Page 56 of Coveted

Sadie’s hands clench. “Does the staff parking lot have security cameras you can check?”

“It does have cameras. Unfortunately, she wasn’t parked in the lot. She parked on the dirt road near the forest.” I scratch my cheek. “I can’t understand why. It’s a longer walk and more dangerous.”

A knowing look comes over Sadie’s face, which mystifies me further.

“What?” I ask.

She considers me before responding, her gray eyes unreadable.

“The campus lots cost money,” she says quietly. “Parking on the dirt road is free.”

“Huh.” I frown. “You think that’s it?”

She snorts. “Trust me, that’s it.”

Damn, that never would’ve occurred to me.

I make a mental note to send the archivist a new car. She’ll also have a permanent parking space close to the Humanities entrance.

Easy fix.

“Her car keys were missing too,” I say. “Stolen from her handbag.”

“Where was the bag?” asks Sadie.

“Under a desk in the archive rooms all day. There are no cameras in that part of the library. It’s ancient.”

“Who has access to the archives?”

“The shorter question is, who doesn’t?” I grimace. “Students, faculty members, TAs, maintenance crew, alumni. No one would stop relatives of students either, if we’re being real. Darkbloom University is funded by families.”

Her shoulders slump. “So anyone could’ve done it.”

“This is a lead, Sadie. We’ll find him, I promise.”

Her hand absentmindedly falls to her bruised wrist, like she’s wondering if she’ll survive another attack. The marks have turned from red to mottled purple, cruel and deep.

“He’s sneaky,” she says. “He knew how to stay off camera.”

“He’s a coward,” I say. “We don’t let cowards win. Right?”

“Right.”

But she doesn’t sound all that convinced.

Resolve hardens inside of me like a promise. I’m going to tear that motherfucker limb from limb for what he did to Sadie and my cousins.

When she tilts her head back to meet my eyes, there’s an unexpected feeling behind my sternum. A drop, almost. Like the moment a rollercoaster hurtles downward, taking me with it because I have no choice. Like I have no control.

What the fuck is that about?

It’s not unpleasant exactly, but it’s still fucking unnerving.

I must always keep my composure, because losing control is where mistakes are made. My father has drilled that into me since I was a child. Control of the world starts with control of self.

She looks at her bag, the stun gun bulging. “I’ve never held a weapon before.”

“Your family didn’t own them? Not your parents or brother?”