Chapter 13 #3
“Stupid bitch,” Kane hissed, stepping closer. “If your sister was anything like you, then it’s no wonder someone pushed her off that fucking tower.”
I winced, pain ricocheting through me again as I tried to straighten up and escape, but I was trapped, Kane blocking my path forward.
Panic clawed at my throat. This was bad. Really bad. I opened my mouth to scream, to do something, anything—
A figure materialized out of the shadows behind Kane so suddenly it was like he'd stepped out of thin air.
Before I could process what was happening, a fist connected with the side of Kane's head with a sickening crack. His eyes rolled back, and he crumpled like a puppet with snipped strings, hitting the asphalt with a dull thud.
I stared open-mouthed at Kane's unconscious form sprawled on the ground, then slowly lifted my gaze to the man standing over him.
Julian.
He stood there in jeans and a black jacket, chest rising and falling with controlled breaths, his hand still curled into a fist. The overhead light caught the sharp angles of his face, casting half of it in shadow.
His eyes—those cold, calculating eyes I'd seen watching me across campus so many times—were fixed on Kane with an expression that made my blood run cold.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, finally looking up at me.
I tried to speak, but my voice came out as barely a whisper. “I… where did you…”
“Are. You. Hurt.” Each word was clipped, and the intensity in them made me take an involuntary step back, which only reminded me of the brick wall at my spine.
“Um… my shoulder hurts a little,” I said, one hand reaching back to touch where I'd hit the wall. “But I... I'm okay.”
Julian's jaw tightened, and his gaze dropped to Kane again. For a moment, I thought he might kick him while he was down. Instead, he took a slow breath and stepped back, giving his unconscious body a wide berth as he moved closer to me.
“It shouldn’t have taken so long for me to get here,” he said. “That won’t happen again.”
I frowned. He made it sound like he was expected to arrive on the scene.
“I was waiting for a friend over there,” he went on, motioning toward a row of cars. “I saw you walking over here with Kane and noticed things were tense, so I headed over. But I didn’t get here in time to stop him from shoving you. I should’ve been faster.”
“It’s okay. It’s not like you knew he was going to attack me,” I said. “And, uh… I guess I shouldn’t have slapped him, because that totally provoked him.”
“Don’t do that,” Julian said, face hardening. “Don’t feel bad. He deserved it. Just like he deserved that punch.”
“Um… yeah,” I murmured, recalling Kane’s disgusting comments. “I guess he did.”
Julian pulled his keys out of his jacket. “I’ll take you back to your dorm.”
“Thanks for the offer, but my car is right there,” I said, pointing to my left.
His eyes narrowed. “I’m not letting you drive after what just happened to you. You’re shaking too much,” he said, shoving his keys back in his pocket. “I’ll drive your car back for you. Give me your keys.”
My brows rose. “Did you just say you won’t let me drive?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I said.” He held out his empty palm. “Keys. Now.”
“What about your car?”
“I’ll walk back here and get it later.”
The finality in his tone and the unwavering look in his eyes told me he wasn’t going to take no for an answer, but every instinct told me I should say no anyway.
He was part of the Dionysus Club, and he'd somehow been in the exact same place as me tonight; had appeared out of nowhere like he'd been watching, waiting.
But he'd also saved me. And somehow, that was enough to make me believe that he actually intended to take me home tonight. Nothing more, nothing less.
I fished in my purse for my keys, and Julian’s fingers briefly closed around mine as he took them from me. Then he gently pulled me away from the wall. My shoulder protested, but I bit back the wince.
“Your car?” he asked.
“It’s the blue Civic,” I said. “But… wait. What about him? Should we call 911?”
As I spoke, I gestured to Kane. He was still breathing—I could see his back rising and falling—but he was completely out.
“I’ll take care of him when I come back for my car,” Julian said. He reached for my hand again, lips curving in a ghost of a smile. “Come on, Violet. Let’s go.”
The sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine, and I let him take my hand, like an automaton with no choice.
We reached my car, and he opened the passenger door, waiting. The interior light cast a soft glow across his features, and I could see something flickering in his eyes. Something I couldn’t quite place.
"Go on," he said, his voice lower now. Almost gentle. “Get in.”
I did as he said, and he closed the door with a soft click and walked around to the driver's side. As he adjusted the seat and mirrors with practiced ease, I watched his profile in the dim light. The sharp line of his jaw. The controlled set of his shoulders.
The engine roared to life, and as I sat beside him, heart racing, I couldn’t quite tell if I’d just been rescued… or claimed.