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In order to escape his vicinity, I’ve also been avoiding the chess club unless it’s an unplanned game with Frank. The last thing I want is to be alone with or in close proximity to the bastard.
While that might be perceived as cowardly, I don’t care. Landon threatens the very foundation of my being and, more importantly, he’s a danger to my family. Even if a part of me longs for his touch and intensity, I’m well aware that it would only end in peril and destruction.
We started as the epitome of a toxic relationship, and those never end well. So if I have to crush these nuisance emotions and my heart in the process, that’s exactly what I’ll do.
His inability to give up isn’t helping. He’s practically a stalker at this point, and that’s creepy, to say the least. His birthday gift was even more disturbing. In the box he gave me, there was a golden QR code with ‘Happy Birthday’ engraved in the middle. When I visited it, I found an image of a half-blurred statue face that looked so much like me.
On top of it, there were the words, ‘If you want to see the whole thing, all you have to do is come to our haunted house. P.S. The plants seem to miss you.’
His attempts at getting me alone again were clear, and no matter how much I wanted to visit the plants and see the entirety of that statue, I didn’t go.
I’d have to be insane to willingly go to Landon’s den.
The door opens and I go still. Please don’t tell me I accidentally conjured him…?
A chill shoots down my spine and my entire body tightens, ready for the inevitable meeting. I don’t have my bodyguards with me right now, though if I send them a text, they’ll be here in fifteen. Maybe less…
My thoughts scatter when a new face strolls inside, his features closed and his pressed suit suggesting a certain level of control. He looks to be in his thirties and carries the aura of a wise, formidable opponent.
“Welcome, Professor Kayden,” Frank greets, his eyes softening.
“Kayden is just fine, Frank.” He speaks in a distinctly American accent that’s similar to mine. His gaze slides to me and he pauses for an uncomfortable beat. “I didn’t realize you have company this time of the day or I would’ve come another time.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Mia doesn’t mind.”
I nod, then push my rook forward and grin.
“Looks like you got a checkmate, Frank,” the newcomer, Kayden, says with a slight rise of his brow.
“Oh my.” Frank looks at the board as if he can’t believe his eyes.
It’s useless to try to find fault in my plan—or little tricks, so to speak. I might have picked up some bad habits from the time I spent in psycho Landon’s presence.
As much as I hate the bastard, he’s an absolute genius and a master of chess. He’s the type who believes in playing the player instead of the game, and when I complained that it wasn’t fair, he chuckled and offered to teach me. I have no clue why he disclosed his tricks when he’s not the sharing type, but I’ll definitely use them whenever possible.
What? I don’t like losing.
“I didn’t see that coming,” Frank says. “Nice game.”
“Thank you,” I sign.
“Is the young lady by any chance interested in playing against me?” Kayden asks.
“As long as you’re willing to lose, sure,” I type and show him.
He smiles a little, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I pause. For some reason, he seems oddly familiar, like I’ve met him.
But when? Where?
He couldn’t have come to one of the Heathens' parties, right?
“I’ll leave you my place.” Frank slowly stands. “Professor Kayden is one of our newest and rising-star members. He teaches criminal law at your university, Mia.”
Oh. That must be why I find him familiar. I must’ve seen him around campus.
Kayden removes his jacket, revealing a muscular build that doesn’t fit a stereotypical professor. He sits opposite me, wearing an easy but entirely disingenuous expression.
“Nice to meet you,” I type and show him.
