7. Chapter 7 - Layrin
Chapter 7
I was still flustered when I got to my next class, Art History, and I didn’t expect arms to circle around my torso. Immediately, I planted my legs and shoved my elbow back, not about to let that fucker get to me a second time.
“Whoa, whoa, hold up, Lay. It's just me.” Cin slowly stepped up next to me, a hesitant smile on her face like I was a rabid animal.
I assessed her, trying to figure out how she’d escaped that move without a scratch. Was she just too short for it to work? Did she let go at the right time? That move always worked.
“Did something happen to you?” She looked around before she lowered her voice, and her eyes turned into blueish blades. “Did someone fuck with you? Just tell me, and I’ll take care of them.”
The seriousness in her face made me pause. Did she really mean that? Why?
“No. I can handle him. It's just something stupid.” I didn't want to get Cin involved. That would just make us closer, and I didn’t know if I wanted that.
She pinched her lips, moving them from side to side like she was thinking, then she hooked an arm into mine, tugging me toward our classroom. “Oooohhhh, so it's a him .” She stuck out her lip and looked up at me with puppy dog eyes. “And here I thought you and I would go trolling for dick together at one of my brother’s parties this week.”
I dropped my mouth, opening and closing it like a fish as she tugged me through the door. I needed to set some stuff straight. She moved to the seat closest to the door and patted the one next to her. Sitting down, I geared up for some real talk.
“Look, Cin, I’m not really looking to start anything with anyone. I have to focus on getting through school.”
She was nodding before I even finished. “Oh yeah, sure, I totally get that. I’m all on board with the ‘fuck-a-relationship’ train, but I said let’s get some dick. It doesn't have to be forever dick, or even we-dated-for-a-year dick. Just some good, old-fashioned, oh-shit-he’s-hot dick. Or how about I-fucking-hate-him-but-would-fuck-his-brains-out dick? There’s always the trusty I’m-drunk-and-I-woke-up-in-his-bed dick?”
My lips twitched even though I was having a hard time connecting the things that were coming out of her mouth with the graceful aura and eclectic style she rocked.
I was no stranger to sex, but each time I had it, something bad happened to the guy, and I didn’t want to keep that kind of stigma going on here. This place was supposed to be my clean start, my way to get out of the street life.
She gave me a pleading look that was hard to pass up. This was also the second time she had brought it up, me going to a party with her. This was the point when people started to take offense if you kept turning them down. What's the worst that could happen, right? “How about no dick, but I’ll still come with you to the party.” It would be good to meet a few more people other than Cin and the psycho Irish guy.
Cin vibrated in her chair, causing me to lean away from her in case she burst into a million pieces. “Oh. My. God! I swear you are going to have a fun and amazing time. Promise! You’ll get to meet some upperclassmen. Most of the freshmen came to the party last night and will be there tonight since it's the first big party of the year, but if we wait and go Thursday night, the crowd will be older. Perfect for you. A lot of the legacies and the smart upperclassmen dicks will be there.”
Parties all week long? That seemed exhausting.
I glared at her, not wanting to repeat myself, and she grinned from ear to ear. “I know, I know. But that doesn't mean I can’t get some regretful smart dick, right?” I nodded, knowing that I wasn't going to prevent her from making adult choices. “But I promise…” She straightened up, her demeanor going very serious as she held up one hand while the other rested over her heart. “I will not bring him back to our room. No stupid boys in our room; that's a safe space. A dick-free zone.”
“Thank you for the courtesy.” I smirked at her, not planning to keep her to her promise. Cin already seemed a little unpredictable to me, and those kinds of people were made for breaking the rules.
The professor spoke up, telling us all to quiet down. After the class was over, I realized that Cin hadn’t once bugged me or tried to talk to me though the lecture. She was surprisingly studious when the time called for it and a wizard on the computer. I glanced over halfway through, and she was not only writing down notes at a wicked speed, but monitoring some other program that was just running code.
When she caught me looking, she winked and whispered that it was a special project. Since I didn't know her schedule, I could only guess it was for some computer or high-tech class.
My stomach growled something fierce, and she convinced me to go to lunch with her, saying she had a cool place that only upperclassmen knew and that fit my vibe. Whatever that meant.
I was pleasantly surprised when I followed her through the building and out a side door. “Are you sure you kno—” I stopped speaking as soon as the sunlight beamed through the door she was holding open. After one step forward, I found myself in the middle of a lush green oasis.
The space housed several different types of flowers, bushes, and trees, almost like it was its own special collection. The grass was well kept, weed free, and soft when you stepped onto it. “Come on.” She tugged on my sleeve and motioned toward the end of the rectangular secret garden she had brought me to.
I followed her, my attention on the ambiance of the place. The stone walls were covered in green vines, all except for the windows to some classrooms and offices. There was a small group of people in the corner with pads and pencils, looking up and down while they sketched.
“What do you want?”
Cin’s voice broke me from my exploration. We were in front of a small yet quaint café with a few small tables and chairs. Only two people were in line at the moment, so I glanced at the menu. It was small, listing basic sandwiches or salads, partnered with coffee, tea, and soft drinks. It was perfect—no frills, no fancy shit, just plain food and an amazing view.
Feeling something bump into me, I looked down at a grinning Cin. “I knew you'd like this place. You scream unpretentious.”
“Um… thank you?” I didn't know if that was a compliment or an insult, and Cin didn’t clarify, just smirked.
After we ordered, Cin paid—she took advantage of my wandering eyes—but I made her promise that she would let me pay next time. I wasn't a mooch.
For the next forty-five minutes, Cin talked nonstop. She told me how she felt about having a brother and cousin here with her, how she never truly got to be free with them lording over her. She said I would know what she meant when I met them on Thursday at the party. I was curious as to what her family would be like since Cin seemed to be her own brand of person. Was it a family trait or just her thing?
I learned her second major was in computer programming and analytics. It took me a second to digest that, but she explained that she was looking to rule the world within the lines of the law using technology. She even cackled into the sky at the end. Now, that seemed more like her.
She loved the combination of pink and black because they “represented both sides of her personality perfectly.” I nodded in agreement even though I’d only known her for a short amount of time. Her favorite dessert was a soft and chewy cookie. If you gave her dry, crispy ones, she would cut your face off—her words.
While she had grown up in a wealthy family, she was unlike any rich person I had met before. She was a little quirky, definitely a space invader, but she was actually really down to earth and fun to be around. The opposite of what I’d pictured her to be when I first met her.
She reminded me a tad of Vivian.
Vivian was outgoing and fun like Cin, but she’d carried a deep sadness behind the happy, beautiful mask she’d created. It was that sadness that had led us to connect and become friends. With Cinzia, it was more like she had been working me like a nut, banging me against the counter until I cracked so she could force her way in with her funny sayings and persistent attitude. Vivian would’ve liked her.
While that thought made me sad, thinking about Vivian wasn't as painful. Surprisingly, it made my heart feel light, almost like I had Vivian next to me saying that she approved of the friendship. She would want Cin to take the lead since I was the skeptical, realistic one.
We eventually had to split, her going to an advanced computers course while I headed over to some basic science class. After that was a film class and entry-level math to end the day.
Lying in my bed after my first day, I felt much better about everything. It seemed like a normal, decent school, the dorms were nice and clean, and I was getting along with my roommate. I was engaged in the classes I liked, and the others weren’t terribly hard. My schedule was stacked so that I went to school all day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, giving me Tuesday and Thursday to relax, explore the campus, and really get comfortable where I was now living.
On Wednesday, I braced myself to face off with the Irish psycho, but he wasn't there. Maybe he’d gotten kicked out, or better yet, he’d dropped out? A girl could hope.
Before I knew it, it was Thursday night. I was cozy in my bed and pajamas when Cin burst into our room in a frantic tizzy. “Oh my god, are you not even ready yet?!”
Oh shit, I’d forgotten about the party.
I felt a bit of déjà vu when Cin looked at my wardrobe and gasped at how little I had. She kept promising, despite my refusals, to take me out shopping over the weekend. I tried to explain that I didn't need more than a few shirts, underwear, socks, and a set of leggings, jeans, and a skirt. That was when she dramatically fell onto her bed and cried about how it was a crime against women that I only had the “basics.”
She grabbed the one black skater skirt I had and put it on my bed before she went to her closet, which was crammed with clothes, picked her smallest racerback crop top, and set it next to my skirt.
“What? No—” She lifted her hand, her face giving me a serious glaring warning to shut my mouth.
“It's not that bad. Plus, we want to show off how hot you are even though none of them can have you because of your dick ban. It will make all of them go crazy to try to win you, which means you might be able to collect some favors.” She spouted off all of this while digging through her closet for shoes before settling on a pair of thigh-high black wedges. It sounded like she had this all planned out… for me . Why?
“Cinzia, why are you doing this?”
She set down the shoes near my bed, went to her makeup bag, and motioned for me to sit. When I didn't budge, she smirked and lightly pushed me into position.
“Look, I like you. At first, you were kinda closed off, but I realized that you were never really mean about it, which meant you were a nice person. As you heard Miss Clara Barns say in orientation, they’re looking for the wolves of the world, and I’m…” She hesitated as she took out a brush and started with some eye makeup.
I didn’t know why I just sat there and let her do it, but it felt like I should take what she was giving. She continued. “I just want to make sure you make it. I don't like most women, but I like you. I want you to stick around, and if that means we use these boys for their connections because you're beautiful and fabulous, then so be it.”
“And how can they help me?”
She blinked a few times before answering, “Lay, this is a small university that brings in people from all over the world. Very exclusive with a specific type of person that graduates from here. These will also be upperclassmen, so they have inner knowledge about how each teacher works, what they’re lenient about and what they aren't.”
I was so focused on what she was saying that I didn't notice she was putting on lipstick until she told me to smile.
“Making connections now could affect you in the future. You might be in a bind, but because you graduated from this university and made the friends that you did, you’ll be able to get out of anything. We need to put our best feet forward tonight and be memorable, even if you don’t let them touch you with their dicks.”
“Are all the upperclassmen men?” I was curious because that would tell me a lot about this school.
Cin sighed. “About half the women who start don't make it past sophomore year. Which makes it male dominated, but us ladies are growing in numbers, making a space for ourselves. That's why I want to carve out a space for you too.”
Fingering my necklace, I thought about what she’d said. Knowing that little tidbit of information, I felt inclined to let her have her way with dressing me. I didn’t care that much anyway. I’d learned a long time ago not to care about brands and nice clothes because I wasn’t meant to have them. That was for kids who had caring, loving parents, and that was not me.
“Where did you get that?” My eyes snapped up to see Cin’s gaze narrowing at my necklace.
Letting it slip through my fingers, I shrugged, not wanting to admit its value to me. “Oh, it's just something I picked up.” She hummed, watching my neck like she was committing it to memory. I was about to take it off and hide it when her whole demeanor snapped back around. She smiled wide as she cooed about some eyeshadow being perfect for me. Maybe I’m imagining things?
As soon as she was done, I slid on the crop top, black skater skirt, and thigh-high wedges. She gave me a thorough inspection. “You have this special type of pretty and style. It's like you don’t care. I think that's what makes people like me drawn to you.”
I laughed. “Yeah, that's because I don't care. Plus, your style of pretty is way prettier than mine. You look gorgeous and exotic, almost regal, even though you try to hide it.” I didn't mean to tell her so much of what I thought, but it just came out.
With her tongue in her cheek, she glared at me before she rolled her eyes. “Alright. This just isn’t fair. You're smart and pretty. Not cool, Lay. Not cool.”
I mumbled the truth. “Yeah, right. Smart is not what people back home would call me.”
She shoved my shoulders, and I braced instinctively, telling myself all I needed to do was find the right time to strike back. When a hit didn’t follow, I looked at her to see her mouth pinched and her thin body shaking. She growled, “What the fuck did those garbage people call you? I will slit their fucking throats.”
My eyes flew open, stunned, because this was not the face of someone who was joking. This was the face of a friend trying to defend a friend. Someone who wanted to have my back. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, to get her to calm down, but that horrible darkness inside of me crept forward. You know you're not worth her time and energy. You're better off alone. I closed my mouth, shutting down all my feelings so the voice within couldn’t take over.
Cin gave a long, low sigh, eyes down on the ground and hands on her hips. Her voice was sad and resigned when she said, “Come on. Let's go.”
I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn't some granite, pantheon-looking mega mansion. Four white stone pillars matched the ones from the main hall building, giving it a guarded look, like those pillars were keeping out those of us deemed unacceptable. The whole lawn was perfectly sculpted, not even a leaf out of place. The only things that brought some kind of human aspect were the large wraparound front porch with a bench swing and the terraces that came out from each window on the second floor. This place was so out of my league.
Cin pinched me, but I just hissed at her until she finally cracked a smile. “See, that's why I like you. Now, come on. These jackoffs aren’t so fucking great. You’ll do fine.” She pressed forward, trudging up the steps like it was something she did often.
Club music pounded out once she opened the door. I looked behind me, hoping that no one was upset with how loud the sound was, but Cin pulled me in and closed the door. “It's a top-of-the-line, soundproofed design so they could get out of receiving noise complaints.” I knew I was beginning to become desensitized to my surroundings because my first thought was I guess that's what rich people do with their money.
The inside was just as glamorous as the outside. My first glance was of two extra-wide mahogany-railed staircases coming down each side, with a round stone table in the center. You could hear the music and other voices, but they seemed to be coming from further inside the house. Cin nodded for me to follow her just as a smooth baritone called out from above.
“And who brought this stunning creature to Alpha Sigma Xi?” I glanced up, stunned to see a gorgeous man. Desperately, I tried to keep my mouth from falling open.
“Luca, non iniziare con le tue cazzate!” Cin snapped, stomping her foot in his direction like she was going to do something. I didn't know what she was saying, but she didn't seem happy. This must be either her brother or her cousin.
This man was built like a Greek god, and the only reason I knew that was because the top three buttons on his blue shirt were open, his sleeves rolled up. Tight white slacks sculpted themselves around his waist. His hair was a tad long, curling right underneath his ears, but it flowed around his head like he was a model waiting for someone to take his picture.
He called out, “Cin, chiudi la bocca.” His words were for her, but his honey brown eyes drilled into me as he lazily made his way down the stairs. His easy smile gave me the feeling that although this was his default, it wasn’t his true smile, and that put me on edge.
Cin flipped him off just as he hit the landing, but he ignored her, grabbed my hand, and kissed it. Needless to say, I was flustered. Between his drop-dead good looks, dark hair that called my fingers to run through it, and the soft, chaste yet sexy kiss he gave my hand, my tongue was all in knots. I could feel Cin’s annoyance. The little exhales and complaining grunts made it obvious she didn't want to witness any of this.
“Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?”
This was a man with power, and I needed to watch myself. The fact that she didn’t pull me away from him said that loudly enough.
“Layrin. Layrin Smith.”
“Layrin. I’m Luca Ricci. It's a pleasure.” He said my name like it was dripping in sin and lust, and my internal alarms immediately went off. This man seemed to want something from me, and I didn’t think I wanted to give it to him. I abstained from backing away from him because that would mean he was winning whatever this was.
He held out his arm for me to take, but that passed the extent of Cin’s patience because she loudly said, “Nope! No . She is mine, brother. Get one of your own,” then snagged my arm and pulled me toward the music.
A backward glance revealed Luca with that lazy smile I wasn't buying, but his gold eyes sparkled with excitement as he tucked his hands into his too-tight pants. I reminded myself that I didn't want to get involved with any man, let alone a man that looked like he was going to eat me and spit me out when he was done. I had made a life of avoiding men like him, and I wasn’t about to go back on that now.
More and more people started to show up the deeper we got into the house. Cin waved to a few of them and flipped off others like she was some kind of queen bee, but with a brother like Luca, I guessed she was. There was no doubt in my mind that he was the king here.
“Come on. Let’s say hi to Elio. He’s the more fun one anyway.” She stopped in her tracks before turning around to face me. “But I’m warning you, don’t try to catch his eye or anything because he’s straight up cray cray. You don't want that kind of mess in your life. Trust me.”
I don't think I want to know either of your relatives in that kind of way . I wasn’t going to tell her that since I didn't know if she would take it offensively or not. It was best just to keep my mouth shut about her family.
She pulled me through a maze-like set of hallways until we ended up in a large open space that looked like it was a living room, dining room, and kitchen meshed into one. Cin motioned toward the kitchen. “Let's get a drink.”
I followed her until a familiar set of green eyes snagged on me, going wide when he recognized me. “Holy shit, peaches! You came to me. I guess it’s fate. I just found the love of my life this year.”
Cin’s eyes bugged out, snapping her head between him and me like she was at a loss for words. “You know each other?”
Wincing out of guilt, I mumbled, “I mean, not really. We met in English 101.”
Without hesitation, Elio’s face went savage. He dug around his pocket, proclaiming, “Oh, I think we know each other very well. You even gave me a lock of your hair.” His hand shot up to dangle said hair, but the black ribbon tied around it was most definitely put there by him.
Cin’s whole body changed as she stared at it. “You fucking give that back to her, you psycho!” Then she charged him.
The volley of punches and kicks that she was landing on Elio was impressive. I wasn’t expecting that from a girl like her, but damn, was I wrong. She went savage and bit him in the arm. He howled so loud that everyone within the vicinity looked over. Given their shrugs, this must be a regular thing between these two, but I was starting to feel sorry for Elio. It wasn't like he was the one who cut my hair.
I grabbed Cin by the waist, yanking her off him and backing up a few steps because she was still throwing punches and kicks.
“Cin. Cin! He didn't cut my hair.” She stilled, turning her head to me, and I let her go. “I'm serious. I was…” I glanced over at the slicked-back, strawberry-blond-haired male who was sporting a growing black eye and a split lip, but he was smiling like this was the best day of his life. I closed my eyes and took a breath, resetting myself before I faced Cin. “ I was the one who cut my hair. It was meant to be more of a power move and threat, but he I guess… took that as an invitation.”
Her mouth opened and shut a few times before she yelled, “Of course he did! I told you he was crazy!” I mean, that was after I met him, but I wasn't about to tell her that as she was glaring at us.
Elio took that moment to comb back his hair. “Sure, sure, I’m definitely fucked in the head, but, peaches,” he licked his bloody lip, “she is secretly crazy, which you know is my favorite kind!”
Cin threw up her hands. “Perché, Dio? Perché sono maledetto ad essere imparentato con questi uomini fastidiosi?”
Elio walked around the kitchen island toward her. “Hey, hey, hey. You know the rules. No Italian when you don’t have an Italian speaker present.” His eyes flicked to me with sympathy before returning to her with a scowl. “It's rude, Cin.”
Cin nodded like she was an autopilot until she remembered what just happened and grabbed my hand. “I need to get you away from them. They’re the worst, and they can't have you. I refuse.”
Again, I didn't know exactly what she meant by them having me, but I knew she was doing something for my benefit, so I followed her. This time, I didn’t make the mistake of looking back. If I did, he might follow.
The backyard was almost as massive as the house itself—just as manicured as the front, but littered with drunk people. One guy passed us, walking like a newborn fawn. Cin purposely stuck out her foot, and he fell face first into the grass, not moving. At least it was nice, soft grass.
In one corner, a group huddled together in a cloud of smoke. It didn't take a scientist to know what they were doing. Then there was a loud crowd by the glass doors playing beer pong. Cin steered us away from all of that, finding a dark corner that was lit up by a small gazebo. It would be romantic if it wasn't at a frat house, even a posh one.
“Okay. You should be good here. Far enough from those leeches.” Her eyes narrowed just as Elio came into view, sliding open the glass door to step out into the backyard. “I'm going to get us something to drink. Stay here. I’ll bring some safe dic—I mean, people to meet.”
She scampered off before I could say a word, yelling at Elio about getting back in the house to do his job, or something to that effect. They were all a little quirky, a little off in opposite ways, and all of them were abnormally attractive. Was that a family trait?
My pondering of the Ricci family must’ve caused the fates to stir. Out from the darkness, Luca appeared like the Grim Reaper, with a bottle of wine, two glasses, and his lazy smile that would make any woman swoon. I had a bad feeling about this. I glanced around, hoping to find Cin, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Don’t look so nervous, cara mia. I don’t bite.”
He swaggered up to me, taking the loosened cork out with his mouth before pouring both glasses like he was born to do it. “I have a useless gift of being able to tell what kind of drink people enjoy, and as soon as I saw you, I knew you would enjoy the finer things in life. You're not here to throw back shots like these children, nor do you want to guzzle down beer like a neanderthal.” His rant ended with him sneering at the partygoers around him like they were ants and he their master.
“But you…” He returned to me, questions in his eyes as he hesitated, the tips of his lips curled up. “You are not like them. You want something smooth yet sweet. Something with a little bite that has you wanting more. This Chateau Latour Pauillac is perfect for you.” He handed me a glass. I took it, trying to figure out the best way to avoid drinking it without getting on his bad side.
“I’m not much of a drinker, so I'm sure this will be better suited for someone else here.” I looked across the lawn and found a girl with gorgeous golden hair, men circled around her. Her eyes kept drifting this way, and I realized that she had her sights on Luca. I lifted my glass toward her. “I bet she would love to share something like this with you.”
He made a show of looking around me, rolling his eyes, then sitting down next to me. Notes of amber and spice wafted off of him, and I hated to admit that it was an appealing smell, one I didn't mind having close to me. “She’s fun if you like fucking someone who acts like a dead fish in bed.”
I lifted one brow at his comment. He was already showing me he was the guy I thought he was—a player, through and through. He shrugged like it was no big deal, like bad sex, and paying the price for it, was something he was used to. Typical frat boy.
He looked down at my untouched glass and gave me a knowing smile. “You think I poisoned it?”
I swirled the wine in the glass and lifted it to the light like I had seen people do on TV. “It has nice legs.”
Barking out a laugh, he settled down just as fast. “Fine. You saw me pour the wine into both glasses, but I guess you didn't see me uncork it. Let's hope that this will set your mind at ease.” He lifted the glass to his lips and took a large sip before turning back to me. “See? Nothing is wrong with it. I wouldn't spike my own drink.”
His logic was sound, so I didn't see any way out of accepting his offer. I also didn’t think it was wise to upset Cin’s brother, so I figured one sip wouldn't hurt. I lifted the glass and let a good sip pass my lips. The bold flavor of raspberries and spice immediately tickled my tongue, but it went down smooth.
He was right. I did like this, and it annoyed me that he could read me so easily.
A glass shattered in the distance, causing both of us to look in the direction of the house. His lips turned down before he put his glass down, standing up as he said, “I need to take care of that. I'll be right back.”
I waved him off. “Go take care of your house. I’m fine out here.” I mean, I figured something like that would happen when you had drunk people in your house, but by the look on his face, he was ready to tear off heads and take names.
Seconds later, a familiar urge reminded me that I hadn’t gone to the bathroom before we left, which meant that the two red bulls, one coffee, and two bottles of water in my bladder were ready to exit.
Getting up, I felt a little rush in my head, but my bladder was waiting for no one, so I quickly made my way into the house. I bypassed whatever commotion was happening in the living room and continued on the hunt for a bathroom.
That rush in my head started to make me dizzy, so I put my hand on the wall to steady myself. I had made it down one hallway and turned the corner, my head now pounding, when I bumped into someone.
“Sssorry,” I slurred, and I tried to get out of their way.
Unfamiliar hands grabbed my shoulders. I jerked to get away, but they just tightened instead of giving me space. “Whoa, hey. Are you okay? Are you looking for a place to lie down?”
My vision was slightly blurred, but I could tell it was a tall guy with black hair and a crooked nose. I shoved out of his grip, mumbling more to myself than anything, “I need the bathroom.”
“Oh.” He smiled and pointed down the hallway. “It's the second door to the right.”
Waving my hand in thanks, I made my way to the door he’d pointed out and shoved my way through. It was dark, so I reached around for a light, and as soon as I turned it on, the black-haired stranger entered the room from the other side. The click of a lock sounded.
“You looked like you needed some help.” He walked closer, and all my warning bells went off. Something was wrong. Why was my vision hazy? Why was I dizzy and barely able to keep myself upright?
Hands slid around me, and I tried to pull away from them again. “No. What aaare you dddoing?” My slurred speech didn't sound like me. I was shaken out of my thoughts when hot breath met my neck.
“I knew I wanted you the moment I saw you, but the Riccis kept you to themselves. They always keep the most prized ones to themselves. But then you just landed in my lap like this! It's fate.” The lust in his voice had me wanting to vomit.
I made another move to get away from him, but his grip was strong and my body felt weak, betraying me like it had a mind of its own. I stumbled back, but he took advantage of that and circled my waist, lifting me up enough to twirl me around and shove me up against the wall.
“Nnnoo. Lea meee aloone,” I cried out, my speech getting worse by the second.
“Aw, come on, baby. I promise I’ll make you feel so good.” He made a trail of wet, sloppy kisses down my neck. I cried out, hoping that someone would hear me, but the guy just chuckled. His fingers lifted my shirt, and he roughly grabbed my breast, squeezing hard enough to make it hurt.
“I might not be in this fraternity, but I know these rooms are soundproof. No one will hear your cries of pleasure, so go ahead and make as much noise as you want, baby.” Desperation filled me. His hands burned my skin, making my stomach roll in disgust, and my body grew weaker until I had to sag against the wall just to stay upright. Tears gathered in my eyes as black spots formed in my vision, and I let out a whimper, a plea for someone to help me. Cin, Luca, Elio, anyone. Please. Someone just help me. I don’t want this.
Before everything went black, a dark shape crept up behind the guy. With a deep, guttural voice that embodied the promise of pain and destruction, the figure said, “It sounds like she said no.”
There was a cry and a sickening crunch before something dropped to the floor. My eyes rolled back in my head, my body giving up, then I crashed down too.