Page 63 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)
Shelby
“Justin,” his name slips from my lips in a fearful whisper.
“Hey, sweetness.” He takes a shallow breath and smiles, looking relieved to see me. “God, I’ve missed you.”
I close my eyes, sucking in air and reaching for some courage. “I’m not your sweetness,” I say back. Shaking my head and opening my eyes to the nightmare in front of me. “I’m not your anything,” I add.
He takes a small step toward me, sadness etched across his brow. “Baby, don’t say that,” he pleads, his head tilting at a slight, almost sinister angle. Ghostface .
I want to back away, run, escape from the room, but I can’t, I won’t leave Letti, so with all my bravery, I stand my ground.
“You’ve cut your hair,” he says, lifting a hand to brush my strands, but I pull away.
He isn’t deterred; instead, he smiles down at me.
“I like it.” He steps closer into my personal space, his eyes studying every inch of my face.
“God, you’re even more beautiful, if that’s possible.
” His gaze drifts down my body, and that stare feels like a violation.
“Justin, you need to leave, and I need to get my friend to a hospital. You and I are over, there is nothing left.”
He steps forward again, leaving only inches between us. “No, sweetness, that’s where you’re wrong, and I’m going to remind you.” He lifts his shirt and shows me the gun he has in the waistband of his jeans.
“Please don’t do this,” I whisper, shaking my head as tears trace down my cheeks.
“You think I wanted to do this?” His face shows indications of the first signs of annoyance.
“You keep forgetting that we are meant to be together—you left me! I had no choice but to come get you, again!” He inhales a sharp intake of breath and grabs my chin, causing it to ache.
“Did you think the Pacific Ocean was going to stop me? You must have known I would come for you, and now that I have you,” he says, pressing a kiss to my lips, “I’m not letting you go again. ”
I squirm against his grip and his face twists in anger.
“You either come with me, or I shoot your friend in the head…it’s your choice, Shelby!
” he says as he pulls the gun from his jeans.
His firm grip still holds my chin while his other hand raises the gun over Letti.
He closes one eye and squints while aiming down the gun.
“It would be so easy to take her life right now.”
I reach for his arm, careful not to startle him while his finger hovers over the trigger. “No, please…please, I’ll go with you!” I gasp.
“You sure?”
“Yes, just please don’t point that at her. I’ll go!”
“That’s my girl,” he says, leaning in and stealing another kiss from my lips. I squeeze my eyes close but accept the kiss, willing to do anything right now to protect Letti.
He gestures toward the door. “Go!” he orders.
As I descend the stairs, I discreetly flick my phone to silent with my thumbnail. He can’t know I still have my phone. Letti can track me.
Outside I scan the area, my eyes frantically looking for anyone to help me. Please, Christian, be out here somewhere, save me. But who am I kidding? I broke his heart…like he’s going to be waiting for me. I’m all alone.
“Get in!” he orders as he directs me to a car.
“Please don’t do this!” I panic, not wanting to go anywhere with him. “Let me go back and check on my friend, she might need me.”
He crowds me beside the door and cradles my face in his hands.
“Sweetness, I need you, we need each other. I have come so far for you, I know you want this, us. You have forgotten what we were like…that’s all I need you to remember.
” He stares down at me, looking forcefully into my eyes.
“Your parents, your sister, and friends have poisoned you against me, it’s our time now.
Time to take back what we had and the future we planned.
” He kisses me again with such want and need, his tongue br eaking past my lips as more tears fall from my eyes, then he opens the door and pushes me inside.
Please God, someone help me.