A small smile curled my lips. “Did you ask Jake to throw another party just to ask me out?”
Dan laughed, and for some reason, I wondered what Avit would look like if he ever laughed instead of wearing that damn stoic expression. I quickly shut the thought down. I shouldn’t be thinking about him. Not after what he did.
“Can you blame me, though?” Dan grinned. “So, will you go with me?”
He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and brushed his fingers against my cheek. Before I could step back, there was a crack, and Dan screamed in pain.
Wexler had appeared out of nowhere and snapped his fingers, the same ones he touched me with, the bone cracking with a sickening crunch. Dan crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain as Wexler grabbed my arm and all but dragged me toward the waiting vehicle.
It wasn’t until I was inside, sitting between two guards and Wexler was pulling onto the road, that my mind caught up with what had just happened.
“What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t just go around breaking people’s fingers,” I yelled at Wexler.
“I can, and I will break any limb or joint of any man who touches you inappropriately.”
“How the hell did Dan touch me inappropriately? He moved a strand of hair from my face! He didn’t even hug me.”
“Lucky for him, he didn’t. Or he would've lost his arms today.”
I folded my arms and leaned back. “You’re impossible.”
“I’m just doing my job, Mrs. Safin.”
“And what's that?” I glared at him in the rearview mirror. “Injuring my friends?”
“Protecting you, ma’am.”
“Ugh.”
There was no point arguing; Wexler was convinced he’d done the right thing. After what happened, I knew the possibility of Dan speaking to me again was slim. News usually spreads fast on campus, and people would avoid me, afraid the same thing would happen to them. Not that people flocked to talk to me, anyway.
Twenty minutes later, the SUV pulled up to the house, and Wexler cut the engine. As soon as one of the guards who sat next to me got out, I bolted straight for the house and headed for my room. I hurried inside, shut the door, and locked it behind me. I spun around, and my eyes widened.
There was more furniture now than just the mattress on the ground. A queen-sized bed sat in the center of the furthest wall in the room, nightstands on either side. A small sofa faced a wall-mounted TV. There was even a bookshelf and an armchair, together with a small desk and chair; in the corner, there was a small microwave and a mini fridge.
I opened the closet, and it was filled with clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry, neatly arranged. Inside the small bathroom, the sink was lined with perfumes, creams, and body washes.
“This room has everything I need. It's almost like a studio apartment,” I muttered. “But a fridge and a microwave? Isn’t that a bit much for a bedroom?”
My heart jolted as the realization hit. I whispered, “Unless he plans to keep me locked inside this room.”
Holy crap.
He probably would, especially after what happened to Dan.
No. I wouldn’t allow it. I’d worked too hard, and come too far, to have it all ripped away by some controlling, insecure man.
I dropped my knapsack at my feet and went in search of Mr. Avit. I checked every room upstairs before heading down. When I opened one of the doors in the hallway, I stopped short in the doorway. Mr. Avit was standing there talking to Wexler. Their conversation stopped the moment they saw me.
“Wexler, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wexler walked out of the office, closing the door behind him.
“Mrs. Safin, I'm glad you're here,” Mr. Avit said, but there was no joy in his voice. “Starting tomorrow, you'll continue school online.”
“What? No! Why?”
