Page 40

SEEING THE TRUTH

MILA

The silence in the dorms is haunting. The small number of students who stayed to study on campus thins over the weekend when they take trips out of town. And tonight, with how empty it is, there must be a party at Sigma House entertaining anyone left.

The lobby is silent, and the elevator ride is mind-numbingly quiet. I lean against the back wall and think about everything Patience said.

When I enrolled in Briar Academy to be closer to Sigma House, I hoped it would lead me to whoever was at the carnival the night Remi died. What I didn’t expect was that it would lead me to Alex.

My stomach swirls, and I flatten my palm against it.

Maybe I should have listened when he tried to explain what happened.

If Alex was there that night—a fellow member of Sigma House—he probably knows who attacked Remi in the tent.

But looking into his eyes, realizing the depths of his lies, I couldn’t stand there another second.

Whether he was the one who hurt her or not, how am I supposed to forgive him? Much less, trust him?

My heart aches. And usually, when I feel like this, I’d run to Alex. So what do I do now that he’s the culprit?

He broke us. He lied.

And yet, I broke us. I said unforgivable things to him at his parents’ house.

I called him a monster. After telling him I accept him for all he is, I threw it in his face. Am I any better than he is?

The elevator slides to a stop, and a silly part of me expects to see Alex standing on the other side as the doors open. It would be like him to refuse me the space I asked for. To force me to fight through this like he fought through death.

But of course, he’s not there.

Lifting off the wall, I try not to let that bother me as I step out onto the empty floor. I try to ignore how much I miss him already. Until I turn the corner and see someone seated in the hallway outside my dorm room.

But it’s not Alex’s dark-blond hair, scarred arm, and haunted eyes staring back.

“What are you doing here?”

Marco climbs to his feet, tucking his phone into his pocket. “We had a deal. I gave you the week to yourself, and now I’m here to chat.”

“That wasn’t an actual bet we made at the carnival. Although clearly you have a hard time taking a hint.” My gaze drops to the spot where Alex’s knife landed in Marco’s shoulder.

“Is that any way to apologize for what that asshole did to me, baby? ”

“I’m not your baby.” I shove past Marco, searching my purse for my key. “And you’re not getting an apology from me or Alex.”

Marco slaps a hand on the door beside my head, leaning in so close from behind that his body presses flush with my back as he drags my hair off one side of my neck.

“Your psychotic boy toy stabbed me, Mila.” His breath tickles my neck. “It’s going to take months to heal. The least you can do is make it up to me.”

I spin around, trying to push him back a step, but he doesn’t budge. “You deserved it.”

“For doing what? Wanting you to forgive me? For admitting I care about you?” He brushes his thumb on my chin, and I tug my face away. “Why can’t you see I’ve been doing all this to try and get you to realize that you miss us?”

“You wish.”

The tick of his eyebrow hints at his irritation, but he doesn’t drop the sadistic grin. “I’ve been patient because I was in the wrong. I should have waited for you, and I shouldn’t have been with those other girls. But this is ridiculous. Aren’t we done playing these games with each other?”

“This is my life, Marco. Not a game.”

“You sure about that?” He spins my hair around his finger, slowly trailing it down my arm.

I remember when Marco’s touch used to make my skin tingle. But as his fingers trail a prickly path over my arm, a quiet warning waves in my mind.

“Stop touching me.” I shrug him off.

Marco cages both hands on the door behind me now. “Or what? You gave it up to Alex. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to touch what’s mine?”

“I haven’t been yours for months now. ”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You were mine first, and that never changed.” He grips my chin between his thumb and finger. “I made a mistake, and you got back at me with your psychopath boyfriend. But we’re even now. Let’s just call it good and pick back up where we started.”

“This isn’t a scoreboard.” And even if it was, there’s no world in which Marco and I would be considered even.

Marco tilts his head. “Don’t tell me you’re actually hung up on that fucker.”

“It’s none of your business.” My teeth clench. “What’s your deal with Alex, anyway?”

“What’s my deal with Alex? Besides the fact that he’s a fucking psycho who just got out of an insane asylum.” Marco grabs my hand and places it on his chest where Alex stabbed him. “I’m pretty sure you know what my deal is with him.”

“That was an accident,” I lie.

Like Patience said, there are no accidents when it comes to Alex, and I’m only now seeing the depths.

“We both know it wasn’t.” Marco seethes, leaning closer so we’re almost nose to nose. “And even if it was, it doesn’t explain all the other shit he did.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Liar.” Marco lowers his mouth to my ear. “You’re pretty, but you’re not that stupid. We both know what Alex was up to when he was supposedly locked up at Montgomery. What he did to Oxy. How he sent you those messages that broke us up.”

“He sent the video?”

Marco pulls back. “Interesting. You knew about Oxy but not the texts. Who did you think would care enough to let you know about my little mistake? Didn’t you wonder who sent you that video? ”

Of course I did, but I didn’t think it was Alex. He’s been manipulating me longer than I realized.

Or protecting me?

No. I need to stop excusing him. He’s been stalking me. Keeping key information from me. All for what?

Where did it get us?

“At least you’re starting to see the truth.” Marco grabs my hips, pinning me to the door.

“All I see right now is a cheating asshole who won’t leave me alone.”

“I’m never going to leave you alone, Mila. You were mine before you were his. You think you can spread your legs for half my brothers and not at least repay me the favor?” His hand moves down, aiming between my legs.

“Don’t.” I shove his hand away and try to knee him.

But Marco gets leverage over me too quickly. He shoves his knee between my legs, guarding himself.

He manages to secure my left wrist in his grip, but with my right hand free, I reach for my thigh. For the knife strapped there.

“Nice try.” Marco grabs my wrist before I reach it, shoving both my hands over my head.

I try to headbutt him, but he’s too tall. And even with his still-healing shoulder, he’s too strong.

“Fuck you, Marco.” I spit, and it dribbles down his cheek, but he only seems to appreciate it. “Let me go.”

“Oxy told me what happened. How he thought he actually had a shot with you. He didn’t realize you’re a feisty little thing. Or how protective Alex is over his favorite pet.”

“I’m no one’s pet.”

“Are you sure about that? Why else would he do what he did? ”

“I don’t know.” Or I can’t admit it to myself right now. “What do you think Alex will do to you when he finds out what you’re doing right now?”

Marco grins. “Nothing. I’m not a hang-around like Oxy. I’m a member. He can’t touch me. Alex knows no woman is worth that much trouble from the House.”

What if Marco is right?

Alex got away with hurting Oxy because he wasn’t a member.

They were probably more than willing to help cover up what he did.

But that doesn’t mean he can take serious actions against another member.

Throwing a knife at him and claiming it was an accident is one thing.

Consciously taking revenge is another. He wouldn’t risk it.

Especially after what I said to him tonight.

Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t let them fall for Marco. He doesn’t deserve them. Instead, I harness the fire that’s been steaming under the surface for years and face him without an ounce of fear.

“So this is who you really are, Marco?” I jut my chin up, staring into his dark eyes. “When you can’t get a girl to do what you want, you force it?”

“Like you don’t want it, slut.” His grip tightens.

“I can’t believe I fell for your Virgin Mary act the whole time we were together.

You probably thought that would get me to snap then, didn’t you?

That I’d call you on your shit and claim what’s mine?

Sorry I disappointed you, Mila. But I promise, I can make it up to you. ”

A flash of panic swells in my chest, but I maintain the cold, hard look in my eyes so he doesn’t sense what I’m about to do. In a swift movement, I angle my foot as far back as I can with the wall behind me, and then I slam it forward, straight into his shin.

It’s not enough to get Marco off me, but he loosens his grip, giving me the second I need to slip a hand free. I reach for my knife, unsheathing it from my leg.

Marco shoves his knee between my legs again, pushing so hard it hurts.

I swallow my scream and ignore the pain as I stab Marco in the side.

“Fuck.” Marco jerks, grabbing my throat and shoving the back of my head against the wall. “You’re going to pay for that, you fucking bitch.”

Blood drips down Marco’s side, along the handle. My vision spots as he cuts off my airway.

One of us isn’t going to survive, and I’m losing focus.

I’m losing sight.

The hall darkens as shadows fall over me. In my haze, I think maybe this is death meeting me with an amused grin.

If so, he looks a lot like Alex.

But then the shadows close in behind Marco, and a hand finds purchase over where I’m still holding the knife in Marco’s side.

With Alex’s help, the blade is pulled free, and he starts to lift.

Up.

Up.

Up.

Marco’s eyes are still widening with the realization someone is behind him as Alex tightens his grip around mine—around the handle—and shoves the point of the knife into the side of Marco’s throat.

Blood gurgles on Marco’s tongue. But before he can spit it all over me, Alex grabs Marco by the hair and pulls him back.

Marco reaches for the knife, but he’s already losing too much blood. His fingers twitch, and he cuts himself on the part of the blade sticking out of the side of his neck. There’s a final stumble, and he falls to the floor, a red river running out of him.

I’m staring straight into Marco’s eyes when the light goes out, and I almost vomit.

Death hangs in the hallway like a physical presence clogging the air. Creeping my skin and churning in my gut.

After a long moment, I finally dare to lift my chin. I crane my neck back and meet gazes with Alex, who is completely unbothered by Marco’s dead body beside us.

“You—” I shake my head, trying to piece tonight together. “He’s dead.”

Alex hums, pulling out his phone and typing something into it. “Unlock the door, Mila.”

When I don’t move, he stops typing and locks his eyes on mine. His hazel eyes have never been so dark. And yet, there isn’t the faintest hint of regret.

“Your door.” He juts his chin to the door behind me. “Unlock it and go inside.”

I drop my gaze to Marco, dead on the floor. “And what about him?”

“It’s being taken care of.”

Of course it is. It’s so easy for Alex to make these messes and sweep them under the rug, not considering how it affects anyone else.

So why is it that I’m not scared of him like I was scared of Marco?

“You’re not bothered by any of this.” It’s a statement, not a question.

Alex dips his hands into his pockets. “No.”

At least he’s honest.

“Why are you here, Alex? I told you I don’t want your explanations. ”

“You did say that.” Alex steps forward, reaching for my purse on the floor and unlocking the door when I still haven’t. “But that’s not how this works between us. So take your eyes off your dead ex-boyfriend and get inside. We’re going to talk.”