Romeo

The Omega house was one of the largest frat properties on campus. It was set sort of back off the road and a very green yard stretched out beside and behind it. Large, mature trees filled the space around the house, giving it a more private feel, even though it was located on the edge of campus.

Omega House was a large stone building. Just looking at it, you knew it was filled with history. There was a plaque on the wall by the wide double front door indicating it was one of the oldest buildings on campus.

It looked like a giant box with rectangular windows running along the entire front on both the first and second floors. The stone wasn’t the perfectly cut man-made kind; instead, it was in various shades of tan and brown and was rounded, making it look like it was literally dug out of the ground and used to build a formidable home.

The front door was a weathered shade of royal blue, and on each wide door was a sign with the Omega symbol in the center. Long, wide concrete steps led up, giving way to a large concrete patio. The landscaping was exceptionally nice considering a bunch of guys lived here. It was obvious the campus paid for the upkeep of the exterior.

Large evergreen bushes flanked the ends of the building and assorted plants in varying shades of green grew along the front. Out in the back was the building I remembered from before, the one with the secret club down below.

I couldn’t see it now as we pulled into the parking lot and I found a spot, but I knew it was there. Music was pumping through the night when I opened the door and climbed out of my Hellcat. The driver’s seat was pushed forward, and Ivy and Missy unfolded themselves from the back. I watched Ivy closely, taking in her reaction to getting a ride with us.

After she straightened her top, she glanced at me and smiled. “Thanks for the ride, Romeo.”

There was no gleaming agenda in her eyes, and it made me feel better. “Anytime.”

The two girls moved off to stand at the end of the car and were already yapping away, but it wasn’t lost on me that Rimmel was still hiding in the passenger seat.

I walked around and opened her door. With wide, dark eyes, she looked up at me through her glasses.

My heart nearly stopped when I first saw her tonight. In fact, my eyes had skipped right over her, dismissing the fact it was her. I’d never seen her look more beautiful. Maybe her friendship with Ivy wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all. She was glowing, and I knew it wasn’t just because someone curled her hair.

I wanted to see more of this side of her. Not only because she looked damn hot, but because she looked so happy.

I could feel the nerves rolling off her, and I leaned down inside the open door and smiled. I was sort of nervous too. I wasn’t sure what to expect tonight when I walked in with her. I was damn proud to have her on my arm, but I also didn’t want anyone else looking at her.

“Want to hold my hand?” I asked and grinned.

She snorted and whacked my outstretched fingers. “Let me out.”

When she was beside me, I reached for her hand, lacing our fingers together, and slammed the door to the car. She glanced down at where I held her. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know.” My fingers tightened around hers.

The four of us walked through the lot and up onto the sidewalk that led down to the house. I could hear people laughing and cheering. A crowd materialized off to the side, but I didn’t give them much attention because there were people all over this place. They spilled out the front door and onto the porch of the house.

Rimmel stumbled a little as she walked, and I released her hand to wrap an arm around her waist. She patted my stomach. “Romeo,” she whispered.

I glanced over and everything in me stilled.

The dean was walking toward us with two campus security officers. “Mr. Anderson,” the dean said with a tight look on his face.

“Is there a problem?” I said, releasing Rimmel and stepping slightly in front of her.

Ivy and Missy stopped walking and stood off to the side, watching with wide eyes. I wanted to tell them to leave, but I held my tongue. If things went bad, I would need someone here with Rimmel.

“I’m very sorry to approach you like this,” the dean said, and our eyes connected. I saw that he didn’t want to be here, yet he was. “I realize this is quite the insult to such an active and promising student here at Alpha U, but a matter was called in to the campus police and it is this university’s duty to follow up.”

Ah. I see. So whoever sent them here went around the dean and straight to the campus police because they knew the dean wouldn’t entertain causing trouble for his star athlete.

Fucking Zach.

“It’s not a problem,” I said easily, totally relaxed. “You have a standard to uphold.”

“We received an anonymous call about a theft in the dean’s office,” an officer said, stepping forward. “Of course we went to his office to confirm that something was indeed missing. It seems his nameplate is gone.”

Rimmel’s hand reached under my jacket and curled against my back. I knew she was thinking of the object they were after and its presence in her jacket.

“As I said…” The dean spoke to the officers. “I’m not sure what happened to it. The cleaning service could have knocked it off the desk and broken it.”

“We have to follow up on all leads in the matter of theft,” the officer replied.

“Of course.” The dean motioned at me.

“What does this have to do with me?” I asked like I was bored.

“We have reason to believe you’re the one who took it.”

I laughed. “Like I don’t have anything better to do than steal shit from the dean?”

The officer who had said nothing so far looked embarrassed. His friend, however, would not be deterred. I would bet money that Zach paid him to do this here and now.

A small crowd had gathered not too far from where we stood and watched with apt attention. Zach was not only trying to keep me out of the Omegas, but he was also trying to destroy my reputation.

Sneaky bastard.

“Please empty your pockets,” the officer said.

“Are you serious?” I asked sharply.

Everyone looked at the dean, who looked like he had a bad case of diarrhea. “I’m afraid he is.”

I shrugged. “Sure. No problem.” I turned slightly toward Rimmel and curved my hand around her elbow to lead her a few steps to stand beside Ivy. “Stay here.”

Her eyes were anxious when she looked up at me. I winked.

I made a show of reaching in my varsity jacket pockets, showing that they were empty. Then I slid it off my shoulders and tossed it to the officer. “Feel free to check the inside,” I told him.

As he did that, I handed my cell to Rimmel and pulled out the pockets of my jeans. Then I took off my shoes and held them upside down and lifted the ankles of my jeans to show I had nothing in my socks.

“Roman,” the dean said, worry in his tone, “you don’t have to go that far.”

“Yes, I do,” I said. “I want to be sure everyone here knows I am no thief.” I said it loud enough that whispers broke out across the watching crowd.

Then I reached for the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head in one fluid movement. A couple girls over on the porch whistled and hooted. I waved at them.

I held out my arms and spun, letting the shirt hang from my fingers. “I think it’s pretty obvious I’m not concealing some block of wood.”

Then I stopped and grinned. I reached for the buckle on my jeans. “Shall I take these off too?” I directed the question to the officer with my jacket.

He flushed. “That won’t be necessary.”

Everyone was silent when I put my shoes and shirt back on. When I reached for my jacket, the officer said, “I’m going to need to search your vehicle.”

I laughed and tossed him the keys. “Have at it. It’s the green Challenger over there.”

“We know which one it is,” the quiet officer muttered.

I glanced at Rimmel and her friends. “You ladies go ahead. I’m going to watch Barney and Fife here to make sure they don’t scratch my paint.”

Ivy and Missy glared at the officers before turning to walk away. Rimmel hesitated, her eyes never leaving me.

“It’s all right,” I said. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“Who’s that?” the officer said, stepping closer to look at Rimmel.

My annoyance level skyrocketed. I spun, blocking her from sight. “No one you need to concern yourself with.”

“Well, if she’s with you—”

“She’s not,” I said, hard.

The dean stepped in. “We did not come here to harass our students.”

I stared the officer down until he lamented and turned toward my car.

Of course they found nothing. All they accomplished was looking like a bunch of idiots. When the one leading the witch-hunt mentioned searching my room, I laughed.

“I live on private property, not on campus. If you want to search my place, you’re going to need to call my father, Anthony Anderson. You might know him?” I asked. “He’s a lawyer.”

“That won’t be necessary,” the dean said immediately. “Gentlemen, I think it’s obvious the tip you received was a waste of everyone’s time.”

The officers left and before the dean followed, he looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry about this, Roman.”

“Thanks,” I replied.

Three steps toward the party, I heard the officer say, “Is that a frat party? Maybe we should—”

“No,” the dean said loudly. “You’ve already made us look like big enough idiots for one night. Let’s go.”

On my way inside, the crowd gathered around as I passed by. I spent long moments shaking hands, laughing, and shooting the shit with people I didn’t really want to talk to.

I wanted to get to Rimmel. And then I wanted to pound Zach.

Inside, the crowd was considerable, but it wasn’t hard to find her. My eyes seemed to know exactly where to look. She was standing over by the keg in between Ivy and Missy with a beer in her hand.

She looked totally out of her element. When she saw me walking toward her, the relief in her eyes was clear.

“What happened?” she said over the loud, thumping music.

“Nothing.” I grabbed the beer out of her hand and took a healthy drink. “It’s all good.”

I handed the cup back to her and she took a small sip and made a face. “How do you drink that stuff? It’s nasty.”

I grinned and drank the rest. “C’mon,” I said, draping an arm across her shoulder. “I’ll get you something less nasty.”

People eyed her when we went across the room to a giant tub filled with ice and bottles of drinks. I pulled out some fruity girl drink and popped the top before handing it over. She tasted it and gave me a smile. “That’s better.”

“Rome,” Braeden called, materializing out of the crowd and coming up beside us. “What’s this about the po-po hassling ya outside?”

“Fucking cops,” I said and grabbed a beer.

“They searched him,” Rimmel said, taking another sip of her drink.

Braeden seemed to just notice her, and when he realized who it was, his eyes widened. “Da-yum, Rimmel. Girl, you clean up good.”

One of the guys standing behind Braeden turned and glanced at her over his shoulder. “I’d do her,” he yelled, and all his buddies laughed.

I grabbed him by the back of his neck and dragged him backward, tossing him up against the counter. “The fuck you just say?” I growled.

My reaction drew some stares because I usually played it so cool.

“I d-didn’t mean anything, Romeo. I’m d-drunk,” the guy stuttered.

“Romeo,” Rimmel said from beside me, but her voice only made it worse. We’d only been here five minutes and already the guys were checking her out.

Braeden wrapped an arm around my waist and towed me back. “Dude, chill.”

I stared down the asshole as I drank my beer and tried to calm my sudden anger. He didn’t move, just stood there and watched me warily.

“Get the hell out of my sight,” I spat. He took off and disappeared into the crowd.

Even after he was gone, anger seemed to crowd beneath the surface of my skin. Zach was starting to get to me. Hell, this entire night was.

Trent stepped up to the keg, and I joined him. “You need to rein Zach in,” I told him.

“What’d he do now?”

“Tried to get me arrested.”

Trent choked on his beer. “He what?”

“He needs to be brought down a couple pegs.”

“Man, I’m sorry. No one knew he would go that far,” Trent said.

As if he knew we were talking about him, his voice echoed through the room. “Omegas rule!” he roared. Everyone cheered and held up their drinks.

I found him in the crowd and watched him take a seat on a couch in the next room as his buddies settled around him.

I turned to Rimmel, who was talking to Ivy, Missy, and Braeden. “I need the plaque,” I said in her ear.

She reached into her jacket and pulled it out. I took it and started across the room.

“Romeo!” Braeden called, but I kept going.

The crowd parted for me as I went, and soon I was standing across from Zach, who looked up and smirked. “Romeo. You made it.”

I tossed the nameplate at him. It hit his chest and bounced up, knocking the beer out of his hand. It overturned and sloshed all over him, soaking his shirt and part of the girl plastered to his side. She shrieked and jumped up, brushing quickly at her clothes.

“What the hell is your problem, man?” Zach growled.

“Nothing. Just following orders. Giving you what you asked for.” I sneered. “And just a warning, if I go down for something you ordered, I’m going to take you with me, and it will be one bumpy bitch of a fall.”

Zach shoved to his feet and stared me down. “Omegas have honor.”

I smirked. “Didn’t you know? There’s no honor among thieves.”

Zach’s eyes narrowed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re playing stupid now?” I said casually. “I honestly thought you were better than that.” I shook my head and turned.

“Drinking rally!” I yelled and held up my beer. The entire house erupted into cheers and yells. Cups and bottles filled the air.

People started chanting my number. Twenty-four, twenty-four, twenty-four!

I turned back to Zach and smirked. His eyes turned dark, and I got some satisfaction in seemingly getting the popular vote in his own living room.

Rimmel was looking a little green around the edges when I went back to her side. I glanced at the drink in her hand, but it was still full.

“You need some air?” I asked.

She nodded enthusiastically. I took her hand and we weaved through the house to the back door, stepping out onto an old stone patio with grass growing up between the pavers. The air was cold and the wind was picking up.

“Ah, for once I’m grateful for the cold,” she said, taking a deep breath.

“You okay?”

She nodded and turned her face away. A couple people ran by me, laughing, and I took her elbow and moved to the edge of the patio. “Hey,” I said and tipped her chin up to make her look at me.

“We’ve been here like ten minutes and you’ve almost been arrested and in a fight twice. I’m scared to know what the rest of the night is going to be like.”

I felt my expression soften. The fear in her eyes was real. “You were worried about me?”

“Duh,” she said and rolled her eyes. “You are my ride.”

My mouth opened, and she burst out laughing. “You should see the look on your face.”

I smiled and pulled her close, anchoring an arm around her back. “That wasn’t funny.”

“Yes-huh.” She grinned and her head tipped back. The long strands of her hair draped over my arm.

“You were worried ‘cause you like me,” I said low.

Even in the muted light, I could see the blush on her cheeks.

“Say it,” I whispered.

Her eyes focused on something behind me. “People are staring,” she murmured.

“And…?”

“And it’s—”

I cut off her words with a kiss. It was meant to be an innocent, quick touch of lips, but the second I came into contact with her soft mouth and tasted the strawberry on her tongue, everything else fell away.

Need slammed into me so hard it almost knocked me over. The sounds of the party fell away and all I could think about was what she felt like in my arms.

I heard my phone go off in my pocket. Rimmel’s did the same. Then in the very back of my mind, I heard the dinging of an endless amount of smartphones.

I ignored it all.

I only broke away from her when someone bumped into me from behind, forcing me to pull back to keep our balance. “Sorry,” someone slurred and kept going.

Rimmel was dazed, and I chuckled.

The back door slammed against the house with a sharp crack and someone yelled. “Where the hell is the nerd that suddenly got hot?”

I stiffened. Rimmel’s eyes cleared and filled with confusion.

Her phone went off again, and she pulled it out of her blazer and glanced down at the screen. She snorted loudly and shook her head.

“What?” I asked.

She turned the phone so I could see the latest Buzz. It was about her. I swore under my breath.

“I heard she was out here, putting the moves on number twenty-four!” the guy yelled again.

Some guys laughed and someone else chimed in to add, “You know that ass has to be fine to get his attention.”

People laughed, and I went rigid and turned around. My eyes landed on several guys wandering out near the grass. Of course it was Zach’s followers and one of them was a fellow Omega.

He glanced over and saw me; his face screwed into a smile. He swaggered over, probably thinking he looked cool when he really looked like he had a full diaper.

“I gotta hand it to ya,” he said. “You got some game.”

“You need to step away,” I said, my voice dead calm.

Some of my friends and people I knew stepped forward as if to show I wasn’t alone. I gave them all a grateful, subtle nod.

“Why don’t you step aside and give us all a look at her?” he said, ignoring my warning.

I kept my body firmly planted in front of Rimmel and crossed my arms over my chest.

Braeden materialized beside me, taking up the same braced position. “What seems to be the problem?” he asked.

“No problem. Just came to see the nerd who got hot,” the guy replied. I think his name was Jack.

“There aren’t any nerds out here,” Braeden countered.

Ivy came out the back door, followed by Missy. They were both clutching their phones. When they saw me, they rushed around me and to Rimmel. “The BuzzBoss is totally talking about you!” Ivy said like she was impressed.

“All I did was comb my hair,” Rimmel remarked.

I wanted to laugh.

Zach materialized behind his crew, and they parted to let him come to the front. “I’d be interested in meeting your date tonight as well, Romeo. After all, I did invite her.”

“He invited you?” Ivy asked Rimmel behind me.

This guy was seriously asking for it. He was doing everything humanly possible to screw things up for me. So I called his bluff.

I stepped aside and reached for Rimmel’s hand, drawing her forward. “Rimmel, this is Zach. He’s the president of the Omegas.”

Zach’s eyes latched onto her and a little bit of surprise sparked through them. Then his lips curved into a smile I instantly wanted to wipe off his face. He came forward, his stare never once leaving Rimmel.

“I have just one question,” he said.

“What?” she replied.

My hackles rose just because he was speaking to her.

“You give it up to him yet?” Behind him, his crew laughed.

Rimmel didn’t say anything; she just stood here with pink cheeks.

“Because you know when you do, he’s gone.” Zach finished.

I didn’t even have a chance to talk myself out of it. Hell, I barely even thought. I just heard his words and saw the calculating and nasty look in his eyes, and I was done.

Even though I was beyond angry, I moved Rimmel out of the way with care, placing her beside Braeden, and then I spun, plowing my fist into the side of Zach’s jaw.

He went down immediately, like a scarecrow in the wind.

I stood over him as he rolled onto his side and grabbed his jaw. My chest was heaving, and all I saw was red. Zach looked at me with sheer hate, launching himself up off the ground, and rushed me.

I was ready, and we locked together as he tried to knock me down.

I wasn’t falling. I outweighed him by fifty pounds easily and I was a head taller. He reared back his arm and took a cheap shot in my kidney. It was enough for me to let him go, but it didn’t help his cause.

He threw his fist at me, and I caught it. Holding his arm suspended in midair, I brought my free arm around and caught him in the face again.

He went down and didn’t move.

I turned back to Rimmel, who had a horrified, stricken look on her face. I snatched the car keys out of my pocket and put them in her hand. “Take the Hellcat and go to my place. I’ll meet you there.”

“But—” She began.

“Go,” I growled as commotion erupted behind me.

Someone rammed into me from behind, and I stumbled. I reached around and pulled Jack off me and tossed him into a couple of his buddies.

“Now!” I shouted, and she jumped.

“Romeo…” Braeden warned me, and I turned away from her.

Zach was on his feet and approaching me once again. He threw out his fist and I dodged it, but he kept lunging. His lower lip was busted and bleeding and his jaw was already bruising.

I wasn’t proud of myself, but I sure as hell wasn’t sorry.

“Enough!” Trent yelled, and a bunch of Omegas swarmed through the crowd. Zach and I were both restrained and yanked apart.

I shook them all off and straightened my shirt.

“What the fuck, man?” Trent said, turning to me.

“Ask your president,” I spat. “I might be just a pledge…” I snarled, not caring that I wasn’t supposed to announce it. “But I will not roll over and take his shit anymore. He crossed the line.”

Everyone looked at Zach, who was standing there bleeding all over himself.

“I want him out of here!” he yelled, his voice slightly thick from his fat lip.

I held up my hands. “Oh, I’m gone. Omega can kiss my ass.”

Trent glanced at me sharply. I saw the warning in his eyes, the reminder that we were going to get rid of Zach together. I shook my head. “I’m out.”

He frowned slightly but nodded his understanding.

Braeden clapped me on the back. “I think we should go.”

After giving Zach another long, measured look, I turned to leave.

“This party is lame!” Braeden said loudly. “WOLVES, party at my dorm!” he yelled.

People cheered.

“Dude, how the fuck are you gonna fit all these people in your tiny-ass room?”

He grinned. “Sure as hell will be fun to try.”

Out in front of the Omega house, there was hardly anyone around; they were all too busy in the back, checking out the drama. We were silent a moment. Then Braeden said, “You don’t need them. You got more than enough talent to bring in the NFL on your own.”

“Fuck,” I muttered. “When did everything get so damn complicated?”

“When your life became about more than just football.”

“You sound like Yoda.” I grinned.

“It’s the beer.”

We both laughed and headed out to the parking lot.

I joked and was laughing, but really, he was right. For so long, my life had been nothing but football…

But now there was something more.