Page 143 of Ruthless Chaos

Keller sits in one of the armchairs, reading a book. He looks up at me at the same moment I realize it’s him. We hold each other’s gaze, an eternity stretching by. The pure malice in his gaze swirls around me like black shadows.

The feeling is mutual.

He doesn’t look like a man who recently visited death’s door, but that is a credit to the doctors who worked on him and not for a lack of trying on my part. The scars on his face are fading, though some parts of his jaw and cheeks are bruised.

I should walk away, but I can’t stop myself.

“Back for another beating?” I say, taking a menacing step toward him.

My father’s warning echoes in my head, but it doesn’t dissuade me. Until I am sure that Keller isn’t a threat to Alize, I won’t relax around him.

He needs to know that, too.

“Fuck off, Duke.” His voice is hoarse, revealing that he isn’t himself just yet. Upon closer inspection, his nose is crooked, and his lips are a bit swollen. “I live here, don’t I?”

“For now,” I say, shrugging.

Keller smirks. “You know, I still can’t believe that after everything that happened between us, that bitch was your breaking point.”

I take a deep breath to steady myself. Anger kindles inside me; this is what Keller wants. He’s trying to provoke me.

“Now you know.” I keep my voice as even as I can manage. “Stay away from her, and you and I won’t have any more problems,”

He laughs. “You must really love her.” I wince. “I’ve never seen you this deranged.” He looks down at his book briefly, then says while turning the pages, “Have you even fucked her yet?”

I cross the room quickly, throwing my attempt at restraint to the wind.

I’m on Keller in a moment, grabbing him by the collar and hoisting him out of his seat. The book tumbles from his hand and his body goes limp. He doesn’t seem surprised, nor does he even try to fight back.

This is clearly a set up.

“I don’t know what your angle is, but you and I both know that I have no problem giving your family another funeral to plan,” I say through clenched teeth. “It’s in your best interest to stay out of my way and keep her name out of your mouth.”

Keller bares his teeth, then spits on me.

I recoil, wiping my face with the back of my hand. Disgusting brute. The strength that’s holding me back doesn’t even feel like my own.

The last person who spit on me, I cut out their tongue.

“I’m just saying that I would hate for something to happen to her because of all this attention you’ve given her,” he says. “After all, you’ve told the world that she’s yours now.” He grins menacingly. “I hope that stunt protects her the way you hope it will.”

I can’t take another second of this.

He’s threatening not just me, but Alize. I will never take that sort of thing lightly. The thought that pulls me out of my murderous rage is one that I never considered before—if I am expelled from Saint Frederic University for killing Keller, I won’t be around to protect Alize.

I promised her I would, and I could never break a promise to her.

I leave without another word.

I’m tempted to look back at Keller, to say one last thing, to dare him to push me over the edge,but I don’t. I don’t stop moving until I’m in my room.

After I bolt the door behind me, I crumple to the floor.

My body shakes as I cradle my head in my hands. The full spectrum of my emotions burn through me. I find a spot of solace in knowing that I didn’t fall for Keller’s taunts.

But it’s not satisfactory enough.

I want that motherfucker dead.