Page 120 of Massacre Monday

If there’s a chance we aren’t staying, that broadens my prospects tremendously. I could do whatever I wanted, basically. The pure blue of the sky opens my eyes in a way I never thought of before. Maybe there’s a way out of here for both of us, though I would miss my family too much to stay away for long.

I’m not sure what the future holds, but I hope Ryan and I can find our way to freedom.

Strolling across the paths, I take a shortcut behind the Fornley Fine Arts building, which edges the golf course and woods behind Fraternity Row. In the darkened alley between buildings, I stumble as a looming shadow crawls down the pavement toward me. When I glance up, I see a familiar face.

“Adalantea!Where have you been?” I huff out rapid breaths in a panic.

Mitch’s head is covered in a dark hoodie, and he ambles toward me with a limp. There’s a white bandage underneath oneeye and dark bruises crawling up his neck. When he reaches me, he almost collapses onto my shoulders, gripping me tightly to him.

“Fuck, Pip. I-I can’t tell you… I got away.” He sobs into my neck and whispers, “You have to help me.”

“What happened?”

“TheThetas…TheCardells, Pip. I can’t tell you here. They’ll see me.”

My pulse races with the mention of Ryan’s family name, of his fraternity. Is this something TRZ would do?

Yes.

Did Aiden order his liege to take care of Mitch? Likely.

But would Ryan? No way.

“We can go to my room atSigma?—”

“No!I’m serious, Pip. They’ll fucking kill me. Come on.”

Should I go to find out what he has to say? Maybe he can tell me something about Gwen and the cloaked man… If he tries something, I’ll add to his injuries.

When he holds out his hand for me, I glance behind me in the alley.

Just like in our dances, I take it without any more hesitation, following him wherever he leads.

thirty-eight

As soon as Pippi leaves,I call my father over.

There’s pain behind his eyes as he scans my frame, the cuts and bruises. “What did you do to her to deserve this?”

“Nothing you wouldn’t have done.”

His lips form a straight line, and he gives me a little nod. “Touché. You are too much like me.”

“I think Aiden is.”

“You all are.”

“Even Henry?”

“Yep. Every one of you, except Olivia. Fortunately, she takes after her mother.”

I blink, considering him for a moment as he studies me. His admission that I’m like him, and not just Aiden, makes me warm up to him in ways I haven’t in years.

That settles the burning question I’ve held on to for weeks.

“Was mom Professor Devon Hall’s student?”

He sits down on the end of the bed with a strange look on his face. “The fuck? Where did you hearthatname?”