CHAPTER 16 #2
On a gasp, I spun back around, straight into the wall of a human being standing behind me.
“Whoa!” Spencer chuckled, grabbing my arms as I crashed into him. “Someone’s in a hurry.”
“I saw some–” I twisted back toward the tree, finding nothing there. A longer scan showed not even the students from before. “There was someone by the tree. I … I swear I saw …”
“You really shouldn’t be out walking alone. I know you said you’re all about giving people the benefit of the doubt, but some people are just assholes.”
Muscles sagging on a sigh of relief, I turned back to him. “Are you?”
“An asshole? I thought we already established that I was.” On a snort, he knocked my arm. “C’mon. I’ll walk with you. Where are we going?”
“Crixson.”
“Ahh. Crixson. Get used to seeing things that aren’t there.”
I hated to admit, I was a small bit relieved to have company on my walk. Dracadia wasn’t Covington, not by a long stretch, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t crimeless, either. “So, what makes you think you’re so safe to walk around by yourself?” I craned my neck, searching for the figure behind us.
“This is where you see if I insert something sexist, right? Tell you it’s because I’m a guy?”
“I don’t know. Is it?”
“The truth is, I stayed late training. Otherwise, I’d be stuck back at my room watching Big Bang Theory reruns with my roommate.”
I chuckled at the visual of that. “That sounds exciting.”
“Riveting. Where are you coming from?”
School flags rippled in a light breeze that scattered my hair around my face. Every sound seemed to catch my attention, as I kept stealing glances over my shoulder, the unsettling feeling still vibrating my bones.
“Work study,” I said, trying to tame the wild strands ticking my cheek.
“Cool. Where’d you get assigned?”
“Library.” Damn the strand that slipped into my mouth, heightening my irritation. My hair had always been wild and unruly, but add a bit of wind? It had a mind of its own.
“I was assigned there last semester. I got kitchen duty this semester.”
Slapped with surprise, I frowned. “You …. You’re in work study?” I’d always had the impression that only kids who couldn’t afford school got placed there.
The shallow forest just before my dorm seemed darker tonight, the trees even creepier for some reason, and again, I was reluctant to admit that I appreciated Spencer’s company.
“Yeah. Oh, wait … is this where you insert something about rich kids being brats?” He chuckled, loosening the accusatory tone in his voice.
“I guess I’m a little guilty of passing judgment.”
“I guess,” he said, as we finally reached the front of my dorm.
“Thanks for walking me.”
“Anytime.” He brushed his finger over my hand, and on reflex I jerked back, clearing my throat to cover up the slight gasp that escaped me.
Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he flattened his lips and took a step back, either offended or embarrassed by my reaction. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. I’m … sorry. ‘Night.”
I didn’t have much experience with friendships.
Male friends, in particular. I’d had too much going on at home to pay attention to guys my age, and the few times I had gotten involved with them, it certainly wasn’t friendly.
Every exchange with Spencer just felt awkward and forced on my part.
I’d barely been cordial with the poor guy.
So, why the hell did he bother?
As I entered the dorm, I passed the lounge and caught sight of the TV, where a news report brought me to a skidding halt.
Namely, the face that popped up on the screen
Angelo.
Frowning, I darted toward the lounge, just catching the news anchor talking about some billionaire CEO who’d been found brutally slain a few days ago.
For a moment, I slipped into an alternate reality, thinking it might’ve been Angelo who’d killed him, but the report went on to say that he was wanted for questioning.
“ Authorities believe Angelo DeLuca may have had dealings with a cult and is considered armed and dangerous .”
“Jesus,” I muttered. With shaky hands, I tucked myself into a quiet corner and dialed Conner, biting my nail while waiting for him to answer.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Did you see the news? They’re saying Angelo was involved in that rich guy’s murder!” I whisper yelled, the panic in my throat squeezing the words.
“Nah, wasn’t him. He’s been here the whole time. Poor asshole’s freaking the fuck out over it. One of his cop buddies said Angelo’s name was written in blood on the wall. He thinks he’s marked by someone, but he won’t say who.”
“And what’s this cult they’re talking about?”
The sound of Conner’s long exhale crackled through the phone. “Some sadist group. They call themselves Schadenfreude—but don’t go repeating that. They’re dangerous, according to Angelo. Asshole didn’t even want to tell me about them, at first.”
“Sadist?” I lowered my voice even more. “Like … torturing people?”
The moment he said, “I guess,” my stomach curled into itself.
“Maybe you should stay away from him, then?”
“He just needs to lay low until the police find out who did it.”
“Conner, what if the killer comes after you? Jesus, are you drunk right now?”
The guy had absolutely no concept of the danger he might’ve been in. A sadist group affiliated with Angelo? It didn’t get any more messed up than that.
“A little, but no one is coming for me, Lil. We’re fine. No one’s gonna connect the two of us. He hasn’t used the DeLuca name in five years.”
“Except that his face is plastered to the TV. Someone might recognize him.”
“The guy’s so fucking paranoid, he won’t even leave his place. Been making me run his damn errands for him.”
“I just think you should inform the police, is all. Maybe they can protect you.” At the very least, the shady ones Angelo seemed to be associated with.
While grateful not to be in the thick of all that, I wasn’t stupid enough to think criminals stopped at the men they’d sought.
Sometimes, they went after friends and families, too, in an effort to make a spectacle out of their revenge.
“Police ain’t gonna protect shit. Relax. Bee’s at school. You’re away at school. I’m the only one who might be caught up in this shit, and I’m telling you, I’m fine.”
I rubbed a hand down my face, groaning at Conner’s misplaced disregard when it came to things that mattered. Things that could turn really bad, real quick. “Just … don’t do anything stupid. Okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. How’s school?” Such a benign question for the topic at hand.
“Great. It’s great, Conner.”
“Good to hear. I meant what I said, kid. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. Keep me updated, okay?”
“Will do.”
With that he hung up, and I exhaled a shaky sigh.
“Hey.” At the sound of a new voice, I looked up to find Mel standing over me. “All good?”
“Yeah. I just needed to make a private call.” I stuffed my phone away, hoping she hadn’t heard any of the conversation. “I’m heading up to my room now.”
“I saw you walking with Spencer,” she said flatly.
“Oh. Yeah, he walked me to my dorm. We’re just friends.”
“Can I give you some unsolicited advice?”
With my head still spinning, I honestly wasn’t in the mood, but I responded with, “Sure?”
“I’d be careful around him.”
What the hell? Had she crowned herself the resident messenger of shady men, or something? First Bramwell, then Spencer.
“Why?”
“Because he’s a lying piece of shit. A manipulator.”
I shrugged, mildly frustrated at the way she’d nosed herself into my business.
We’d had a neighbor like her back in Covington.
An older woman who’d constantly inquired about my mother’s state of health and whether, or not, her illness could pass through the apartment vents.
As my mother had progressed, we’d decided to keep her confined to her room, so as not to rouse all the gossip in the building. “He’s been pretty cool to me.”
“Of course he has. That’s what manipulators do.”
Perhaps her warning was warranted, but I had a shitshow on my hands with Conner hanging out with what seemed to be a wanted criminal, and I just didn’t have the headspace for her right then. “I appreciate the heads up.”
“I’m serious, Lilia. You don’t want anything to do with that.”
“Noted,” I said, heading back to my room.