“What did you do to her?” I growl close to his ear, my teeth grinding in anger.
“Nothing, man, we were just having a little fun. She was into it.” He desperately claws at my arms.
“I can assure you she was not, you pathetic fuck.”
I let go of his neck with one hand and punch him in the side. He doubles over in pain and falls to the ground. I kick the spot I just punched, and he curls into himself. Stepping back so he doesn’t see my face, I take off in the direction she left, keeping to the woods so I don’t draw attention. When I see her enter her apartment, I breathe a sigh of relief.
I really am living up to her old nickname for me. Slinking through the darkness like a vigilante to slay her demons. What the fuck is wrong with me?
CHAPTER 21
EMMA
Itry to focus on the positive, but lately my mind is consumed with the nightmares that have started up again—most likely because of that jerk at the frat party—and with Daddy Dom and wondering what he’s up to now.
I’m still getting used to my new living situation. Since the dorms are for freshmen and sophomores, my options were limited, and I ended up in student apartments on the outskirts of campus. Because of the price of rent, living off campus wasn’t feasible.
Most of my theatre friends are a year or two below me, like Megan and Rylee, but since they’re freshmen, they’re still in the dorms so I ended up going in blind with a roommate. The girl I live with is nice but keeps to herself and is barely around, so I’m mostly on my own again.
Our apartment is small, just a living room, with a small kitchen off to the side, a shared bathroom and two bedrooms. I’ve got the slightly larger of the two rooms on the back side of the apartment.
It wouldn’t be so bad, but I was really hoping for some companionship, especially after my breakup.
Could you call it a breakup? We weren’t really together, and I don’t even know his name or what he looks like.
It’s a Sunday night, and I’m studying in the living room when I think I hear a faint knock at the door. From my spot on the couch, I peer through the window next to the door, and when I don’t see any movement, I drop my head, burying it back in my book.
The next morning when I leave for class, something flutters when I open the door and pluck the paper off of it, shoving it in my bag as I hustle to make it to class on time.
Dropping my bag beside me, I plop into the chair, grateful to make it on time when Jeremy takes the seat next to me.
“What’s this?” he asks, bending over and pulling the flyer from my bag. “I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you…”
My head swivels in his direction as my brows furrow. When I notice the piece of paper in his hands, I grow more confused. “What are you reading? Is that Jane Austen?”
“I dunno, it was in your bag.” He shrugs, handing me the paper.
It’s written in what appears to be the same handwriting as the first letter, but it’s hard to tell without looking at them side by side. My eyes scan the page, reading quickly.
My love,
I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever… I have loved none but you.
Stay strong, mylove.
Yours
“I didn’t know you were dating anyone,” he says flatly. I glance at his face, but there’s no hint of emotion there. Am I disappointed he’s not hurt at the thought of me dating?
“I’m not,” I reply in a tone matching his.
My leg bounces in my seat for the rest of class. I can’t seem to allay this feeling in my gut. Is Daddy Dom sending me these letters? Why would he do that? It doesn’t make sense for him to end things only to keep me on the hook with sporadic love notes.
That, and he’s never admitted he loves me, so why would he do it in an anonymous correspondence? But if it’s not him, who could be sending them? I would suspect it’s Alyx or Ella pulling a prank on me, but they’re too far away and both would revel in thegotchamoment too much to leave a letter and run without seeing my reaction. Plus, they both know how torn up I’ve been about Daddy Dom and wouldn’t mess with me about this.
“I emailed you my notes.” Jeremy’s voice pulls me out of my spiral as I’m closing up my laptop.
“Huh?”
