Page 95 of Massacre Monday
Aiden holds up his arms as Ryan walks us back toward an alcove, and I catch a peek at the two wounded men, both surrounded by their brothers.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Lex?” Evie screams and attempts to shove the crowd out of the way, but they hold her at bay.
Lex seems quite pleased with himself, his icy eyes lighting up with amusement.
Aiden sighs wearily and waves his arms in the air for his men to lower their weapons. “Not tonight. This is what the games are for.”
Apollo’s chin juts up as he considers Aiden. “So then it’s going to bethatkind of game.”
“It is now,” Aiden says. “Perhaps your boy should work on his aim.”
Ryan bristles at his brother’s words. “Fucker. Just send them away,” he mutters under his breath, which heats my skin as he presses me against the wall.
“Would you like for him to try now?” Apollo asks with a smirk.
Sirens light up the night air, and for the first time, Apollo appears a bit rattled. Oz finds me and shakes his head with remorse. He doesn’t seem as if he wants to be here. But what if he tries to hurt Ryan or his family?
“I guess your backup has arrived. How boring,” Apollo tells Aiden, but he shrugs casually. It doesn’t bother him. With haste in his step, he turns and hurries toward the exit. Oz darts through just behind with one last apologetic glance at me, but Lex takes a small bow before departing.
Stilted cheers and yells of disgust erupt from the crowd. Some people clap wildly when they leave, and others hurry to the two guys who were shot. Neither appear in dire condition, but the paramedics arrive with the police and cart them away for care.
Most students, including all ofBeta, disperse, but theThetascontinue the party, as if nothing happened. Seems to be typical for a big evening out at NU.
“I’m starving. Let’s eat!” Ryan slaps his palms together at the rows of gourmet dishes. Appetizers with delicate herb decorations. Meats with potatoes flared into flowers. Pastas with drizzled brightly colored sauces.
The meal is chaotic, with a cacophony of simultaneous conversations flowing around us. Everyone is discussing the events of the evening, plotting various forms of revenge. “No one will do anything until I say,” Aiden informs them.
“You think he missed on purpose?” Landon asks him.
Aiden’s jaw clenches. “Yes.”
“All they do is wreak havoc,” anotherThetasays, tossing back his drink.
Aiden says nothing, but the look on his face says he’s plotting something nefarious.
My eyes dart toward my boyfriend regularly, but he’s relaxed and enjoying his Scotch and food as well as his banter with Landon, who seems just as jovial.
I was nervous about Ryan popping the big question tonight, but now I’m more worried he isn’t. Has he changed his mind? Am I not worth a proposal at Luminescence? Maybe the mood was ruined byDelta’sinterruption.
His fingers constantly play with my hair or the hem of my dress, my thigh, rub my skin as I shift on my hips.
Once the crowd gets riled up, doing shots and chanting about taking downDeltaduring the rest of the Greek Games, Ryantosses his arm over my shoulders and whispers, “Want to get back home?”
“Home?” The word sounds so natural. And maybe I’m glad it’s starting to feel that way, too.
With an expression of confusion, he says, “Or we can stay here, but I thought you looked tired. Is something wrong? Do you want to talk about what happened…withOz?”
“What? No. Home is-is fine.”
He gives me a single nod, then we stand and bid everyone goodbye. As we situate ourselves on his bike, I wrap my arms around him and hang on tight. My world is cracked. And Ryan is the only thing that seems to have any stability, though I’m still shaken.
One doesn’t justasktheir captor or stalker or appointed why they haven’t proposed. That would be rude. So, I zip my lips and focus on the relief that I didn’t have to make some production in front of a crowd on the rooftop of the same restaurant where Elina said yes. Tomyfuture Viscount.
The one I have to swear fealty to…whether he proposes or not.
thirty-two
Dinner was fine,but my girl is acting strangely, and I can’t figure out exactly why. I decided to get her out of there, so I could be alone with her. Maybe it was overwhelming with everyone around. Or seeing Oz in hisDeltaelement. Whatever it was, I need to make sure she’s okay.
