Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
I know the kind of pain he’s been through would make anyone apprehensive of touch. So to be able to do this for him—that he lets me help him—is a big compliment.
His lips part. “You don’t have to—”
“Shut up.”
He tilts his head at me and gives me that same daring look I’ve grown so used to that it brings flutters to my stomach. “After all you’ve seen me do … you still think it’s wise to provoke me?”
“Yes,” I reply, applying the bandage. “Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be the girl you’d give your life for.”
His hollowed eyes flash with an obsession so strong it forces me to pause and gaze into the depth of his soul, a chasm I could dive in without ever finding the bottom.
His hand rises to caress my cheek. “I would’ve taken that bullet for you.”
My lips quiver as his thumb brushes them. “I’m glad you didn’t have to.”
A small but still visible smile forms on his face.
Someone clears their throat. “Are you done? You’re grossing me out.”
We all look in the same direction. Lana just jumped off her own motorcycle, her helmet still in her hands. I didn’t even hear her arrive, that’s how preoccupied I was.
“So what happened?” she asks.
“Dean’s dead,” Ali says. “He … jumped.”
“Jumped?” She narrows her eyes. “Now why do I find that hard to believe?”
Dylan averts his eyes. It’s obviously too hard for him to talk about.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “The point is, he’s the reason my sister died and why the Alpha Psi house was burned down.”
“Wow,” she says, making a face. “And then he attacked the Skull & Serpent Society?”
I nod. “Him and … well, my father’s men.” I point at them and my dad, and they all wave at her like it’s normal.
“Hi,” she says, with a casual smile, and she looks at one guy who can’t even stand on one of his legs. “I’m that girl who shot your foot.”
I guess that’s one way to break the tension after a fight like that.
“Let’s not start another war,” I say.
“The threat has been dealt with,” my father says. “My men are only here to protect me and you.”
He eyes me down and then throws a stern look at Lana as though he wants to tell her not to try anything or else, and it makes me snort.
“I don’t want to rain on your little death parade here,” Lana says, flicking her long black hair back, the ends of the red ribbon dangling down.
“I’m surprised you got off without a single scratch,” Felix says.
“I know how to shoot,” she says, raising a brow. “Unlike you.”
“Ooooh.” Dylan makes a cringy face. “Harsh.”
Alistair slaps his hand in front of his mouth. “Don’t. Unless you want to be Felix’s next victim.”
Felix gets up, fists balled. “Give me one good reason not to chuck you down that fucking ravine so you can join the dean.”
She smirks and approaches him. “Because I’m your sister?” She pats him on the shoulder. “Proud of you, bro.”
Felix’s fists relax again and he rolls his eyes at her.
“You know, I’d love to chat about a dead dean and all, but I’ve got worse news for you all,” she says, folding her arms. “Dad’s on campus.”
“Dad?” I ask. “You mean yours?”
She nods and Felix’s face turns sour. “Fuck.”
I help Dylan up from the ground and support him together with Ali while we walk.
“Exactly,” she says. “So let’s go back before he puts a bullet in our heads himself.”
“Don’t you need to go to the hospital first?” I ask Dylan.
He coughs. “Nah, I’ll be fine. I can handle a little bit of pain. Besides, the school’s got an excellent in-house clinic.”
“I doubt they’ve dealt with stab wounds and gunshots,” I reply.
A smirk forms on his face. “Wanna bet?”
But as I help him walk away from the cliff, Lana says, “Hey, Pen.”
I pause and turn my head. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for protecting my brother back there at the Skull & Serpent Society.” She adds a smile. “You’re not half as bad for him as I thought you were.”
“Is that a compliment?” I muse.
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
“Thanks,” I reply and when she smiles I do too.
“Are you two bonding over murder?” Dylan muses. “Aww, cute.”
She rolls her eyes. “Shut it before I put a bullet in you too.”
FELIX
We head back to the campus grounds. Me and Dylan on my bike, Ali together with Lana on her bike, while Penelope drives with her father. I don’t think he trusted me enough to take her back safely. But I know he’ll take care of her, so I didn’t fight him on it.
I’ve had enough pain in a single day.
For now, I just want to fucking rest and see what the damage is at the Skull & Serpent Society house. It’s going to be a massive cleanup that I know we’ll need all our men for.