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"How often?" I echo.
"Fifty thousand dollars, princess," he reminds me. "And now, your hospital bills, on top of that. Not to mention the apartment."
Now I'm downright confused by the change of tack. Does he have ADHD? If he does, that'd be the least of his issues. "The apartment?" I repeat.
“Yours. It's on fire."
I gape at him in horror. “What thehell?” Since when is my place on fire? Why is he only bringing it up now? That’s the kind of thing you tell a person immediately. “What happened? How are my friends?”
"By that,” he says, calm and indifferent, “I mean I set it on fire to ensure you wouldn't argue about returning there, when your charming new acquaintances know where you live."
I gasp in complete disbelief. "Youdidn't." I can't wrap my head around this.
He smirks, completely satisfied with himself.
Son of a bitch, he did.
I knew it. I knew he was a psycho after I looked in his eyes that night and saw how much he enjoyed my humiliation, my fear, my helplessness.
He’d gladly set the wholeworldon fire to get what he wants. And in this moment, for some reason what he wants is me.
"Don't worry, I made sure your friends weren’t in the apartment. I even saved your computer."
"That's not what I was worried about, Camden! It's insane. Literally insane. You can't set a building on fire."
"Really?” His eyes widen, feigning surprise. “No one told me. Oh well, too late."
I shake my head, baffled. “There are five floors in the building. What about everyone else? Where will they live?”
"They’ll figure it out.” That’s all the concern he spares his collateral damage before returning to his point. “So, the drugs," he raises one finger. "The bills," he says, counting another one. "Rehoming your friends—I am correct that you want me to make sure they have somewhere to stay, right?"
"You set their apartment on fire!" I yell. Then I look over his shoulder, half expecting a SWAT team to burst into the room. I lower my voice. "You're taking care of their new accommodations, and seeing that no one from that building becomes homeless because of you.” I’ve never sounded this firm with him. I’m rather proud of myself for that. “And that'snoton my tab,” I add for good measure.
Holding the full weight of his burning gaze is a struggle, but I persevere, until the corner of his lips finally curves up. "Fair," he allows, lowering his third finger. "But then there's the matter of your school."
I groan in frustration. "Not this again."
I realize that Camden Hunt wouldn’t dream of attending state school, but I’m a Brown. I’ll be the first to attend college in my family, as far as I know.
He ignores me. "I sent your file to Rothford. They're willing to let you into their STEM program. You even got a partial grant that covers your dorm fees."
My jaw tightens. I never applied to Rothford U because I had no intention of staying in Thorn Falls, close to my parents, in a town that had never accepted me. But it is one of the best schools in the country.
"I'll cover the rest," he says, lifting his third finger again. "The tuition, all your living expenses…"
Promises, promises.
I’ve heard promises before. Not made tome, but he’s not the first riverside guy to offer the world to a west side girl to get his way.
"Until you get tired of me, right?" I snap. "What happens after that? I'll be in a school I can't afford, in a town I hate, without any of my friends around."
He got me a new purse!
He took me on vacation!
He bought me a ring!
He said he’d tell his parents about me.
