Page 42 of The Deceptions

I whip my gaze to him, and he grins. “You're an idiot.” I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

This is why he’s my best friend. No one else in the world could pull me from the edge of a cliff like he can.

“Meh. An idiot you seem to love.” He shrugs.

I scoff, avoiding his probing eyes. I opt for the swaying trees in the summer breeze, moving through Greenwood. Everything is shiny and beautiful here. Flowers planted. Mature trees. Green vines growing up the side of the buildings.

It’s picturesque.

Silence engulfs the vehicle as more people come and go. Moving vehicles, large vans, small cars, and any sort of transportation pull through, unloading students and their belongings. Parents cry over their babies and then send them on their way.

“One day, My Liv. You will go to college and make your mama proud.” She grins at me from across the small, round dining room table. “Live the life you were meant to live.” Sadness takes her over, and I know exactly what she’s talking about.

“I will.” I nod in agreement, biting into her famous dish. Something her mama made for her, and she makes for me.

That was always my plan. Go to college. Get an education and move far away from the mafia life. But my father always had other plans. Arranged marriage, for one. An alliance to keep me under control and a way to get back into his brother’s good graces by marrying me off and solidifying everything with Franco and his brothers. It was a win-win for him. Killing twobirds with one stone. If I married who my father told me to marry, I would be on the inside with Franco. And by being in with Franco, the Viotto brothers could align with him and make a deal for land, properties, and beyond.

I was the key to my father’s future kingdom. Well, until the inevitable happened and it all fell apart.

A part of me thinks my father had a massive back up plan and that’s why he hasn’t shown his face in five years.

I guess that’s another mystery for me to unravel at a later date when I’ve taken care of everything on campus.

Despite my plans going off the rails, I made it out of the life. But paid for it with my death. But this? Being in Veritas, an organization hellbent on taking down the bad guys, is where I was needed all along. It’s my duty. My life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Even if it means being here. In my new-found hellscape.

The sun slowly moves in the sky as the parking lot empties, and more people come through. The air conditioning blows over my flesh, cooling it from the summer heat sizzling on the outside. If I could, I’d stay inside this SUV forever. I’d hide away from the world and pretend this wasn’t happening to me.

How will I ever survive the ticking time bomb counting down in the back of my brain? Seeing them is inevitable. I know it will come. But if I hide away, can I avoid it forever? I don’t know if my heart can break all over again just by seeing their faces. It’s already held together loosely by duct tape and sheer determination.

What will be the final straw?

My eyes scan the large quad spread out before us. Lush greens. Colorful flowers. Tall trees. And people everywhere. Mostly students enjoying the sunshine on blankets with snacks and drinks, conversing with their friends after settling into their dorms. Several students toss a football around. Others throw abright blue frisbee, laughing when it lands in the lap of a girl who shrieks.

My gaze continues to scan the horizon, stopping on crowds of people expectantly with my heart in my throat. Every look is another step in their direction. My skin feels overly tight and itching with anticipation.

I know it's about to happen before my eyes zero in on them. Like a sixth sense. The hairs on my arms stand on end. Oxygen halts in my lungs. Three familiar—yet so different—men walk through the middle of the quad. The sun seems to shine directly on them—a guiding light in the darkness of my mind.

They've changed so much. Gotten taller. Darker. More dangerous looking.

White hot rage boils through my veins at the mere sight of them. Walking around so normally. This is the life they’ve been able to lead. Living it to the fullest on the Greenwood U campus. I bet they fulfilled every promise they whispered in my ear. Except it was for themselves instead of me.

“We'll run away together. After college,” Hux whispers directly in my ear. “This will be our domain.”

“We'll get set for life.” Mack grins, staring out at the campus with a beer in his hand. “We'll get an education on Daddy's dime and then…” he mockingly holds out the word daddy.

“We'll bolt,” JJ offers softly from beside me. His big golden brown eyes taking in the crowds of college students.

“Promise?” I ask, grinning.

“2-2-4, Trouble,” Huxley mumbles, kissing my temple affectionately.

“Hux! Oh my God!” A female voice rings out drunkenly, slurring. “You're here!”

I wrinkle my nose, stiffening under the weight of his arm over my shoulders. I try to pull away, but he doesn't allow me to. In fact, JJ and Mack move closer, encircling me protectively.

“Amanda.” Huxley’s voice comes out rigid and uninviting.