Page 101 of Revere

“Already fraternizing with students, Professor?” My tone is venomous, and I don’t dare look at him.

“We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” I lift off the wall. “And there’s nothing I want to hear from you.”

“Patience—”

“Don’t say my name. Don’t pretend to care. And don’t lie to me again.”

“I wasn’t pretending.”

I huff out an unamused breath. “Oh really? Because you seem awfully guilty, avoiding me since I figured you out.”

Finally, I do look up at him, and it’s a big mistake. His body is turned to mine, caging me to the wall more than I realized. Students pass glances as they walk by.

“I wasn’t avoiding you. After what happened, things needed to be dealt with.” He drags his hand through his hair.

“Things.” I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before. You forget, I know how Sigma House works. I know who you are.”

“You think so.”

“Are you going to try to convince me you’re different?”

He shakes his head. “No, but I was protecting you.”

I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me because it’s absolutely ridiculous. To think, he’s going to actually try to claim that.

“Protecting me. Right…” I narrow my eyes. “That’s the excuse my father always used to use too.”

“I am not Gideon Lancaster.” Jacob takes a step forward, and his voice drops.

It’s the closest to anger I’ve ever heard from him apart from when he killed that man in the basement.

He takes another step. “When I say I’m protecting you, it isn’t because I’m selfish and using you like some bargaining chip, like your father did. I’m protecting you because I can’t survive if something happens to you. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“And how much power do you have exactly?” I tip my chin up, trying to disregard the rest of what he said because I don’t know how to process that right now.

“Enough.” He dares to reach for me with all these students passing by, but I pull back, so he slips his hand back into his pocket.

“The men of Sigma House never have enough.”

“Maybe they don’t. Or maybe I’m not them.” He stands tall, watching me. “But power has never been my biggest motivator, and right now, all I care about is you.”

“You have a funny way of showing it. Leaving me to your enemies. Letting them use me in your chess game.”

“That shouldn’t have happened. And it won’t happen again.”

I hitch an eyebrow. “Says the man who has been MIA.”

“Don’t mistake you not seeing me for me not being there, Patience. Trust me, I am always watching. I am always looking out for you. I took my eyes off you one time, and I learned my lesson. I won’t let that happen again.”

A shiver skates down my spine. “What does that mean, exactly? You’re putting me under lockdown?”

“Never.” He smirks, and I love that look as much as I hate it. “You’re free to do whatever you want, Patience, even ignore me. You can shut me out. You can avoid me. You can come and go as you please. You can chase any and every dream. There is only ever going to be one limit when it comes to us.”

I really shouldn’t ask, but I can’t seem to help it. “What?”

“You are mine.” He reaches for my hand, brushing his thumb over the back of it when I don’t pull it away. “And I am yours. No one will ever come between us.”