Chapter 11 #2
After everything he’s done to her, she still throws herself in front of him like some loyal idiot.
He locks her away, pretends she doesn’t exist, rips the idea of a normal life right out of her hands, and she still tries to protect him.
Pathetic. This manipulative bastard needs to die, and I’ll be the one to make it happen.
I just need to know who’s coming for her before I make a move. Otherwise, I’ll deal with one problem and another will step in right after.
I take a step back and let out a scornful scoff. She straightens her outfit and goes through her bag, searching for something.
“You study, huh?” I ask.
“What did you expect?”
“What subject?”
“Comparative literature.”
I glance at her, raising a brow. “What’s that?”
She smirks, clearly amused. “It’s where you read a shit-ton of books from all over the world and pretend you’re not judging people’s entire cultures while you do it.”
“And you like that shit?”
“Does it matter?”
“Doesn’t it?”
She lets out a long breath, her eyes darting all over the ground. “It was the first thing I saw, so I took it. Better than suffocating at home with parents who pretend they care enough to hire me bodyguards but still make me feel invisible, right?”
If she only knew how much I understand. If she only knew how her little confession is pouring gasoline on the fire that’s got me itching to put them both in the ground.
Why do I already feel so … responsible for her? She’s a chain wrapped around my throat, and I can’t decide if I want to protect her from every filthy thing in this world or be the one to ruin her first.
“Adam,” she suddenly says, grabbing my arm and looking me in the eyes. “I’m glad you’re here. It’s the first time that I feel …”
“Safe?”
“Like I actually matter,” she replies.
She rises on her toes, brushing a quick kiss against my cheek. Light and fleeting.
What the …?
Her eyes catch mine for a heartbeat, and I know she thinks she can just walk away like that.
She turns for the university doors, and every step is a fucking dare. She’s testing how far she can get, but she’s not walking out of my reach.
Isabella
My feelings are all over the place. I feel my heart racing, and I don’t know the reason behind it. Probably because a gorgeous, hot-as-hell man cornered me and asked me to keep it a secret. Or maybe I imagined it. I mean, who would want to risk his life just to have me in bed?
Or perhaps it’s because the same man attacked someone I know not so long ago for no apparent reason. I mean yeah, Levi said something nasty about me, but it’s not the first time. Although it is the first time someone defended me like that for something so simple.
Why did he do it? My father was watching, Wes and Boris aimed at him with their guns immediately, and he didn’t even blink. He didn’t pull back; he didn’t show remorse or even a second thought.
I know he’s following me; he’s getting paid to do it. As I walk in the campus hallway, all eyes are on me. How original … I can’t blame them, though. Not everyone walks around with a bulky man following her in the middle of the university.
“Look at her. Who does she think she is?”
“Ugh, I swear she thinks the whole world’s out to get her. That’s why she drags her little guard dog around campus like she’s some celebrity.”
“What a freak!”
These are some of the few lovely things I hear every here and there. Being that rich and having a “businessman” as a father doesn’t mean I grow up normally. Nothing’s normal about it.
As always, I pretend I don’t hear them. I don’t want to wage a war and give them more reasons to gossip about me.
Getting into USC was my delusional hope that I’d have a normal college life like other girls my age. Deep down, I just wanted to make my parents proud. Maybe even hear a damn “congratulations,” though I should’ve known better.
Adam follows close behind me, silent the entire walk. He seems like the kind of man who measures everything and strikes when the time is right.
“Where the hell is my phone?” I mutter under my breath, searching through the clutter in my tote bag.
“Is everything alright?” Adam’s voice comes low and even as he stops beside me.
“I think I left my phone at home.”
“Who’s the new guy trailing her?” Olivia murmurs to Lisa, hand covering her mouth. Like that could hide the venom in her tone.
“No idea … but he looks delicious,” Lisa says, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger, eyes narrowing in appraisal. A snake playing with its prey. What a bitch …
My gaze drifts to Adam. He heard them. Of course he did. And the faint curve at the corner of his mouth tells me he’s enjoying it.
“Stronzo.” I scoff, the word dripping with disgust.
“Excuse me?” Adam’s brow arches, his voice calm but edged with amusement.
“Don’t enjoy it so much. It makes you look like an ass.”
“I enjoy the look of jealousy on your face more,” he says slowly, almost savoring it.
A bitter laugh escapes me. “I’m not jealous.”
“I’m sure you’re not.”
His smirk deepens. He knows exactly how much of a lie that is, and that he’s already won this round.
“Isabella, hey!” Lisa’s voice pierces right next to my ear, high and sugary. She never talks to me. So why now? “How are you?”
“Uhm … I’m fine …?”
“Hey, I’m Lisa.” She extends a perfectly manicured, claw-like hand toward Adam.
Ah. There it is.
Adam looks down to her hand. “I’m Isabella’s new bodyguard,” he says sternly.
Lisa prowls closer to him, her smokey eyes fixated on him. “And don’t you have a name, new bodyguard?” she purrs, tucking her tongue behind her upper teeth, her hand trailing down his torso.
Unbothered and calm, he looks at her hand, then directly to her eyes with an icy glare. His fingers pinch hers and remove them from him.
“I’m not here to entertain your curiosity.”
She snorts. “Rude!” She yanks her hair behind her shoulder. “You’re not even that good-looking. No offence.”
“None taken,” he replies.
I can’t even begin to say how satisfying this whole thing is. Within just a few hours, he talked back to almost everyone I couldn’t.
Lisa storms off, clearly irritated, stomping those fake-ass rich-girl heels, dragging Olivia behind her. And of course, all her little minions trail after her, sugar-coating the fact that she just got rejected in front of everyone.
Jesus, such high school, stupid-ass queen bee behavior.
“Quite the manners,” I say to him, raising my brow.
“I was a gentleman,” he jeers, crossing his big arms.
“You could’ve shot your shot. She was clearly into you,” I mock, crossing my arms as well.
Of course, I didn’t mean that. Watching him flirt with someone else would rip me apart. He might be terrifying, and I might barely know who he really is, but he’s mine. I don’t care how messed up that sounds, or if it makes me sound like a psycho. He came back for me.
His smirk fades, and his expression turns solemn as he steps closer. He releases his arms, reaches out, and takes my chin between his fingers.
“Too bad I’ve got my eye on someone else,” he growls quietly. “And the more she fights it, the more I want to make her mine.”
My legs threaten to give way, trembling beneath me. My heart slams against my ribs like it’s desperate to escape.
“Too soon?” he asks, utterly serious.
“Uhm,” I stammer, forcing my gaze anywhere but his burning eyes.
His mouth curves. “Can you guess who I’m talking about?”
I gulp. “No?”
Shame burns through me, almost suffocating me. I’ve never been trapped like this before. Pinned by the presence of a man who radiates power and danger with every breath. His mere existence makes it impossible for me to focus.
I’m terrified.
I’m terrified of him. Of the darkness in his eyes that says he would kill without hesitation.
I’m terrified of the way that same darkness whispers that I belong to him.
And most of all, I’m terrified of how easily I’ll let him take me.
“Try again, little orchid.” His fingers dig into my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “A sexy, obedient little thing, shaking under my touch. Ready to do whatever I say, not even thinking about the danger hanging over us.”
My breath catches.
“If you knew what I’ve wanted to do to you since the second I saw you …” He leans in, his lips brushing my ear. “How deep I want to get … and how close I’ve come to not giving a damn about the consequences …”
I swallow hard, my voice shaking. “I … I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
His fingers tighten once before he lets me go. He doesn’t step far. His eyes stay locked on mine.
“Every time you say that, I just want you more,” he says, almost like he’s amused.
“Bella?!” Arnold’s voice cuts through our tension.
He walks closer to me, a question in his expression, his blonde curls bouncing around his forehead.
Ah, Arnold. He’s the only guy I ever allow to get close when my bodyguards aren’t watching. We had a fling. Mostly platonic. Being shadowed by bodyguards 24/7 isn’t exactly the hottest setup for a girl, right? I thought I fell for him. Thought.
Then I caught him in the ladies’ restroom, making out with Lisa. How original.
He just proved what they say: that all men are pigs. Not that I have much to compare to. The men around me are all assholes. Except for Colton.
“Hey, Arnold,” I greet quietly, forcing an awkward smile.
He pulls me in and plants a quick kiss on my cheek. Unwillingly, my gaze flicks toward Adam. His jaw clenches hard, the muscle ticking like he’s grinding his teeth.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asks, his tone light, but his eyes are intense and locked on me. “And you are?” Arnold asks Adam, crossing his arms. I hope he won’t provoke him, because it won’t end well for him.
“The question is, who are you, Golden Boy?” Adam asks back.
“Adam,” I whisper in an attempt to stop him from whatever he’s thinking of doing next.
“I asked you first,” Arnold quips. Gosh, such an idiot! He thinks this is a dog fight.