Page 156 of Veiled

I take a slow step toward my bed, my pulse starting to thud in my ears.

That’s when I notice the folded piece of paper pinned to the back of the pig’s head. Delicately, pushed along the seam like Lucas didn’t want me to ruin the stuffed animal he was using to fuck with me.

He’s been in my room.

My fingers shake as I reach out. The pig is so soft when I touch it, and if it weren’t from him, it would be the perfect animal to cuddle up with when I read.

I pull the typed note free.

He’s lucky you got bored of him when you did. We’re going to have our time together soon. I’ve already waited so long, you owe me.

My vision blurs. My heart skips, then starts racing so hard it hurts. I read it again. And again.

“Mattey! He was in the bathroom with me,” I sob. “I heard him. I thought it was you, and I asked him to bring me a towel. He was inches away when I was showering.”

“You’re not stopping me this time. He’s fucking dead,” Matt spits out.

“I’m with him on this, Faren. I’m on my way,” Tyr growls.

“SASHA!” Matt bellows. “SASHA! COME OVER HERE!”

“There hasn’t been any music. They must be staying at Antonio's place tonight.”

“Fuck! I knew I shouldn’t have let you stay in here alone. Get what you need, and you’re moving to my room for the next week. Then he’ll graduate, and you’ll be safe again.”

“Tyr’s coming,” I yell to him as I get dressed.

“Put on a sweatshirt too, it’ll be cold outside. Ask Tyr if he’ll stay with you at the parade grounds while I take care of this.”

“Matt, you can’t,” I say, running out to where he’s pacing.

“Yes, I can! I love you, and I will not let him keep torturing you!”

For the first time ever, Matt yelled at me. I expect my body to do what it normally does and start to shut down, but it doesn’t. Because it’s Matt, and I know he’s right.

His voice breaks as he pulls me into a hug, “He was right next to you while you were in the shower, Lee. He could have seen you naked. He could have hurt you, and I wasn’t here to stop it.

“Please don’t fight me on this,” he begs.

“Okay,” I whisper, my eyes locked with the cute pink stuffed animal lying on my bed, beaming up at me with its stitched smile. Innocent and unnerving all at once.

“Everything is going to be okay. I’ll be back as quickly as I can to get you so we can go to bed, okay?” Matt tells me as we approach Tyr on the riding grounds.

“Mattey, I changed my mind. Please don’t leave, I need you safe.”

He scoffs, “We both know Lucas can’t do shit to me. The only reason I didn’t do this sooner was because I can’t stand you being mad at me, but I won’t let him get his hands on you again.”

Throwing my arms around him, I whisper, “Please be careful. I love you.”

Pulling back slightly, he looks down into my eyes, “I love you too. Stay with Tyr.”

I nod, even though my chest feels like it might burst.

“Keep our girl safe,” he says to Tyr before pressing a kiss to my forehead, then turning and disappearing back down the path.

The silence he leaves behind is deafening, but my mind won’t stop screaming with every horrible possible scenario.

What if Matt gets hurt?