He points to the far wall where a full-service bar has been set up. Standing next to it are Xavier and Killian Hawthorne, their heads bent together as they talk about something.
I look around and quickly spot their twin cousins, Jace and Jax, standing together a few feet away and also talking quietly.
“Interesting,” I murmur as I look between the two pairs.
The Hawthorne cousins are infamous around campus, and they’re part of one of the most powerful and influential families at the school. They’re also founding legacy members of the Rebels, one of the other frats on campus, and a direct rival of ours.
Baxter House isn’t one of the four frats, but it’s known astheparty house, and it’s not unusual to see members of all four of the frats at any given party. There’s also an unspoken rule that house and frat drama gets left at the door, and for the most part, people respect that.
Seeing the Hawthorne cousins here isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but them hanging out in pairs like that while everyone else is getting their party on is concerning.
“Do you think something’s up?” Rath asks.
“Not sure,” I tell him. “But it might be worth keeping an eye on them just in case.”
Rath nods. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I’ll take the twins if you want to watch Killian and Xave.”
“Sounds good.” I slowly roll my shoulders, trying to get some of the tension out of them.
I came to the party hoping it would help with my restlessness. That enjoying a night of music and whatever favors I can get my hands on would help scratch the itch I sometimes get where I just want to fuck something, or someone, up.
So far, that hasn’t been the case, and having to keep an eye on the Hawthorne cousins on top of everything else I’ve got going on right now definitely isn’t helping.
We fall silent for a few minutes, but that’s not unusual for us. Rath is a man of few words, and he really only gets chatty when the twins are around and egging him on.
More of that restlessness settles over me, and I can feel myself tensing up as the song changes from an EDM mix to a mashup of several pop ballads.
“You good?” Rath asks, giving me a sidelong look.
I nod and crack my knuckles.
He chuckles and finishes his drink. “Yeah, sure you are.” He holds up his empty cup. “I need a refill. You want me to grab you anything?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
I’ve only had one drink since I got here, and even though my plan was to get fucked up, that’s probably not the best idea right now. Not while I’m like this.
He gives me another assessing look, then heads toward the bar without another word.
I glance back at the dance area. Hazen and Connor are now surrounded by a small crowd of girls, and by the looks of things, they’ve got their hands full and will be occupied for a while.
I really don’t want to be here, but it’s not like things will be any better if I leave. Being alone isn’t the best idea right now, and wandering off by myself is the best way to get myself in trouble.
I’m just contemplating whether I should go to the bar and get a drink when I see Xave walking toward the main doors. I quickly search out Killian and find him standing with Jace and Jax.
Keeping far enough back that I don’t have to worry about being seen, I follow him as he leaves the room and slips into the hallway.
I’m expecting him to go into one of the other two rooms that are open for the party, but he bypasses them and walks right up to one of the locked doors down the hall.
I duck into a small alcove as he glances around, then watch as he pulls a multi-tool out of his pocket and quickly pops the lock.
“What the fuck?” I mutter as the door closes behind him.
Why did he break into that room? What’s in there that would be worth the risk of getting caught?
Besides being known astheparty house, Baxter has incredibly strict rules for what is and isn’t allowed during their parties, and breaking into locked rooms is definitely on their faux pas list.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I open the camera and angle it at the door Xave disappeared into. My hiding spot is across the hall and a bit down from this mystery room, so I have a perfect view of not just the door, but a good chunk of the hall in both directions.
