Page 84 of Saint

“Why would I be scared?” I ask them both, rolling my shoulders and refusing to back down.

“Why wouldn’t you be?” Declan starts walking toward us.

Once more, I lock eyes with Kole, mustering every bit of confidence. He can hurt me in so many ways, but all he’s done tonight is reveal to me his truth. And it’s why I have no fear.

“Because Kole wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

At least, nothing he wouldn’t do himself.

He might let Declan watch us to prove a point, but he won’t let him near me. And as soon as he was done making his statement, he covered me up and did the exact same thing he did last time—he took care of me.

Kole’s cool expression cracks with the faintest uptick in the corner of his lips. Like he’s proud of himself for my trust, even if we both know he doesn’t deserve it.

“Good observation,” Declan says, stopping at the table Kole just fucked me on. He picks up a knife to spin it around. “I wouldn’t want to end up like Liam. Or Nix…although sounds like he at least had a little fun with you before Kole finished him off.”

“You know?” My eyes widen, darting between them, until my gaze lands on Kole. “You said Sigma House didn’t know you killed Liam.”

“They don’t. Declan does, there’s a difference.”

“Why would you tell him?”And why would I care?

Isn’t this what I wanted? For people to find out the truth. Declan is the Sigma House president. If he knows, he’s the one person who could potentially do something about it.

“I told him because I can trust him.”

I want to ask why. But when he glances at Declan, and Declan pauses his spinning of the knife, I get the impression his reasons are a secret between just the two of them.

Kole walks across the room and opens a cabinet, pulling out another water bottle and bringing it over to me.

“Drink.” He forces me to take it because even if he’s brutal, he can’t seem to stop himself from taking care of me. “Liam’s family officially opened a missing person’s case. They’ll start questioning people tomorrow.”

“And you know this because your family runs the police?” I guess.

Kole nods.

“So what? Suddenly, you’re worried about them finding out you killed Liam? Shouldn’t you have thought about that sooner? Or at least before you continued your rampage with Nixon?”

Declan chuckles, but Kole glares at him.

“The problem isn’t what happened to Liam,” Kole says.

I find that hard to believe, but I can’t help taking the bait. “Then what’s the problem? Besides the fact thatyou murder people.”

Kole steps to me, gripping the back of my chair so he can get right in my face. His patience is wearing thin, and I know I’m pushing it. But I’m the one being put in this position right now.

“The problem isn’t what happened that night, Violet. It’s whatdidn’t.”

“What do you mean?” I swallow hard, not liking how Kole’s anger is replaced with something much more terrifying—something too close to fear. “What was supposed to happen that night?”

And why did it involve me?

27

Pride

Violet

“Happy?” I wave myarms out, wearing one of Kole’s fresh T-shirts. My wet hair hangs slick and straight around my shoulders. “You said we’d talk after we showered.”

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