Chapter 29
Eventually, everything connects
“Why did you delete them from your phone?” Oliver’s voice is flat, but his eyes are anything but.
After I drove the long way back to my dorm, he cleaned the bite mark on my shoulder and made me something to eat. I skipped my classes, too exhausted to even pretend I could sit through a lecture after the mind-numbing orgasms, and my ass still on fire from the spanking.
He used my body like he knew it better than I did.
Like he could pull one string and make me unravel, then hold me there until I forgot what I was fighting.
I thought sex could be good, even great, but with Oliver it’s something else entirely.
It’s not just pleasure. It’s being ruined and still wanting more.
I twist the ends of my hair around my finger, buying time. “I didn’t want to see them. I thought it was a stupid joke, but now…”
Now it’s not. Now I feel unsafe in my own room.
“Now that someone came into your room and left a note, it stopped being funny,” he finishes.
I bristle. “No need to tell me how stupid it was. I realize that. For fuck’s sake, I should know better.” I bury my head in my bed.
“Should,” he agrees without softness. “It’s fine. We can recover them.”
I pop my head back up and blink. “Recover them?”
He nods once and grabs his phone. “And I can get an acquaintance of mine to track the source.”
“Your acquaintance,” I repeat.
“Are you a parrot now?”
Did Oliver just tease me? I stare at him. “You just…have someone on speed dial for that.”
“He doesn’t like being called a hacker,” Oliver says, like he’s correcting my manners.
“My god.” This time, I gather my hair, throwing it into a high pony. “I really need to do a deep dive on who the hell Oliver Caldwell is.”
His mouth twitches. “You’ll get bored.”
“I won’t, clearly.” I eye where he’s standing, leaning against the windowsill. “Why do you have one?”
Oliver lifts a brow. “Why do you think?”
“I have no idea. I don’t have a hacker just hanging around. Sorry, an acquaintance who does sketchy, mysterious things on phones and computers.”
His gaze dips to his phone, then back to me. “His name’s Archer, and he’s actually more like a…friend.” He says the word friend like it’s foreign on his tongue.
“You have more than one friend?” I tease.
“I have four,” he says, not glancing away from the device. My brows pull together.
“Four? Who besides Callan, Vienna, and Archer…”
He looks up to me with a matching furrow in his brow. “You.”
My heart warms. “Do you need my phone for whatever you're doing?”
“No. I already texted him what he needs.”
I sag in relief, laying my head on my folded arms. “Okay. Good.” Then I clear my throat. “I also need to tell you that one of the texts came with an image…and I think it was alluding to you.”
“What was the image, and what did it say?” His guard is up once again. Cold and calculating as he waits for me to speak.
“A picture of a masked man and me. My eyes are X’d out.”
“What. The. Fuck?”
“And it said maybe he’ll kill you too…” The color drains from his face just before he schools his expression. I get up and move to him. “Oliver?”
“Any more that weren’t texts?”
“Yes. The envelope, but I think it was slid under the door and…the one in my kitchen that you already know about.’”
“Fucking hell, Lyra.”
I hurry on. “But others are about me leaving or insinuating the cops are going to look in my direction for what happened to Amelia.” Something clicks as I speak. “And they did…Do you think whoever it is is trying to set me up to leave Willow Hill? But why?”
My mind can’t stop now; it’s like a runaway train. I’ve held back about thinking too deeply because I thought the threat was gone after Jade died. But now… “Who even has access?” I question out loud. “Well, actually.” I gesture vaguely at his form. “You got in. So, I guess anyone can.”
Oliver’s expression doesn’t change. “It’s easy to get in. That won’t narrow the list. No more secrets about this, do you understand? None, Lyra. I swear to fuck.”
“I swear. I promise.” I purse my lips. “So, what now?”
“For now, you aren’t staying alone.”
My spine straightens immediately, and suddenly I’m sitting up on my bed to face him. “But what—”
“I’ll stay with you until it’s sorted. You don’t go anywhere alone until this is over. I sleep at your place. Your location sharing stays on. You answer me when I call.”
“Oliver.”
“No arguing, Lyra.”
We hold each other’s stare from across the room, stubborn meeting stubborn. He doesn’t waver. I don’t either, but I can feel my heart trying to climb out of my throat. What if I have a nightmare while he’s here?
“I don’t like to cuddle,” I protest.
His mouth twitches again. “Good.”
I squint. “Good?” Well, that’s rude.
“I wasn’t offering to cuddle,” he says, deadpan. “I’m offering to keep you safe.”
“Ms. Sloane.”
I look up just as Detectives Lesser and Wright walk toward me. Callan glances from them to me but stays in his spot.
True to Oliver’s word, he hasn’t left my side.
And if he’s gone, Callan, Roxy, or Vee is there.
Oliver’s claim that he didn’t like to cuddle was a complete lie.
It’s not the spooning, sweet-hugs type, but it’s adjacent.
He’s constantly touching me, even when I try to push him off because I’m hot or uncomfortable.
He has a hand on my back, ass, or around my waist. I fought it, but last night as I watched him succumb to sleep, his face softening, making him look younger, I conceded and snuggled close.
I think he needs the connection more than he’s willing to admit.
And not once did I have a nightmare, thank everything that is holy.
“Uhm, hi.” They don’t wait for an invitation; instead, Wright takes a seat across from me while Lesser stands behind her, arms folded.
“This works out. I was planning on reaching out. We need you to come into the station today if you have time.”
“About what exactly?” I have a feeling I know why, but I want clarification.
“Leo Zander’s death,” Lesser answers. Wright shoots him a “shut the fuck up” look.
“I thought it was suicide?” Callan asks, and his voice drops on the last word. “Hi. Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. Callan Hollis.” He holds out his hand. “I trained with Leo’s team.”
Wright shakes it. “I’m sorry for your loss.” She gives him an understanding smile.
Callan nods like he’s genuinely grieving. “It was a shock, but after Amelia’s death, he was in a bad place.”
Callan is so full of shit. But it pulls the heat off me for a second.
“He was?” Lesser says, stepping in.
“Yeah,” Callan continues smoothly. “Drinking more. Not showing up to practice on time. It was getting bad.” He lets out a small breath. God, he’s good. “It’s understandable. He and Amelia were inseparable, even when things were rocky.”
I could kiss Callan right now, but I won’t, because I like Callan, and Oliver would kill his best friend.
“I see,” Lesser says, nodding once. His gaze shifts to me. “Lyra.”
“I have class soon,” I say, “but I can come by around two.”
“Perfect. See you then.” Wright smiles and stands. Lesser follows her, both moving toward the counter.
The second they’re out of earshot, Callan turns on me. “What the fuck was that?”
“No idea,” I say. “But I intend to find out.” My eyes stay on the front door until it closes behind them. “It’s been days. Why come now?”
Callan scrubs his hand over his jaw. “No idea.”
“I’ve gotta call my dad.”
“I’ll walk you to class.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I just need a second.”
“Tell Oliver about this; he’ll want to know.” I nod, already knowing I will as soon as I get off the phone.
“I will, also.” I lean in, lowering my voice. “Thanks for what you did. That was amazing on the spot like that.”
He grins, mischief dancing in his eyes. “I don’t know what you mean. I was just telling the…truth.”
I give him a grateful smile. “See you later.” I don’t rush, grabbing my bag and coffee, and slip outside.
“Hey, Beam.”
“Hey, Dad.” I sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“Those detectives want me to come into the station about Leo’s death.”
“They what! Why?” His tone hardens.
“Because…” Here we go. He knows about Oliver.
He doesn’t know about Serena’s little story.
“Serena, my RA, thinks I left the dorm that night. That I had something to do with it.” I weave through people, pressing the phone tighter to my ear.
“I never left. I was home all night. I didn’t even hear about it until class the next day. ”
“They care now, but when it was you.” He grunts under his breath. “Okay. Here’s what you’re going to do. Say nothing extra. They ask what you were doing, and you say 'sleeping'. Did you leave? Say no. Short answers so nothing gets twisted. If it feels like a trap, don’t answer.”
“Dad.”
“Beam, you’re going to be fine. I’m calling in a few favors to see what’s going on.”
My whole body loosens. “Thank you.”
“Want me to come down? I can be there in—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I’ll call if I need you, promise. Don't tell Mom and worry her just yet.”
“I can't keep things from your mom, you know this.”
“Well, then give me until after the interview.”
He grunts. “Fine. You’re smart. Don’t let them turn anything into a lie.”
“I’ll call as soon as I leave the station,” I promise.
“The station?” A voice I’m all too familiar with cuts in. I didn’t hear Oliver approach, but suddenly he’s there, crowding my space.
“I gotta go. Love you.”
“Love you. Call me after.”
“What are you talking about?” Oliver’s eyes are scanning me from head to toe.
I pocket my phone. “I just got a friendly visit from the detectives handling Leo’s case. Same ones from Amelia’s and Jade’s.”
“Why?”
“I need to go in. I’m guessing it’s about what Serena thinks she saw.”
“You’re not going in alone.” His tone leaves no room for discussion. Bending close, he whispers in my ear. “Tell them you were with me all night.”
My brows knit. “What?”
“I was fucking you all night, Lyra. Do you understand?”
I pull back, searching his face. “Oliver—”
“You are not walking into anything without me.” He wraps a hand around my throat, not hard, his thumb tipping my chin up as he kisses me. It’s claim and comfort at once. “Now let’s get to class. We’re going to be late.”
The entire class, I can’t focus. It isn’t until Oliver walks me into the station and talks to the desk clerk that nerves break through my calm facade. He gives his name and asks where to leave a statement. They take him to a side room as I nervously bounce my foot up and down, waiting.
The interview is short when they pull me back. They have camera footage of a blonde slipping out of the dorm around midnight and returning forty minutes later, just like Serena said.
“I was with Oliver Caldwell all night in my dorm. I didn’t leave once until the next morning for class.”
“We have his statement here, and he says the same thing.” She looks up, her brows climbing to her hairline.
“He also shared phone logs showing your location and phone use in your dorm during this time. How he has such information is above my pay grade, frankly.” I fight to keep my mouth from dropping open.
This has Oliver and Archer written all over it, but I don’t tell Detective Wright that. Wright flips a few documents before meeting my eyes. “I’m sorry to bring you in; we got a tip and needed to cover every base, but Leo's death was ruled a suicide.”
“So, I can go?” I ask.
She smiles. “Yes, you can go, thank you, Lyra. Again, I apologize for making you come down here.” I hate that this is happening, but a small part of me is relieved they’re actually doing their job.
“Actually.” I turn back. “Did you find anything out about Jade?”
She stares at me for a long moment before sighing. “It looks like she was pushed.”
“Pushed?” I breathe out.
She nods, eyes not accusing, just assessing. “I know you and Jade didn’t get along, but is there anyone else you might know of who would want to hurt her?”
I debate whether to tell the truth or give a generic answer. Ultimately, I go with my version. “Jade was manipulative. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had enemies, but I've been gone, so I can't say for sure.” Besides the obvious.
“Well, even that helps. Thank you, Ms. Sloane.”
Outside, Oliver stands as soon as he sees me. “Ready?”
He opens the car door and waits until I’m buckled before he shuts it. We pull away. The silence stretches a block before I speak. “We’ll be discussing the tracker on my phone or whatever Archer did to show I was active and where I was.”
“That tracker might have just kept you from being a suspect.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that you invaded my privacy. Again.”
“I’ll take you mad at me over you in a lineup.” He cuts me a look. “Your mouth and that attitude are growing on me every day.”
“So glad to please you.”
He smirks, but his hand finds my knee. “Hand me your phone.”
I stare. “Excuse me? No, not after hearing this. You're kidding. You’ll probably put a copy on it so you can see everything I can.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” he muses.
I gape at him.
He reaches his palm out, doing a grabby motion with his fingers. “Phone.”
I pass it over. He flips to settings, checks what he wants, and hands it back.
“You don’t get to—”
“I do.” He glances over, mouth a hard line. “Because I’m not losing you.” I feel myself soften. “Text your dad and tell him you’re fine.” He looks back at the road as we make our way back to campus.
Dad replies in seconds, saying he and Mom will call me tonight. Oliver watches the screen light up and nods once, satisfied.
“The tracker conversation isn’t over,” I repeat.
“I like it when you fight me.” His thumb strokes once over my knee. “Just not on this.”
“They said Jade was pushed.”
He nods, not seeming surprised. “And you have an alibi for that as well.”
“What about you?” I ask.
His eyes cut to me. “I made an alibi for myself.”
He turns into campus and parks. “Let’s go, Dollface. I’m hungry. I want to make you dinner and watch that show you think is perfect for us.”