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I grind my teeth. “Look, if this has something to do with the fact you don’t want me as part of your secret club, don’t worry, I don’t want any part of it. I won’t take your inheritance.”
The velocity in his voice snaps me senseless. “That is mine by birthright,” he says through gritted teeth. “But this has nothing to do with that.”
My heart rate upticks a beat as he steps closer, towering over me. I stand on my resolve, knowing he won’t touch me because of Lincoln. “I plan on leaving town,” I tell him. “I’m already looking into schools to transfer to on the West Coast.”
“That will be too fucking late.”
I huff out a breath, leaning my head against the bark of the giant tree, trying to distance myself from him. I stare up at his blue eyes. “You’re wrong about Mikael; he has good inside of him, even if you can’t see it. I don’t think you know your brother at all. I don’t believe he will kill me.”
Part of me wants to stay to prove these people wrong. To prove to Lincoln that he is stronger than he knows.
He takes a menacing step toward me as if he could get any closer. “Be really fucking careful what you’re involving yourself in, sweetheart. If I were you, I’d run far away from this town. Nothing good will come from you being here. You don’t bring out the best in him, trust me on that.”
There’s an audible snap in my patience as I curl my fist. “What is your fucking problem?”
He snaps his arm next to my ear, and I back up into the trunk of another oak tree. “I have no problem, but I do have a question.” His hulking body pins me into the tree. “What one do you like fucking the best?”
“Get away from me, or I’ll scream,” I threaten.
He licks his lips. “I can’t wait for the day he actually makes you scream. Then maybe you’ll get the fucking hint and run. Because congratulations, you dumb bitch, you let him out of his cage.”
I don’t give him time to react. I duck from under his arm and walk hurriedly through the quad and try to contain the burning need consuming me. When I look back, Xander is gone.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
SUMMER
The next day, I wait until after my last class, and the very end of Lincoln’s office hours, before I make my way inside his building. I make sure I’m the last student and smile sweetly at the receptionist in the office area before I sit in the chairs outside his door.
Xander’s words echo in my mind, like a swarm of hornets buzzing inside it.
Get the fucking hint and run.
“Office hours are over,” the dark-haired and rather plain looking receptionist says without looking up from clicking on her keyboard.
“I’m sorry, I just have a quick question for him,” I say dryly, pulling my backpack up over my shoulder. Even though I talked to him most of last night, and even got my weekly reflection done a day early. There was no sign of Mikael at all, and I want to see him.
The receptionist keeps her eyes fixed on me for longer than I think is appropriate, then grabs her coat and purse. “Sorry, Mr. Kennedy is with a student, then he usually heads home at five.”
I stare at Mr. Kennedy’s door—Lincoln Kennedy has his own shiny silver plaque engraved on the wall.
The door shifts open, and my skin starts to burn as Misty walks out, her usual natural glow replaced by pale white skin. She makes eye contact with me as she hurries by, and I think I might spill the contents of my stomach seeing her alone with him.
No challenging grin today…something’s wrong.
“It’s fine, Stephanie, I’ll take her in,” Lincoln calls out, enunciating Stephanie’s name in a way that makes my toes curl. Stephanie notices, too. Her face fires beet red as she looks at me, then through the doorway Misty just came out of.
“Lock up when you’re done, then.” She grabs her coat and leaves, shaking her head.
I rise and step toward the door. My throat closes, knowing Mikael will be the one I’m facing right now. No wonder Misty is pale—Mikael has the ability to remove all pigment with a single glance. God only knows what he’s said to her.
He’s sitting casually with his legs spread and relaxed, and his head is down, focused on the razor blade he’s twirling between his fingers. His glasses are off, and he looks more composed than I’ve ever encountered him.
“Hi, pretty girl,” he says without looking up. “I was hoping you’d come for a visit.”
I take a deep breath as blood pumps through my entire body. I glance back at the hallway, the dark empty room behind me.
