip in her temple. I wanted to kiss her there, sweetly, but that felt more like a selfish longing than a comforting reassurance, so I closed my eyes and refrained.

When the lock in the door sounded, I realized I’d been twirling a piece of her hair around my finger, and I guiltily pulled it free just before my sister swept through the entrance.

Izzy paused, obviously surprised to discover we’d hijacked her bed. Then she shook her head and stepped the rest of the way inside before rushing the door shut behind her.

“He still out there?” I asked.

I’d never given Topher Nicholl the opportunity to meet my sister, but she definitely knew what he looked like. So there would’ve been no reason for him to harass her if he were still in the building and she just so happened to cross his path, ergo I hadn’t been too concerned about sending her out as a scout to reconnoiter the area, looking for him.

Izzy blew out a breath and nodded intently. “Yeah.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Fuck.”

“He’s pacing the foyer in the front entrance, but it gets worse. That wide receiver guy on the team: number eighteen…”

“DeShone?”

She pointed at me. “Yes. Him. He’s waiting in the stairwell at one end of the hall. Then the center on the team, Tyson, or whatever—”

“Tyrell,” I supplied.

“Whatever. He’s in the stairwell at the other end of the hall, and I swear there’s a tight end out in the back parking lot, keeping watch there.”

“Son of a b***h,” I hissed, shaking my head. “He really wants to find her, doesn’t he?”

He’d recruited half the team to help him keep eyes on the place.

“He’s not messing around about it either. He’s asking girls if they’d seen her as they leave and come in.” Izzy rubbed her hands over her face before focusing on Haven and moving closer to watch her, her gaze full of pity and worry. “He might want to find her as much as she doesn’t want him to.”

Maybe. But if I had my way, Nicholl would not win this round.

“She asleep?” I asked softly, unable to actually see her face for myself.

My sister shook her head. “No. Her eyes are open and she’s breathing, but she’s completely out of it. I don’t think she even knows we’re talking about her.”

I knew about the breathing part. I could feel her breasts press against my chest every time she inhaled, and then she’d lull more heavily on top of me when she exhaled. It drove me crazy with a craving I knew I shouldn’t be having as much as it reassured me that she was still at least alive. But I hadn’t known she was awake. That was concerning. Why wasn’t she responding to anything if she was awake?

Shit. Had she known I’d been playing with her hair?

Izzy’s gaze lifted to mine. “We need to get her out of the building, Wick. Out of here and away from him. With the state she’s in—”

“I know.” I clenched my teeth and momentarily squeezed my eyes shut. “s**t, just—”

The ringing of her phone interrupted my thoughts. “This damn thing,” I muttered, reaching down between us. Since the phone rested in her front pocket, it vibrated against my junk every time it went off, and I had finally reached my limit.

Yanking it free, I caused my sister to gasp my name in reprimand for being so familiar with Haven Gamble’s prone body.

I sent her a scowl. “It won’t f*****g shut up.” Checking the screen, I saw Nicholl’s name pop up and sniffed bitterly. “Figures.” I held it out in front of Haven’s face. “You want to take this?”

In answer, she tightened against me and clutched me harder before burying her face completely in my shirt so she wouldn’t have to see the phone at all.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” I tossed the offending object to Izzy, who fumbled to catch it against her chest. “Turn it off, will you?”

Haven’s breath hissed through cotton and moistened my skin before she turned her face back to the side with her ear resting against my heartbeat again. I settled my palm on the back of her head and stroked her hair with my thumb to apologize for showing her his name.

“We’ll get you away from him. I swear.”

Without saying a word, she allowed her muscles to loosen as if she were reassured by my promise.

Standing by the bed, Izzy widened her eyes at me, silently asking how we were going to accomplish such a feat.

“If he’s going to call his guys in,” I said, smirking as I lifted my hips to dig my own phone from my back pocket. “Then I guess I’ll just have to do the same.”

With her comfortable perch on top of me suddenly unsettled, Haven whimpered out a sound of distress and clutched the side of my ribs with her free hand to steady herself as we both rose a couple of inches.

“Shh. It’s okay,” I murmured, brushing her temple with my cheek as I sank back onto the mattress, lowering us again as soon as I got hold of what I needed. “I was just getting my phone. I’m done now.”

And just like that, she went slack, except she kept her hand at my side, holding me. I drew in a breath, trying not to let that affect me, even though it did, and I used my thumb of the same hand I was holding my phone with to call Cannon because my other hand couldn’t seem to relinquish its fascination with her hair.

“Yo, man, where you at?” Cannon answered. “I thought you said you were going to get online so we could play tonight.”

Cannon was a defensive end rusher for the team as well as my best friend.

He was also obsessed with every survival game to ever be invented. I usually gave in once or twice a week and played a round or two with him. And I had promised to get online to pair up with him this evening as soon as I finished my weekly, big brother check-in with Izzy.

“Change of plans,” I said. “I’m in a bit of a situation here. How many of the guys do you think you can call in? Nicholl has his Os staked out around Dandridge Hall, and I need to get Iz and myself out undetected.”

I purposely didn’t tell him whose girlfriend I currently had lying on top of me, because I wasn’t sure how he’d take that bit of news.

“Think anyone would be up for a distraction-s***h-rescue mission?”

“Dude.” Cannon’s confused chuckle echoed through my ear. “What the f**k is going on?”

“Tell you later. Right now, I just need a path cleared from room two-twelve to my truck in the back parking lot. Think of it as a real-live survival match. You got my back or not?”

“Hell yes. I got you, man. Give me ten to round up the troops, and I’ll text you the game plan.”

“Thanks. I owe you one.”

Cannon let out a low whistle. “This better be one hell of a story, that’s all I gotta say.”

“It’s something,” was my reply. “And hey, try to keep it on the down low what you’re doing, will you? I don’t want it obvious to them that you’re helping me.”

“Ten-four,” he answered. “Damn, but this super-secret spy stuff is kind of fun.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a dork.” Then I grinned because that was my favorite feature about him.

“Yeah, yeah. I hate you too. I’ll check back in a minute.”

When he hung up, I closed my eyes and pressed the edge of my phone to my forehead, hoping this worked. I had a feeling it would. I could always count on Cannon. He just might not be so happy if he realized who else he’d be helping in the process.

The football team was very clearly split into two groups: the offensive players versus the defensive players. Neither side got along with the other, so I had a feeling my defensive boys would jump at the chance to heckle some o-line guys. I just wasn’t quite sure what they’d think about assisting a girl they believed belonged to the enemy. Which was why I had neglected to mention that little detail. I couldn’t take the chance they’d refuse me.

Cannon might feel betrayed by this. But I was willing to risk it and ask for forgiveness instead of permission.

Surely, he’d forgive me.

Someday.

“Wick?” my sister said quietly, reminding me I needed to focus on the here and now.

“Pack a change of clothes and whatever else you’ll need for classes tomorrow,” I told her. “You’re spending the night at my place.”

Her eyes widened with worry. “What? Why?”

“I have a feeling Nicholl will be back, looking for her, and I don’t want to leave you here alone to deal with him, especially while he’s in the mood he’s in. I mean, look what he just did to her and he supposedly loves her, right?”

We both looked down at Haven, who remained placid in my arms, completely unaware of anything and everything happening around her, or if she was aware, she gave no sign of it.

Izzy slowly started to nod, her eyes wide with worry. “Okay, yeah.” Then she fumbled as she hurried to gather everything she thought she’d need.

When she started to stuff s**t into a third bag, I rolled my eyes. “Only take whatever we can carry in one trip, because we’re not coming back for more.”