Page 61 of Ruthless Chaos

I dig in deeper.

“Your family knows how troubled you are, don’t they? I heard they had to send you to rehab during the summer. Was it for the sleeping pills, or was it the dust?”

I take a menacing step forward and she flinches.

Her eyes bounce between me and the railing behind us.

“I would tell them I tried to stop you, but you couldn’t be reasoned with. That you told me you can’t take it and want to see your father again.” I smile. “Great tabloid fodder, don’t you think?”

The silence between us grows thick.

“Run,” I whisper.

It works. Cassidy scurries away quickly, hurt.

I sigh in relief when she gets into the elevator. How she keeps popping up on me like this is a mystery that drives me up the wall. Nobody saw me come up here.

Hopefully, our exchange makes her reconsider doing it again.

Walking back to the railing, I glance at my watch, then the street below.

Even though it is minutes to midnight, the city seems more alive than before. The streets below are filled with people. Some of them I recognize as students by their gold and black attire and the rest seem like tourists.

That we’ve descended on this city makes it one of the most dangerousorone of the safest places to be, depending on who you are. It’s not unusual for students to satiate their taste for the things they can’t do on campus when they come into town.

I’ve done it before. It just doesn’t appeal to me tonight.

Cassidy only worsened my mood.

Just then, the elevator chimes, and it tips me over the edge.

I storm towards the doors. I will show Cassidy that I meant every word of what I said.

I’m a reasonable man—I gave her the chance to leave without getting hurt, which is more of an opportunity than I’ve given many people.

This time, I won’t hold back.

The elevator doors slide open. I reach inside to grab her by the hair.

Only, it isn’t Cassidy.

Allie steps out of the elevator with a drink in hand, looking just as surprised as I feel.

SEVENTEEN

ALLIE

Out of all the places,why does Alexander have to behere?

The sight of him is a punch to the gut.

He’s dressed more casually than I’ve ever seen, in a white t-shirt and dark jeans with a gold varsity jacket emblazoned with the school’s crest. Alexander doesn’t look happy to see me—anger knits his brow, and his hands are coiled into fists.

Good to know the feeling is mutual.

For a few seconds, it’s a tense stare-off.

My feet are jelly and the elevator has already gone back down. Even though he has my stomach in knots, I don’t want to run from him.