“How do we handle this?” Maryia says, looking around us carefully as we walk back to our building. “I get the sense everyone is planning on camping out at our place tonight. I appreciate the safety in numbers, but if one of them is… you know, one ofthem…they could attack someone in their sleep.”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” I murmur, looking for moving shadows by the buildings, one hand close to my jacket. I have my Glock tucked into a shoulder holster. “We’ll tell Tatiana and Lucca, of course. We’ll take shifts keeping watch tonight. See if you and Tati can convince the girls to borrow something of yours to sleep in. Try to look for a tattoo while they’re changing.”
She starts laughing, “Is this some kinky slumber party fantasy of yours? Should I see if I can start a pillow fight while we’re all in our underwear?”
It’s a relief to laugh a little, even though now I’m picturing Mariya in her undies, swinging a pillow.
Go down,I lecture my hopefully rising dick.You’re not getting anything tonight.
We stopped by my place first to raid my collection of sweats and Lucca’s before heading back to her rooms.
“That took forever,” Willow winks at us, “was itreallythat hard to find a clean shirt?”
“Well, the right clean shirt, ya know,” adds Liam with a smirk. “That can take a man an age.”
“At least they look relaxed,” groused Jun. “They’re the only ones.”
“I have a bottle of lotion in my bathroom,” Lucca offers, “do you want to borrow my key?”
“Eeeew!” Tatiana yelps.
“I have my own goddamn lotion, thank you very much,” Jun finally gives a grin, standing up. “I’m going back to my-”
“Hold up,” Mariya’s giggling too, but she sticks to the plan. “Why doesn’t everyone stay here tonight? I’m sure we can find enough blankets, and Kon brought along some sweatpants and extra shirts for Liam and Jun so you don’t have to sleep in your clothes.”
Tatiana, always thoughtful, leaps up. “Good idea! I’m sure Mariya and I have something for Mala, Willow, and Athena to wear.”
“Do we have popcorn and booze?” Athena says. “I’m not staying unless I’m fed. Dinner was terrible.”
“No alcohol!” I warn. “Not a good idea right now.”
“Fair point,” sighed Liam, looking sadly at the girl’s minibar.
Mariya whispers the plan to Tatiana under the guise of finding some sleepwear while I text Lucca on my phone hidden in my bathroom. He’s shocked.
Fifteen? Fifteen of these bastards wandering around campus and we never knew?Lucca texted.And that’s just the ones you’ve narrowed down.
We need to look at everyone carefully tonight,I text back.Try to do it without looking like a creep.
I hope none of our people are involved…Three dots are blinking on my screen and I wait for the rest of his answer.Camille was bad enough.
The night drags on as conversations finally slow down and our friends slowly fall asleep. I silently pace through each room, watching for movement. Tatiana’s also on first watch, and she carefully slides off the bed in her room, getting a drink of water from the kitchenette as she eyes the sleeping forms. I look at her, arching a brow, and she shakes her head. No tattoo sightings, then.
The sun’s first rays are sliding over the horizon when Lucca shakes me awake. He looks ill. “Liam’s got one,” he whispers, “on his right hip.”
Chapter Thirty-One
In which there is a multi-student striptease. Not the fun kind.
Strip - Adam Ant
Mariya…
That morning, everyone disperses in pairs to get ready for the day, while Kon glumly heads to the Dean’s office to tell her about Liam.
“Will you come with me?” I ask Tatiana.
“Of course,” she says, still smiling, even with the dark circles under her eyes. “Where are we going?”
