His Angel: Pendleton Prep, #2

RECAP, TIME!

So, for those of you that aren’t following straight on from the last book and have had a little gap in between, I figured that a recap might be helpful. If not, feel free to skip straight to chapter one.

In ‘The Sect’ we met our four heros; Nick and Jacob Barrett—the twins—Leo Windsor, and Wyatt Chambers. We meet them at their induction to The Sect, where they have to fight for their position, and fight they do.

The opening for Her Devil introduces Ivy, our heroine. Here she has a fall out with her father when he demands that she puts her dreams on hold and attends Pendleton Prep for a year. She’s not happy about it, but for the first time, she sees the cracks in his façade, the masks he wears.

Luckily, she gets to take her bestie with her, and her and Tamsin set about their trip to Pendleton Prep. On arrival they find out they’re not in regular accommodation, but some kind of pool house behind a huge stone building.

The two of them meet some hot guys, get an invitation to a party, and Tamsin gets hot and heavy with one of them at the Pendleton Prep mixer. Ivy’s ex makes an appearance, and he warns her away from Leo.

She finds out that Nick and Jacob are twins, enjoying a kiss with Nick who drives her completely crazy, and not always in a good way, before some dresses arrive at the house ahead of the party. When they’re picked up and taken to an abandoned church, shit gets weird.

Ivy ends up paired with Nick and Wyatt, Truth and Dare, Devil style, being the event of the evening, before she shares a kiss with Wyatt on the way home. The boys are checked up on by The Sect, the noose tightening around them all.

Ivy finds Nick beaten up on the way back from an ice-cream trip, and that ends up with them getting sexy in the woods, the adrenaline doing a number on both their inhibitions, but when she realises what she’s done, she tries to push him away. Easier said than done.

When the girls are pulled into their new job for The Sect—the Big Sister project—things start to get really busy, and not just because the girl she’s paired with seems to hate her. George is removed from the competition, and someone is watching them, and a few days later, they find out someone has targeted Stephanie.

Oliver, not being one to take these things laying down, rallies the Devils and makes an example of him. The Angels are not to be messed with. And Wyatt and Nick formulate a plan to keep Ivy safe.

ONE

IVY

I don’t know if it’s the shakes, or the racket, that wakes me from the emptiest sleep I’ve ever known. It’s not deep in that vivid dream kind of way, it’s just void of anything, and as I slide my phone off the nightstand and look at the harsh numbers that flash back at me, I can’t believe it’s been so long.

What the… I start, the words echoing around my head causing me to wince, only exacerbating the tremble in my extremities.

Curling back up under the covers with my phone is the only option as I will the contents of my stomach to stay put, not sure I could make it to the bathroom if I had to. What the hell is going on? The rest of the girls laugh outside the room, a million miles away, and yet it’s loud enough for me to hear over the sound of blood rushing around my body.

What the hell is this? I didn’t even drink, did I?

Attempting to rack my brain through what happened the night before gets me nowhere.

A party, with Tamsin. I think.

Turning over stops the shivering momentarily, until it starts back up again, the noise in my head easing slightly as I try to focus my mind.

The party with Tamsin.

The moment with Leo.

I don’t want to take anything. I want it to be given, freely and willingly.

Heat rushes through my veins, his tone practically reverberating through my body as I try to push further through my memory. I came home. Or as far home as this place has come to be. But I didn’t stay here.

The memory hits me like a freight train, the message from Tamsin, the panic as I rushed from the house and into the night. Quickly, I flick to my messages, checking the chain with Tamsin, but it’s not there. The last message reads:

T: Staying with Taylor, see you tomorrow x

There’s no mention of me turning up afterwards, nothing of the panicked message that had me rushing there in the first place.

Oh, God.

The shorts. Leo’s face. And then… the masks.

Shooting up out of the covers, my stomach rolls but holds, the shakes almost gone and the blinding headache finally receding. It’s not a hangover, I’m one hundred per cent sure I didn’t drink, so this must be the after-effects of whatever they gave me.

I look around the room, attempting to work out what’s different, what’s moved, but everything looks the same. And as I physically check over myself, all my fingers, toes, arms and legs are attached. I’m still alive.

The rush of relief is unexplainable.

Surely, if I’d been somehow maimed, or killed, I’d have realised it before now? Unless I was dead, I suppose. Fuck, clearly my head is more messed up than I gave it credit for.

The familiar scent of my favourite dark roast finally registers, and before I fully realise it, I’m rolling myself out of bed and dragging on the closest dressing gown, heading to the bathroom. The room wobbles slightly as I get up, using the edge of the doorway and the counter to catch my balance.

I use the toilet and wash my hands, and that’s when I notice it; sleek black leather wrapping around my wrist. Where did that come from? There’s no buckle, no stud to pop open, and as I push it, it won’t fit over the curve of my hand.

The coffee just a few steps away is completely forgotten as I run my fingers over the logo, the crest familiar, the lions on either side distinctive, as is the gold rivulet that runs around the band. The Devils.

My stomach rolls again as memories flash infront of my eyes.

The car sliding to a stop, the black figure outlined against the darkness of the night.

The glass.

The black mask. The gold slash running left to right.

You’re mine now, sugar.

There’s only one person that calls me that.

Only one person that would be cocky enough to stand infront of a moving vehicle knowing it would stop.

That absolute wanker.

Who the hell does he think he is and how the fuck can I get this off?

Twisting and turning it gets me nowhere, and as I attempt to slide it over my hand, I’m met with a more than frustrating amount of resistance. My hand bangs on the side of the counter, the bracelet still in place as that frustration burns into anger.

The door slams into the stop as I force my way back into the bedroom, finding leggings and a top and throwing them on as quickly as I can manage, all thoughts of the after-effects long gone, thank God.

I know one place I’ll be able to get answers, and it’s not here.

Nice of you to join us, Stephanie comments from the dinning table, looking up from her laptop, but her smile and cheery attitude sit frozen on her face as she absorbs the fury rolling off me.

It’s with stunned silence they sit there, watching me throw my trainers on and stalk out the front door, slamming it closed behind me. I’m sure they’ll all be scrabbling to get their shoes on and find out what the hell is wrong with me as I pass Penelope’s car—parked perfectly, with not a scratch, dent, or broken window in sight.

Of course.

With a growl, I stomp down the driveway to the obnoxiously large wooden doors.

Ringing the doorbell is not nearly satisfying enough as I hammer my fist against the door, willing someone to come and open it quicker.

Woah, girl. What’s got you so twisted up? Oliver asks as he peels the door back.

Where is he? I growl.

So lovely to see you, Ivy. Why don’t you come in? he asks innocuously as I barge past him.

Where is he? I repeat.

And who exactly are you looking for? he asks, a mischievous smile on his face. Wyatt and Jake are downstairs, and Leo’s in the den, I think. Holding up my wrist is the only answer I can manage as he grins before calling out loudly, Nick, you’ve got company.

You knew, I hiss, narrowing my eyes at him. It’s not an accusation when it’s the truth.

Sure thing, princess. That shit got me so fucking hard.

You’re disgusting, I dismiss, heading past him and into the entranceway proper. Where the fuck is he? Nick, I call loudly, hoping he’ll hear and finally come my way.

He’s always so irritatingly there when I don’t want him to be, but now that I’m looking for him, he’s nowhere to be seen, and it’s not his broad shoulders that pop out of the den at the sound of my voice, it’s Leo’s, his crystal blue eyes looking me over with concern.

He’s in the gym with Jacob and Wyatt, what’s up? he asks, seemingly attempting to find a physical reason for my agitation as he looks me up and down, searching for damage.

Gym, what gym? I ask, stomping around the small space.

It’s not tiny by any stretch of the imagination, but way too small to hold in all the anger coursing through my veins right now.

Downstairs, I’ll take you.

Concern lines his eyes as he heads towards the changing room, pushing open a door I didn’t notice last time we were here.

Do you have to? I clip out at Oliver, who’s practically walking on the back of my heels.

Oh, I’m not missing this one, sweet cheeks.

It’s just my luck that the doorbell goes, probably the rest of the girls finally catching up with me, but at least he hurries away, Leo and I heading down the stairs to a huge and fully-equipped gym.

Nick and Jacob don’t even look up, too busy hitting each other to notice anyone else even exists as I storm across the room to their stupid ring.

What the hell is this? I yell, holding my wrist up.

It takes a minute for either of them to acknowledge the words, or the fact I’m even here, Leo taking hold of my arm and looking over the offending item, irritation flicking over his features as we wait.

Well, who wants to explain? I demand.

It’s not as bad as it looked, Wyatt starts, appearing around the side of the ring as the twins finally give it up, unstrapping their gloves and coming our way.

You were in on this? Leo asks, his disbelief as clear as mine. "Him I can believe this of, but you?"

The accusation is clear, the threat less so, but there’s no mistaking it’s there.

What the fuck is this? I seethe, more than ready for the answers nobody is giving me as I look at Nick and Jacob for an explanation.

It’s security, Nick replies, keeping the safety of the ropes between us. Things are getting tricky around here and we wanted to know you’d be safe.

We?

I suggested that claiming you would be a good way to ensure you’re not a target for The Sect, or the rest of the guys here, Wyatt admits. His hand reaches for me, but as I pin him with a thunderous glare, he retreats. The execution of that… was not my doing.

Leo raises an eyebrow.

Things got a little out of hand, Jacob admits, just as the stairwell fills with chatter, Oliver and the girls finally catching up with us. Not that I care.

Out of hand? I screech, jumping up and climbing through the ropes, slapping him in the chest. Someone pulled me from the car by my hair. By. My. Hair.

The hissed intake of breath from the stairs would be funny if it weren’t drowned out by the rumble of disapproval from Leo, and it placates the rage coursing through me in a way that I can’t even describe, Jacob ducking through the ropes to intervene as Leo draws ever closer to Wyatt, a beast stalking his prey.

It wasn’t supposed to go down that way, Nick attempts to explain, holding his hands out placatingly. You were the one that locked the car doors, so what were they supposed to do?

I nearly hit you with a car, in the middle of the night and it was pitch black. What did you think I was going to do, jump out and check you over in your creepy fucking mask? You must be out of your goddamn mind.

Got you safe though, didn’t it? he replies smugly.

I barely even register doing it, but the sound of skin hitting skin echoes around the shocked silence of the room, my hand smarting as his face reddens, the imprint of my palm crystal clear on his skin.

Someone whistles behind us.

All I see is the quickening of his breath and the darkening of his eyes, fear quickly replacing the anger that rushed through me barely seconds ago as he replies, You’re fucking welcome.

He brushes past me, stepping out of the ring silently with his head held high. And I thought Spencer was an infuriating pompous ass.

This was your idea, you deal with her, he clips out at Wyatt, shoulder-checking him as he stalks across the room.

You fucking— I can’t even manage words as I lunge after him, ready to do as much damage as I can until Leo picks me up as I attempt to get past him, Woah there, angel, tumbling from him.

Infuriatingly, Nick doesn’t even look back as he grabs a shirt from the side and pushes past everyone else to make his way back upstairs.

I’m still kicking and attempting to break free when Leo’s words finally make their way through. Angel, you’ve got an audience.

Who cares? I snap. "You lot have made us all a target by taping our pictures all over campus, and now I’ve got a bullseye on my damn wrist. And he didn’t even have the decency to talk to me about it. I just wake up with the thing. No recollection. No explanation. Full body shakes and a headache like I’ve never had in my life."

The fight falls out of me as I rant, Jacob getting rid of our captive audience as the adrenaline wears off and I crumble, not even acknowledging the silent conversations happening over and around me.

If Jacob and Wyatt did this, there’s a good reason, angel, Leo says quietly, placing me back down as he rests against the edge of the ring. We just need to allow them to explain.

He pulls me back against his chest and wraps his arms around me, the security blanket I didn’t realise I needed.

It wasn’t supposed to go like that, and you can rest assured Jasper got what was coming his way for handling you like that, Jacobs says. I’m sorry you got hurt.

You think I’m pissed off because I got hurt? I huff out a disbelieving laugh. I was terrified. I thought you all came to kill me. The admission falls from my lips in a whisper, Leo’s security tightening around me.

We would never, Wyatt says soothingly, reaching out for me once again. We would never hurt you. You have to believe that. Nick might be hard-headed, but he cares more about you than you give him credit for.

Fucking looks like it, I clip, my breath shuddering in and out as I push back the fear and panic clawing at the back of my throat.

His gentle hands come to my forearms, carefully drawing me from the security of Leo’s embrace to face the truths that he has to offer.

How do I get it off? Take it back. I don’t want this.

The admission is bitter on my tongue, because part of me does want it. I do want to be cared for and protected. I do want whatever this magnetism is between Nick and me. But I don’t want it to be chosen for me.

Nick claimed you in front of two of The Devils, there is no taking this back. Your life is now intertwined with his, Wyatt explains softly. Can I take you somewhere, show you something?

I eye him warily through my lashes, not sure who or what in this absurd game I can believe or trust.

Please?

Acquiescing, I take a step towards him.

I’m coming too, Leo demands from behind me, his protective heat a balm I didn’t realise I needed.

I trust Wyatt.

He’s kind, sweet, and he makes me laugh.

He’s broken the tension and soothed my pain unintentionally and without looking for anything in return on more than one occasion.

And then, there’s this.

It might have been Nick bathing in my fear and blossoming under its weight, but it was Wyatt that set it all in motion, Leo willing to protect the pieces left at the end of the day.

Mostly, I want to curl up and hide in my bed, hoping that a new day will bring a whole new perspective, new thoughts and new ideas that will make this okay, but without this explanation and understanding, how can that ever come?

It’s fine, I’ll go, I agree with a deep breath.

Why don’t you stay with me? Jacob asks, looking at Leo hopefully. I can explain…

The flare of Leo’s agitation certainly doesn’t have Jacob shrinking back, though. If anything, he stands taller, his confidence bigger than the genteel placating tone his words come out with, until he says, Or you could tag along with them like the left-out lovesick puppy you’re acting right now.

I can almost imagine him flicking his hair over his shoulder and storming out, much like his brother just did, but jealousy is an interesting look on him.

My amusement falls out on a laugh as I step towards Wyatt, not quite ready to take his hand but feeling more prepared for the explanation I know is almost here.

Get my number from Tamsin and text me, I’ll let you know I make it back safely, I say to Leo. And hear him out. If I’m going to, then you should too. I squeeze Leo’s arm reassuringly, with a smile that doesn’t meet my eyes, before making my way to the stairs, Wyatt hot on my heels.

Hey, what did I miss? Tamsin asks as I make my way back through the entrance way. Apparently, even best friend status doesn’t get you access to whatever’s going on down there.

She steps out of one of the rooms, her dark hair sleep mussed despite her flawless makeup. Taylor can’t be far away. It hits me like a sledgehammer that he used her last night, to get to me, and she doesn’t even know—clearly doesn’t remember.

There’s no point in bringing it all up now though, starting an argument between them really isn’t fair. I know misery likes company, but it’s too far for me.

I’m fine, it’s nothing important. I sigh, exhaustion coming over me. Wyatt’s just taking me for some fresh air, I’ll fill you in later.

Wyatt appears behind me, a bottle of orange juice in one hand and a couple of waters in the other before he ducks through a doorway.

Are you sure you’re okay? she asks, seemingly picking up on the tension. I can give you a hand with that paper if you need it? The out she thinks I need.

It’s not the paper, but thanks. I’ll catch you in a bit. I follow the direction Wyatt went, through the doorway and into a garage, catching the flicking of the lights on his Alpha Romeo before climbing in.

TWO

NICK

The door slamming does nothing to ease the rage that courses through me, and neither does touching the heated