Page 13

It’s better if Violet thinks I’m bothered by the carnival than for her to know it’s Patience’s brother I can’t get off my mind.

“I’m so jealous you’re going to be spending the summer in LA without me.” I steer the conversation in a different direction.

“It’s not like we’re going to LA for fun. It’s a tough internship. I’ve heard half the students will likely drop out before the summer ends.”

“Well, I doubt that will be you or Patience. You’re too smart, and she’s too stubborn,” I try to assure her.

“But just because you’re there for school doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy yourself.

Seriously, if you and Patience don’t do at least one fun thing while you’re there, I’m going to disown you.

Sneak into a bar, get a tattoo… anything. ”

Violet shakes her head, but my comment seems to get Kole’s attention.

Knowing how he is with Violet, I don’t doubt he would get her name permanently inked across his chest after just a few months of dating.

Or maybe he wants to put his name on hers.

Who knows what those two are into, but they take obsession to another level.

“Hey, babe.” A hand snakes behind my back, stealing my attention .

I look up to see Marco grinning down at me. Glancing back at Violet, she rolls her eyes, folding herself back into Kole’s embrace to give me some space.

“I’m not your babe.” I offer Marco a venomous smile.

“Don’t be like that. I thought we were working things out.”

“You cheated on me.”

“It was an accident.”

“Your cock accidentally found itself inside multiple other girls while we were dating?”

He winces like I’ve hit him.

Maybe I should.

“Don’t bother.” I pull out of his grip, and even if he lets me, he doesn’t back up.

Marco braces a hand on the bar behind me, raking his dark hair back with the other. I remember when his dark eyes were enough to fool me. How endless and deep they seemed to be. How I used to believe his tongue spun more than lies.

“We were good together,” he tries to remind me. “Remember that drive we took up north. I never talk to people like that.”

We drove all night, not heading anywhere in particular. It was the first time Marco and I had a full conversation. We talked about nothing and everything. He wasn’t like he is now, standing among his fraternity brothers. That night, he felt like a real person.

“I remember.” I swallow, and it feels like glass in my throat. “But it doesn’t change what you did.”

“If I’d have known we were that serious, I wouldn’t have done it.”

“You were my boyfriend. How is that not serious?”

He looks me over. “We hadn’t fucked yet. ”

“Seriously? You’re blaming me for the fact that you cheated because I didn’t have sex with you?” I try to pull back, but he doesn’t let me.

“I’m just saying.” He leans close enough that his body presses against my side. “It could be different this time. We could both commit. Fully.”

His hand trails down my arm, and I shove him back a step. “I don’t want anything from you anymore, Marco.”

“When did you become such a bitch?” Marco leans in, smelling like whiskey and pot. “You think your new boyfriend is better than me?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t have a boyfriend.”

He smirks, lifting a lock of my brown hair and spinning it around his finger. “You sure about that?”

“Does this have anything to do with what Oxy said?” I remember his comment from the carnival and how he assumed I was fucking Alex.

“Funny you should bring up Oxy.” Marco’s jaw ticks. “Haven’t you heard what happened to him?”

“No.” My eyebrows pinch. “What happened?”

“He was brought into the hospital yesterday. One of the professors found him in the courtyard with a broken nose and thousands of small cuts all over his body.”

My heart races.

Yesterday?

I saw him walking to class the day before. He glared at me from across the courtyard, still sporting two fading black eyes from when I elbowed him in the nose at the carnival.

“Did he say what happened?”

“That’s the interesting part.” Marco leans so close his body heat is overwhelming. “He hasn’t said anything. He can’t. Seems his tongue was cut right out of his mouth. ”

His words are a whisper that sends an ice-cold chill down my spine.

Marco pulls back, and my eyes widen.

“Sick, right?” Marco’s words don’t match the smirk that climbs his cheeks.

Amusement not fitting for the conversation we’re having.

“That’s awful.”

Marco huffs. “Surprised it scares you, Mila. You’re spending so much time with a psychopath, I figured you’d be numb to this kind of shit.”

“What does Alex have to do with this?” I narrow my eyes. “And what do you have against him?”

“The better question is, what does Alex have against me?”

“What does he have against you?”

Marco clicks his tongue. But he doesn’t answer my question. “You might hate me, and you might not trust me, but be careful, Mila. Not everyone is who you think they are.”

“Like you?” I shoot back.

His jaw clenches as he shakes his head. “Among others.”

At that, he turns on his heel and walks away, leaving a weight sitting in my gut. Along with a thousand questions begging to be answered.

Who hurt Oxy?

Why is Marco warning me not to trust anyone?

And why did he insinuate Alex’s involvement in any of this?

After all, Alex has been locked in Montgomery for the last three years.

A shiver shimmies down my spine.

Or has he?