Page 128 of Ruthless Chaos

She shoots me a piercing look as I laugh. “That’s exactly why we are doing this,” I say. “You deserve the experience, at least.” I take her hand.Boyfriend, that’s a heavy word. “I’m a monster, by your own admission, but that doesn’t mean I’m beyond at least trying to be nice to you.”

She snorts. “Nice?” Alize rolls her eyes. “If I had a million words to describe you, I would never choose nice.”

“Good, because I am not,” I say with a smirk. I’m happy that she understands. “Earlier, I was not asking for your permission to take you out. I was telling you I am.” I push off the bed. “We should get going before I change my mind about letting you walk out of here with your innocence.”

The fear in Alize’s eyes is back, and I relish it.

Despite what has happened between us, I hope she understands that our dynamic has not changed—if anything, she belongs to me more now.

She’s mine to hurt and comfort, mine to break and mend, mine to fuck until she’s crying from pleasureandpain. In exchange, I’ll protect her with my life.

I won’t stop until I’ve possessed her in every way possible.

Within a few minutes we are out of the room and on our way back to campus. She’s barefoot, so I carry her in my arms. The three-mile walk feels shorter than when Ezra and I did it last night. Alize makes for better company.

On campus, we get many stares.

The smart ones try not to make it so obvious, but some are not as discreet. It doesn’t bother me though, as none of them would dare speak their thoughts to my face.

I can sense Alize’s discomfort, though.

“What should I wear?” she asks when we are near Hemlock House.

I press my lips into a hard line. “Shoes, I would hope.”

Alize chuckles; I like the sound of it. “No, I mean how should I dress? You haven’t told me what we’re going to be doing.”

“Wear comfortable clothes,” I say. “Nothing too revealing.”

I’m unsure of what else to say, only that I don’t want her lookingtoogood. I already have my hands full protecting her.

When we get to the gates of Hemlock House, I set her down.

Usually, ensuring she makes it inside is all I would have to do.

But Cassidy’s stunt means Alize is not even safe here. There are a handful of girls in the courtyard and on the terrace, and some are on the balconies overlooking the gardens.

They all freeze at the sight of us—watching, waiting to see what I will do. Cassidy’s obsession with me is well-known among them. This will reach her ears soon enough, if she’s not already watching from one of the many windows.

If I needed any more proof that what I’m about to do is the right thing, I’ve found it.

As much as I want to, I don’t follow her inside.

I’m not allowed on their dorm, and though I don’t usually listen to their fucking rules, I’m on thin ice as it is since I nearly killed Liam.

Alize’s face is calm, unlike how I feel.

“Are you okay?” I ask, tightening my coat around her shoulders. “They’re all staring.”

She looks away from me to the flock of vultures staring us down. She shrugs. “I’m used to it,” she says. My chest clenches. “I would much rather their stares than everything they’ve said and done to me. It’s fine.”

I look down at her for a long minute.

Perhaps I’ve read her all wrong. Alize may look fragile, but she’s tougher than nails. Tougher than she even realizes. What else has she endured that I don’t know about?

I shove the thought away, and the rage that comes along with it.

"Be ready in an hour.”