These Dark Hearts: A Darling Hill Prequel Read online

  It didn’t.

  I knew that.

  Marc knew that.

  The whole goddamn crowd knew that. But guys were stupid, and they liked fighting.

  Especially Darling Hill High and Darling Academy.

  “You fucked us over at the game.”

  “Still crying about that, Denby?” Nix snorted. “You came to the wrong place if you’re looking for sympathy.”

  “You’re a fucking asshole, you know that, right?” Marc took a step closer, a ripple of anticipation going through the air.

  From the clench of his fists at his sides it was clear he hadn’t turned up to bury the hatchet.

  “Guy has a death wish,” Chloe muttered, grabbing my hand and pulling me around the back of the crowd toward where her brother and Nix were standing. But an arm shot out, yanking me to the side.

  “What do we have here?” a voice said, his eyes widening with recognition. “I know you.”

  “Doubtful,” I hissed.

  “No, I do. You’re Wilder’s pet.” The guy’s eyes skated down my body, lighting up with dark intentions. A violent shudder went through me.

  “Get your hands off her, douchebag.” Chloe burst through the crowd.

  “Not a chance, hot stuff. Denby will be pleased to see you.” He tightened his hold on me and shoved me toward the front of the crudely formed circle.

  Everyone was looking now.

  Looking at Nix and Marc… and me.

  I dared not glance in Nix’s direction, but I felt his glare, burning into the side of my face.

  “And what do we have here?” Marc drawled, giving me the once over. His friend leaned in, whispering something about Wilder’s pet.

  I hated that nickname—hated that’s what they thought about me.

  Hated even more that they were right.

  Nix didn’t want me. He didn’t see me as his girlfriend or even his friend-with-benefits. I was his best friend, sure. But people outside our group—him, Kye, Zane, and me—didn’t really get it. And it had never bothered me.

  Until now.

  Until the whispers started like a slow wave rolling toward shore. I heard Cherri and her friends snickering, their cruel words and taunts rising above the rumble of voices.

  Is that Harleigh… little Harleigh Maguire?

  What is she wearing?

  Wilder’s pet… sounds about right, the way she follows them around like a lost puppy.

  It’s tragic, she’s tragic.

  Everybody knows Nix isn’t a one girl kind of guy.

  I’d never been at the center of their attention before, not like this. Because Nix protected me. He kept the wolves at bay, warning off anyone who dared speak ill of me.

  But not tonight.

  Tonight, Nix just stood there, doing nothing.

  Plunging the knife deeper into my heart.

  “Let go of me,” I hissed, thrashing against Marc’s hold.

  If Nix wasn’t going to save me, I’d damn well save myself.

  But just as I was about to do something stupid, like knee Marc in the balls, Kye stepped forward. “Ballsy move, Denby. Harleigh belongs to us.”

  Not him.

  Not Nix.

  Us.

  Any other time, the words would have warmed my soul, but not tonight. Tonight, they rang loud and clear in my mind as ‘not Nix’s.’

  I blinked back a fresh wave of tears.

  “Funny, I thought she was Wilder’s pet. Or maybe you all share. Maybe she gets on her knees like a good little slut for all three—”

  “Enough,” Nix growled, taking a single step forward, the ground shaking beneath his boots. Yet he still didn’t look at me.

  And that single inaction cut me deeper than anything else.

  Why can’t you look at me?

  “What do you really want, Denby? Surely, even you know you’re starting something you can’t finish.”

  “You think you’re so fucking untouchable.” Marc squeezed my bicep, the skin smarting underneath his cruel touch. “The mighty Phoenix Wilder, scared of nothing and no one.”

  “When you’ve got nothing to lose it’s easy not to give a shit.” Nix shrugged, flashing that easy smile of his. The one he often wore. But I knew it was a front. A mask. A façade.

  Nix cared. He just didn’t like people to know.

  Still, it didn’t stop his words from hitting me dead in the chest.

  “Interesting.” Marc pulled me flush against his chest, dipping his lips to my ear. “Maybe Wilder won’t mind if I—”

  “Don’t you ever get tired of listening to yourself?” Zane slipped his mask off, swaggering toward us, a dark glint in his eyes. Where Nix was the leader, and Kye was the joker, Zane was the unpredictable one. A quiet mercurial storm. When he waded into a situation, things usually ended in violence.

  But he didn’t scare me. Maybe it was the way he’d always been the silent protector in my life. Watching over me and Nix in equal measure.

  Or maybe I just had a thing with boys and dark hearts. Because if Nix kept his heart locked away, Zane kept his buried under six feet of ice.

  “Oh look, it’s the—”

  “Come here, Harleigh,” Zane said, beckoning me toward him.

  I tried to move but Marc tightened his hold on me. “Not so fast.”

  “You’re playing a dangerous game, Denby.” Zane glowered, his eyes as dark as the night. A shiver ran through me. He looked deadly. A cold deadly tempest waiting to strike.

  “Just tell them, man.” Marc’s friends urged.

  “Tell us what?” Nix asked, still not looking at me.

  “We want a rematch. Hawks versus Devils.”

  “A rematch?” Laughter filled the air. “We beat you fair and square.”

  “On your field. We all know if you and your guys come down to our field it’ll be a different story.”

  Nix narrowed his eyes, studying Marc with unnerving attention.

  “So, what’s it gonna be, Wilder?”

  “And we can just walk into your school, no questions asked?”

  “Consider it handled.”

  Chloe muttered something under her breath. Probably what a stupid idea it was. If Nix and the team went anywhere near Darling Academy, there would be trouble.

  Everyone knew that.

  Everyone including Nix.

  But when has that ever stopped him before?

  “Name the date and time and we’ll be there.”

  “Next weekend, bye week.” Marc sounded smug as if he knew Nix was a foregone conclusion. And maybe he was. “Saturday night at eight.”

  Nix gave him an imperceptible nod, his eyes finally flicking to mine. But I felt none of his usual warmth. In fact, his piercing gaze chilled me to the bone. “Now if you want to walk out of here in one piece, let her go.”

  “She’s all yours.” Marc kissed my cheek before shoving me forward. Hard.

  I lost my footing, stumbling.

  “Harleigh!” Chloe yelled, but it was too late. I was falling. Down, down, down as snickers rang out around me.

  “Fuck,” someone breathed, right as strong arms caught me.

  For a second, I thought it was Nix, but when my gaze lifted, Zane was the one staring down at me.

  “You good?” he clipped out, helping me back to my feet. I nodded, too embarrassed to reply. “You know, maybe—”

  “Motherfucker,” Kye yelled, and I turned back just in time to see him collide with one of Marc’s friends.

  The two of them crashed to the ground in a blur of fists. “You ever look at my sister again and I’ll fucking kill you.”

  Kye got the upper hand, pinning him as he drove his fist into the guy’s nose. A sickening crunch reverberated through the air, blood spraying everywhere.

  “Kye, stop!” Chloe tried to haul her brother off the guy. “Stop, you idiot.”

  “Fuck.” Zane released me, jogging over to Kye. He yanked him away from the guy who was groaning in pain, clutching his broken nose.

  “What the hell, Kye?” Chloe started wailing on her brother.

  “He fucking looked at you like—”

  “You broke his nose because he looked at me? Seriously? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “You won’t get away with this, Carter,” Marc seethed, helping his injured friend to his feet.

  “With what? All I saw was your friend trip and smash his face on the ground.” Nix shrugged, wearing an amused smirk. “Now if you don’t want the same thing to happen to you, I suggest you run along back to your side of town.”

  Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what Marc would do. But reason got the better of him, because he and his friends stalked off back toward the woods.

  Nix walked over to a cooler and swiped a bottle of beer, uncapping it and thrusting it in the air. “It’s Halloween,” he bellowed. “Let’s get fucked up.”

  The place erupted, everyone cheering and whistling. Beers went flying, drinks spraying in the air like a sheet of rain. Girls shrieked and guys high-fived.

  The party had officially started, and I wanted nothing but to escape.

  “Oh my God, Harleigh.” Chloe came rushing over to me. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  I wasn’t, not by a long shot, but she didn’t need to know that.

  “Listen,” I said. “Can I get a ride back with you later?”

  “Sure.” Her gaze snagged on something over my shoulder, and my spine stiffened. I didn’t need to turn around to know Nix was there, glaring at me.

  “What’s your problem, Wilder?” Chloe spat.

  “Leave it, Clo.” Kye joined us, nursing his busted-up hand.

  “You should get that looked at,” I said.

  “Nah.” He grinned. “Nothing a littl
e liquor and pussy won’t fix.”

  “Dude, gross.” Chloe clutched her throat and pretended to retch.

  He turned his attention to her, expression darkening. “I thought I told you not to come tonight.”

  “And I thought I told you to go fuck yourself.”

  “I’ll tell Mom—”

  She let out a bitter laugh. “Seriously? You think I give a crap. She’ll be more interested in you getting into another fight.”

  Kye mashed his lips together at that.

  “You know you’re one suspension away from getting kicked off the team, right?”

  “Don’t start, little bit.” He leaned over to ruffle her hair, but Chloe swatted him away.

  “Don’t call me that. I’m sixteen, not a kid.”

  “Just… go home, Clo.”

  She snorted. “Whatever, big brother. Come on, Harleigh, let’s leave the douchebag brigade to it.” She grabbed my arm and tugged me away from them.

  They didn’t try to stop us.

  Nix didn’t try to stop me.

  Not that I expected him to.

  He’d made it pretty clear that he didn’t want me here.

  But what I couldn’t work out was, why?

  “Shit, I’m so drunk.” Chloe draped herself over me as we trudged toward some overturned tree trunks away from the chaos.

  “Aren’t you drunk?” She peeked up at me through her smudged lashes.

  “No, I stopped after a couple more beers.” When your mom was an alcoholic, it kind of turned you off the whole getting wasted thing.

  “Noooo, you need to loosen up. Get drunk and make out with one of those cute zombie football players.”

  “I think that’s your dream, not mine.” I chuckled. “Speaking of… he’s coming over here.”

  “Who?” She whipped her head up, almost slipping over the trunk. “Whoa, that was close.”

  “Clo,” Maddox said, looming over us. He was big for a sophomore, already packing some serious muscle.

  “Go away, Maddox,” she murmured, waving him off.

  “Not gonna happen, Clover.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “I’ll watch out for her.”

  “I’m taking her home.”

  “Like hell you are.” She leaped up, getting all up in his face. “You haven’t spoken a single word to me all night and now you think you can just swoop in and play hero? Newsflash, buddy.” She jabbed her finger in his chest. “I don’t want to play your games.”

  “West,” Kye’s voice made her bristle. “Take my sister home.”

  “Don’t start, Kye. I’ve had enough of—”

  Maddox bent down and scooped her up, throwing her over his shoulder and stalked off toward the cars littered on the other side of the trees.

  “Guess I won’t be riding home with Chloe,” I mumbled, my fingers curling into the rough bark.

  “Come on,” Kye said. “Before Nix comes over here and goes all caveman on you too.”

  Yeah, right.

  Like that would ever happen after tonight.

  But it wasn’t like I had anywhere else to go. With Chloe gone, I was alone.

  We walked back to the party in awkward silence. Couples had begun to pair off, hidden in the shadows, pressed close, touching and moaning. Others danced, wild and free, embracing the night of mischief and mayhem.

  They made it look so easy, so fun.

  It had never felt that way to me. But I was beginning to think that maybe Nix was right. Maybe I was wired wrong.

  “What happened earlier—”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Marc Denby was nobody to me. I cared less about the way he manhandled me and more about the way Nix had refused to look at me. As if I disappointed him… or disgusted him.

  “I think I’m just gonna go,” I blurted out, toying nervously with the hem of my cropped tee. I’d felt good leaving the trailer in my Harley Quinn costume. Sexy even. But ever since seeing Nix’s reaction, I’d felt like nothing more than a fool.

  “Yeah, right. As if Wilder is going to let you leave with some douchebag.”

  My brows crinkled. After the way Nix had treated me all night, why would he care who I left with?

  Kye studied me, his lips quirking. “You two really are clueless sometimes.”

  “What—”

  “Yo, Carter,” Zane called. “We’re leaving.”

  “We are?”

  “Yeah, got some shit to take care of across town.” He flashed us a wolfish smirk.

  “Fuck yes. We can drop B off first, right?”

  “Yeah, whatever.” Nix jumped down off a stack of tires and drained his bottle of water.

  He had his own reasons for not drinking. The same way I did.

  It was just one of the many things we shared.

  “I can try to find another ride home,” I said quietly.

  Nix went deathly still, inhaling a ragged breath. When his eyes found mine, my heart fluttered wildly in my chest. “You think I’d just leave you here? Alone?”

  “I…”

  “Come on, Zee man.” Kye slung his arm around Zane’s neck and started pulling him away. “Let’s give B and Wilder some private time.”

  The air crackled around us as we stood, staring at one another.

  “We should go,” Nix gritted out, anger radiating from every pore.

  He went to walk off, but I grabbed his arm and cried, “Wait.”

  His gaze went to where I was holding him before he slowly lifted his eyes to my face.

  “Did I… do something wrong?”

  God, I hated how weak I sounded, how vulnerable. But I hated this chasm between us.

  A chasm he made.

  “Harleigh, not here, not now.” He let out an exasperated breath.

  “What does that even mean? So I have done something? Is it the costume? Because I thought—”

  “I can’t do this right now.” He stalked off, disappearing into the shadows.

  Anger bubbled up inside me, exploding like a volcano.

  Without thinking, I took off after him. “Don’t you dare walk away from me,” I shrieked, fists clenched at my sides. “We are talking about this. Right now.”

  Nix swung around, his eyes shining in the moonlight. “Harleigh—”

  “Don’t call me that.” My heart constricted. “You never call me that.”

  I was always Wren or Birdie or B.

  Him calling me Harleigh felt like an adult scolding a child.

  “Just tell me why you’re being so… so weird.”

  Silence stretched out before us, my chest heaving with the weight of the words.

  “I…” His eyes darted away, a cuss leaving his lips.

  “Phoenix.” I stepped forward. “Just talk to me, please.” I reached for his hand, but he jerked back.

  “Don’t.”

  “I know I’m not like Cherri or—”

  “Cherri?” He paled, snorting. “You think this is about Cherri?”

  “Well, her… girls like her.”

  “Birdie, that’s not—fuck. Fuck.” He thrust his fingers into his dark hair and pulled the ends, frustration bleeding from him.

  “Nix, what’s happening to us? I don’t—” Nix crowded me against a tree, leaning down and touching his head to mine.

  “I…” He stopped himself again and my stomach twisted.

  Why couldn’t he just talk to me? The way he always had.

  “Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?” His voice was a dark whisper in my ear, his lips precariously close to my skin. So close I could feel every word like a gentle caress against my neck.

  “M-me?” I asked. Because he wasn’t making any sense.

  Pressing back into the rough bark, I tried to get a better look at his eyes. It was on the tip of my tongue to beg him to tell me what was wrong. But he curved his hand around my throat, dragging his thumb over my bottom lip.

  “So fucking beautiful.”

  Beautiful?

  My eyes grew to saucers as he held me there, pinned against the tree, tracing the shape of my mouth as if I was something precious. Fragile and delicate.

  “Nix, w-what are you—”

  “Sssh, B. I’m trying really fucking hard not to lose control right now.”

  It was then I noticed he was trembling. His whole body, shaking as he touched me. It was more than I could ever have hoped for and yet not nearly enough.

  “Why,” I coaxed. “What would happen if you lost control?”