Page 61 of Redeeming the Villain

Blair pushes me out of the way, and I back up without protest, letting her do whatever she needs to help.

“Right here.” Blair hands her the glass.

“Sorry. I thought I was going to be able to make it,” she apologizes, and I wince, standing to my feet.

Griffin looks over at me, his stare deep with emotion. He twitches his eyebrows, and I can practically hear him ask if I’m okay.

I nod and look away, feeling more vulnerable than I’d like.

What the fuck just happened?

“I’ll be okay in a few minutes. And then I can call someone to come get me.”

Who?

No.

Blair and Griffin are going to a movie tonight in the opposite direction of campus, so I know there’s only one person here who can take her.

Fuck. I shouldn’t do this.

“I’ll give you a ride.”

My offer shocks the room, all three heads turning my way.

“It’s fine. I can have someone?—”

“I wouldn’t have offered it if I didn’t mean it,” I cut her off. “Let me know when you’re ready to go.”

Strolling out of the room with haste and without another word from anyone, I make the small trek to my room and lock myself inside, sinking down to the floor beside my bed, clutching my heart as my breaths heave in and out.

“Fuck!” I smack my hand on the ground.

Dropping my head into my hands, I close my eyes and take a few slow, steady breaths.

My heart is pounding out of control, and I have no idea why. But I need to get a grip.

Resting my cheek against the black comforter hanging off the side, and my stare lands on the row of framed butterflies on the fireplace mantel across from me, his photo centered between them all.

My jaw clenches.

Micah.

The image of him appears in my mind, as if he were standing before me. His black hair and purple eyes, so similar to mine. But he was so much younger and so much livelier. Innocent in the best ways.

God, I wish he were here to tell me what to do, to tell me how to act. All this time, I’ve been lost without him, and I don’t think I’m ever going to be the same again.

Instead, I’ll be broken and shattered like glass, trapped in a prison of rage and hatred that I’ll never escape. The anger flares up inside of me, overpowering whatever else I was feeling before. It reminds me of why I hate Alora, of what she and her family have taken from me.

Who cares if she has problems of her own? So do I.

Someone knocks on my door. Probably Griffin to see how I’m doing.

Rising to my feet, I walk over to the door and pull it open. My nostrils flare as my gaze falls toher.

“Umm, I’m good to go when you are.” She’s nervous, her voice shaky. Her stare falls to my chest and then behind me. “Are those … butterflies?”

Something inside of me snaps, the villain within rising to the surface with vengeance.

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