Chapter 22
twenty-two
Landon won’t stop fidgeting.
His foot keeps tapping against the concrete, heel grinding grit into the fence like he’s trying to spark a fire. He smells like weed and bad cologne, the kind meant to announce presence instead of disguise it.
I check my watch.
How did I, the president, get roped into doing a peon’s task on Thanksgiving?
I blame the man beside me. First of all, this assignment was a solo mission given to a missing Theta member by the board.
But no one’s seen Malik for a month. Then, it was passed to Landon Turner.
Who’s still drunk and high from last night.
Not sure if he’s even sober enough to know where he is these days.
And I got the pleasure of finding out about this duty when I was half passed out from too much whiskey.
After my brothers dragged me off Talon’s body before I killed him.
Assignments have to be followed. The entire fraternity could get in trouble; not to mention, Lan could be killed for not following the order.
Though, I’m considering if that’s such a bad option right now…
“Relax,” I say as a warning, head pounding with my hangover.
He laughs under his breath. Too loud. “I am relaxed.”
But he’s not. His pupils are blown, his jaw working like he’s chewing on nerves. He keeps glancing toward the corridor, where the guards passed a minute ago, eyes darting as if he expects them to reappear just because he thought about it.
They won’t. Because I know we still have seven minutes until the next round of their checks.
I’ve done assignments just like these for four years now. And I’m bored.
My phone vibrates once. “Time. Let’s go.”
Landon exhales like he’s been holding his breath since birth.
I slip off the wall and into the backyard of the manor as he stumbles behind me. The back door slides open smoothly, without any hitch or noise. Oiled well. Guess I need to tip that housekeeper more for following orders, and on such short notice.
Landon bumps my shoulder as we pass a doorway. I stop him with two fingers against his chest. He freezes, eyes widening in question, breath shallow.
I tilt my head toward what’s inside.
Footsteps pass on the other side of the wall. Muffled voices. Someone complains about the wine list.
When it’s gone, we keep walking. Well, Lan shuffles like a dolt behind me.
The first staff door is closed, so I straighten my jacket, smooth imaginary wrinkles from the sleeves, then knock.
It creaks open after a minute, and the man standing on the other side blinks at me, irritation already forming. Mid-fifties. Soft. Confused by the sight of someone who doesn’t belong but hasn’t yet figured out why.
“Yes?” he asks.
I smile politely. “I was told to check in here before the rest of the staff arrives.”
His frown deepens. “Staff?”
“Catering,” I say smoothly. “For the Thanksgiving event tonight?”
There isn’t a party. There never was. But he doesn’t know that.
He sighs, annoyed at the inconvenience more than suspicious. “Fine. Uniforms are back there in the locker rooms. Don’t touch anything else.”
“Of course,” I say as I stroll inside.
The man steps aside and gathers up some papers, then heads down the hall.
Lan lingers in the doorway.
“Go mingle with the waitstaff,” I say without looking at him.
He hesitates. Then nods, relief flooding his face as he backs out and hustles next door. I hear him talking before he’s even out of sight. Saying something inappropriate to some woman who doesn’t care.
When the door clicks shut behind me, I lock it.
The inner office behind the next door is warm. Dim. Dark wood paneling. Leather chair. A half-empty glass of something amber sweating on the desk.
My target has his back to me, reaching for a file at his knees.
As soon as he sits up, I pull out the gun, already loaded with a silencer, and pop one in the back of his head.
Nice… From the door. One of my best shots yet.
There’s only a sound like a dropped book and a body folding in on itself. He doesn’t even hit the floor right. I watch him for a second longer than necessary out of habit. Making sure I can sign off on this assignment with ease.
With a gloved hand, I straighten the picture his elbow knocked askew.
As a freshman, and definitely at Crest, my hands would shake for hours afterward.
I’d scrubbed them raw, convinced the smell was still there. That someone would know just by looking at me.
Now?
I simply check my watch again. “Done,” I say into it, not waiting for a response.
Back in the hall, I step out like I belong there.
Lan nearly crashes into me, eyes bright, mouth running. “You see that girl? The one with the huge—”
“We’re leaving,” I cut in.
His grin falters. “Already?”
“Yes.”
“But I thought—”
I grab the front of his shirt and pull him in close, just enough so that he knows that I know how fucking high he is. Just enough that he remembers who’s in charge.
“I saved your ass,” I tell him calmly. “Don’t ruin my charity by asking questions.”
He swallows. Nods.
And we waltz out the same way we came in.
The night air hits my face as we step outside, cool and sharp. Somewhere behind us, a phone will ring. Someone will scream. Alarms will wake up too late.
Not my concern.
I did my duty to the best of my abilities. No mess. No witnesses. No chaos. I’m a pro by now.
Nothing like I was at Crest.
Who knew a body was so fucking heavy? And how much blood a big guy could have.
I heave in breaths as I tug on Neal’s arms, dragging him slow and steady toward the woods. The light from the kitchens reaches toward my feet so I keep moving.
This turned into a disaster. I wasn’t thinking. No plan.
Just started a fight, got sent to the closet. And when Neal took me out to beat my back with his switch, that’s when I pulled out the butcher’s knife they didn’t know I had and swung at him.
A few times.
I thought it would just take one. Fucker couldn’t even die right.
I hadn’t planned where I’d put him. So now, I’m hauling ass toward the back acreage, hoping that no one else is awake for a snack.
Oddly, despite not feeling a damn thing other than annoyed, my hands won’t quit shaking.
Fortunately, the gardeners never miss their shovels. Figured I’ll just dig a hole and toss him in. That should do the trick.
Except digging a hole is a lot harder than I expected. After what seems like hours, but is still before the sun even thinks of coming up, I’m only down a few feet. That may have to do.
I can’t keep going like this.
If someone finds him out here, I’m finished. Prison for life.
Worse, I’d lose the way Ashlyn looks at me now. Like I’m something that can fix her. Fix this.
Like I matter.
I slump down and take a breath. If only I had some—
A water bottle is shoved into my face, and I freeze, eyes widening. My heart pumps harder than it has all night.
When I slowly look up at who’s holding it, I nearly cry with relief. Then, stiffen with dread.
Ashlyn stares at me with concern. Then, she studies the body lying on the ground next to me.
A thousand explanations fly through my mind. Maybe she’ll buy that it was an accident and I’m just doing this for our physical education credits…
Instead, she shakes the bottle until I take it and attempt to get up, but she stops me with a severe look.
Then, silently picks up the shovel and stabs it into the ground. Continuing the work I set out to do.
We trade off and on until the job is done in the quiet. Only asking for swaps of the water bottle when needed.
When it’s over, we dip into the lake, cleaning ourselves off. Then let our legs dangle over the cedar pier just as the daylight breaks in streams of purple and gold.
She gathers my hand in hers, and I let her.
Big, blue eyes hold my gaze until my belly flips and my skin gets hot. She presses her lips to every knuckle and kisses the cut I got somewhere in the fight.
“I won’t tell anyone,” she says softly.
“I know.” I can’t breathe while she’s touching me.
Her thumb brushes the cut again, like she’s healing it. “Are you scared?”
I shake my head once. Honest. “Not if you’re still here with me.”
She drops my hand only long enough to gather my face between hers. I can make out each freckle in the morning light. She’s never been so serious before. It makes my pulse race. “I see you, Aiden Isaac Cardell. I see you. And I’m still here.”
That’s it. That’s the moment when it happens.
Her breath stutters, like she didn’t expect the truth to land that hard. “I always will be.”
Something inside me gives way. Clean. Complete. Done for.
This girl is part of me now.
And there’s no reversing that.