Epilogue - A Way Out
Five Months Later
Lorelei
Killian Davenport should have been mine.
I glared at the gorgeous grinning bastard and the regrettably beautiful redhead wrapped around his arm standing in front of the massive mahogany hearth like the king and queen at prom.
He never smiled like that when we were together, even when I did absolutely everything he wanted.
I’d degraded myself and performed every depraved sexual act Killian had demanded.
And still, he’d chosen her...
I didn’t even want Killian anymore. I just didn’t like losing.
Now with Sebastian’s upcoming graduation, Killian had been crowned the new president of Sigma Delta. And I was screwed.
The happy couple moved through the crowd as everyone rushed to congratulate the new golden boy of the fraternity.
I plastered on a fake smile and hugged my knock-off Chanel under my arm as one of the girls from my sorority pranced by.
She grabbed Killian by the arm and ushered him and his new girlfriend toward me.
No. No. No. Dammit, Ashleigh!
“Hey, Lore.” Ashleigh tossed me a plastic grin as her mischievous gaze traveled between Lexi and me. “Don’t you want to congratulate Kill?”
No, I want to wring your little neck, you traitor!
I forced my smile to widen as I took in my ex’s shit-eating grin.
“Yes, of course. Congrats, Killian. I’m sure you’ll make an excellent leader for all these brilliant male minds.
I’m actually planning on running for president of the Zetas myself, so we’ll probably be seeing a lot of each other next year on the Greek Council. ”
“Great,” Lexi muttered.
“Don’t be jealous, baby,” he whispered, but I strained to make out every nauseating word. “You know you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.”
Those whispered words hurt more than a slap in the face. Why couldn’t Killian love me? Why didn’t anyone love me? Was I truly that horrible?
“Hey, Davenport, get over here.” From behind Killian’s shoulder, I could just make out Gage calling him back to the center of the room.
With the myriad of tattoos blanketing every inch of the guy’s flesh, and with that deep purple faux hawk, dark and broody Gage stuck out among the sea of preppy frat boys.
Kill dipped his head at me and swung his arm around Lexi’s shoulder. “See you later, Lore. You too, Ashleigh.”
Lexi grumbled a goodbye as my traitorous friend waggled her fingers at them.
Once they were swallowed up by the crowd, Ashleigh leaned in and whispered, “I still can’t believe Killian picked her over you.”
I snorted on a laugh, despite my insides crumbling. “Please, Kill was just a plaything. He was a solid fuck so I kept him around as a distraction. Lexi can have my leftovers. Besides, a year from now I’ll be engaged to Brock Haversham, and I’ll get to live out my wildest dreams as a trophy wife.”
If I couldn’t be loved, I’d settle for being untouchable.
Ashleigh laughed, but a twinge of envy laced her over-the-top cackling.
“You’re so lucky your dad already arranged everything for you.
It must be such a relief to not have to worry about maintaining your appearance to land a wealthy, successful husband.
” Her eyes raked over me, lingering on my midsection.
Bitch.
Sure, I’d let myself go a little over the winter. Who didn’t? But now with summer approaching, I needed to get my ass in shape. Though I’d never admit it to anyone, I wasn’t so sure about marrying Brock.
Despite my father’s money troubles, I was hesitant to tie myself to that man. A chill skirted up my spine, and my shoulders must have trembled because Ashleigh’s perfectly arched brows scrunched together. “You okay, Lore?”
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just drafty in this damned old house.
” I glanced back toward the hearth where the entire fraternity was gathered along with selected special invitees.
Everyone was still fawning over Killian, and Lexi was beaming.
Ugh, damn I hated how infatuated he was with her.
It wasn’t fair. I couldn’t watch this for a second longer without puking.
“I’m going upstairs to snag a sweatshirt from one of the guys’ rooms.”
“Who are you hooking up with now?” she asked.
No one. That was the sad truth, but I sure as hell wasn’t admitting that to her. “None of your business.” I threw her a wink.
“You naughty, little thing. It’s someone with a girlfriend, isn’t it?”
I ran my fingers across my mouth in a zipping motion. “My lips are sealed.”
I’d been putting on a masterful performance for so long that lying came as easily as breathing. I’d been playing the part of Lorelei Battenberg, A-student, Vice-President of the Zetas, and perfect daughter to Senator Grayson Battenberg for as long as I could remember.
I didn’t even know who the real Lorelei was anymore.
All I knew was that our finances were in shambles and, according to Dad, the only way to save our family fortune was by marrying Brock.
It wasn’t a future. It was a death sentence.
It didn’t matter that I was only twenty-one and he was thirty-six, or that he was rumored to frequent more high-end escort services than half the male population of Stonewall, or the fact that every time I was around the man every nerve-ending in my body stood on end.
And not in a good way.
I spun away from Ashleigh and weaved around the crowd in the grand living room before making my way up the spiral mahogany staircase. With each step, my feet felt heavier, the inevitability of my bleak future stamped in crisp hundred-dollar bills.
There was something about Brock Haversham that had red flags flaring every time I was near.
I knew fucked up men. I’d grown up with one, the greatest actor that ever lived, and I’d hooked up with more than my fair share since I was a teenager, culminating with the completely unhinged Killian Davenport.
But Killian was supposed to be my way out of this mess with Brock.
If I could have proven to my father I was capable of finding my own wealthy husband, maybe he would’ve let me out of the deal with the Havershams. The Davenport name had been the key to everything, and I’d lost my ticket out of this forced arrangement with Brock when Killian’s old best friend strolled onto campus.
Killian had tried to deny it for months, but I knew there was something there from the moment I saw him watching Lexi. He’d never looked at me like that, not once.
Who cares?
I didn’t want love. Love made girls weak.
Still, there was something about the way Killian looked at Lexi... It made me wonder what it felt like to be chosen. To be someone’s entire world.
Tossing the pointless thoughts to the back of my mind, I scanned the quiet hallway. The bedrooms were empty, all the members of Sigma Delta downstairs celebrating their new president. Sebastian Davenport was the only notable member surprisingly absent from the festivities.
Killian’s stepbrother had been oddly nonexistent lately. Not that I cared. Now there was a guy with so many red flags not even I dared to mess around with him, despite the countless zeros in his bank account.
As I crept further down the hall, muffled groans seeped through a closed door at the end of the corridor. It was a room I was very familiar with because I’d spent the better part of last year being kicked out of it after getting Killian off.
Tiptoeing closer, I held my breath and pressed my ear to the door.
“Oh, fuck yes, Axel...” A familiar female voice trickled through the thick timber. More moans and the slap of flesh and bodies crashing against each other.
Damn... good for you, Cordelia.
I’d never been a fan of the girl, but she had guts, I’d give her that. I wished I had the balls not to care about anything or anyone. It would’ve made my last three years here at Stonewall much easier.
“I’m going to come...” Axel’s deep voice filtered through the door, and I jumped back, disappearing into the room beside theirs.
If Axel was anything like Killian, there wouldn’t be any cuddling after the fact. I pressed my back against the wall, hiding behind the door for an endless minute. Then another and another.
What the hell were they doing in there?
Not that I actually needed a sweatshirt, I just wanted somewhere quiet to hide out, and their bedroom would’ve been perfect.
I sank to the floor, dropping my purse and tucking my knees to my chest as I waited. Only two more weeks of school, and then I’d be forced to return home to Boston. Dad had already arranged a week away with Brock on his yacht so that we could get to know one another.
Then our official engagement would be announced at the end of the summer.
That week away would be the first time we’d be alone together, and I was terrified. I couldn’t shake the image of the ocean swallowing me whole. No witnesses, no questions, just another accident money could bury.
What was it about Brock Haversham that had me so freaked out?
Like all of us born in the lap of privilege, he had perfected that plastic smile, that mask of indifference, but something lethal lay below the manicured surface.
The sharp creak of a door hinge had my heart leaping up my throat. I huddled behind the door in the neighboring bedroom, praying no one would see me.
I could just make out a sliver of Axel and Cordelia through the crack in the door. He was holding her hand, a surprisingly wistful expression in his bright blue eyes.
“Stop looking at me like that, all googly-eyed, Ax.” She pressed her palm to his muscled chest.
“What are you talking about?” He chuckled, but even I could hear the rueful edge. “That’s how I always look after coming.” A mischievous grin flared across his scruffy cheeks.
Cordelia laughed. “Whatever you say, Vanderhart.” She released a breath and rose to her tiptoes before brushing a kiss to his cheek. “We should get downstairs. It’s your best friend’s big day.”
He nodded, lips pressing into a hard line. “She’s your best friend too.”
“Duh. They’re the hottest new power couple on campus.
” Cordelia shot him a smirk. “Come on...” She tugged on his arm, but he planted his feet and didn’t budge an inch.
The star quarterback of Stonewall University was built like an ox, so if he didn’t want to move, you sure as hell weren’t going to make him.
“I need a sec. Tell Kill and Lexi I’ll be right down.”
“Okay, suit yourself.” She blew Axel another kiss and scampered down the hall.
Up close, Axel Vanderhart didn’t look like a golden boy. He looked like trouble.
The moment she was gone, the big guy sank down to the floor and raked his hands through his messy, dirty blonde hair.
There was something off about the way he moved, like he was holding himself together by force.
Whatever Cordelia saw in him, it wasn’t the version of Axel Vanderhart sitting on that floor.
That version looked... wrecked.
I shrank back against the wall, praying I’d disappear into the plaster.
Please don’t see me.
The last thing I needed was Axel Vanderhart spreading rumors about me eavesdropping on him and Cordelia getting off. It was bad enough everyone knew Killian had chosen Lexi over me. I’d never live that one down.
With a huff, Axel finally rose. As he trudged past, his head snapped toward the door. Straight at me, like he knew I was there. And for a second, just one, Axel Vanderhart looked right at me. Like he saw through everything. Then without a word, he continued down the hallway.
Holy shit, that was close.
I drew in a steadying breath.
A second later, my phone vibrated in my purse, the sound ricocheting across the shiny wooden floor. I quickly picked it up before Axel heard and returned to investigate.
Scanning the screen, my stomach twisted at the name. Brock Haversham. Why hadn’t my father warned me he’d given it out already.
Moving further into the room, I silently closed the door behind me before drawing in a deep breath to answer.
“Hello?”
“Lorelei...”
“Oh, Brock, what a surprise.”
“What the hell are you doing in that fraternity house?”
“Excuse me?” I eyed the window that looked onto the front yard of Sigma Delta. A flashy yellow sports car loomed on the street.
“I can’t have my future wife involved in some scandal.
Stanford Davenport is a notable member of Sigma Delta, and his drug mess and resulting murder were all over the news.
If anyone catches wind of you associating with them, it could cause my family undesirable attention in the press. Those damned reporters are vultures.”
“But Killian’s my friend and—”
“Just do as you’re told, damn it.”
The way he said it—cold, controlled—sent something icy slithering down my spine. It wasn’t anger. It was ownership.
“I’m leaving,” he snarled. “I can’t be seen here either, but I expect you to say your goodbyes and find some new friends ASAP.”
“Right. Okay.”
The phone cut off, and I sat there frozen, ice surging my veins. What had my father gotten me into?
This wasn’t a fiancé. It was a contract with teeth.
I waited another long minute before forcing myself up and straightening my dress.
There was nothing I wanted more than to hide out in Killian’s room and pray this was all just a nightmare.
But I couldn’t. I’d have to face my new future fiancé and muddle through, just like I had been for years.
With my head held high and shoulders thrown back, I marched down the corridor.
I had to find a way out of this engagement.
Because I had a feeling Brock Haversham wasn’t the kind of man you survived.