Cordelia: Wait, wait, wait, GIRL. You cannot drop something like that on me without any explanation. What do you mean you’re leaving with Killian? Right now?
I huffed out a breath before organizing my thoughts enough to write a cohesive sentence.
Me: For the Geology project. This is the only time he can get away. So we’re leaving today.
I hated lying to my roommate and now likelyonlyfriend at Stonewall, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to drag her into my shit.
Cordelia: On a school day? How did he convince Ms. Pre-Med to do that?
Those had been my exact thoughts. Luckily, Endocrinology had been canceled, which for all I knew Killian and his Davenport name had something to do with, and I could watch my Genetics class online. So as long as we were back by Monday, I should be all good.
I typed out another quick response and promised I’d text her later with more details. I wasn’t sure how a weekend away would save me from Sebastian’s wrath, but Killian was adamant. In that moment of pure rage, I knew there was no talking him out of it. I’d never seen him like that, so violent, so unhinged.
And still, hidden deep beneath the psycho, I saw him, my old best friend. He was just trying to protect me, in his own fucked-up way. Which was the real reason why I’d agreed, and why I was now sitting here packing my suitcase.
I wanted, no, I needed to believe the old Killian Briggs was still in there, buried deep beneath the façade of this new, seemingly perfect but profoundly twisted and disturbed version.
Sudden pounding at my door sent my heart smacking against my rib cage. Get a grip, Lexi!I crept toward the door, my breath caught in my throat.
“It’s me, Red, open up.” Killian’s deep voice slowed the erratic tempo of my pulse, which was odd since it usually had the opposite effect.
I twisted the knob, and before I could get the door fully open, or even a word out, he barreled inside. His eyes were wide and wild, hair sticking up at all angles as if he’d been incessantly dragging his fingers through it.
His frenzied gaze chased from me to the open suitcase, and a tendon twitched in his jaw. “Why aren’t you ready? The jet is going wheels up in one hour.”
“The j-jet?” I stammered.
The deranged look in his eyes dissipated, replaced by a spark of amusement. “We’re flying to Santo Domingo in style, Red.”
“The Dominican Republic?”
“There’s my smart girl.” He leaned in and pinched my cheek, his entire presence invading my personal space. “The northern shore of the Dominican Republic sits right along the Caribbean plate. A perfect place to study the fault lines for this bullshit project. While we’re there, we can hang out poolside and get some color on that pretty little face.” He slapped my cheek, not so gently. “You look downright ghastly.”
I snorted on a laugh. Killian’s mood swings were giving me whiplash. “I didn’t think the great, uptight Killian Davenport knew how to relax.”
He pressed closer, pinning me against the mahogany footboard of the bed. “Oh, Red, that’s because you don’t know me at all.”
“I knew the old you.”
Darkness carved into his jaw, blotting out the light in his brilliant emerald eyes. They used to sparkle with mischief when we were young, but now, most of the time, an icy frost blanketed the light.
“The old Killian died a long time ago. You ripped his heart out and abandoned him.”
“Me?” I squealed. “You’re the one?—”
His hand closed around my neck, thumb stroking my throat. With each pass, the pressure increased. “Stop. I don’t want to talk about this right now. I’m about a second from losing my shit, Red, and I don’t want to let the monster free on you—but if you insist on riling him up, I can’t be responsible for the consequences.”
He’d really lost it. I pressed my lips together and nodded. I could hold my tongue for now, but once we were alone, I’d get the answers I deserved. How could he possibly thinkIbailed onhim?
“Right now, I need to get you out of here. Do you understand that?”
My head dipped again, and the pressure on the column of my throat lessened.
“That’s my good girl.” He released me, and I staggered back, falling on my ass atop the mound of discarded clothes on the bed. “Now, finish packing, and bring some sexy lingerie.” He eyed my panties, and a wicked grin curled his lips. “That lacy shit drives me wild.”
“Fuck you, Kill. I’m the only one who will be enjoying my sexy underwear on this trip.”
He loomed over me, legs pressed against my knees and thick arms caging me against the bed. “Keep telling yourself that, little Red. You can deny it all you want, but I know you like this new Killian. The old one was too nice, too sweet. He never made you wet like I do.”
