Page 45 of Revenge

We walked under the path of magnolia trees, and I gazed up into the darkening sky through their skeletal branches. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. You and Blake put on a really hot show at the party.”

“You should have joined us,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get out of my dress after drinking all that champagne.”

“Next time, then.” He pressed a kiss on my temple.

“Did Edward join you after I left?”

“He mostly likes to watch.”

“Do you and Blake…” I chewed my lips, struggling for the right words. “Do you do that often?”

“It’s not something we’d do these days sober unless there’s a girl involved.”

My eyes widened. Edward had implied they got together often, but he hadn’t specified whether alcohol had been involved. I glanced over my shoulder at Elder House, which stood in the distance with its windowsills covered in snow. “Who have you all been with?”

“Just you, unfortunately. As adventurous as the girls around here might act, they’re strictly monogamous.” He pulled me close. “It’s just one of the reasons we’re all so crazy about you.”

I dipped my head. “Then it’s a pity you framed me for your kidnapping.”

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am about that.” Sincerity shone in his green eyes. “You got knocked out, and we didn’t know what to do with you. If you woke and raised the alarm, the police would take an inventory of who wasn’t at the campsite and catch up with us. We had to take you along, and the others decided to rig things so that you’d be blamed if you ever spoke to the police and got anyone caught. I went along with it because I didn’t know you back on the trip.”

“The others?” I rolled over what he had said in my mind. Whoever had driven him to the squat needed to return to the campsite before Henry and Edward raised the alarm. “Who else was involved?”

He pressed another kiss on my temple. “Let’s not dwell on that.”

“It’s hard not to when I spent so many days locked up.” I gazed into his glistening eyes, pressing my gloved palms on his chest. “Henry, I need to know.”

He glanced away and sighed. “Can’t you be satisfied with the way things are right now? Your stepfather got the charges dropped, you’re back at the academy, and we’re all getting along so well. Bringing up this subject only jeopardizes what we have together.”

“I don’t want to lose you again.” The lie felt like sandpaper on my vocal cords. How dare he act like I was the one making things awkward? My name was tarnished, I still had flashbacks from being locked up and beaten, and the threat of military school still hung over my head. I blinked several times to fake the effect of holding back tears. “But can’t you see why these things might be important to me? I need to clear my name.”

He swiped his thumb over my cheekbone. “You have to let it go, Emilia.”

If my fingers could shoot out icicles, I would have plunged one into his chest and told him to let go of that. Easing out a breath of frustration, I said, “But the police have my name on record—”

“Which will be expunged the moment you turn eighteen.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “That’s in less than a year, and this mess will be a distant memory.”

With a deep sigh, I lied, “Maybe you’re right.”

He wrapped his arms around me and pecked me on the lips. “Things will be great between us four. You’ll see.”

I hugged back, inhaling his fresh, minty scent. I’d give him one more chance. One more chance to fix things and clear my name, or I would unleash a torrent of shit that would make the selfish prick wish he was back in that dingy room.

Chapter 15

We continued arm in arm past the porter’s lodge, a single-story building that marked the start of the campus. The frost underfoot piled inches deep and crunched with each of our steps. A cool breeze meandered through the trees lining the road that led to the academy gates, bringing with it the scent of juniper.

I stole a glance at Henry, who gazed down at me with eyes that shone with so much warmth, my heart ached. Who was he, really? A calculating bastard subduing me with affection and sweet promises, or a naive fool who thought he could fix the situation he’d created, without owning up to his misdeeds?

I fastened the top button of my coat and stared straight ahead into the grove of oaks on our left. None of that mattered. Henry would either clear my name and prove his apologies were heartfelt, or I would sit back and watch him burn. He’d writhe on the ground, shirtless in that sexy fireman’s costume, shuddering and twitching and moaning… just as he had when Blake had sucked him off on the four-poster bed.

Heat rippled down to my core, and I let out a soft moan. That night at the party, Henry had been magnificent. I had almost wanted to crawl on that bed and join Blake in making him come undone.

“Are you alright?” he placed his cool fingertips on my hot cheek.

My chest heaved, and I glanced around. The porter’s lodge was a quarter of a mile away, with no one wandering around its grounds. I didn’t feel like walking miles to the village for a cup of coffee, not when there was nothing left to discuss. “No… I’m far from it.”