Page 53 of Veil of Lies

I snorted with laughter. “Like I give a fuck.”

“Well you should. I’m poison, just like my father.” She turned her back on me and started pulling clothes out of her closet. A small suitcase lay open on the floor, half full already.

“What are you doing?” My heart rate spiked in alarm.

“Packing. I’ve been kicked out of college.”

“What? Why?!”

“The dean says I’m bringing the college into disrepute and some of the parents have already started calling to complain about my presence.”

“That’s fucking ridiculous. As if any of those assholes care about who goes to this college. I personally know of at least two sons of mafia dons studying here. And that’s the tip of the iceberg.”

“It’s not up to me or you. The dean has the final say and he says I must leave by tonight.”

She sounded so broken. As if all the sparkle had been sucked out of her, leaving nothing but an empty husk behind. I couldn’t bear it. I wanted to hug her, hold her tight, and protect her. I wasn’t sure if she would let me, though. She was wound up tighter than a drum and if I touched her, there was a chance she’d explode.

But I had to try. I wasn’t about to let her leave without a fight.

“Stella…”

“Harley, don’t. I’m leaving and that’s that.”

“No, you’re not.”

“And how the fuck are you going to stop me, eh?” And there she was, the spitfire I loved. A pint-sized pocket-rocket. Before she could let rip at me, I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. It was like holding a statue, but I refused to let her go, and eventually, the tension seeped out of her body and she melted against me.

“I got you,” I murmured into her hair. Fuck, she smelled like vanilla ice cream with a splash of rose water. Sweet and fragrant. It reminded me of summers at the beach, of happier times.

Her tears soaked my shirt. She was so tiny and delicate, her head barely reached my shoulder. With her in my arms, I felt like an all-powerful king among men. She made me a better version of myself.

“What am I going to do?” she sobbed. “I can’t stay here.”

“Yeah, you can. I will fix this, I promise.”

“How?” she cried. “You’re just a student. The dean isn’t going to listen to you!”

“My father is on the Board of Trustees, so any decisions run through him and the other trustees. There’s something I know, so I have leverage.” Dad was fucking his secretary behind the back of dearest step-mommy. I didn’t give a shit who he fucked, but Miranda would be livid if she found out. And as Dad knew to his cost, a woman scorned and all that.

Dad was an astute businessman but not so great at tech. He hadn’t realized the security cameras at the office included the parking garage in the basement, so when I stumbled across him railing Suzie over the hood of his Lambo, I made sure I downloaded the footage shortly after. I figured it would come in handy one day. Well, it looked like that day had arrived.

Stella sniffed. “I don’t want to fuck up your relationship with your dad.”

That made me laugh. “Relationship?” I snorted. “We don’t exactly have one.”

She pulled back and stared up at me, her eyes shiny with tears. “What do you mean?”

“Dad’s an asshole. Mom left when I was five. I have no idea why; she just upped and went one day. I never saw her again. Dad fell apart when I needed him the most. He farmed me off on nannies and hired help. He thought throwing money at me was enough to make the problem go away. When I was 14, he married Miranda, but she’s like the fucking Ice Queen, so things didn’t improve. So yeah, we have no relationship.”

“Jesus, Harley, that sucks.” She chewed her lip. “My mom died when I was born, so I never knew her. Dad tried his best but I grew up with nannies and the hired help too. At least he never remarried. Thank heavens for small mercies, eh?”

“Too fucking right. I wouldn’t wish Miranda on anyone. That bitch is as cold as they come. It’s a wonder Dad’s dick hasn’t got frostbite.” I shuddered. Not even joking.

“I’ll give Dad a call now, so stop packing.”

“Thank you, Harley.”

I leaned down and brushed a soft kiss over her lips. “You can thank me later.” She rolled her eyes at me and I smirked.

---