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Nix rolls his eyes. “Our father didn’t kill her if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking, now that you mention it.”
“Because she’s not dead.” When my head snaps up at Colt’s admission, he lifts a shoulder. “She’s still alive. And I’ll tell you everything, I really will. It’s safer for you to know than for you to get caught digging around. But you have to listen to us.”
“I don’t need to know that badly.” I fold my arms, shaking my head. “Absolutely not. I am not leaving this room with the two of you. You need to leave now. You do not belong here, and you were not invited.” But dammit, they’ve got a key. I should have known! Maybe we can get the lock changed.
“I’m not letting her leave with you, either.” Piper steps up next to me and puts an arm around my shoulders. That’s just what I need right now because I might seem big and tough on the outside but on the inside? I’m crumbling. I need her support more than I’ve ever needed it before. If she wasn’t here, I shudder to think of the lengths they might go to get me out of this room.
They exchange a look, and finally, Nix shrugs. “Whatever. Some people can’t be helped.”
“That’s what you’re calling it? Go to hell. And if you don’t think I’m getting the lock changed, you’re sadly fucking mistaken.” I follow them to the door and slam it behind them, then motion for Piper to bring me the desk chair. I can’t believe I’m doing this again, but it looks like I’m not out of the woods with these two yet. I wedge it under the knob to make sure they can’t come back.
It seems like history keeps repeating itself. Is there ever going to come a time when I’m out of this constant loop with the two of them? Because I don’t know if I can spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, wondering if they’re following me. Watching. Waiting to strike.
CHAPTER 38
At least I managed to smooth things over with Trevor after class. We part ways outside the lecture hall, and I wave as he jogs off on his way to his next class. It took a while to convince him I’m not in an abusive relationship with Colt, even though I sort of am. Just not the kind he’s thinking of. Once I explained Colt is my stepbrother and extremely overprotective, he loosened up a little. He seems like a nice person and somebody I can see being friends with. What a shame we started off on the wrong foot.
I’m out of class for the rest of the day, and Piper has a three-hour lecture on Thursday afternoons, so I’ll have the room to myself for a while. I’m sort of glad, as much as I’ve been loving spending time with her. I’m still kind of shaken up by what happened the other night, and I know she is, too. I can’t stop feeling like I have to apologize even though she tells me every time that I don’t need to, that it wasn’t my fault. It’s not like you invited them, she’s told me, and of course, she’s right. But now her privacy was violated just like mine was, and I can’t help but feel a little guilty about it. If it wasn’t for me, nobody would have barged into her dorm room while she wasn’t even there.
It happens so fast. One second, I’m considering grabbing lunch and taking it back to my room, and the next, somebody much bigger and stronger than me is strong-arming me into a classroom. An empty one, but still. I barely have time to register what’s happening before I’m alone with Colt. Again.
And this time, I don’t bother holding back. I shove him with both hands as hard as I can. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I hiss. “I’m going to get campus security on your ass, you know that, right? You don’t belong here. You don’t go here, and I don’t want you here! So just leave.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“What are you talking about? Not that easy. What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m protecting you.”
“Protecting me from what? Do you even know what you’re talking about? Who gave you this savior complex? Because I’ll tell you, they were wrong. I don’t need you. I don’t want you here. So leave.”
“It’s not going to happen. I can’t leave you unprotected.”
“What do you think you’re protecting me from? Your father? Because you weren’t able to protect me from him before, so why now?”
He flinches at my outburst, and I know that statement hit home.
“What do you think?” he whispers, his eyes darting over my face. “Seriously. Think about it. Why do you think I can’t leave you alone? Why do you think I can’t stop watching you?”
