Page 42 of Pretty Threats

Right now though, the frat house is shuttered because of an ongoing federal investigation into its ties with the campus serial killer who abducted six women, killing three. Many Lambda Delta members were expelled or left voluntarily while under suspicion of criminal activities.

As Killian drives down a street of massive houses, I tilt my head.

“I think the Lambda house is closed, so I guess I’ll be meeting Mr. Malenus outside.”

“No, it’s open.” Killian’s thumb taps the stick shift. “They weren’t allowed to participate in Rush Week and can’t accept pledges. Plus, most current members left GU and haven’t returned. That’s why it looks deserted.” Killian nods as we pass a large red brick building with black shutters and a long walkway to the sidewalk. “It’s that one.”

The Greek letters Lambda and Delta are attached to the brick on either side of an uppermost round window above the entry. I wonder why he, Jamie, and War came to see this place. Morbid curiosity, maybe.

The house looks stately and grand, but its reputation will be tarnished forever now. The Casanova serial killer is already infamous across the country.

There’s no parking, so Killian turns onto a wide driveway and heads to the back of the house. Signs warn that it’s private property, but he pulls into a parking spot next to a black Lincoln Navigator with a California license plate.

“I think I should use the front entrance. Why don’t you swing around and stop on the side of the house as you’re leaving, and I’ll hop out?”

Killian turns off the engine. “I’m walking you in.”

“Why?”

He can’t think I’d talk to Owen Malenus about my current situation. That would be completely insane. More likely, he wants to scope things out to satisfy himself there’s no cause to be jealous. Or he suspects it’s a hoax. There is still the mystery of the WildSide post.

Killian ignores my question as he climbs out. When he comes around to open my door, I glance up at him, squinting from the sunlight that shines over his shoulders.

“The message came right from my professor. I don’t think it’s a trick.”

He holds out a hand to me. “I’ll walk you in. To be sure.”

So he is coming along to be sure it’s safe? That causes a cascade of warm feelings. He’s definitely too possessive and jealous, but the upside is that ever since that night at Alicia’s, I’ve known Killian would walk blind into a dangerous situation to rescue me. It’s impossible to resist that side of his obsession.

Taking his offered hand, I climb from the car. “This house looks almost as big as Meredith Hall.”

“It might be the same size. Looks about…” His gaze moves over the building. “Fifty-thousand square feet, give or take five.”

Killian has some way of breaking structures down in his head and coming up with the sum of their sections. He can also accurately guess the size of pools and ponds. It’s something to do with calculus, which I never took in high school. I was terrible at math and science, whereas they were just two more things Killian excelled at. He might be a sociopath, but he’s a genius sociopath.

As I push my hair over my shoulder, I give him a sideways glance. “I’m required to take a physics class for non-science majors. It’s not part of our core curriculum for film, but GU requires it, and it’s a recommended course for cinematography. I’m kinda nervous about it. The St. Seb’s counselor advised me against taking Physics there because my math grades weren’t the best.”

“It’ll be easy,” he says dismissively.

I choke out a small laugh as we walk the path along the side of the house. “No, it won’t.”

“The exams are online. I’ll take them for you.”

I’m quiet for a moment. Such a tempting offer. But what if we got caught? Or what if I actually needed to know some of what was taught?

“No,” I say, trying to suppress a small smile.

This is another one of the almost charming parts of Killian’s personality. For me, he would do things, simple things, underhanded things, illegal things. I don’t have to ask. Or even thank him. A flush creeps across my skin slowly at the pleasure it still gives me.

“I don’t want to cheat, but maybe you can figure out who’s nice in Science Jam? They offer free tutoring for Arts majors.”

“No way. I’m not joining a science club. I’m past all that. And I’m definitely not finding you a tutor. Are you kidding?”

“Then I’ll find someone myself.”

“No.”

“Yes,” I say, lowering my voice when he reaches past me to ring the bell. Looking back at him, I say, “You can’t tutor me, Killian. You’re too impatient. You’d say something that would make me feel stupid, and even though I hate you, it would hurt me.”

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