Page 22 of Savage Don

Immediately, I’m flooded with a deluge of horrible memories. No matter how hard I’ve been trying to suppress them, I can’t forget what happened the last time I was on this campus… back when I was just a teenager.

I’d been trying to keep those dark thoughts locked away. But the sudden familiarity of this situation dredges it all up again.

Sonia.

The image of my old ‘friend’ surrounded by those three assholes is still burned into my brain.

But this is different. Sonia did that on purpose.

Francesca would never…

Snapping myself out of the past, I shake away the old dread and replace it with new fury. These fucking frat boys never learn. No matter the decade. They’re always the fucking worse.

This one has drugged Francesca. I’m sure of it. And I can only imagine what he’s dragging her off to do.

It won’t happen. Not on my watch.

Bounding down the fire escape, I make a beeline for the alleyway across the street.

When Francesca first got here, she mingled out on the front lawn for a bit. While she did that, I cased the joint, just in case I had to get in fast.

Really, I didn’t think I would have to. It was more out of instinct that anything else. As far as I can tell, Francesca is generally averse to danger. She gets enough of it at home.

But tonight, everything is different. She’s gone off track.

Was it my fault for introducing myself? For breaking her habits?

The thought echoes around in my mind as I slip past the distracted crowd out front and find the fire escape at the side of the mansion. It’s shrouded in darkness. The only light comes from the windows—well, the windows and the little dots of burning light coming from the stoners who have posted up outside of the back door.

They must not get a good look at me, because they hardly react as I bound past them and climb up to the second floor.

This may be a horrible idea, but I’m not letting anything bad happen to Francesca. I can’t. I’m already committed to my plan. To her.

“Where the hell are you…” I grumble under my breath as I glare through a row of dirty second floor windows. Most of them look into well-lit rooms filled with distracted party goers. But a few in the back are dark.

Which one do I break into first?

For a moment, I can’t decide. All I can think of is how absurd it is that I’m here.

I’m almost forty years old. I’ve been given more power than I could have ever imagined. I’ve made it.

Yet here I am, crouched down on some fire escape on a college campus, spying in on a frat party.

And for what?

When I see a brief slice of light appear then disappear in the very last dark window, I remember why.

Her.

Francesca has become my obsession. Her innocent beauty has invaded my mind—even if my heart remains forever frozen.

She will be mine. Mine to corrupt. Mine to conquer. Mine to impregnate. Mine to use however I see fit.

But before I can get to any of that, she has to be mine to save.

Francesca is in danger.

Careful not to be seen, I make my way to the last window on the second floor, all the while reminding myself of why I’m really here.