Charlie puts his knife into his boot and walks over to me. Sweat drops form on my forehead.
It’s working. He’s away from Alek.
Charlie’s gaze holds mine, and all I see there is a raging beast turning dark with lust. His eyes flicker to my cleavage and then back to my face.
“You also said, ‘Please don’t run away and instead light my way.’ I’m here, aren’t I? Take what you want.”
But it’ll hurt.
Charlie stands in front of me, his hot breath falling on my mouth. I try not to back away or cringe—not to show my real emotions of disgust mixed with anger and fear.
Charlie leans in to kiss me. “You’re mine.”
My eyes stay open as his lips inch closer, when suddenly, Charlie’s body flies across the room. He falls on his butt, eyes so wide they are about to pop out of their sockets.
“Now that’s a crazy thing to say.”
My head snaps in the direction of the voice. Victor! Abi stands behind him. My heart does a flip in my chest.
But before I can say anything to Victor and Abi, Charlie jumps to his feet and pulls out his knife.Again. I groan.
“Tia, go behind the desk. Abi, stay at the door. Away from him,” Victor says with a calm and controlled voice.
Abi and I exchange glances and do as Victor instructs. Whatever his plan is, my body, heart, and soul are in sync with Victor’s.
This time Charlie is by himself. There aren’t six other guys to beat down the Bull.
A dark shadow falls on Victor’s handsome face. My blood runs cold in my veins. I’m sure Victor will go for the kill and let Charlie taste his wrath. This would be the end of the monster.
Victor puts his hands up.
“I don’t want to fight you. Please put the knife away, Charlie.”
My jaw is about to hit the floor. Wait… what?
My eyes flicker to some movement behind Victor. Abi is pushing on the screen on her phone and puts it to her ear. Words rush out of her mouth, describing the situation—no doubt she’s talking to campus police.
“It’s over. The police will be here any minute,” Victor says.
Charlie glances at her, then back to Victor, and swings the knife toward Victor’s stomach. But Victor is quick and moves out of the way, grabbing Charlie’s wrist and twisting it. Charlie grimaces and moans in pain. The blade hits the floor with a clang. Victor kicks the knife with his foot, and it flies out of everyone’s reach, far away.
“Don’t move, Charlie. I don’t want to hurt you. But I will if I have to.”
Charlie bares his teeth. “What do you have that I don’t?” He spits on the floor. “Firefly is the first girl I ever had feelings for.”
Now, that’s crazy talk.
Victor’s eyes narrow, but then they soften at the edges and he sighs.
“Tia is the first girl I’ve had feelings for too. And I love her very much. You’re trying to take away the woman I love, and I can’t let you do that.” Victor crosses his arms over his chest and takes a deep breath. He has no intention of fighting Charlie.
“You need to die,” Charlie says through his clenched jaw.
He lunges at Victor, who uses his forearm to block his body and then punches Charlie in the stomach. I can tell he’s holding back. Charlie bounces back without falling to the floor.
Charlie’s eyes turn red the way I’ve always imagined. Crazed and wild. He opens his mouth and lets out a powerful scream—sudden coldness hits my core.
The police sirens fill the space and I breathe out a heavy sigh. With Charlie caught in the act, there’s no way they can protect him now, right? There are too many witnesses.
