His hand was fisted in my hair, and while you couldn’t see my face, I knew it was me. He could tell everyone it was me.
When did he take that?
I’m going to kill him.
A knock on the door disrupted my thoughts. Daphne paused doing her homework and jumped off the bed to answer it.
Seraphina walked in, lightly shutting the door behind her.
I sucked in a long breath. Anyone related to Enzo at this point always made me nervous.
“Come on.” She straightened her black headband that nearly blended in with her hair and snapped her fingers. “We’regoing to the Lair.”
I closed my notebook, scooting closer to eavesdrop on what thisLairwas.
“You too, Blair!” she called out. “Enzo said to bring your homework, whatever the hell that means.”
I ripped the paper from the notebook and stuffed it inside my pocket. Daphne was talking to Seraphina as I grabbed my jacket. We left the room and headed for the Lair.
Twenty-Two
Blair
The harsh windbit at my face as we stepped beneath a canopy of stars. Tonight’s air felt heavier, like an unwelcome storm was brewing.
Before coming to Saint Vale, I’d never experienced weather that was constantly gray and overcast. It was like we were set in our own little dark world, where nothing happy was allowed.
After leaving our dorm room, I’d followed Daphne and Seraphina down hidden corridors and a narrow staircase instead of taking the normal route out of the university. I needed to start memorizing those secret exits. The fewer times I ran into Arisono, the less chance she had to give me my third strike.
My hair blew in every direction, sticking to my lips, and I paused to roll the hair tie off my wrist and secure my hair in a high ponytail.
I lagged behind Daphne and Seraphina as we walked the path toward the courtyard, passing gas streetlights and empty benches.
This Lair wasn’t on the school map, telling me that it was a secret place only a select few knew about. Probably most of thefewDaphne had said didn’t have rules or curfews.
Since Enzo had instructed Seraphina to bring me here, I knewhe’d be there, waiting for me. I gnawed on my lip, nervous about what that’d bring.
I trusted Daphne, but I was uncertain how I felt about Seraphina. Her veins held the same blood as the man tormenting me.
She was also the daughter of a Mafia boss they’d nicknamed Monster freaking Marchetti. Surely, some of that cruelty had seeped into her bloodstream.
I wondered what their mother was like. She hadn’t attended the funeral. My thoughts drifted to whether Enzo and Seraphina had the same mother as Benny, given the significant age difference. Benny, though handsome, was a few decades older than they were.
I wanted to know Enzo’s secrets as well.
To crack him open as much as he wanted to do to me.
My hand was clammy as I slipped it into my pocket, checking that the paper was still there. I knew Enzo wouldn’t be happy when he read it.
I decided that I wouldn’t be the only one expected to hand out their secrets. I wanted to know the secrets of the man who suddenlyownedme.
Or at leastthoughthe owned me.
“I can’t believe he’s letting her come to the Lair,” Daphne muttered to Seraphina, though her tone was far from hushed. “Enzo could get in trouble for it.”
“I was just as shocked as you,” Seraphina said. “Me bringing her could get my ass in trouble.”
“You’re Cristian Marchetti’s daughter,” Daphne argued. “You can do whatever you want.”
