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“Weren’t you listening?” she retorted, her eyes darting back to Kian. “I don’t need to run. When Gage comes back, I’ll walk out that door, with the two of you on your knees, unable to do a goddamn thing.”
The power bleeding into her voice had me questioning whether keeping her on campus was the right choice. I’d done it to keep her away from Chris, but the confidence she had was making me wary. Instead of questioning her further, I grinned, playing into her game for a moment. Dropping my head, I ran my nose along the side of her throat, hearing her sharp breath of surprise. Kian grumbled something under his breath, but I didn’t stop. I kissed her skin, feeling her pulse thudding like crazy.
“I’ll go on my knees for you,” I breathed in her ear. “All fucking night if you want. As for watching you leave? That won’t be happening. You’re ours now. But good luck trying.”
“You’re going to regret this,” she warned, dropping the charade and twisting out of my hold. She shoved me away before striding toward her room with Kian and me on her heels. We’d searched her entire dorm earlier, finding an array of hidden weapons. She didn’t bat an eye when we found them, and I wondered how many we missed.
“I’m tired,” she snapped, turning to face us. “Get out.”
Kian chuckled, falling onto her mattress and making himself comfortable. “Let’s go to bed.”
Her jaw clenched. “You’re not staying in here.”
“I’m a light sleeper,” Kian informed her, resting his arms behind his head. “Your ass won’t leave the mattress before I wake up.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but I spoke up first. “Either he stays, or we tie you to the bed. Your choice. Because there’s no way in hell you’re staying in here alone.”
Her hands curled into fists as she glowered at each of us. I was almost hoping she’d choose the latter because the thought of Kian sharing a bed with her all night wasn’t exactly something I wanted. But I remembered how light of a sleeper he was, and she wouldn’t get far with him in here. I slept like the fucking dead, which was no help at all, so that meant I was staying on the damn couch.
She cursed us under her breath while spinning around and going into her bathroom. The shower turned on, and Kian glanced at me from his spot on the bed.
“Everything go okay with Chris?” he asked after a few moments.
I nodded, the small stab of guilt taking me by surprise. I shouldn’t feel bad that Chris wanted me to learn about Grimrose through Kian. Us working together was tense to say the least, but when we were focused on Rynn, it made being in the same room bearable.
“I give it three days before they come for her,” Kian murmured, staring absentmindedly at the wall.
“We just have to keep her here until then,” I replied before turning and striding out of the bedroom. “If you need anything, just yell.”
We knew that whoever she was working with would get involved if we had her. It was the whole point. We couldn’t fight an enemy when we had no idea who they were. We needed to draw them out, and we were using Rynn to do it.
4
The soundof the shower woke me from my light sleep, and I peeked my eyes open, my mind flooding with what had happened last night. My body tensed, and I blinked away the sleep, noticing I was the only one in the bed. Kian had fallen asleep with me, although he had been serious about being a light sleeper. But he wasn’t here now. Lifting my head, I did a visual sweep of my empty room, and I silently sat up as I plotted.
I was guessing Jace was in the other room but didn’t hear a sound as I scooted to the edge of the bed. I was already dressed in leggings and a T-shirt, but I grumbled under my breath when I didn’t see my shoes anywhere. They were near the front door, and there was no way I was chancing going out that way. I’d just have to be barefoot until I could find someone who’d help. Standing up, I glanced over my shoulder toward the open doorway before tiptoeing to the window.
“Rynn. Don’t even try it.”
Jace’s voice shot shivers down my spine, and I realized he must have been right outside the damn room, just waiting for me. Instead of listening to him, I lunged forward and quickly slid open the window. I had one leg out before arms banded around my waist, yanking me back inside. He threw me onto the bed, and the second I was free of him, I rolled over the mattress, hearing Jace curse as I bolted to the doorway.
I made it into the living room before his arms wrapped around me for a second time, and I screamed at him as he dragged me backward, preventing me from getting solid footing. He tossed me on the bed again, this time climbing on top of me to keep me from leaving.
“Get off,” I snarled as he tried catching my wrists.
“What the hell is going on?”
Jace stopped fighting with me and lifted himself off as he answered Kian’s question. “She thought she could leave. She didn’t get very far, though.”
I scowled at the amusement in his voice, pushing myself up and sitting at the edge of the mattress. Kian was standing outside the bathroom door, wearing basketball shorts and a hoodie. He was still drying his hair with a towel as his eyes darted between me and Jace, who was backing up toward the doorway, as if expecting me to bolt again. For a second, my gaze lingered on the window, but I doubted I’d get onto the ledge before one of them grabbed me. And I really didn’t want to chance falling and breaking my neck.
I gritted my teeth, glowering at both of them as I stayed on the bed. Jace crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, a frown forming on his face. Kian tossed the towel on the back of my chair, making annoyance flush through me. They’d been here one night and were acting like this was their place. My patience wouldn’t last very long with them here. I hoped Ellie was working on getting me out if I wasn’t able to by myself. But maybe I could get under their skin until that happened.
“So,” I drawled, making myself comfortable against my pillows, “how are Chris and Hayes dealing with the newfound peace deal? They fucking despised each other the summer I met you two. From what I know, that hasn’t changed.”
Danger lurked in Kian’s eyes as he stared at me. “And how much do you know, Rynn? What you learned from Jace and me that summer? Or do you still have people watching Pacific Point?”
I purposely licked my lips, keeping his stare. “I learned a lot from you both that summer.”
