Page 42 of Prince of Control

“I had this tatted-up alpha male roommate from Chicago who didn’t say much. Rumor had it the guy was in the Russian mafia. I was fucking terrified.

“Baron was your roommate?”

Phoenix nods.

A part of me that was bracing against some awful story relaxes. Baron didn’t hurt Phoenix. He wouldn’t be living here if he had.

“Turns out, it wasn’t my roommate I needed to worry about.”

I tense again.

“During orientation week, three guys accosted me in the shower.”

“What?” I shove my plate on the coffee table, no longer hungry.

“They grabbed me and forced me down on the floor. I think they were going to gang rape me.”

“Oh my God.”

Phoenix shakes his head. “They didn’t succeed. Because Baron appears out of nowhere with the plastic bag from the garbage can, which he whips over the head of one of the guys.”

My lips part in shock.

“He pulled it tight over the guy’s face, so he couldn’t breathe. There was something about the calm way he wrestled with the guy that said he’d killed before, and he’d be happy to do it again.”

I’ve killed. And I’d kill again–for you.

My heart thuds against my chest. “Did he?”

I’m not sure I want to hear the answer. It’s like watching a horror movie where you want to hide and peek through your hands at the same time.

“The guy was suffocating, and before the other two jumped Baron to get him off because they could have–I mean, it was three against one–he orders them to drop to their knees, or he’ll kill their buddy. And they’re scared shitless because he looks like he does professional wet work and enjoys it, so they do it–they kneel.

“Wet work?” I don’t understand this English turn of phrase.

“Wet for blood. Hitmen do wet work.”

“Oh. Then what happened?”

“Baron keeps suffocating their friend with the plastic bag, right up to the point he almost passes out, and then he lets go. The guy slumps on the floor, gasping. Baron’s still totally cool. Not mad. Not like he almost killed someone. He doesn’t raise his voice when he calmly tells the three of them if anyone so much as looks at me again, he’ll tie them to their beds and burn them alive.”

I let out a shaky breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“And then he tosses me a towel and helps me up. He asks if I’m hurt or want to file charges. I’m not interested in guys, but if I were, I would’ve fallen in love with Baron right then.

“I mean, I guess I did anyway–bromance-wise.

“After that, word got around that I was under Baron’s protection, and no one has ever fucked with me again.”

My lips tremble, eyes burning for Phoenix. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

I catch the pain in his eyes before he drops his gaze. “Yeah, it sucked. But it created this” –Phoenix waves his hand to indicate the house– “so I guess I can’t complain.”

I cock my head. “What do you mean?”

“Baron decided he needed his own Thornecroft society house, so he could keep the people under his protection safe. That was why he cooked up the plan to purchase and donate this property to the University under his father’s name.

I stare at Phoenix. “Baron bought this house?” I had definitely assumed his dad bought it for him.