𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 | SPINOFF

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

DAMON
LARS

Astor was clearly failing at keeping Avery Raven from spiraling into a mess. For years, Jaxon, Grayson, Alessio, and I had taken it upon ourselves—along with her girls—to protect her, to keep her on the right path. She was the youngest, and we tried hard to make sure she turned out to be a good girl. But now? With Astor and his reckless friends, she was slipping, and fast.

Grayson and I were at this frat party, trying to change the mood after everything that had been happening. Avery had been distant for a whole week, ignoring her friends—who now probably considered themselves her ex-friends. Stella had forced Marcella and Lily to let Avery come crawling back, but Avery wasn't the type. She was stubborn. Always made us crawl back to her.

"She's gotta be bored by now. All he does is grind against her," Grayson said, laughing as he pointed out the scene. Avery wasn't even paying attention to Astor; she was just drinking, lost in her thoughts.

Drinking at fifteen.

"She's wearing a dress," I added. "She hates dresses." It was a clear sign that something was off. I'd always kept an eye on her, checking for bruises or signs of what her dad might have done. Tonight, I noticed two: one on her neck, another on her elbow. Astor had her dressing up, covering up. The red dress was bold, a statement—one she'd never willingly make.

I watched as she chugged down what had to be her sixth cup. She shoved through the crowd, heading for the stairs. As her eyes met mine, she quickly looked away. Grayson chuckled beside me. "She saw you, dumbass."

I looked back at her retreating figure. "Should we kidnap her, just to piss off her boyfriend?" I joked.

Grayson grinned, standing up immediately. "Let's do it."

"I was kidding, man," I muttered, but Grayson was already moving. "You son of an idiot."

"We'll just steal her for a bit, annoy Astor. It's not kidnapping if we give her back, right?" He was already halfway to the stairs.

Two minutes later, we broke into the bathroom where Avery was wiping her hands. "Get out! Privacy, please," she slurred, trying to shove us out. "I don't know you random boys."

Grayson laughed. "Oh, come on. We've seen worse. Remember when we dunked you in the bathtub with Stella when you were six?"

"We're here to steal you," I cut in, my tone serious.

Avery frowned, tossing the tissue aside and trying to push past us. "Move, losers. I need to get back to my boyfriend."

"Unfortunately, your boyfriend isn't here right now," Grayson smirked. "Want us to call Alessio? Embarrass you even more?"

Avery pouted, slurring, "Don't bring him up. Astor's gonna be mad if I take too long."

"Does he have you on a leash or something? You're acting like you're dating your father," I snapped, stepping closer and lifting her up before she could respond. She was too light. At 5'0, she weighed maybe 45 kilograms, dangerously thin. I remembered how Alessio used to make sure she ate when they were together. Now, she was forgetting to take care of herself.

Avery squealed, hitting my head. "Put me down!" she squirmed.

Grayson led the way as we made it out of the house, thankfully without anyone noticing. "Good thing we didn't bring the bikes," Grayson said, opening the door to the Mercedes. "This came in handy."

I threw Avery in the backseat and locked the doors as Grayson started the car. She yelled, hitting my shoulder and calling us psychos. "This is so messed up!"

"What's messed up is your nineteen-year-old boyfriend giving you drinks and letting you go to the bathroom alone in that tiny dress. I wouldn't let my girl do that," I said calmly, ignoring her punches.

I wouldn't even let my girl wear a tiny dress. If she does, she better be on my lap the entire time.

"Because Astor's a normal guy!" she yelled back. "Not like you."

I sighed, trying to keep my voice steady. "He's not normal. He's careless."

Grayson, though, was losing his cool. "Quit acting like a brat. We're trying to help you."

Avery slumped against the window, muttering to herself. "No one stays... everyone leaves. Alessio left, now my friends left too."

"You're still part of their lives, Avery," I said softly, meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror. "Family never gives up on you. You're their girl."

Grayson nodded. "Yeah, look at us. We've stuck by you for years. We don't give up even when you get annoyingly complicated."

That's what we are. We take care of each other. These girls we say who we hate and aren't our friends, they're our family.

The car pulled up to the old cabin, and Grayson helped her out while I grabbed the keys from the plant I always kept them under. But something felt off.

"Wait, something's wrong," I said, realizing the door hadn't been locked. "Did any of the guys come here recently?"

Grayson shook his head. "Nope. Last time anyone was here, we locked it."

Before I could respond, a voice cut through the room. "What the hell are you guys doing here?"

Alessio stood at the top of the stairs, shirtless, sweat dripping down his chest. His neck was marked with two hickeys. As we turned, a girl appeared beside him, wrapping her arm possessively around his.

"Hi, guys," Avalina said with a smug smile.

Avery stiffened, her face crumbling. "Hi, Avalina. You stole something from me," she slurred.

"What? I didn't take any of your clothes."

Avery's lip trembled. "No, you stole someone I really wanted." She looked at Alessio, heartbreak written all over her face.

I quickly pulled her up the stairs, whispering, "Let's get you to bed before you say something you'll regret."

She sighed, her voice soft as I laid her on the bed. "Why didn't you let me tell her he was mine before he became hers?"

I paused at the door. "Because in the morning, you'll cry about it. And I don't want to see you cry."

She chuckled weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "I cry every day. It's therapeutic."

As I closed the door, I whispered, "He still loves you, Aves. He never stopped."

And with that, I left her to sleep, the weight of everything heavy in the air.