At least that’s what the pamphlet had said.
I carried my skateboard under my arm, walking beside Zadie. A few people stopped in their tracks and stared at her, but she was completely oblivious, pointing out buildings where she took classes as we passed. I’d lived in Savage River my whole life and had been to more than a couple house parties off campus, but I couldn’t say I’d spent any time exploring the university. So, this walk would legitimately kill two birds with one stone. I wasn’t actually using my brand-new roommate, she was showing me around and she was my excuse.
Our destination was a frat house on the edge of campus. A place I only visited out of necessity. Five or six guys were out front on the porch in various states of lounging. Mostly shirtless. Mostly baby smooth and tan. And they were watching us closely.
“I’m not going in there,” Zadie whispered.
“You want me to leave you out front with these fine gentlemen?” I asked.
She shook her head hard.
“Didn’t think so. It’ll be fine. We’ll be in and out in a minute, then we can hit the dining hall or something. I just need to see a guy about a thing and he lives here.”
I took her hand in mine. It was soft and trembled slightly. She sucked in a breath and flicked her eyes to mine, then back to the guys on the porch who were still watching us.
“Okay. But please don’t leave me,” she pleaded.
“I would never. It’s always hos before bros.”
She giggled again, and it was so mega cute.
One of the guys on the porch rose to his feet when we climbed the steps. I breezed past him through the open front door with Zadie in tow.
“Can I help you?” he called after us.
I lifted a hand, not bothering to turn around. “No thanks. We’re good!”
Zadie scrambled to keep up with me as I strode through the house. “I think he wanted us to stop.”
“Did he? I didn’t notice.”
I’d been to this house exactly once and had avoided it like the plague since. Me and frat boys did not mix. But sometimes evils were necessary. This one was. I wouldn’t have been here otherwise.
At the top of the stairs, I stopped in front of the first room and pounded it with my fist. When no one answered, I kicked the door. My Vans barely made a thump, so I went back to my fist.
Then, Zadie reached around me and turned the knob. The door opened. I looked at her, and she shrugged.
“You seem like you really want in there,” she said.
“Yeah.” I shoved the door wide open. “I do.”
There was a body on the bed, face down, barely moving, white, bare ass glistening in the sun streaming through the cracked curtains. It was four p.m. on move-in day. This fool was already toasted and buck naked.
“Deacon Forrester!” I slapped his left butt cheek as hard as I could.
That woke him up. He sprung from the bed, eyes bleary, his dick dangling like a worm on a hook, clutching his injured ass.
“Oh my god,” Zadie uttered.
“Oh, Deacon, time to wake up and have a chat,” I cooed.
He focused on me. Sort of. His body listed like he was on a ship during a storm, back and forth, back and forth.
“What’re you doing in my room?” His words only came out slightly slurred, which was a relief. I needed his brain to be turned on, and I needed it to happen right now.
“You know why I’m here. Where’s the grand you’re supposed to have for me today?”
His eyes found mine, flitted away long enough for my stomach to take a nosedive, then came back. “Don’t have it.”
My stomach hit the floor. “Not an answer you’re allowed to give. I’ll ask again. Where’s my money?”
He grabbed his junk, slowly pumping it as he licked his lips. Zadie whimpered behind me, which, unfortunately, drew his attention.
“Who’s your friend? She’s cute and looks like she eats cock like a pro.” He took a step, just one, and I raised my skateboard. He stopped. Deacon had learned over the last year since he’d approached me at my old job at Savage Wheelz that I did not play.
“No one wants your dick. I can see the herpes from here. You might want to see a doctor soon because it’s festering.” I shuddered. Deacon scowled. “Just give me the grand you owe me and I’ll be gone.”
He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of basketball shorts. “Can’t.” He dragged the shorts up his legs, then turned back to me. “I didn’t sell the product.”
Another wave of worry slapped at my belly. “Okay, then give me the product back. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Can’t.” He grabbed a T-shirt from his drawer and tugged it over his head. “Flushed it.”
I blinked long and hard. “Say that again. I know I didn’t hear you correctly.”
His hand went to his hips, and he got close to me. Not close enough for me to reach out and twist his balls off, but too close. “I flushed your weed, Helen. It’s all gone. Down the tubes. History.”
I blinked at him. My mouth fell open and closed. I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing. Zadie placed a hand on my back.
“Let’s go,” she whispered.
“Why the hell would you flush my weed?” Oh, I was angry. My blood roared in my ears. Deacon Forrester was lucky we weren’t in a dark alley because he’d be kissing cement right about now. I didn’t care that he was six inches taller and probably fifty pounds heavier, my fury would take him down in a heartbeat.
“Cops stopped by the party last night.” He shrugged. “I panicked.”
“You panicked?” I echoed.
He stared at me for a long beat, then tossed his head back, laughing. “Oh, fuck. Yeah, I panicked. The irony is, they didn’t even come inside. They just checked IDs of the kids hanging out on the porch and left. I was in no danger of getting caught, but I guess I blazed a little too much because I was paranoid as hell.”
“They didn’t come inside.”
He was still laughing. “I can’t even tell you how sad it made me to see all that beautiful dope in the toilet. I took a sample of the merch, and it was top notch.”
“But you flushed it.”
Zadie rubbed my back again. “Hells, come on.”
Deacon jerked his chin. “You should listen to your friend. I don’t have anything for you. I’m not going to have anything for you. It’s done, Helen. All gone. Bye-bye, ganja. Bye-bye, Helen.”
I’d snapped out of my stupid, but I didn’t say a word. Deacon started to turn away, and I drew back my skateboard. It whistled as it cut through the air, slamming into his bicep. His howl took half a second to rip from his throat.
“You fucking skanky-ass bitch!” His face flushed bright red, and when he screamed, his mouth frothed and spit flew out. “Get the fuck out. I don’t have your money. I’m never going to have it. Get out!”
I flew at him, but I never made it. Strong arms wrapped around my middle from behind, and I was dragged backward. I slapped and clawed at the vise circling me. The owner of the arms grunted, but didn’t slow, carrying me down the stairs.