I gently brushed my lips over hers, thankful she didn’t shove me away even though I knew she should. “I’m not sure, but no one else will ever see this, okay?”
Her fingers smoothed down my arm and rested on the serpent tattoo as she mulled over my words. She hesitated, and that hesitation gutted me. She had every reason to walk away.
After the longest silent moment of my life, she finally spoke. “I trust you.”
The words felt heavier than anything I’d ever carried. And I’d spend the rest of my life proving she wasn’t wrong to place that in me.
My revived heart thumped erratically in my chest. “You have every right not to, but Iwillearn that trust back.”
I closed Bass’s computer, grabbed her hand, and towed her toward the door. My stepbrother wouldn’t be able to connect me to his demolished office. Still, I needed to get her to safety and return to fix what I could. Maybe the dumbass wouldn’t notice.
As I yanked the door open, a glaring figure appeared in the hall. I jerked Lexi behind me, pressing her to my back.
Shit. Of course it couldn’t be that easy.
“What the fuck are you doing in Bass’s office?”
Ice ran through my veins and saliva collected in the back of my mouth.
Vaughn Radcliffe.
Of all the people to catch us, it had to be the pledge director.
My stepbrother’s loyal little bitch.
CHAPTER 44
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Lexi
Vaughn stepped around Killian’s puffed out chest, peering into Sebastian’s destroyed office, or at least he tried to. Kill’s palms slammed into his chest and shoved him back into the hallway.
“Stay the fuck out,” Killian snarled, whipping the door closed. His nostrils flared, and I could feel the rage pulsing through the coiled muscles in his back.
“What the hell did you do in there, Davenport?” The guy’s dark brows pinched as he regarded my best friend’s frenzied state.
Killian released me, and his hand shot out, wrapping around Vaughn’s throat. “Now is not the time, Vaughn.” He shoved him against the wall, and a sharp gasp ricocheted through the air. The guy blanched, eyes nearly popping out of his head. “This is none of your fucking business. This is between my stepbrother and me, so keep the hell out of it.”
Vaughn raised his hands, but Kill’s hold around his neck only tightened. A deep crimson flushed his cheeks as his chestexpanded and contracted in a frantic pace. He was on the verge of losing control again, but we didn’t have time for that. And I wouldn’t let him become more of a monster because of this guy.
“Killian!” I jerked on his upper arm. “Come on, he’s not worth it. We have to go.”
His murderous gaze latched onto Vaughn, a snarl curling his lip. “If you snitch to Bass, I’ll rip your fucking head off.”
The guy’s head bounced up and down, the jagged movement restricted by Killian’s fingers digging into his throat.
I slid my hand up his forearm until he finally released Vaughn and tangled his fingers between my own. With a final, savage glare, Killian spun away and dragged me down the hall behind him. I practically had to jog to keep up with his long, angry strides.
“Kill—”
“I can’t, Lexi. I need a minute. I’m so fucking pissed, I want to tear apart this entire damned fraternity house then raze it to the ground.” His free hand curled at his side, fingernails digging into his palm.
“I’m okay now, Kill,” I whispered as we dashed through the great room, the deep mahoganies and crystal chandeliers blurring by. “It was a long time ago.”
“It’s not okay,” he snarled and tore the front door open, the hinges squealing in protest. “It will never be okay until that bastard is six feet under, dead by my hand.”
“No!” I jerked him to a stop along the front walkway. The Sigma Delta house loomed over us, terrifying in its gothic splendor. I rose to my tiptoes and jabbed my finger into his chest. “You can’t, Killian. I already told you, I lost you once, and I won’t let you go again. I wouldn’t survive it...” Hot tears burned my eyes. I’d never forgive myself if he went to prison because of me. “Please...”
