Vicious Secret: A Dark College Romance

Chapter 18

The entire trek back to the dorm room is done in silence. Thank fuck. It gives me enough time to come up with a story to tell my friends. But it’s not long enough for me to get my shit together.

The door clicks shut behind us and Raven whirls to face me. I sink onto my bed and mentally prepare myself for the interrogation that’s about to commence. I’m not disappointed.

“What the fuck just happened?” She looks from me to June and back again. “Both of you have tea you need to spill. One of you better start talking.”

The blonde plops down beside me with a sigh. “I’ll go first. I know I said that I was pissed at Declan for dumping me for no reason, but I’m not…” She pauses and nibbles on her fingernail before continuing. “I’m not over him, okay?”

“So, what, you’re a stalker?” Raven asks. “I mean, I approve, but is that why Xavier accused you of not minding your business?”

“Kind of. I didn’t understand why Declan ended things all of a sudden. We were happy. Like stupid happy, and then it was over.” She snaps her fingers. “Just like that. When I tried talking to him to get him to explain things, he outright refused. Naturally, I did what any woman would do.”

Raven nods in understanding. “You tried to kill him.”

“No,” June says with a frown. “I followed him to see if he was with another woman.”

“Or that.”

“Anyway, Declan wasn’t with another woman, but the place he went to was… weird.”

Her hesitation has me reaching over to grip her hand. I give it a tiny squeeze to show my support. “It’s okay. You don’t have to share anything you don’t want to.”

Raven blows out a raspberry. “The fuck she doesn’t. Now I really need to know what’s going on.”

“It’s fine,” June says to me. “I’ve been holding this in for months. It was a medical research facility. It’s known for its cutting-edge experiments and research. At least, that’s what the internet said.”

I retract my arm and fold my hands in my lap. “I’m still waiting for the weird part.”

“Yeah, get to the good shit.” Raven rubs her hands together. “Weird how?”

“There was a room, dimly lit, with some shady-ass looking people,” June says. “I grew up poor, so I know fucked-up when I see it. Just because the men were wearing expensive suits doesn’t mean they were legitimate. I only saw one person with a lab coat. In a research setting, that’s not normal, but that’s not what scared me.”

“Zombies,” Raven says. “I knew it.”

“No. I saw several organs being put into containers, like for a transplant.”

My eyes widen. “But there weren’t any recipients there?”

“Not that I could see.”

“Dude, organ trafficking is wild.” Raven starts pacing, clasping and unclasping her hands. “Isn’t the Kent family behind the funding of a shit ton of hospitals and research facilities? I swear, every time I turn around, I find their name on a band-aid or a clinic pamphlet.”

June nods. “At first, I thought Declan dumped me because of another woman. Now, I’m thinking it was because I’m not good enough for his family. You’d think being a mathematical genius would score me some points, but I guess with him being from a founding family, they don’t want to pollute the bloodlines.”

“What does that have to do with Xavier?” I ask.

“They’re best friends,” June says. “I just assumed Declan told him. I only followed my ex the one time. After that, I left him alone.”

She holds out her hands in supplication. “Let me be clear. I don’t want to spread rumors, and this entire thing is complete speculation on my part. If Declan is actually involved in that shit, I don’t want to know.”

“Well, I do,” Raven says. When I glare at her, she shrugs. “Fine. Your turn, Delilah.”

I take a deep breath to compose myself. It doesn’t work, but I continue anyway. If I don’t, I’m positive Raven will bury me under the floorboards.

“I’m not sure how to say this without freaking you guys out,” I say.

Raven squeals. “I love this kind of stuff.” She sits on the bed next to me with a huge grin. “Talk dirty to me, roomie.”

“Don’t interrupt me, or I won’t get it out,” I say. When she mimes zipping her lips, I take the plunge. “I stabbed a guy three years ago.”

Raven makes a strangled sound that’s half-shock, half-glee. To her credit, she doesn’t say a word.

“Long story short, I thought my foster parent was going to kill my foster brother, Ben. They were fighting in the kitchen, and I did the first thing I could think of to stop Frank from hitting him. I stabbed him. It worked.”

I release a nervous laugh. “Then I waited at the top of the stairs all night in case he wanted to get revenge on me. Well, someone else walked up the stairs, and I stabbed him too.”

“Holy…” June says.

“Fuckballs,” Raven finishes.

“I know, right? Anyway, the intruder left, and I was moved to another foster home. That’s pretty much it. But seeing Xavier in that black hoodie reminded me of that night. I think I was having a PTSD kind of moment.”

The events from that night altered my life in a significant way. More than I can ever reveal to my friends. They exchange glances filled with shock and concern before they look at me again.

Raven pats my shoulder. “You are one badass motherfucker, and I’m proud to be your friend.”

“I’m a little scared of you, but same,” June says with a wink.

“Do you know why he called you ‘little raptor?’” Raven scrunches up her face. “That was a random ass thing to say.”

I shake my head. “No idea.”

But I’m going to find out.