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Mom turns to walk away, but he still has her trapped between him and the dresser. He takes hold of her chin between his thumb and forefinger and presses a hard kiss against her mouth.
“I’m going to enjoy our wedding night, my darling.”
He laughs softly and walks away from her, leaving via a door on the far right of the room.
My instinct is to run inside and beg my mother to leave with me right now, but I know I can’t do that. She’s terrified of me ending up in prison.
When I reach my room, I close the door and throw myself on the bed. The tears come quickly. I don’t want to think about what I did, but I can’t help it. I miss my home. My friends. Most of all, I miss my father.
This place is cold, huge, and full of entitled assholes, and it seems the most entitled and assholish of them all is the man holding my mother trapped into some sort of unholy deal, the dean himself.
This is all my fault. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll get us out of here, Mom, I promise.” I swear a solemn oath into my pillow and let the tears fall as I cry for everything I’ve lost.
Chapter 4
Mackenzie
The evening arrives, and the stunning view from my window turns into something entirely different. The grounds of the university are lit by glowing torches. It gives the place even more of an ancient air. It reminds me of a medieval fiefdom, not a modern university in America.
I thought it was strange that I’d never heard of the university. Mom said it was so exclusive few had, and it catered to a very particular clientele. It’s the reason no one will think to look for me here.
Now, as I watch the flames lick at the dark sky, I shiver. Beyond the immediate grounds there is nothing but darkness.
“You shouldn’t go out at night. The guard dogs will eat you for breakfast.”
I jump and turn to see Domenic leaning against my open door. I didn’t hear him open it. I thought the door would have locked automatically, but I must have been wrong.
“Or should that be supper?” he adds.
He laughs, showing perfect white teeth and, God help me, dimples.
“There are guard dogs?” I ask.
“Yes, and the fence at the outer edge of the grounds is electric.”
What the hell kind of university has an electric fence around it?
“Seems a bit over the top,” I say.
“What would you know?” he sneers. “You are here begging along with your trailer-trash mother.”
My blood freezes. I stare at him and blink as his words curdle my insides.
My mother was born in a trailer park, but she left that past behind her a long time ago. Very few people outside of the family know.
“Oh, you think we didn’t do our homework?” He leans his temple against the doorjamb and watches me like a hawk.
I’m suddenly very grateful the professor made me his dirty little secret. No one knew about us, so Domenic won’t either. I thank God, and then focus on acting unconcerned.
I fold my arms over my chest. “I imagine you and your father looked into us thoroughly. Well done. You did your jobs well.”
His face pinches and his lips form a tight line. “Not me and Father. Me and my friends. We were curious about the new girl, the little princess from the East Side, so we did our research.”
In the past, my cool, controlled exterior has gotten me in trouble. When I was young, some grown-ups used to say I was insolent. As I matured, it made it harder to find friends. Now, though, I’m glad I have my fake icy exterior as a shield against the heat of this man’s hatred.
I can feel it radiating from him. He loathes me, and I don’t fully know why. If there is one thing I’ve learned about bullies, it’s never to let them smell blood.
I remember my mother’s advice to play it cool.
