Chapter 144
Chapter 144
Crew’s POV
Lily’s hand trembles in mine, her bruised face—swollen jaw, blackened eye, split lip—a map of her father’s cruelty that guts me every time I look at her.
We’re in Billy’s penthouse, the city skyline a distant blur, her shallow breaths against my chest.
She’s curled into me on the couch, her body fragile,and my love for her is a wildfire, burning through my rage at Richard, her monster of a father.
The necklace—her heirloom—scorches my throat, a vow she’s mine.
I’m stroking her hair, whispering promises—“You’re safe, Lil, I’ve got you”—when my phone buzzes, Luke’s name flashing, a distraction I don’t want but can’t ignore. I answer, my voice low, rough. “What, Luke? I’m busy.”
“Dude, you gotta hear this,” Luke says, his voice laced with excitement, Marcus’s laugh crackling in the background.
“Alison and Rita went fucking crazy in the quad—full-on fight, blood, hair-pulling, the works. Over you, man!” His words hit like a punch, Alison’s obsession, her cheek kiss that broke Lily’s trust, came surging back.
Lily stiffens beside me, her eyes flicking to mine, a spark of jealousy in her pain-dulled gaze, and my heart clenches.
“What the fuck?” I growl, my grip tightening on the phone, my eyes on Lily, her bruised face a reminder of her fight, her courage against her dad.
“They’re fighting over me? That’s insane.” My voice is sharp, my anger at Alison—her betrayal with Javier, her “I’ll have you” taunts—and Rita’s flirtation a pointless echo. I want to shield Lily from this, from their chaos, her heart is already battered.
Marcus cuts in, his voice teasing, smug. “Bro, they were screaming about who fucked you first, who owns you. Alison nearly killed Rita’s. Just fuck ‘em both, man—Lily’s still a virgin, no experience, you know?” His laugh grates, a careless jab that lands like a blow, and my blood boils, my jaw clenching, Lily’s body tensing, her jealous eyes glaring at me now.
Marcus doesn’t know—none of them do—about Vermont, Lily’s moans, her pussy mine, her virginity given to me, our love sealed in sweat and trust. I haven’t told them, her heart is too sacred to share, their crude assumptions are a violation now.
“Shut the fuck up, Marcus,” I snarl, my voice firm, my eyes locked on Lily’s, her tears is welling now. She wants to cry now and I fucking hate seeing her cry.
“Alison’s fucking crazy, and Rita’s just riding her wave. They’re fighting for nothing—I’m with Lily, only her. You don’t know shit.” My words are serious now. My rage at their teasing, at Alison’s chaos, a storm I’m barely containing.
Lily’s hand tightens as I squeeze my face, her nails biting my palm, her jealousy a fire I need to douse, her trust in me fraying under this new blow.
Luke chuckles, trying to lighten it. “Chill, man, we’re just messing. But it was wild—Alison’s face was messed up, Rita’s bleeding. Fig dragged them to Andrews’ office, screaming for punishment.” Then his voice shifts, curious. “Are you really shutting Alison down? She’s still after you hard.”
His question stings, Alison’s persistence—her tutoring trap, her body pressed against mine—a shadow I’m fighting, Lily’s pain my priority.
“She’s nothing,” I say, my voice is cold, my eyes on Lily, her red-rimmed gaze searching mine, her fear of losing me is so glaring. “Lily’s everything. Drop it.” My tone’s final, my love for her isn't theirs to gossip about and I’m done with.
We chat a minute more—Marcus joking about the crowd, Luke mentioning Fig’s fury—but I’m half-listening, my focus on Lily, her trembling, her silence. I hang up, tossing the phone, my heart pounding, her jealousy a storm I need to calm.
“Lil,” I say, my voice soft, turning to her, my hands cupping her bruised face, gentle, my thumbs tracing her tears.
“Don’t listen to them. Alison, Rita—they’re nothing, fucking nobody. I’m yours, only yours.” My eyes plead, her doubt a wound I’m desperate to heal. Her lips tremble, her voice a broken whisper, her jealousy raw, exposed.
“They fought for you,” she says, her tears falling, her voice cracking, her pain hitting me hard. “They want you, Crew, and I’m… I’m broken, a mess. What if you—” Her sob cuts her off, her fear—that I’d choose Alison’s fire, Rita’s flirtation, over her love— dagger in my heart. I see Vermont—her body yielding, her trust mine, her “I love you”—and I’m gutted, her doubt a failure I own.
“Stop,” I say, my voice fierce, as I put my forehead to hers, my tears mixing with hers.
“You’re not a mess—you’re my fucking world, Lil. You fought your dad, saved your mom, survived hell. Alison’s crazy, Rita’s a joke—they don’t come close to you, never will.”
I kiss her,slowly, soft, mindful of her split lip, my tongue gentle, my hands in her hair, pouring my love, my vow, into her.
“We’ve already fucked, baby—Vermont, you gave me everything, and I’m hooked, only on you.” My voice breaks, my cock stirring at the memory, my heart hers, her jealousy a fire I’m soothing.
She softens, her sobs quieting, her hands gripping my shirt, her eyes searching mine, the necklace at my throat a vow she sees. “I’m scared,” she whispers, her voice low, her jealousy fading but lingering. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” I growl, my voice a promise, my arms pulling her close, her fragile body against mine, her pain mine.
“I’m here, Lil,for your mom, all of it, I’ve got you. Alison, Rita, they’re dust. You’re my fire, my home.”
My words are oaths, my love a shield, her trust a treasure I’ll guard. I hold her, as her breaths ease, her jealousy fading,my rage at Richard, at Alison’s chaos, a blade I’ll wield later. She’s mine, her courage, her love, my reason, and I’ll fight for her, no matter the cost, no matter the blood.
“We're in this together Lil. I'm not going anywhere.” I tell her slowly as she curled tightly to me.
“Promise?” She asks quietly.
“I promise.” I say sincerely as I give her a peck on her forehead.