Page 137 of Lady Killer

The sound of a door closing outside my room had me rising to stand. I went over to peer out the peephole.

Alister had insisted on replacing the old filmy one when they cleaned up the room, something I was grateful for now.

The image was distorted but clear enough.

There was no one to be seen.

Still alert, I took a step back, wrapping my free hand around the syringe in my pocket.

With every passing breath, my heart beat louder, heavier in my chest. I thumbed at the needle cap, debating flicking it off.

Nixon and I had gone at it for over an hour today in their gym until even the twins had to agree that I was ready.

Well, Alister had walked away, lips pinched. Nixon just shook my hand, like I had won some sort of competition.

Leaning forward, I peeked out the hole again. Nothing.

Then why do I still feel so . . .

Something creaked outside my door, causing me to jump.

Grateful I hadn’t taken the cap off, I kept my grip firm and forced myself to take deep breaths. I couldn’t controlthe presence of fear, but I could—I would—control my reaction to it.

Jackson College House was a newer dorm, but it still made creaks and weird sounds occasionally, like any large building.

Standing there with my face pressed up against the door, I waited and watched for another minute.

Then another one.

BUZZ.

It was Alister, again.

No, I typed, never even looking down at my phone.

Shifting my weight back and forth on my feet, I considered sitting, but something kept me at the door.

I looked again. Nothing.

Five more minutes passed.

Alister texted.

The night went on.

Six more texts from Alister later, my feet were starting to ache and I probably had an imprint of the peephole on my face.

Being the bait was the worst part about setting a trap. But if I could wait out a semester to slowly kill Aaron Croft, then I could make it a night waiting for someone to attack. Right?

The darkness didn’t help. Even though my eyes had long adjusted, the shadows seemed heavier as the night wore on.

My breathing eventually slowed, and the thumping in my chest eased, although my heart still felt thick and heavy with every beat. I really just wanted to get—

BUZZ.

Alister was early. I frowned, flipping it over.

BUZZ.

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