Vicious Secret: A Dark College Romance

Chapter 44

Xavier: When I get home, you and I are going to have a chat about obedience, little raptor.

Delilah: I haven’t done anything wrong. How did you have a chance to program your info into my phone?

Xavier: I’ve done far worse.

Delilah: Why does that not surprise me?

Xavier: Who are you with?

Delilah: None of your business.

Xavier: Answer the fucking question.

Xavier: Delilah Scott, I asked you a question.

Delilah: I’m with Ben.

Xavier: Where are you?

Delilah: In his room at the fraternity.

Xavier: Fucking Christ.

Delilah: We’re just hanging out. I already told you it’s not like that.

Xavier: And I already told you, Benjamin wants to fuck you. If he touches you, I’ll kill him, and it’ll be your fault.

Delilah: Are you serious?

Xavier: Does it sound like I’m fucking around?

Delilah: I swear if you do anything to him...

Xavier: You’ll what, Delilah?

Delilah: ??????

Xavier: I”ll give you a moment to enjoy that, but when I get back, you’re going to learn exactly what happens when you don’t listen to me.

Delilah: Can’t fucking wait.

Alcohol is my new best friend.

My blood hums merrily underneath my skin as Ben walks me back to Xavier’s room. I cling to his arm after nearly tripping, and my foster brother exhales.

“You’re worse than a lightweight, Lilah.”

My hazy vision makes everything slightly off-kilter, like I’m in a hall of mirrors where every image is distorted. But it’s amusing, not disconcerting. I think I like being drunk.

Ben scoffs. “You might like the way you feel right now, but in the morning, you’re going to hate yourself. And me.”

I blink up at him. “Are you a mind reader now?”

“No, you’re mumbling to yourself.”

“Ohhh. That makes sense.”

“You’re going straight to bed,” he says.

“Why can’t I stay with you?”

Ben shakes his head emphatically, the movement making my head spin. “X would fucking kill me if you slept in my room,” he says. “I already know he’s going to be pissed when he finds out that you’re drunk, but I’m not stupid enough to push him off the edge.”

“He doesn’t care about me. Not really.” I wave a hand. “He just sees me as his property.”

“It seems that way, but I saw him watching you like?—”

At Ben’s abrupt silence, I look up at him and tap his arm. “Like what?”

My foster brother inhales deeply before blowing it back out. “He looks at you like he’ll die without you.”

I burst out laughing, the sound bouncing off the walls. The alcohol swirling in my veins only adds to my hilarity and my disbelief.

“That’s ridiculous,” I say. “Have you met Xavier? He has no fucks to give and doesn’t need anyone. Maybe you’re the one who’s drunk.”

When Ben doesn’t laugh, or even crack a smile, my amusement dies. Instead, his expression hardens, seriousness etched into his features.

“I’m not joking,” he says. “You might not see it, but I’ve known him a lot longer, and there’s something going on with him when it comes to you.”

“I’ve known him lo?—”

By some miracle, I slap a hand on my mouth, muffling my drunken confession. I never told Ben that Xavier killed Frank all those years ago. And I definitely didn’t disclose the fact that I had a brief conversation with Xavier—after stabbing him.

At first I kept that information a secret because I was freaked out and needed time to process everything, but as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, I couldn’t find the courage. If I’m honest with myself, it wasn’t only that.

Xavier made me feel important.

Ben threatened to kill for me, but Xavier actually fucking did.

“What were you going to say?” Ben asks me.

I let my hand fall away. “I can’t remember. I thought I was going to puke. Are we there yet?”

He smiles at me and shakes his head. “You act like we’re hiking Mount Everest.”

“Feels like it.”

Ben stops in front of a door that I assume is Xavier’s. I stare at it blankly. My foster brother takes my wrist and flattens my palm against the panel, and the door unlocks with a click.

“That shit is so cool,” I say.

“My tech empire had a hand in designing it.”

I look up at Ben and smile at the pride in his voice. “That’s a-maz-za-zing.”

He groans. “I don’t know if I should leave you alone.”

“I’m fine. I’m just busting your balls.”

“Okay then. Go inside.” He juts his chin at the doorway. “Promise me you won’t open the door for anyone. You’re protected under your bride title, but that doesn’t mean one of these fuckers won’t try something with Xavier gone. If he’s not back by the morning, I’ll come get you.”

“I promise I won’t open the door. Goodnight.”

“Night.”

Turning toward the room, I walk inside, letting the door lock behind me. Ben’s words repeat themselves in my mind, a riddle that makes my head pound more than the alcohol. Xavier looks at me like he’ll die without me?

Yeah, right. What do I have that he can’t get from any other woman? Especially with someone like Brenda actively wanting him?

The buzz from before lessens significantly after I chug a lot of water. Then I collapse on the bed and stare at the ceiling until my thoughts quiet. The room doesn’t spin as much anymore, and I sigh in relief.

A knock on the door a few minutes later has me stumbling across the room. I squint at the monitor, trying to make out the image that looks like Ben wearing a hoodie. He must’ve changed his mind about leaving me alone in my drunken state.

I swing open the door. “Ben, you don’t have to worry about?—”

The word dies in my throat when Eric’s malicious gaze meets mine. His presence sends a jolt through my body, instantly sobering me. I go to slam the door in his face, and he reacts faster than my eyes can follow.

The man has his hand clamped around my upper arm and yanks me to him, causing me to grunt in pain from his fingers digging into my skin. I stumble before he slams my back against the wall, his face inches from mine, his eyes glittering with something that has my adrenaline spiking.

Panic claws at my throat, but I push past it. “Get the fuck off of me.”

“Not until you deliver a message for me.”

I swallow the insult gathered on my tongue. “What is it?”

“Tell that cunt Xavier that I’m coming for him. Let him know that I’m going to take everything, starting with his bride and ending with his empire.”

“Why don’t you tell him yourself? I don’t give a fuck about any of this shit, so leave me out of it.”

“I can see why he wanted you,” Eric says. He slowly runs his gaze over me, his pupils contracting. My stomach churns. “You’re entertaining, even if you are a mouthy bitch.”

I shrug. “Thanks. ‘Mouthy bitch’ pretty much sums up my personality.”

Eric grabs my neck. My breathing turns into wheezing, but I force myself to remain still. He won’t kill me because he has a purpose for me, to deliver a message to Xavier. My body doesn’t understand and trembles with the need to defend myself.

He smirks, most likely assuming I’m shaking from fear instead of rage. “Maybe I should take you now.”

“If you do, I can guarantee that I won’t deliver your message because I’ll be too fucking busy trying to kill you.”

“So delusional, but amusing.” Eric tilts his head. “If he doesn’t get tired of you first, I’m going to enjoy taking you from him, knowing you’ll fight me either way.”

His arrogance, along with the idea of him raping me, fuels my rage. I hold his gaze to avoid revealing my intentions, and smile. The second his brows snap together in confusion, I raise my knee, aiming for his groin.

Eric grunts, and his grip on my neck loosens. Taking advantage of his momentary shock, I swing my elbow to his chest with all my strength. He staggers back, and I spin toward the doorway.

With my heart pounding in my ears, I slam the door behind me, pressing my spine to the wood. My chest heaves with breaths and spots dance before my eyes. I slide down to the floor as my vision blurs.

I lose track of time and sit there, gasping for air. The lingering taste of fear is sharp on my tongue and my instincts still scream for me to hide, to get away from this place entirely. Tremors snake through my body until nausea rises.

After racing to the bathroom, I vomit. Not only due to the alcohol consumption, but also because of the violent images running through my mind. Having Eric touch me was vastly different than when Xavier grabbed my neck in the woods during the Bride Hunt.

I thought that my arousal was because of adrenaline and heightened senses, but after tonight’s near miss, I know that’s not the reason. I’m disgusted by Eric and attracted to Xavier. Two men, same circumstances, with two separate reactions from me.

This entire time, I’ve wanted to blame Xavier for forcing sexual responses from me, making my body crave him in a way it’s never done before. But now I know it’s not his fault.

It’s mine.

But that’s a problem for sober Delilah.