Chapter 34 Obedient
OBEDIENT
PATIENCE
Mila’s eyes narrow as she skims my outfit, frowning.
“I’m not changing.” Even if I know I’m not nearly as stylish as she is in her pink summer dress.
My plaid skirt has black tights underneath to mask my scarred knees, and I still feel exposed, which is why I paired it with a white long-sleeve shirt.
“It’s not the outfit.” Mila lifts off the counter. “I’m just trying to figure this out. You’re wearing a skirt, willingly partying at Sigma House tonight, and not fighting me at every turn. Are you feeling ill?”
She flattens the back of her hand against my forehead.
I swat it away. “I’m fine.”
“So Violet’s right then. You’re avoiding the professor at any and all costs? Because this is extreme, even for you.”
My glare cuts to Violet, who is applying a layer of lip gloss while Teal sits on the edge of the tub, not getting ready at all because she’d rather wear jeans and a paint-splattered T-shirt than dress up for a fraternity party.
“What?” Violet shrugs, catching my gaze in the mirror. “You’re hanging out at Sigma House, Patience. Sigma House. The place you avoid like the plague.”
Teal glances up from her phone, adding, “There’s only one reason you’d do that, and it’s to avoid the professor.”
“Stop calling him the professor.”
“But it’s so much fun.” She grins, and Mila giggles. “And it’s true.”
“Well, it sounds wrong.”
“But is it?” Teal winks, and I turn my back on her.
Declan has unleashed something in my friend because I remember when she was as uptight sexually as I am.
“I don’t want to talk about what it is or isn’t because it’s irrelevant. I’m done with Jacob.”
My roommates share a look, which I ignore because I don’t need to explain myself. They can think what they want. Jacob has no claim over me, regardless of how much my heart revolts against me when I think that.
I turn my back to the girls and pretend to focus on a small clump of mascara in the corner of my eye.
Mila continues to fix her hair and makeup until Alex pops into the bathroom and whispers something in her ear.
Only then does she seem to stop worrying about her appearance.
She relaxes on the edge of the tub beside Teal to watch something on Teal’s phone.
Before leaving, Alex crosses the bathroom to stop at my side.
“You good, sis?”
“I’m fine.”
He meets my gaze in the mirror, and we have an entire conversation with only our eyes. He knows better than to believe I’m okay right now. But there’s also nothing he can do about it.
“You still have it.” Alex’s gaze drops to my wrist.
I spin my turtle bracelet around, rubbing my thumb over the shell. “Of course I do.”
“You always were the strong one of the two of us.” He offers a sad smile before turning to leave.
Through the mirror, I watch him give Mila a final kiss on the top of her head before dipping out of the bathroom. It’s still a little strange seeing him affectionate—seeing him voluntarily walk into these situations at all.
Even before he spent time in Montgomery, Alex didn’t like big crowds or lots of people. It’s amusing that he fell for one of the most social girls I know. They’re opposites. At the same time, they balance each other out.
And tonight, I’m thankful for Alex and Mila’s mismatched relationship because he lets her do as she pleases, and Mila decided to invite all of us to his room at the House to get ready. Since I doubt Jacob would be seen at a frat party, it’s the perfect way to avoid him.
Although, I don’t know what it says about me that I’d rather party with Sigma Sin than run into Jacob.
Once the girls are ready, we head downstairs. I’m surrounded by my friends, but with Violet clinging to Kole, Teal standing under Declan’s arm, and my brother creating a human cage around Mila, I might as well be by myself.
Usually, I avoid drinking heavily at Sigma House, but by my third shot, my head is swimming. At least alcohol is a quick way to get out of my head.
“Ice Princess.” Maddox slides up beside me.
He pushes his dark hair off his face; his green eyes gleam.
He’s one of the most feared members of the House, but for some strange reason, we’ve always shared an understanding.
Maddox knows I won’t put up with his bullshit, and I don’t expect anything good out of him.
While Sigma House changes many of the men who pledge, sharpening their edges and transforming them into monsters, Maddox was born without an ounce of good. Nothing innocent to dilute.
He's coldhearted and manipulative to the core. Which, somehow, I find makes it easier to deal with because at least I’ve never expected anything more out of him.
“Maddox.” I don’t bother looking at him when he skims me up and down.
“Nice skirt.”
“Don’t bother with the compliments. You’re not getting in it.”
He laughs. “Probably for the best. Wouldn’t want you freezing my cock off.”
I roll my eyes. Maddox is only ever trying to get one of two things out of me—my irritation or an invitation to fuck.
It doesn’t matter that I’ve spent our entire lives turning him down or that he hates everything about me; Maddox’s standards with women are nonexistent.
He fucks anyone who looks at him too long.
“What do you want, Maddox?”
He shrugs. “Is it too much to want to just make conversation?”
“The most I’ve seen you talk to a girl is to give her directions to your bedroom.”
“Fair enough.” He grins like he’s proud of my insult. “Just trying to figure you out.”
“You’ve known me since we were two.” One of the downsides of growing up in the small world of Bristal’s Sigma Sin legacy community.
“Exactly.” Maddox turns, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. “I seriously didn’t think you had it in you.”
“What are you talking about?” My irritation spikes the longer he stares at me with those unnerving green eyes.
“Fucking a professor.” He grins, and my stomach drops.
Blood drains from my face.
Has Jacob really gone and spread the word through Sigma House? Would he do that just to embarrass me?
Rolling my shoulders back, I try to school my expression. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t worry. No judgment here.” It’s not a compliment, given his reputation.
“I don’t care what you think of me.”
“No shit, Ice Princess. But seriously, I’m impressed.”
“Why?” And why do I care?
“The Interrogator? A professor? I guess the good girls are always the most fun when they actually crack. But you had me fooled. I swore you’d die a virgin. And then you go and give it up to my big brother.”
“Frat brother,” I correct him.
Maddox shakes his head once. “Bio brother.”
“You don’t have a brother.” My eyebrows furrow. “And you don’t even have the same last name as him.”
“Different dads.” Maddox’s gaze drifts off. “Among other things.”
“How very vague of you,” I mumble, my throat swelling as I try to process what Maddox is saying.
I’ve known him my entire life, and I never knew he had a brother. Much less that his brother was Jacob. My mind is swimming with what else I might have missed. The lies are quicksand. One step and I’m sinking fast.
“Wait, is that why you’re speaking to me right now? Are you babysitting me while your brother is off doing God knows what?”
I probably shouldn’t be irritated when I’m the one who surrounded myself with Sigma Sin tonight, knowing they all report to him. Still, this sets me on edge.
“Nope.” His lips pop, and he stands taller, skimming my outfit. “Like I said, I’m just trying to figure you out. The girl who broke my brother.”
“You’re exaggerating.” I roll my eyes. “And he’ll survive.”
If Jacob thinks he can use his brother to guilt me into forgiving him, he doesn’t know me very well.
Maddox smirks, and when his gaze spears mine, I finally see the resemblance I missed. Dark hair and bright-green eyes. Except where Jacob’s have gold threaded through them, Maddox’s are darker. They’re similar and somehow feel nothing alike.
“We’ve known each other for a long time, Patience.” Maddox pops his knuckles.
“Hated each other for a long time is more accurate.”
His lips twitch in amusement. “Whatever you want to call it, I’m just saying, be careful.”
“You’re warning me against your brother?” My eyebrows lift.
“Apparently. And you know how I am, so what does that say about him?” At that, Maddox turns and walks away.
I don’t stop watching him until he disappears into the crowd. But even when he’s gone, the ice chilling my spine doesn’t melt.
I do know Maddox, so what does it say if he thinks Jacob is worse?
I don’t want to think about it, so I head to the nearest table of booze and grab another shot. My head is thoroughly swimming now, and I’ve officially lost my friends in this mess of people. Maybe I would have been better off hiding in my dorm room tonight.
People close in from every side, and it’s too much.
Pulling out my phone, I type a text to Violet.
Patience
Where did you go? I’m ready to get out of here.
She promised she and Kole would take me back to the dorm when I was ready, and after my conversation with Maddox, I’ve hit my limit.
The lies are endless.
Jacob
Is that your way of asking me for a ride?
Crap. In my tipsy haze, I must have sent my message to the wrong person.
Patience
Not from you. Wrong number.
Jacob
How much have you had to drink tonight, Patience?
Patience
Not enough to make me like you. But enough to handle a five-minute conversation with your biological brother.
I’m itching for a fight, and Jacob is always the one who brings it out of me.
Patience
Maybe I should stay and have another drink actually. Maddox seemed more than willing to share his bed tonight. It’s not like I’ll be crashing on the floor.
Jacob
Are you trying to test me right now, baby?
Patience
Are you going to do anything about it?
I’m dangling temptation in front of the beast. And there’s just enough alcohol in my system that I don’t care what might come of it.
Jacob
I’ll be outside in five minutes.
Patience
I won’t be there waiting for you.
Jacob
Yes, you will. Or I’ll walk in and drag you out.
Patience
You’re a professor, remember? You can’t do that. Wouldn’t want to blow your cover.
Jacob
It’s adorable that you still think there are limits when it comes to you.
Patience
I’m serious.
Jacob
So am I.
This man is absolutely infuriating. And yet, I’m the one who pushes his buttons, trying to get a reaction from him.
Jacob
Outside, Patience. Five minutes. I’m giving you a ride home.
Patience
I’m not going anywhere with you.
Jacob
This could have gone the easy way.
Patience
What’s that supposed to mean?
He doesn’t respond to that text, no matter how long I stare at it. It’s what I wanted. So why does my stomach sink with disappointment at his sudden silence? Gripping my phone, I shove it back into my purse, determined to find Violet.
But as I look up, I notice four Sigma Sin members walking toward me, Maddox included.
“What?” I snap at Maddox, who simply smirks in response. “He didn’t.”
“You really don’t know him very well, do you?” His head tilts. “We can’t drag you out of here because we can’t touch you, but he will.”
My shoulders straighten. I could fight and kick and scream. But this is Sigma House, and these are its kings. No one would do anything.
Maddox steps aside, letting me pass, and the four guys surround me, clearing a path through the party to the front door.
“So that’s it then?” I look up at Maddox. “You follow his every order now?”
“There’s only one thing I follow, and that’s the House.” His jaw ticks. “Brick by brick. Stone by stone.”
“How obedient.” I grit my teeth.
Maddox smirks, eyeing Jacob’s car rolling to a stop as we walk outside. “I could say the same about you.”