Page 23 of Ice-Cold Obsession

“Yeah.”

I reach into my pocket and pull out one of the bags. He hands me some cash, and I shove the crumpled bills into my other pocket without counting them. Then he disappears back into the crowd.

I move on to the next group. A girl I recognize from one of my classes. She’s with her friends, and when she sees me, she breaks away and meets me by the hallway.

She’s quieter than the last guy and more careful. She glances around to make sure no one’s watching before she hands over the money and takes the bag. She doesn’t say anything, just nods and leaves.

I’m halfway through my stash when I realize someone’s watching me. I glance around the room, scanning the faces in the crowd. But I don’t see anyone paying attention to me, just drunk college students dancing and laughing.

Still, the feeling doesn’t go away.

I move to a different part of the house, trying to shake off the feeling. As I weave through the crowd, the sensation follows me.

I make another sale near the kitchen. A guy I don’t recognize hands me the cash and takes two bags. Then another by the stairs. A girl who looks too young to be here but who knows exactly what she wants.

The packet in my pocket is getting lighter, and I’m almost done.

But the feeling of being watched still doesn’t leave me.

I step outside onto the front porch. The night is cold, and the street is quiet compared to the chaos inside. Leaning against the railing, I pull out my phone and check the time.

It’s almost midnight. I need to finish up and get out of here.

My phone buzzes in my hand.

Ten minutes.

There’s a location pinned.

My chest tightens, and I look up and scan the street. There’s no one there, just parked cars and empty sidewalks.

Ten minutes. That’s barely enough time to get where I’m supposed to.

I shove my phone into my pocket, moving quickly. I don’t know what this is about, but I know I can’t be late.

I stride down the street, keeping my head down. The party noise fades behind me, and the street gets quieter with every step I take.

I break into a run.

My feet pound against the pavement, and my breath comes out fast and hard. I turn a corner and keep running, my heart racing and my mind spinning. The meeting spot is on the other side of campus, and I’m already cutting it close.

I need to get there ASAP.

Chapter 12

SCARLETT

I SEE GABRIEL RACINGdown the street, and I know something’s wrong. He runs like he’s being chased, his jacket flapping behind him. I’m half-hidden in the shadows, and I watch him disappear around the corner.

I stay on the opposite side of the street, keeping enough distance so that he won’t notice me if he turns around. My footsteps are quick and light, and I use parked cars and trees as cover whenever I can.

Gabriel moves faster than someone just leaving a party, and it makes my pulse quicken. As I follow him, my mind races through what I saw at the party.

Gabriel was selling drugs. I’m sure of it.

I watched him moving through the crowd and making exchanges so quickly and smoothly that most people wouldn’t have noticed. A nod here, a hand in his pocket there, cash passed... and then he was moving on to the next person. He knew exactly what he was doing and how to blend in while making deals right under everyone’s noses.

I tried to get some photos, but he was too fast. By the time I pulled out my phone and tried to aim the camera without him noticing, he’d already moved on. And I couldn’t risk getting too close. Not after what happened when he caught me following him.