Vicious Secret: A Dark College Romance

Chapter 17

I’m going into fucking cardiac arrest.

My crazy imagination convinces me that my heart is about to jump out of my body. I slap a hand to my chest while sucking in gulps of air. The organ beats rapidly against my palm like a cry for freedom.

Raven freezes on the window ledge, her face pale and eyes widening as the flashlight from her phone illuminates her features. “Where the fuck did you come from?”

June retrieves the crowbar and whirls around with the tool raised in defense. “Oh, it’s you.”

The familiarity in her voice gives me the courage to slowly turn around.

The owner of the deep voice stands in the shadows, wearing jeans and a black hoodie that assists in concealing his face. My brain sparks with the memory from years ago when I faced a different hooded individual.

He still haunts me to this day.

I stand there, vacillating between panic at having been caught and a curiosity that always gets the best of me. June sounds unafraid. I focus on the identity of the stranger as opposed to what he’s going to do.

“Come on, X,” June says, waving the crowbar. “I’d recognize you anywhere.”

He steps forward. “Interesting.”

Raven, still perched on the window ledge like—well, a raven—shines her phone in his direction. “To answer your question, we’re taking the scenic route. Obviously.”

The light finally reveals his face. His mouth is twisted in a smirk, and his eyes are liquid silver, beautiful despite twinkling with something hostile.

His attention shifts to June. “Still unable to keep your nose out other people’s fucking business?”

She shrugs. “Old habits die hard.”

“What were you looking for?” he asks.

My roommate jumps down to stand next to me. “Now who’s not minding their own fucking business?”

“Anything concerning the Order is my business,” he says. “What are you doing here?”

“Why should we tell you? If you’re going to be a narc, just go ahead and do it,” Raven says. She folds her arms and lifts her chin. “My dad will make those charges disappear faster than you can bust a nut.”

He shifts his gaze to me. “What about you? What the fuck are you doing here?”

I point to myself. Like a dumb ass.

When Xavier nods, I snap out of whatever trance he’s put me in. I said I wanted answers, and now that I’m faced with someone who could actually give them to me, I can’t walk away.

Like Raven said, don’t be a pussy.

“I’m looking for Benjamin Johnson, um—McKenzie. I know he’s part of this group, and I need to talk to him.” I pause for emphasis although my worry is genuine. “It’s an emergency. Have you seen him?”

Xavier’s caustic expression shifts. It’s slight, possibly a trick of the moonlight, but I swear I catch it. “Yeah, I have.”

“Where is he? Is he okay?”

He shakes his head. “I’m not telling you anything. Like some people,” he says, looking at June, “you need to learn to mind your fucking business. If I catch you here again, even your daddy’s bank account won’t be able to save your ass.”

He gives Raven a mocking look. She flips him off.

His refusal ignites something fierce and primal in my soul. Benjamin could be hurt or in danger… and this guy is treating it like it’s a joke. Well, fuck him.

Fury propels me forward to jab my finger hard against his chest. He blinks, surprise skating over his features.

“Listen here, fuckbucket!” I say. “You better tell me exactly where Ben is, or I’m going to…”

I don”t get to elaborate my threat as Xavier”s brows draw downward. “You’re going to what exactly? Cry? Slap me? Or maybe you’ll try and stab me, little raptor?”

The impact of those two words is like a punch to the gut. My breath wheezes from me while my insides clench until I’m shaking from lack of oxygen. My lips tremble with questions I’m too scared to ask.

Did I imagine what he said?

“She’s not a fucking dinosaur,” Raven says.

I guess I didn’t make that up. This guy is the same one from all those years ago…

My roommate walks over to stand in front of me while Xavier continues to stare down at me. I peek at him from behind her shoulder, my body shaking uncontrollably. His eyes pierce me, carving into my mind like the knife I used to stab him. I’m unable to look away no matter how badly I want to.

“We’re leaving,” Raven says.

Her voice slices through the charged atmosphere, snapping me out of my stupor. I avert my gaze and focus on breathing to keep from passing out. His words echo in my mind, making my head pound.

This can’t be happening.

Xavier flicks his wrist in a dismissive motion, but the air ripples with tension. I look at him one more time.

Memories of a hooded figure surface in my mind’s eye, intertwining with the man in front of me, leaving me caught between the past and the present.

June places a hand on my arm. The unexpected touch sends a jolt through me, and I suck in a lungful of air, barely halting my scream at the last second.

Her brow furrows as her eyes search mine. Whatever she sees on my face has her putting an arm around me.

I probably look like a candidate for a psych ward. I certainly feel like I’ve lost my mind. All of this can’t be a coincidence.

Right?