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15

SHILOH

I ’ve spent the past three hours looking through the one-way window of Professor Dempsey’s clinic. Observing his practice sessions with two different, older students that I don’t recognize. A man and a woman. The woman joined Dempsey for two sessions, the man for one. I don’t remember their names. Don’t care to know them.

The sessions. I care about those. I’ve been paying attention to them and not much else.

Each one of them went something like this: Professor Dempsey introduced himself three times, listened to the new volunteers, and took notes. He encouraged the student at his side to ask questions and either approved of them or gently corrected them.

Throughout the entire time I’ve watched him, he’s been professional.

A teacher.

It’s my turn to learn now .

The other students wait for my practice out here with me and Eddy. They’re huddled together, ignoring my existence.

The most recent volunteer leaves through the designated guest door on the other side of the clinic.

“Eddy,” Professor Dempsey calls from within the clinic. “Come here for a sec.”

Without sparing a glance my way, Eddy rushes to join him.

I’m close to snapping at him for being so over the top. He’s been that way for the last three hours, and I just don’t get it.

But I say nothing.

I need to be here.

My teacher gestures toward his laptop, and Eddy leans in. He must be showing him the photo and information about the next volunteer. It’s a requirement, I was told. Proof that the volunteer isn’t pranking us.

Eddy’s face goes white. His lips move in the shape of a “yes.” He straightens and returns to us, his fingers hooking into the collar of his teal sweatshirt as he tugs at it.

Then he beckons me away from the other students, his lips quivering.

“Shiloh,” he whispers once I’m close enough.

“Yes?”

“About…” He leaves the sentence hanging in the air.

He’s wearing a white T-shirt under his sweatshirt. His face has just turned a shade paler.

I swear, he better not start bitching about Kaleb again.

Today has been exhausting. It’s been wearing me thin .

Blowing Val off over text messages was hard. I swear I’m okay. I need to deal with it on my own for a little while. We’ll attend the funeral together when a date is set. I’ll be safe. Promise.

The fake concern was a necessary evil. Didn’t mean I had to like it. It pained me, and yet I never hesitated.

Kaleb had to be protected at all costs. Kaleb was mine.

The pain from last night, the passion. The taking. Something snapped inside of me and I accepted every bit of it. Every bit of him.

My soul is drawn to his darkness and obsession. To him.

To the man who watched me throughout the day.

My mind couldn’t rest.

A nagging worry constantly attacked the butterflies in my stomach incessantly.

He’d been out here, on campus, where he could be seen. Someone might’ve recognized him.

I couldn’t go looking for him to tell him to quit stalking. To go into hiding.

Dad’s assistant basically admitted that he hired someone to watch me.

So no incriminating Kaleb by searching for him.

It didn’t stop me from freaking out, though. Worrying about him was making me crazy. Worst part is, it turned me on just the same. I’m still so fucking hot for his sick cat-and-mouse games.

I might end up killing him for this. All of this.

Who am I fucking kidding? I would never, ever kill him .

That doesn’t mean I can’t hurt him. Just like he hurt me. How he made me learn my lesson. I have a few things to teach him, too.

Right after I figure out what the hell Eddy wants. “What is it this time?”

“I—you—the next—” he stutters and stops.

My jaw tics. My hands press to my waist, digging into the thick fabric of my coat.

I tilt my head, and somehow, Eddy’s face turns even paler. I can practically see through his skin. He takes a hesitant step back, scratching his chest.

“I’m sorry.” The other students are busy chatting behind me. They don’t hear him whisper. “I’m sorry, Shiloh. For what I said yesterday. Please, I apologize. Profusely. I was wrong to say those things. Really wrong.”

What’s gotten into him? We settled this yesterday.

Unless… “Did you tell anyone about our conversation? Am I going to get kicked out of school for being Kaleb’s sister?”

“No, no.” His eyebrows shoot up, then down. His pupils are huge. “As I said. I was wrong. You’re always welcome here.”

That’s the one thing I care about.

My teacher might be a perv. Given my dad’s determination to ruin us, my days in this college are probably numbered.

But I need this one-on-one, or more like two-on-one practice .

The theories in our books have failed to help me. Kaleb—as much as he’d like to believe he has it all figured out—doesn’t have all the answers.

Talking to actual people who don’t have apicture-perfect life, seeing the world through their eyes, this is it. This is my last resort.

When I’m miles away from here and Kaleb needs me, or when I get lost in my own head, I’ll remember this day. I’ll remember how to handle challenging situations.

“Okay, sure. I forgive you.” I don’t sound too convincing. Eddy is on my shitlist. There’s no coming back from it. “Can I go inside already?”

He pinches his trembling lips, sucking in a breath through his nose. “Was that the plan all along?”

“Yes.” Why is he fucking with me? What am I here for if not to practice? “Professor Dempsey promised I could sit in on this last one.” My eyebrows lower and my voice takes on a deadly twist. A Kaleb kind of twist. The way he’d talk to my father. “Are you sure you didn’t say anything?”

“Nothing, nothing.” His hands snap up to hide his face. “Don’t hurt me.”

Would you look at that? Two nights with Kaleb, and I already give off serial killer vibes.

Mission accomplished.

So that Eddy won’t die of a heart attack on the spot, I add, “No one’s going to hurt you. As long as you talk about Kaleb respectfully, you’re safe. Don’t, and I’ll hunt you down. I’ll make your life miserable. You can count on that. ”

“I won’t.” His voice breaks. He takes a step back. “I won’t.”

“Good, then you have nothing to worry about.”

“S-swear it, Shiloh. Give me your word that I won’t be harmed.”

Next thing he’ll do, he’ll ask for a pinky promise. The clock inside the clinic says it’s five to eight. The volunteer patient should be here any minute and I’m here wasting time.

On Eddy.

I have to do this, or he’ll start screaming and ruin everything. “I swear.”

“On your life.”

My pocketknife is hidden in the pocket of my dress. I’m tempted to break my vow to Eddy and kill him for being such a pain. For taking forever.

“On my life.”

“Awesome. T-thanks.” He moves aside, gesturing for me to head inside the clinic through the main door. The volunteers enter through a separate entrance to avoid passing through the other students. They’re aware they’re there, it’s just that there’s no need to make them feel weird about it. “He’s waiting for you. The volunteer’s name is Jakob White. With a K.”

He emphasizes the name, giving me a meaningful look. He’s sending me a message, one I would decipher. If I had the time and desire to do so.

Since I never heard of this person in my life and I’m anxious to get in, I nod at a trembling Eddy.

“Jakob White with a K, gotcha.” I’m headed to the door, walking past Eddy, who starts backing up toward the door leading to the hallway. “Hey,” I whisper. “I said I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“Stomach bug.” He wraps one arm around it. His free hand grips his shoulder bag tight. “Sorry. Tell Joe—Professor Dempsey—tell him I’m off for the night.”

“Um. Okay.” The responsible thing would be to tell him himself, but I’m not Eddy’s keeper.

The students behind me huddle and murmur things to each other as I put my hand on the handle. I hear Lucky and Is she seriously his taste?

They think I slept my way to the top to get where I am today. They believe I haven’t worked my ass off for years.

Assholes.

It’s a comforting thought, knowing that I could ask Kaleb to kill them. That he’d do it in a heartbeat.

He could get caught.

Because of me. Again.

Over my dead body.

Ignoring their hateful comments, I push the door open.

Professor Dempsey gets up from his gray armchair. His light gray slacks and white dress shirt aren’t what he typically wears to class.

He’s going for the therapist look.

An impression he has to ruin with a slimy smile that has my stomach roiling.

“Miss Talbot.” He clasps his hands in front of him. “I saved the best for last.”

The best patient, you mean. Stop staring at me like that .

“Hi.” I stare right into his blue eyes. “Thank you for having me.”

“Of course. I’ll get Mr. White.” He twists to the other door, and in a few steps, he’s there, pulling it open. “Come in, Mr. White.”

“Thanks,” the other man says.

You have got to be kidding me.

That voice.

No. No, no, no.

I must be imagining this.

I have to be imagining this.

Professor Dempsey steps aside, gesturing for the volunteer to come in.

A volunteer who happens to be my stepbrother.

He walks in, his gait long and confident. Staring at me from behind his mask.

My eyes fly open. My heart ceases to work.

It’s as if I’ve been punched.

As if someone’s burning me alive.

This is the most upset I’ve ever been. Most angry.

A scream lodges in my throat, and I swallow it. If I let it out, if I howl my frustration at Kaleb, the sound will be so loud that it’ll tear the building down.

It all makes sense now. Jakob with a fucking K.

Eddy wasn’t afraid of me out there. He saw the picture of the volunteer. Kaleb must have had his mask on and Eddy put two and two together .

He figured out it was Kaleb. He must’ve thought I’d encouraged him to come here. To hurt Eddy for the things he’d said about him.

I most certainly did not.

What the fuck! The scream I let out in my head hurts my ears. Putting yourself out there for the world to see? What. The. Fuck.

Yes, the mask hides his true identity. Yes, no one here or anywhere has heard my stepbrother’s voice. He never spoke to the press. They wouldn’t recognize his voice.

The mask, though. His massive size.

The things he might reveal during the session.

Anyone here might recognize him.

Slim chance of that happening. Slim, yet possible.

Damn it. Damn him.

As we stand there, the three of us, I gape at him. It’s all I can do to stay in place, or else I’ll throttle him. I’ll punch him for this sick game.

I’ll cut him, just enough to make him bleed, but not actually damage him.

And he’ll probably get turned on by that, bend me over one of the chairs, and fuck me for the world to see.

The thought sends heat to my pussy, which is terrible.

What the fuck, Kaleb?

Our sick, twisted games aren’t worth it. Nothing’s worth having him taken back to Berkshire or worse.

Dead.

I’m so mad I could cry. Scream. Stomp my feet like I’m eleven all over again.

“Miss Talbot?” Professor Dempsey’s voice is reproachful.

I’m gawking at our volunteer.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. Blink back tears.

Then, I offer my stepbrother my hand. “Sorry about that. Nice to meet you, Mr. White. Thank you for coming.”

“Miss Talbot.” Kaleb takes my hand, the reckless bastard, stroking my wrist with his thumb. One swipe that sends shivers up my spine. “Thank you for having me.”

I swear, if I didn’t love him so much, I’d slaughter him.

Instead, I take a seat, resting my hand on top of the pocket where I keep my knife.