Chapter 45

I drop Mia off with Archer before heading to classes. He’s locked in to something he’s reading and doesn’t say a word as I put Mia in her playpen. I tell him I’ll be back after classes and he grunts a reply.

They wind up being as boring as ever. Although, I can’t help but blush when I get a physics problem right. Coach White pesters me again about joining a club. I give him a few half-assed responses and make sure to sprint out of the gym after class.

At the end of the day, I find myself dreading going back to Archer to pick up Mia. The interaction had been miserably awkward that morning. It’s not something I’d like to repeat again this afternoon. I sigh as I get into the pyramid and do a shuffle to Archer’s room. I raise my hand to knock on the door and it flies open.

I look up to see Archer glaring down at me. I swallow thickly. “Hi,” I croak with a weak voice. “Is Mia—”

“Get in,” Archer barks.

My heart sinks to my toes after he says it. This could be worse than the misery this morning. I scurry by him and into the room. Mia’s still in her play pen. She’s trying to escape and failing miserably with every attempt.

I look around the room for anything that could give me information as to why Archer looks like he’s about to kill me. Everything looks pretty much the same as it was in the morning. The weight barbell has a few extra plates on it but that’s normal.

I whip around and look at Archer. He’s still seething at me, even as I start to collect Mia’s things. I shove them all into the diaper bag and swing it over my shoulder. “Well, that’ll be—”

“Heard Coach is recruiting you for combat club,” Archer hisses.

“He is,” I say. I’m surprised with how strong my voice sounds. “I told him I’d think about it.”

“Think about it?” Archer scoffs. “You’re not allowed to think about anything. You’re not doing it.”

I feel anger starting to bubble within me. “Why not?” I spit back. “I’ll still watch Mia and keep my same schedule. He said even once a week is okay and—”

“No!” Archer roars. The tone is commanding, a voice blaring in my head. Alpha. I feel the overwhelming urge to obey. I stifle it down and glare at Archer. He drops his voice low.

“You are a member of the Hayes Court,” he snaps. “Which means I am in charge of what you do. I own you. You do what I say and I say that you’re not fucking joining any clubs.”

“That’s bullshit!” I protest.

Archer rears up tall and I can almost see the hackles forming on his back. “What’s bullshit,” he hisses. “Is that you think you could hide this from me.”

“I wasn’t hiding it!” I say. “I was trying to decide if I wanted to do it. Who even told you anyways?”

“My source is not the problem,” Archer says. “It’s Coach White. I’ll be having a talk with him tomorrow about what I deem appropriate interactions with the Court are.”

“You can’t control my whole life!” I shout.

Archer glares down at me. “As long as you’re in my home,” he spits. “I can.”

I try and glare back at him but I feel as if I’m a puppy trying to go against a bear. I huff an angry breath out of my nose and storm out of his room, completely enraged.

I’m trying to think of who told him. My mind is spinning a thousand miles a minute. It lands on a memory from the night before. One I’d shoved in the deep corner of my skull with all the other Steven-related thoughts.

I told Steven about Coach White while we were doing a physics problem related to lacrosse. It the cartwheeled into telling him all of Coach White’s suggestions. Steven was the one who’d betrayed me. After being so sweet, he’d turned his back and become just another Hayes brother.

I storm down the hall and into his room. I don’t even knock, just throw the door open. Steven’s sitting at his desk. He has wire framed glasses one and is deep in a pile of books. He looks up at me, slightly confused.

“Chloe!” he says. “Didn’t think I’d see you this soon.”

“What did you tell Archer about Coach White?” I snap.

Steven’s eyes go wide then he raises an eyebrow. His voice gets super small. “Coach White?”

“Yes,” I continue on. “Did you tell him Coach White wanted me to be part of the combat team?”

Steven pushes away from his desk. He genuinely looks like I’ve upset him. He’s wearing trousers and loafers that would make anyone besides him look like a dad. They make him look sophisticated.

“I didn’t say anything,” he says. “I’ve barely seen my brothers since last weekend. What’s this about?”

“Archer just blew up on me!” I throw my hands up. I slump down in the chair across from Steven’s desk. He’s still watching me as I continue ranting.

“He said he ‘owns’ me like I’m a fucking piece of property!” I shout. “And that as long as I’m in his house, he decides what I get to do. I’m my own person! None of this was in our initial contract and it’s bullshit he’s trying to stop me from having a life outside of this hell hole!”

“You really think the pyramid is that bad?” Steven says softly. Again, he sounds hurt.

“With douchebag McFuckface, Mister I-fuck-everything-that-walks and the ticking timebomb that is Neil wandering around, yes. I do!” I throw my hands over my face with a groan.

I hear Steven chuckle slightly. I peak out from between my hands to look at him. He’s smiling.

“It’s not funny,” I grumble.

Steven tilts his head. “I’d reckon the nicknames are hilarious.”

“What are you going to tell Archer those too?” I throw back at him.

“Chloe,” he holds his hands up. “I didn’t tell Archer anything! Though, I kind of agree with him.”

My breath catches. My heart sinks down to my feet. I drop my hands into my lap and look at Steven, completely disappointed.

“What?” I say, quietly.

Steven shrugs. “I mean, schools all about figuring out what your good at and turning that into a career right?” He says. He’s talking to me as if he’d talk about physics. “I can’t say much about your combat skills but I’d say any future in that field is about as promising as one in physics for you.”

I can’t move. I can’t say anything. I’m glued to my chair in shock and silence. I just stare at Steven as he goes on. He still sounds genuine.

“You’re a good Nanny,” he says. “Maybe you should focus on that. Combat won’t get you far as a woman.”

I’m still in shock. Steven, sweet Steven, is finally showing he’s just as bad as the rest. The misogyny runs deep in this family, threaded through all the brothers like veins. When the initial shock of finding out Steven has the same views as his brothers leave, I’m angry.

“Fuck you,” I snarl from between my lips.

Steven looks sad. “Chloe, come on, I—”

“No,” I snap. “Fuck. You. I thought you were different but you’re just as bad as your other brothers.” I stand up and march towards the door. I shake my head. “Just when I thought maybe life here would be manageable, you went and showed me it wouldn’t. You’re all just a bunch of assholes.”

I leave Steven’s room with fury in my heart and Steven sitting flabbergast in his desk chair. I channel all the rage and direct it towards my next victim’s room. Archer.