“I know. I’m really sorry, but I can’t take them all with me if I handle them gently. They need to get stuffed in boxes.” I’ve got a few boxes left from when the stuff arrived, so I start using those, but I fear I won’t even get to take half by the time she comes back. She won’t stay gone all day.
“Take?” Orion asks.
“Yeah, some of them are really bulky.”
He doesn’t say anything else to me, but goes back into the bedroom. “Where’s she taking her stuff?” he asks the other guys.
“I don’t know yet, but she can’t stay here if Arabella has access to the room. It’s just not safe. Arabella has already proven she’ll hurt Sable.” I don’t quite care for the reminder, but frankly, after what happened with my uncle, I’m just not that scared.
“Sable doesn’twantto stay here,” I call out to them, hoping they’ll feel some shame for making plans on my behalf, but I know better than that. With a sigh, I drop the dress I’m folding and leave the garments behind to deal with the current issue.
“You can stay in my room,” Orion says with a smile as I appear in the doorway.
“No.” I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but that isn’t anywhere near far enough from Arabella for my comfort.
“What about going somewhere just for tonight and figuring out the details tomorrow?” Parker suggests with a little smile. “I have an idea.”
CHAPTER 35
PARKER
“Where are we going?”Sable asks as I pull her down the hall and away from everything that’s just happened. Her boxes are all packed, with no clothes left behind. They’re stuffed into Orion’s and my rooms, which is the least we deserve as the only two guys they didn’t bother to fill in about finding Sable. I’m so fucking angry I could kill Hadrian, Soren, and Lex, and even Orion because ultimately they’ve all fucked me over today.
The only way I’ve known to let off steam lately isn’t available, and the hand that doesn’t hold on to Sable flexes with the urge to punch myself and take the edge off the pressure. This situation with Arabella having access to Sable’s room and thinking she’s our new Offering is beyond out of hand. My whole body writhes with tension. I’m out of practice with how to deal with normal stressful situations.
With Sable gone, I had no prospects and had more or less given up on living. Now I have to continue while picking up the pieces I let fall apart during that time. I was there when dumbass Orion caused this too. I could have and should have stopped him then. If I were thinking straight, I would have, but I was as insane as Orion, and now look where we all are.
“I said, where are we going?” Sable repeats, but I give her tiny hand a squeeze instead of an answer and keep walking. Fortunately, the halls of Bellthorn are empty right now. People are back at school, but it’s cold and drafty in the winter, so they tend to go back to their rooms much more quickly.
“Seriously, where the fuck are we going?” Orion starts, and I wish he would keep his damn voice down. The fact that we can’t see anyone doesn’t mean no one is watching.
“Shut the fuck up, Orion, before we wind up with even bigger problems.” The implication is thick in my voice. He makes eye contact with me for a moment, then opens his mouth to argue, but seems to think better of it. Instead, he has the good sense to look down with a flash of shame. He and his fucking brother have caused me enough problems.
“Parker?” Lex asks, ever the voice of reason. “Is something wrong?”
“Fuck you too, Lex,” I say, and this pulls him up short. We’re not best friends or anything, but we don’t usually have problems. They all stop in the middle of the hall, and I try to pull Sable along to keep us moving, but she stops too. I’m forced to turn and face them too.
“Did we do something?” he has the nerve to ask as my anger builds. My free hand moves through my hair. I refuse to let go of Sable for fear of how I might explode if she stops touching me.
“Did any of you think about texting me to let me know Sable was alive? Was it really necessary to just show up here without any warning?” I ask, eyes moving between Lex and Hadrian. “You took fucking Soren and neither one of you could call me?”
“Parker!” Sable gasps, her expression immediately falling. “I am so, so sorry. I should have?—”
I slap a hand over her mouth, perhaps being too rough, but absolutely unable to stand hearing her apologize when I’m mad at them. She’s been through enough, and calling me didn’t needto be the first thing on her mind after she was assaulted every which way. But them? They could have spared a thought. Her blue eyes redden and fill with tears as I watch, and guilt stabs me like a knife.
“Don’t you dare apologize to me. You hear me?” I wait for her to agree, but a tear drips over the edge of her lashes as she stares into my eyes instead. “The only thing I wanted or needed from you was to come back to me in one piece. You did that. Please don’t cry.”
My free hand unclenches to wipe away her tears. When she finally nods, I pull my hand away from her mouth.
“I’m going to take her somewhere else if you don’t tell us where we’re going,” Hadrian says, stepping forward like it’s a good idea to challenge me right now. The musician really doesn’t want to fight with me right now. I’ll enjoy fucking up his pretty face too much. Plus, he and Soren are suddenly buddies again? Running off together and then only including Lex because Sable needed medical intervention. I think I might beat the shit out of him instead of myself this time. Sable tugs on my hand, bringing me back from the edge.
“The athletic department,” I finally answer to avoid the impending explosion. I’d like to think I could fight all three of them off at once, but that may actually prove challenging.
“No one wants to watch you work out,” Hadrian says, vastly overestimating my patience.
“I might want to,” Sable says, and my heart nearly leaves my chest at her words. I would do absolutelyanythingshe wanted, especially if it stopped those tears.
“We should have called, Parker,” Lex says. “I was too distracted with Sable being hurt to think straight, but you’re right. I’m sorry.” A heaviness in his shoulders tells me the apology is genuine.
