Page 16 of Die for You

Fucking answer me.

We need to talk.

I deserve answers.

You’re a fucking bitch, you know that?

Stop fucking hiding. You need to face the consequences of your actions. Take responsibility.

You need me.

You know we’re perfect together.

My blood pressure spikes. I want to teleport through this phone and beat the shit out of the motherfucker talking to her like this.

I pass the phone to Damien, whose frown deepens with each text he reads.

“You’re all assholes!” she protests.

Juliet shrugs. “You get used to it.”

“They’re actually lovable assholes when you get to know them,” Sienna says.

“Lovable?” Luke’s gaze narrows on her with faux suspicion.

Sienna rolls her eyes. “Platonicallylovable.”

“We’re romantically lovable too,” Knox protests. “And sexually.”

Trey gags.

“Who the fuckisthis?” Damien snaps, silencing the table. He slides the phone over to Knox, who snatches it before Aurora can. Knox stiffens when he sees the screen. “No secrets. We’re not dealing with that shit again.”

No one says a word until Aurora finally pushes her empty plate away and sighs. “It’s my ex. From the Sigma Chi party.”

Juliet nods. “You’re not safe, are you?”

Silence falls again, and a glance at her face tells me Aurora’s trying desperately to hold back tears. Angry that she has to deal with this motherfucker, and underneath that rage...fear.

I do the only thing I can. Take her hand. Thread her fingers through mine, rub my thumb along hers. She doesn’t pull away this time. Everyone needs comfort, even those who try their hardest to convince everybody around them that they don’t. Especially them.

“We can protect you.” Knox’s voice comes out soft, soothing.

This is way more serious than wanting to fuck her. She protected us that night—now we need to do the same for her.

She snorts, blinking away the tears. “So what? You’re going to be my bodyguards?”

“You won’t find better ones,” Damien says.

“Or for free,” Knox adds. “We owe you one.”

Aurora drops my hand, and I already miss her fingers between mine. “Youarealive because of me.”

Knox grins. “Exactly.”

“Live with us,” I murmur.

Aurora’s eyes go round as saucers. “Livewith you? You’re crazy.”