Chapter 140

Chapter 140
Crew’s POV

Earlier that day

My heart’s a fucking war drum, Lily’s broken sobs—“He beat us, Crew, I’m so scared”—raging my soul as I slam out of my dorm, keys digging into my palm, my mind a storm of rage and desperation. Her call, her trembling voice confessing her father’s brutality—his fists on her face, her ribs, her mom’s blood, her bite on his head to save her mother—has me unraveling, my love for her a blazing fire.

I’m headed to my car, Billy’s driver is already en route to her location in her estate, my text to her—Tony’s coming, you’re brave, I love you—a promise I’m living for. The necklace, her heirloom, burns at my throat, a sacred claim that she’s mine, not her monster father’s, not Fig’s, no one’s but mine. I’m halfway across the quad, the cold biting, my breath ragged, when Rita’s voice, sharp and unwelcome, cuts through my haze.

“Crew, wait up!” she calls, her sneakers squeaking, her colored hair bouncing as she hurries toward me, her psychology notebook clutched like a prop. I freeze, my jaw clenching, fury spiking—she’s the last fucking thing I need, her timing a cruel joke.

“Since Lily’s not around,” she says, her voice too sweet, her eyes glinting with intent, “wanna switch partners for psych? We’d be good together.” She steps close, her perfume cloying, her hand grazing my arm, her lips parting, a calculated seduction that makes my skin crawl.

My rage explodes, hot, as I seeLily’s bruises flashing—her swollen jaw, her mom’s broken ribs, her “He’ll kill us”—and I shove Rita’s hand off, my voice a low growl. “Back the fuck off, Rita.” My hands shake, my fists clenched, her touch is like a violation, her flirtation a mockery of Lily’s pain.

“I’m with Lily, you hear me? She’s in trouble, and you’re out here playing games? Fuck you.” My eyes blaze, my chest heaving, her shocked gasp is irrelevant and her widened eyes a flicker I don’t care about. Lily’s fighting for her life, and this bullshit—Rita’s coy smile, her teasing—feels like betrayal, a distraction I can’t afford.

Rita stumbles back, her face flushing, but she recovers, her voice sharp.

“God, Crew, chill. I’m just offering—Lily’s not even here.” She steps closer, defiant, her hand reaching again,her hand brushing my chest, her “We could have fun” a whisper that ignites my fury to a new level. I grab her wrist, hard, my grip a warning, my voice a snarl.

“Don’t touch me. You don’t get it and I won't tell you again—Lily’s everything, and I’m done with this shit.” I release her, shoving past, my boots heavy, my heart screaming for Lily, her courage, her love, the one only I'm so into.

Then Alison’s voice yells out like a venomous hiss, slices through the quad.

“What the hell, Rita?” She’s storming over, her golden hair wild, her skirt riding high, her eyes flashing with possessive rage.

“You’re hitting on my Crew now?” Her words are funny, like a a performer, her hands on her hips, her glare darting between us, and I’m livid, her claim on me took me by surprise, her chaos a fucking nightmare.

She turns to me, her voice softening, manipulative. “Crew, she’s nothing. You know I’m the one you want—tutoring’s just the start.” Her eyes promise sex, her lips a taunt, and I see red, her betrayal with Javier—his cock in her, her ass up—merging with Lily’s pain, Alison’s kiss that broke her trust.

“Shut the fuck up, Alison,” I roar, my voice echoing, students pausing, eyes on us, but I don’t care.

“You’re both pathetic, chasing me while Lily’s fighting to survive. I’m done with your games.” My chest heaves, my breath comes in fast, Alison’s smirk faltering, Rita’s mouth open, their drama a sideshow I’m burning down.

“I love Lily,” I say, my voice firm, the necklace a fire against my skin. “Not you, not anyone else. Stay the fuck away.” I turn, my boots slamming the ground, my mind on Lily—her hiding in the woods, her mom bleeding. I've got to get home fast and I can't be up in this Alison and Rita’s stupid fight.

Alison shouts, her voice shrill, desperate. “You’ll regret this, Crew! Don't you turn your back on me!” Her words are a fading echo, Rita’s “He’s not worth it” a faint jab, their catfight irrelevant as I break into a run, my car in sight, my heart a bleeding wound.

Lily’s call—“He beat us”—replays, her courage, her bite on his head, her saving her mom, a strength I’m in awe of.

I think of her father, Richard, his fists, his rage over our photos—my bare chest, her kisses, our love—and I want to kill him, make him pay for every mark, every tear.

I slide into my car, the engine roaring, my hands shaking, tears burning my eyes, Alison and Rita’s chaos a distant hum. Lily’s my world, her love, my redemption, her safety, is my only concern now.

Billy’s driver, Tony, is speeding to her, armed, ready to bring her and Mary to our house, but I need to be there, hold her, fuck her until her fear’s gone, her father’s shadow erased. The necklace is my vow, she trusts my reason, she increases fuel. I think of Vermont—her moans, her pussy mine, her heart open—and I’m desperate, my love a wildfire, her courage a spark I’ll guard.

I peel out, the campus blurring, my phone pinging—Lily’s text, Tony’s here, we’re safe— I sigh a faint relief, but I’m not calm, not until she’s in my arms, her mom secure, her father’s threat ended.

Alison’s seduction, Rita’s flirtation, are nothing, their games dust against Lily’s fight, her “I love you” with my heart. Richard’s out there, a monster, but I’m Crew Manchester, and I’ll destroy him, save her, love her, my rage, a blade, her life, my reason, no matter the blood, no matter the cost.

My phone soon rings and it's Billy.

“Bil?”
“They're in the penthouse. Her mom is undergoing treatment now.” Billy says calmly. “Crew?”

“How's Lily?” I ask. My mind is raging fast.

Silence.

“Fucking talk to me Bil.” I yell out.

I hear him sigh weary.

“Lily might have to get a surgery. She has internal injuries and I'm afraid it's serious. That bastard hit her hard.” Billy said carefully.

“Fuck!!!” I yell out as I park my car and hit the car horn.

“Careful Crew. Should I send someone to check in on you? Share with me your location.”

“I'll be fine.” I say as I hung up before Billy says anything.

I'm going to kill that bastard.