Page 52 of Boys Who Taint (Spine Ridge University #5)

Levi

“Oh God.” Aspen’s eyes widen, and she grabs a blanket to cover her body, but the damage is already done.

She’s in Apollo’s bed, naked.

Blood still stains her freckled skin.

And the sight of it turns me into a rabid monster.

“You motherfucker,” I growl.

“Before you try to kill me, they came to me,” Apollo interjects.

“What the fuck do you mean ‘ they’ ?”

Apollo rips down the blanket, revealing Grey underneath, right next to Aspen.

“What the—”

“Don’t start another fight. Not in my room, please,” Apollo says.

“You have some fucking nerve saying that to my face,” I growl. “You know what he is.”

“A Phantom? A bisexual twink?” An amusing grin spreads on his face, but I don’t find it funny.

“You had sex with both of them,” I say.

“That doesn’t sound like a question,” Grey says.

“I didn’t ask you,” I spit back, approaching. “Why is she covered in blood?”

Aspen pulls the blanket up. “None of your business.”

I grab her arm and look at it, trying to find a wound. “Are you hurt? Who did this?”

She jerks back. “Why do you care?”

“Get away from her,” Grey growls.

“You’re one to talk, you fucking liar.” I throw the pieces of the camera right back in his face, scattering them on the bed.

“Don’t trash my room. I just got it cleaned,” Apollo gripes.

“What is this?” Grey raises a brow.

“He’s been videotaping you,” I say, focusing on Aspen only. “In. Your. Room.”

Her jaw drops, dread settling on her face. “That’s not—”

“Then what’s this I found?” I throw more camera scrap onto her lap, along with the lens. “That’s his. He planted that in your room.”

She leans away from him. “What?”

“Oh boy,” Apollo groans, slapping his hand in front of his eyes.

“That’s how he sent that fucking picture,” I say. “And he’s got a ton more, hidden somewhere on a laptop that isn’t here.”

She slowly veers away from him, horror filling her eyes. “Grey? Is that true?”

He swallows but doesn’t reply.

“Of course it’s true!” I grab her arm and drag her out of his bed. “I’m not letting you stay in his vicinity one second longer.”

“Let go of me.” She scratches at my arm. “Dammit, Levi, let me go!” She breaks free and pushes me away. “Why are you always trying to tear me away from him? Can’t you just let me be happy? For once, can I be happy without you?”

Her voice is unsteady, unhinged, torn asunder by the pain I caused her, and it nearly rips me in half.

She hates me as much as I wanted her to, but I never expected him to step into the picture and ruin everything I’d tried so hard to destroy. I wanted to protect her from him, even if it cost me my soul. But maybe even that wasn’t enough to save her.

“You went into my room?” she murmurs. “Why?”

I can’t answer her question.

I can’t, and I won’t.

“Why?” She shoves me again.

But all I can look at are those picture-perfect freckles, destroyed by the tears that cascade down her cheeks.

I want to hug her, hold her tight, tell her it’ll be all right.

But it won’t.

It won’t ever be.

“Why?” The rage becomes louder and louder. “Why did you have to do this? Why did you have to ruin what we had?” she murmurs, rubbing her pretty eyes that still shine so brightly they could light this whole goddamn house on fire with just a single look.

And she whispers, “Why do you have to make me doubt him?”

I look at her from under my lashes. “Because he’s a liar.”

Her head slowly turns toward Grey, whose ghostly face has lost all its color. All the happiness. The devious smile that he once used to prey on her.

Gone.

Grey

The viciousness grips my heart in an instant and squeezes the life force out.

He really fucking went there.

I’m going to kill him.

I fish my knife from my pocket and immediately lash out, but Apollo grabs my arm, stopping me before I reach him. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Let go so I can shank him!” I yell.

“Exactly why I’m not letting you go.”

“Figured he’d pull that stunt.” Levi scoffs.

Aspen picks up a piece of the camera from the floor and inspects it, quaking as the rage begins to take hold. She crushes it in her hand, grabs her clothes, puts them on, and runs out the door.

“Aspen!” I yell, jerking free from Apollo’s grip to chase her.

But that motherfucker actually blocks my path. “I will end you if you don’t get out of my fucking way.”

“Try. I’ve been waiting for the chance to gut you myself,” Levi replies, tucking his hand into his pocket where I’m sure he’s hiding a knife too.

“Don’t you two dare,” Apollo interjects, as he swiftly puts on sweatpants and approaches. “This is my room. Read that sign?” He points at a small placard on the door. “No fighting. No stabbing. No murder. This is my sanctuary.”

“Fuck that shit,” Levi growls. “We should’ve killed him when we had the chance.”

“He’s still a Phantom, Levi. Whether you like him or not, you can’t hurt him.”

“You heard him,” I hiss. “Now move.”

He glares at me for a moment before finally stepping aside, and I bolt past him, shoving him out of the way. I have much more important things to deal with first before I put him under the ground.

I put on my jacket and rush down the stairs, following Aspen outside. “Please, wait.”

“No,” she rebukes.

“Please, let me explain.”

“Stop following me,” she says.

“I can’t,” I say, finally catching up to grab her hand. “You’re my girlfriend, my world.”

She jerks loose. “Is it true?” she mutters. “Did you tape me?”

The cat’s out of the bag now, thanks to Levi. There’s no other way to regain her trust than by being transparent.

I nod.

God, how I wish this day had never come.

Her face scrunches up in anger. “Show me. Now.”

Aspen

Grey gulps and walks down the steps to his car and opens the door, looking at me like he wants to drive me somewhere.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You don’t have to. We’re not driving. Everything is in here.”

He sits down on the front seat and opens up a hidden compartment that fits a small laptop and a hard disk to store all the material.

I can’t believe he kept all this in his car.

How did I never notice?

I step closer and finally decide to sit down on the passenger’s seat. The danger is real, but the need to know is stronger than my need to stay safe.

He hands me the laptop like it’s a smoking gun.

“Password is Aspen,” he says, sighing.

It’s like he’s given up completely.

I type in the word, and sure enough, the laptop opens up. Dozens upon dozens of files all labeled by date. I open one of the folders and inspect the videos inside. I sift through the files without care, blipping through each raw video footage of me.

Me.

Me.

Me.

All he ever taped was me.

Me, outside in the grass with my friends. Me, at one of my classes. Me, having a quick ice cream downtown. There must be hundreds of videos and photos, all of me.

He’s obsessed.

My entire life compacted into a single drive.

Like only a stalker would.