Page 117 of Saint

“He’s smart though. I’ll give him that. Using sympathy votes to win them over.” Captain Evans almost looks proud that Liam’s father would do something so callous.

Kole sits back, rubbing my neck when he must sense my nerves. He squeezes my shoulder and looks at me.

“Don’t feel too bad, Violet. The two of them have been at it for years. It’s not like Dec’s dad got his seat by playing fair either.”

Playing fair?

That’s the least of my concerns. While Kole and his stepdad are focusing on the fact that Liam’s father is vying for a fellow Sigma House legacy’s Senate seat, I’m stuck on the fact that he doesn’t care that Liam is missing.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

As Kole said, there’s no escape once you’re in. They all continue to play this sick game for their fraternity, never able to escape. Regardless of who it hurts in the process. Long after they’ve graduated from Briar.

For all I know, Liam’s family doesn’t even actually care that he’s gone. Oliver Westwood might just be using it for his own benefit. And even if Liam had a dark side and wanted to do terrible things to me, no one deserves this.

“They don’t even care.” I look up at Kole. “Their son is missing, and it’s just… political?”

Kole’s brows furrow, and he looks genuinely confused. Like once more, he’s trying to decide what it’s like to be human and how to react to it. And I’m starting to wonder if that’s a Kole quality or something shared between all members of Sigma House.

“Yes,” Kole answers, not elaborating.

There’s nothing to be said. Liam is gone, and no one will ever truly mourn him.

Like Kole senses my unease, he reaches under the table and places his hand on my thigh. It’s a small gesture, buta reminder of a side he doesn’t even see in himself. One that puts me above Sigma House.

Kole isn’t the good guy. What he’s done is unforgivable. But everyone in that house is evil in their own way. And unlike them, looking out for each other, Kole looks out for me.

Even when right now he should probably be looking out for himself.

37

Set In Stone

Violet

Kole is quiet onthe drive home. His hand stays tucked between my thighs. His thumb grazes my bare leg, sending goosebumps over my skin.

His stoic expression makes it impossible to read what’s on his mind. I only know that I have plenty on mine.

Liam made a comment to Kole the night he was killed that there were traitors in Sigma House. And if the Westwoods are going after Ian Pierce’s senator seat, I can’t help but wonder if that’s what he was talking about, or why I would have anything to do with it given what Liam planned to do to me to enact his revenge.

Kole trusts Declan. But what if Declan is the one who’s been betraying him all along? If he’s in on it, I’m not any safer now than I was when Liam was alive and planning to use me in his twisted game.

The car rolls to a stop outside my dorm, and I look over at Kole, who’s still gripping the steering wheel. It takes him a moment to turn off the car and climb out. And I’m frozen in place, watching him circle to my side of the car.

Popping the door open, he looks down at me. His eyes stay fixed on mine as I climb out. And once I do, he grabs my hand and closes the car door behind me.

“Are you worried Declan’s keeping something from you?” I ask, breaking the silence, knowing my question might irritate him.

Kole avoids my gaze. “No.”

“Your stepdad said—”

Kole spins me until I’m pinned against the side of my dorm, cutting off my sentence. His hand clutches my jaw while he trails his thumb over the center of my throat.

“Don’t.” It’s half plea and almost silent.

I’m not even sure I know what he’s referring to—my mention of his stepdad or my doubt over Declan’s loyalty. All I know is there’s something broken in his gaze that wasn’t there when he picked me up tonight.

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