Page 23 of Sticks & Serpents

Betrayal twisted in my gut, but somehow I wasn’t surprised. This was how he worked—sacrificing me for the sake of his reputation and standing in the community. He always made choices that served him best while ignoring what I wanted or needed.

“Keep him in line, Holly,” he continued, his tone unwavering. “This is your responsibility now.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting back a wave of frustration that threatened to spill over. “You can’t be serious! Do you even care what Damien did to Logan? Or what he might do to me?”

“Enough.” His voice sliced through my protests like a knife. He clenched his teeth; I could see the conflict on his face. I knew he didn't like this anymore than I did. So why…? “We both know he’ll torment you, but as psycho as he is, he’d never lay a hand on you. Not you.”

It felt like he was dismissing everything I cared about—my friendships, my safety—all in favor of appearances and maintaining control over the situation. The air grew thick with tension as I struggled to contain my anger.

“This is ridiculous!” I shot back, not backing down. But deep down, I knew it was futile. In this game of power dynamics, I had become nothing more than a pawn on his chessboard.

His eyes hardened as he leaned forward slightly, each word deliberate and cold. “You will handle this.”

And just like that, any hope of finding support vanished into thin air.

I crossed my arms tightly, unwilling to back down. “You’re telling me I have to babysit him? You really think that’s a good idea after everything he’s done?”

Dean Walker sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Holly, this isn’t just about you and Damien. This charity event is crucial for my career. It has to be perfect.”

“Perfect?” I scoffed. “And you think putting me in the same room with him is going to make it perfect?”

“He promised to behave as long as you’re the one handling him.” His eyes bored into mine, filled with that condescending resolve that always made my skin crawl.

“Seriously? You believe him?” My voice rose, disbelief bubbling over. “You think he’s going to keep his word? He’s a loose cannon! You know how he operates!”

“I don’t like this any more than you do,” he replied, his voice hardening slightly. “But we don’t have a choice here. This is how it has to be.”

“Bullshit!” I snapped, shaking my head in frustration. The urge to throw something was almost overwhelming—anything to make him see how ridiculous this was. “You’re choosing your career over my safety!”

He opened his mouth, probably ready with another justification, but I didn’t give him the chance. I turned on my heel and stormed out of his office, feeling the heat of anger radiating off me.

I couldn’t believe this was happening—my father had placed me directly in the line of fire. I shoved past students on campus, their chatter fading into a dull roar around me as I fought against the tightness in my chest.

Damien Sinclaire was back in my life whether I wanted him or not, and now it seemed I had no way out of this mess. My father had made his choice; now I needed to figure out mine before everything spiraled completely out of control.

I pulled out my phone as soon as I stepped onto Ring Road, the sounds of campus fading into a muffled hum behind me. Here, it felt quieter—almost peaceful—but the tranquility did nothing to ease the turmoil swirling inside me.

I stared at the screen, Logan’s name flashing like a beacon of hope and despair all at once. I wanted to call him. Wanted to apologize for everything that had happened and explain how it wasn’t supposed to be this way. How I never wanted him to get hurt because of me.

But deep down, I knew there was nothing I could say that would change anything.

Damien had ruined that.

His name alone sent a shiver down my spine. The way he’d looked at me on the ice, like I was some kind of prize to be claimed again—it made my skin crawl and yet ignited something dark inside me. He had an uncanny ability to push and pull, keeping me teetering on the edge between anger and confusion.

I felt him closing in, like a noose tightening around my throat. The memory of his mocking wave lingered in my mind—a clear message that he was still here, still wanting control over everything in his orbit, including me.

Choices? I thought I had them. But standing there on Ring Road, staring blankly at my phone, I realized how naïve I’d been. The illusion of freedom slipped away with every second that passed.

There were no options left for me now. It was as if Damien had orchestrated this entire situation from the shadows while I remained blissfully unaware, thinking I could carve out a normal life for myself after all those years apart from him.

And now? Now he had a hold on me again.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how hard I tried to escape him, Damien would always find a way back into my life.

I tossedand turned in bed, desperately trying to drown out the chaos in my mind. The soft glow of my phone cut through the darkness, and I instinctively reached for it. My heart dropped when I saw the unknown number flashing on the screen.

See you soon, little lamb.

---