Page 23 of Merciless

I flinch. “I don’t know. It’s complicated.”

Elijah stood aside while his friends tormented me. His sudden sympathy and desire to help me are ten years too late.

“Anyway,” I say, “I’ve got to head back to the dorm.” So I can sit at my desk and zone out while figuring out if I really want to take Elijah’s offer.

“Text me if you need any more help.” Shane pats me on the head. “But I say, go for it. I’d like to hang out with you outside of this place.”

I playfully swat his hand away. “We’ll see.”

I leave the arcade and take my time on the walk back to campus. It’s a little past noon on a Wednesday. I don’t have any classes today, which is nice, but that means the courtyard will be busy with other students. I’ll have to deal with being called names, tripped, or having drinks and food thrown at me.

By the time I get on campus, sweat beads on my forehead. I duck my head and let my hair fall around my face like a curtain. Hopefully, it’ll act as a shield so no one will notice me.

Seven minutes.

Just seven minutes and I’ll be back in my dorm, away from everyone.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. The hairs on the back of my neck stand, and I break out in a cold sweat.

Fuck. I know it’s not Shane. It’s a gut feeling, and it’s never been wrong.

My phone vibrates again.

They’re out here, watching me, texting me with a new insult or picture.

I lift my head and cut through the garden in the courtyard. A lone figure sits on the edge of the fountain in the middle. He unbuttoned his school jacket; the sleeves roll up his forearms to expose his tattoos. I slow my pace when I recognize the person as either Elijah or Asher. As I get closer, I notice the sucker poking out of his mouth.

Asher.

My stomach rolls when I spot the bruises on his face.

“It’s none of my business,” I mumble to myself as I hedge around him.

I avoid meeting his gaze while he watches me pass him. His presence alone takes up the space in the garden, as if he’s larger than everything in the surrounding area. The weight of his stare demands that I look at him. I fight the temptation, not needing to be drawn into his orbit.

I lose the battle. Maybe it’s curiosity or just plain stupidity.

I turn my head and meet his gaze. My legs stop working, and I stand still. Asher’s lips curve into a subtle smirk, as if he just won the battle. He rolls his sucker to one side of his mouth and tilts his head as his gaze roams over my body.

I raise my chin to appear stronger than I feel.

He’s just as guilty as Elijah for not doing anything to help me.

He raises his eyes up my body and meets my stare again, smirk still in place, and he drums his fingers on the grey slab of concrete on the lip of the fountain.

His smug smile . . . I hate it. Just like I hate him and his brother.

“Tell Elijah he can forget about it,” I growl. “I don’t need him. Or you, for that matter. I can do it on my own.”

I stomp toward the door. Goosebumps rise on my arms, and the heavy feeling of someone just behind me makes me run the rest of the way to my dorm.

CHAPTER 11

ASHER

DAY 2 OF THE BET

“I can do it on my own.” Eden’s flushed face and glare won’t leave my head.