But I had no idea how bad things really were. My dad—Riko—told me that Callum Richardson was the one who killed my entire family, and that he only got there in time to save me. I had no idea that my father had sold me, or that they were still alive for a time after Dad took me in.
Pain blooms in my temples, and there’s a stinging sensation behind my eyes, but I know now’s not the time for this.
Cole and his goddamn stubbornness has interruptedmy suicide mission, and like hell am I going to take him down with me. I left him back at campus for one reason and one reason only.
To keep him safe.
God, he’s such an asshole.
I kind of love that about him, though.
“You’re still the reason behind everything that happened,” I murmur to Callum, and he grins.
“I am. And now I’m going to kill you, make things even, y’know?”
“No, you’re not.”
I sigh and turn toward the new voice that just entered the room. Dare stands there, looking every bit the deadly mercenary I knew growing up, with Logan beside him.
Well, thank fuck Cole didn’t decide to come alone.
Now we might have a chance of getting out of here alive. I can’t wait to punish him for pulling such a stupid move, and for what?
Me?
I inwardly scoff, struggling to believe that he would go to these lengths for me. He had to know that coming here would be dangerous, that there would be a chance he wouldn’t make it home in one piece.
I’m going to sit Dare down and make him tell me exactly what the fuck is going on after this. I know I shouldn’t trust what Callum says, but I also know that the story my dad told me is muddy at best, and what Callum says happened would make so much more sense. I need to find out what really happened, because if Dad lied to me…
That hurts, more than any pain I’ve ever felt. The thought of him not trusting me is nearly enough to bring me to my knees.
I looked up to him. I trusted him with everything. With my life.
Did he not view me the same way?
Time slows yet seems to speed up at the same time, and everything around me is a blur as the knife is removed from my neck and Brice drops to the floor. I turn my head to see what’s happening and find Logan standing with a sadistic smile on his face, a bloody knife in hand while the asshole who’s been holding a blade to my throat lies bleeding and broken on the floor.
There’s a muffled shout, but my mind is still too foggy from everything I’ve learned to really understand what’s going on.
Someone calls my name, and before I even know what’s happening, my body is being thrown sideways and I land on the floor with a thud, hitting my head as I do.
My mind rattles, my ears ringing as commotion ensues, and I close my eyes to try and regain my focus.
Dare yells.
Cole speaks to someone, but I can’t hear clearly enough to know what he’s saying.
Logan muttering something.
Cole shouts.
Logan shouts.
Dare shouts.
When I open them again, everything is clear.
And everything is very, very wrong.
