My fingers tightened and almost squeezed the delicious innards out of the tortilla wrap. “Why would I be worried about him?”
“Maybe because he’s a wildcard and doesn’t possess even half of your restraint.”
The trepidation coursing through my veins had reached a fever pitch wondering what he had in store for us as president of our frat this year, but I didn’t want my boys to think I couldn’t handle any situation. Before I could spout off a lie, a knock echoed on the door.
Axel narrowed his sky-blue eyes and stormed to the solid oak door, yanking it open. “Didn’t I tell all of you to steer clear of our room until afternoon or later?”
The startled sophomore, Jason Hinkley, froze as crimson melted into his cheeks. “I, uh, just had a message for Killian.” He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.
I sighed and peered around Axel’s menacing form. “What?”
“Sebastian left you a present downstairs.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and then scurried away like someone had lit his ass on fire.
A sinking feeling hit my gut. What in the fuck was my stepbrother up to now?
As Axel and I hurried down the elaborately carved mahogany staircase, the burnished wood gleaming under the chandelier dangling from the domed ceiling, my pulse thundered. The year had barely begun, and my stepbrother already had to start trouble.
“Tell methat’snot the present.” Axel cursed as we crossed into one of the sitting rooms in the mansion and found a girl sprawled on the leather couch. Her disheveled appearance, mottled bruises on her arms, and the alcohol fumes emanating from her pores made it clear she’d had an all-nighter.
I snatched the note from her chest.
Return her to the Zeta Beta house.
Thanks,
Bass.
That son of a bitch kicked the girl out of his room, and instead of taking her home himself, he pushed it off on me.
Typical.
“Your stepbrother is a piece of work, Kill,” Axel muttered, eyeing the fresh bruises.
I crumpled the note and shoved it into my jeans pocket. “Piece of something.”
The girl was young, probably a sophomore, and lipstick and mascara smeared her face. My stomach knotted as I did a quick scan. Besides the purple bruises, she seemed okay, except for being left alone and drunk at a frat house.
Frat house. Right.
“Should we wake her up, or do you want me to just sling her over my shoulder?” Axel asked. “She probably weighs nothing.”
“We should wake her. Wouldn’t want her screaming if she woke up to two strange guys stuffing her into a car.” I snapped my fingers in her face, and when that didn’t work, I tapped her cheeks.
Nothing.
If she didn’t get up soon, it was either slapping her awake or letting Axel carry her.
My roommate leaned down, inches from her ear. “Fumble!”
She screeched and bolted upright, almost cracking her forehead against Axel’s nose. “What the hell!”
Thank fuck she wasn’t comatose from too much alcohol. Or something worse.
“Do you know where you are?” I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring. I didn’t have time for this.
She grabbed her head as her bloodshot brown eyes widened. “Um, no.” Her voice came out groggy. “I was partying with some people at the Sigma Delta house and?—”
“You’restillat the Sigma Delta house.” I hauled her up. “It’s time to go.”
