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The most recent volunteer leaves through the designated guest door on the other side of the clinic.

“Eddy,” Professor Dempsey calls from within the clinic. “Come here for a sec.”

Without sparing a glance my way, Eddy rushes to join him.

I’m close to snapping at him for being so over the top. He’s been that way for the last three hours, and I just don’t get it.

But I say nothing.

I need to be here.

My teacher gestures toward his laptop, and Eddy leans in. He must be showing him the photo and information about the next volunteer. It’s a requirement, I was told. Proof that the volunteer isn’t pranking us.

Eddy’s face goes white. His lips move in the shape of a “yes.” He straightens and returns to us, his fingers hooking into the collar of his teal sweatshirt as he tugs at it.

Then he beckons me away from the other students, his lips quivering.

“Shiloh,” he whispers once I’m close enough.

“Yes?”

“About…” He leaves the sentence hanging in the air.

He’s wearing a white T-shirt under his sweatshirt. His face has just turned a shade paler.

I swear, he better not start bitching about Kaleb again.

Today has been exhausting. It’s been wearing me thin.

Blowing Val off over text messages was hard.I swear I’m okay. I need to deal with it on my own for a little while. We’ll attend the funeral together when a date is set. I’ll be safe. Promise.

The fake concern was a necessary evil. Didn’t mean I had to like it. It pained me, and yet I never hesitated.

Kaleb had to be protected at all costs. Kaleb was mine.

The pain from last night, the passion. The taking. Something snapped inside of me and I accepted every bit of it. Every bit of him.

My soul is drawn to his darkness and obsession. To him.

To the man who watched me throughout the day.

My mind couldn’t rest.

A nagging worry constantly attacked the butterflies in my stomach incessantly.

He’d been out here, on campus, where he could be seen. Someone might’ve recognized him.

I couldn’t go looking for him to tell him to quit stalking. To go into hiding.

Dad’s assistant basically admitted that he hired someone to watch me.

So no incriminating Kaleb by searching for him.

It didn’t stop me from freaking out, though. Worrying about him was making me crazy. Worst part is, it turned me on just the same. I’m still so fucking hot for his sick cat-and-mouse games.

I might end up killing him for this. All of this.

Who am I fucking kidding? I would never, ever kill him.