Page 224 of Burn Bright

Then Iggy adds, “She brought you a whole thing of cookies. She even demanded that no one eat them until you got here.” He snorts like there’s no chance that happened.

It feels like a Mac Truck just slammed into me. Audrey’s love of baking cookies isn’t so widely known. He’d only mention it if it were true. She’s here. I dial her number, my pulse racing so far ahead of me, I can’t see straight. While it rings, I ask, “Iggy, you know where she is?”

“I just saw her come inside. Not where she went.”

Fuck,fuck.I’m about to storm upstairs, to the bedrooms, but she suddenly answers, “Ben?” Her voice sounds weird. Woozy?

“Where are you?”

“Don’t be angry?—”

“I’m not angry. Please just tell me where you are,please.” I’m suffocating under distress. I whip my head around, trying to see if I can find her. She’s not in the kitchen, so I bolt back into the living room where the music pierces my eardrums.

“I’m at your frat house,” Audrey confirms with a very slow, very strange breath. I plug one of my ears to hear her say, “The basement.”

“I’m not far. I’m coming to you. Stay there.” I’m running. Sprinting. For my sister. Down the creaky wooden steps into the dank, tuna fish smelling Kappa basement.

Why she’s here is a thousand-leagues deep in my brain. I’m not diving for those answers. It does not matter right now. All that matters is that she’s safe.

As I rush into the basement, all I see are guys. Way too many fucking guys. And my sister—she’s on the plaid couch, lying on the cushions with her cheek on the armrest, and Leif is on theother end. She’s coherent. Her blue eyes just barely meet mine as I charge for the Kappa president.

“Get off the fucking couch!” I scream at him. Confusion and alarm startle him off the sofa, but I’m already yelling, “SHE’S SIXTEEN!”

“Whoa, Ben.Ben.” He raises his hands. His eyes huge.

I am guarding the fucking couch from every single one of them. I swear, I will lay them on the fucking concrete floor if they so much as inch toward her.

“It’s not what you think?—”

“She’s theonlygirl down here with half the frat—don’t fucking tell me I’m overreacting.” I come closer to Audrey and check on her with a quick glance, trying to keep an eye on the guys who easily outnumber me. I’m six-five. I’ve never been physically weak, but if they wanted, they could restrain me and do whatever they wanted to her. Make me watch. Nausea is scorching my throat.

I want to think better of them, but right now, I am cycling through the worst possibilities.

“Let’s just talk about this, okay?” Leif says, knowing these accusations in the frat could damage Kappa’s reputation. The whole chapter might be punished if it gets back to the dean. Not to mention, my sister isfamous.There is no rug big enough to sweep this under.

I squat beside Audrey.

She’s petrified, staring in stark, wide-eyed horror at me. I don’t understand why. I can’t make sense of this. “I’m getting you out of here.” I’m about to pick her up.

“Wait.” She catches my wrist. “I’m…I’m okay?”

“Why is that a question?”

“I…” She glances around, as if reevaluating this basement, these people. “We’re at your frat, Ben. These are your friends.”

Is that why she’s here? To befriend my friends?

I smear a hand over my mouth. Don’t puke.

“Just…can we talk first?” Audrey asks, not wanting to make a scene in front of these older guys, probably.

“I think that’s agreatidea,” Leif says stiffly, trying not to be hostile. I shoot him a glare.

I am confused beyond belief, but I know one thing. I need my brothers. With my phone concealed at my side, I send a group text with one hand.

Ben Cobalt

Need you. Audrey is here. Basement.