Page 70 of Shattered Souls
“My inability to hack it at Halston could be perceived as a reflection on you,” I hedge, aware I’m walking a fine line. “Whereas if I can pull my grades up and pass the year, everyone will credit you with helping me turn things around.”
His eyes flash, and I know I’ve got him. He clearly hates scholarship students, but he wants to be admired and recognized by his peers.
“You have until the end of the year, Miss James.” I stand straighter with triumph. “ButI will accept nothing less than a 4.0 GPA.”Well, shit.“I have no faith you will actually achieve that, but if you want to enjoy one last semester at this school, then I’ll be keeping a close eye on your progress.”
I give him a curt nod, refusing to let his words stick to me. I’m not getting kicked out today, and that’s all that matters. He dismisses me, and I scurry from the room. My pace is quick, my footsteps echoing off the walls as I march down the hall.
“Riley.”
Nope. My footsteps quicken.
“Riley. Stop this instant!”
My heart trips over itself at the blatant command in his tone, but I don’t even dare glance back at him over my shoulder as I continue toward the exit. The very last thing I want to do is get into a conversation with Bertram in an empty corridor.
Except he catches up to me as I step outside. His fingers wrap around my wrist, squeezing so the bones grind together. It’s a warning. A threat. Whirling, I tug on my arm, but he only tightens his hold.
My gaze darts around us, noting that no one else is nearby. Other than two students conversing as they walk across campus and a professor sitting on a bench, talking into her phone on the opposite side of the green, we’re alone.
So veryalone.
“I—” My throat goes dry, my breathing growing erratic as I fixate on the point where his fingers burn into my skin. With the amount of force he’s using, he’s going to leave bruises. “I have class.”
He chuckles, a self-deprecating sound that feels like claws dragging down my spine. “You haveIntroduction to Psychological Theorieswith Dr. Martin in classroom 202 of the Social Sciences building at three-thirty. Until then, you’re free.”
The knowledge that he is so familiar with my schedule that he can recite it sits like lead in my stomach. I remain frozen on the spot, with no idea how to escape this situation.
He can’t do anything to you here,I tell myself. We might be alone, but there are other people around. All I have to do is scream.
Feeling marginally more confident, I demand, “What do you want?”
“I was hoping we could have a civil conversation—without that…hockey playerinterfering.” He says hockey player like it’s a disgusting word.
“You mean Logan,my boyfriend.” I don’t know why I’m baiting him, and I regret it a moment later when I whimper in agony as he comes within an inch of snapping my wrist.
“I’m trying to be tolerant of your insolence; you don’t want to piss me off, Riley.” His grip loosens on my wrist as he strokes a finger lightly over my pulse point. “Where’s my good little girl? I haven’t seen much of her since my release, and I have to say, I miss her.”
Bile floods my mouth, and it takes everything in me not to vomit all over his designer shoes.
“Now, like I said, I just want to talk—father to daughter. I only want to catch up on everything I’ve missed.”
I’m honestly not sure which part of that fucked-up sentence gets to me, but a spark of anger fizzles away enough of my fear and disgust to have me finally lifting my head to hold his complacent gaze.
“Why do you do that?” I demand. “Why do you continue to pretend you didn’t sneak into my bedroom and rape me every night for months?”
Eyes flashing in warning, his posture stiffens as he casts a quick glance around us. His gaze drops to where he’s holding my wrist hostage, and as if realizing how it looks, he lets go. Instead, he steps into me, lowering his voice as he hisses, “It wasn’t that, and you know it! It still isn’t.” His nostrils flare. “Youknowwhere you belong.”
Shaking my head, I stumble back a step. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Not today. Notever.”
Finally free, I go to stride away, but I only make it a couple of steps when he says my name. There’s something implied in it. A threat? Or perhaps it’s the fact he sounds far too calm, considering I just thwarted his plans—again.Somethinghas me turning to face him.
With that twisted, amicable smile in place, he stalks closer. With controlled, steady strides, he eliminates what little space I’d just put between us. There’s something about his swagger. The cockiness behind it. The gleam of victory in his eyes. Itterrifiesme. Roots me in place until not even a strong wind could move me.
Leaning in, goosebumps pebble along my arms as his breath dances over my skin.
“You were always such a good girl for me. It’s disappointing to see such defiance.” My breathing is nothing but shallow whisps as his voice drops. “Every day you defy me will be a punishment I don’t want to deliver, but I will.” Pulling back just enough to meet my eyes, he cocks his head. “And sweet little Aurora will be the one who pays the price.”
My blood goes cold.
