Page 52 of Spin the Damn Bottle

When I get back home, the object of my many murder fantasies is sitting on my bed. "What are you doing here?" I seethe.

He's sent me several texts since our silent ride back to the city, and I've ignored every single one.

“Your mom let me in.”

That's not an answer and he knows it.

"Unless you tell me who tried to hurt me, I don't have anything to say to you."

He sighs. "I let you pout for the entire weekend, and most of Monday, doll. Enough now."

I hold the door wide open. "Get out."

Jason remains on my bed.

"I'm not kidding."

"I can see that. Somehow, you seem to have forgotten how it goes. I have all the power, and you have exactly how much I want to give you." He licks his lips. "I love seeing you worked up like that. Makes me hard. I wish we had time to act on it."

"You're in a hurry? Great.Get out."

"Sure. Just as soon as you pack and come with me."

"Jason, this is my limit, all right? My safety isn't a toy you can play with."

"Of course not. Which is why I make sure you're perfectly safe."

He's driving me insane.

I can't deny that nothing has occurred since we've been back together, so whatever he's doing to protect me could well be working, but I have the right to know who set my room on fire andkilled a catI liked. "Jason…"

"Let's play this out. I tell you what you want to know. You get angry. You confront them, say something that suggests you're aware of their actions, or so much as look at them weird. They notice. They flip. It could happen in the hallway, where your bodyguards can't reach you fast enough, or in a class where none of us are with you. It could happen in the toilet, in the courtyard. Suddenly you have a knife to your throat and you fucking die." He smiles pleasantly. "I'm not taking that chance, doll. It's not my fault you have a terrible poker face."

Some of my anger disappears, because he's not wrong. I can hold my head high and pretend the world doesn't get to me, but when I'm pissed at someone, they know it.

He lifts his chin. “You can come voluntarily, or I can kidnap you. Either way, we're going to Aspen.”

"Aspen," I repeat. "Why would we go to Aspen?"

"Because I'm a man of my word. I told you I'd take you to see fresh snow from the mountains." He smiles. "You'll love it."

* * *

He was right, damn him. The view is breathtaking. Picturesque chalets nestle in a gorgeous mountain town surrounded by snowy peaks. I stay glued to the window during the entire uphill ride. "This is incredible."

"You'll love the cabin. It's just a little higher up, closer to the slopes."

Of course it is. I can count on the Aldens to always have the best positions. I'm sure at the sea, their place is right on the beach, and they probably stay in a castle if they travel to France.

The higher we drive, the more luxurious the cabins become. David parks in front of rustic wooden house with a large porch.

The lights are already on, and I spot figures seated around an outdoor fire.

“It looks like theparents already made it.”

"Your parents!" I'm stunned. "You never said anything about meeting your parents."

I look down at what I'm wearing—my red duffle coat as it's the warmest thing I own, jeans, and a white sweater. I've looked worse, but I would have appreciated a warning.