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An older woman dressed in a navy-blue suit, who saw the entire thing, approaches. “I’m Dr. Porter, chair of the biology department. Can I be of assistance?”
“Yes.” I pull out my phone and send off an emergency text to both Ian and Tyler. “Please take care of Layla until her brother arrives.”
My phone chimes as they both reply, saying they’re on their way.
The woman nods as she holds her hand out to Layla. “Come with me, dear.” Then to me, she says, “Tell her brother to come to the biology office. I’ll keep the young lady with me until he arrives.”
I nod as I send Ian and Tyler a second text with further instructions. Once that’s taken care of, I step closer to Layla, laying my hands on her shoulders. “Honey, I’m sorry. Ian’s coming. You’ll be okay.”
Layla’s visibly shaken as the professor leads her away.
The officers reach us a moment later, and they quickly assess the situation, call for emergency medical teams, and cuff me. There are plenty of bystanders, including Dr. Porter, who saw what happened. They’ll be giving statements—hopefully ones that exonerate me. I didn’t start this; they did. I just ended it.
In the meanwhile, I’ll be sitting in the campus police station, worrying about Layla. I just hope they’ll let me make a phone call. Looks like I’m gonna need some help.
And I hope I don’t get fired in the process.
Chapter 33
Layla Alexander
“Your name is Layla, right?” the woman says as she leads me to one of the science buildings. “I’m Dr. Porter.”
She opens the door for me, but before I go inside, I glance back at Jason just in time to see a police officer handcuffing him. Jason turns his head in my direction, and our gazes lock. Pain tears through me at the sight of his bloody face. His nose is bleeding, as is his bottom lip. And it’s all because of me.
“Come with me, dear,” the woman says as she shuffles me inside. The heavy door closes behind us with a loud clang. “I saw what happened just now. Those young men rushed him, and your friend was just defending himself. Once the police get to the bottom of it, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
We walk down a short hallway until we come to an office. She ushers me inside, then through an inner door to her private office. “You can wait with me here until your brother comes. Ian? Is that his name? Your friend texted him.”
“Yes.” It’s all I can manage at the moment. I keep picturing Jason’s bloody face. And I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget the sight of those guys holding Jason while the third one punched him, over and over. Reese is a monster. His friends are, too.
“Have a seat, Layla,” the professor says as she points to a chair beside her desk. “You look like you’re about to collapse. Can I get you something? Water or coffee? Anything?”
I shake my head. “Thank you, but no.” My phone buzzes with an incoming message from Ian.
Ian: we’re coming
Of course bywehe’s including Tyler. Tyler and Ian are attached at the hips these days. Wherever you see one, you see the other. I’m so happy for them.
I glance at the woman who’s now seated behind the desk. She has short silver hair and pretty blue eyes. Her round face is softly wrinkled. She’s a complete stranger to me, but she has an air of confidence about her that’s comforting. I do as she says and sit, but I’m still in chaos mode.
I can’t believe Reese and his friends attacked Jason like that. It was cowardly and underhanded, five against one. And even outnumbered, Jason had the upper hand. “Are the police going to arrest Jason?” I ask.
“I assume you’re referring to the young man who very efficiently incapacitated five rather large opponents?”
As I nod, I picture the way Jason looked as he delivered striking blows and kicks that knocked those guys on their asses. He was like a machine, all coordinated power and swift action. It’s like he didn’t even think about what he was doing—his body just acted. But not before one of them got a few powerful blows in.
“I imagine he’s on his way to the police station right now,” she says. “But don’t worry. There were plenty of witnesses who will attest to the fact that those five students started the fight, including me. Your friend reacted in self-defense.”
He’s going to get fired, and it’s your fault. You idiot.
No, he won’t.
Of course he will. He’s already been arrested. He’s going to jail.
Stop!
Do you think your parents will keep him around after this? If you do, you’re even crazier than I thought. Idiot.
