Page 25 of Obsessions of the Heart

“What!” Ravi exploded. “I’m going to wipe that smug Italian face right off, and when—”

I lifted my hand. “That's not all. I overheard them talking. Seems like the Riccis have come up with their own drug, and Luca’s intent was to see if she would talk about who she is and what she’s doing here.” I gave Rion a pointed look, but he was already staring at the ground in thought.

“Cinzia and Elio reamed into him, so I don't think he’ll go with that approach again.” I left out what they both knew; he would just try something else if we didn’t step in. “So I think we need to move on to the next phase of the plan even though it's early.”

Ravi’s face flashed from worry to pure excitement as he clapped his hands. “Yay! The best part of our story! The heroes return to the princess!”

Rion’s head snapped up to mine, then he pointed at the hole. “And him?”

I frowned, spitting out my words. “Rin slipped away from Luca and ended up in the house. That asshole thought he could take advantage of her, in our old room.”

Rion and Ravi shuddered at the same time, looking down at the hole like they wanted a piece of him too. Then, in normal Rion fashion, he shook his head and pointed at me. “You, shower, then come help us plant the tree.”

“And then?” Ravi cooed in delight.

Rion looked at us then back to the hole. “Then we make plans for staking our claim. The only saving grace is that she doesn't know anything about all this, but we need to make it known that if they mess with her, they’re messing with us.”

“Won't that just make them more curious?” I tried to keep the worry out of my voice, wanting to trust my brother.

Rion nodded. “Which is why we need to make it more about the competition between us. They need to think she’s just a hot body to steal from them, someone we plan to have fun with and leave. Their interest will die down once they’re convinced.”

Ravi threw his hands up to the sky in exhaustion. “Ugh! Now, we have to go to more meetings and bullshit all because of the damn Riccis'.”

Rion nodded. “For Rin.”

Ravi and I looked at him, making another vow in the dead of night. “For Rin.”

Chapter 9

“Lay? Layrin?”

Groaning, I yanked the covers over my head, flinching at the growing pounding in my head. “Not now, Viv, I have a splitting headache.”

“I don’t know who Viv is, but I think I can help that headache.” At the mention of Viv’s name, I shot up. I was in my dorm, and Cin was standing next to me, biting her lip and clutching a green concoction in her hand.

As soon as our eyes connected, Cin came forward and kneeled at my bed, her voice growing hoarse as she spoke. “I'm so sorry, Lay. I left your side and got sidetracked with a fight, but then you took off. I couldn't find you, and I was so worried.”

I pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes, trying to stifle the pain throbbing behind them. What’s going on? Why do I feel so crappy?

“I’m sorry I made you worry. I didn't mean to.” My voice cracked, my mouth so dry it felt like I’d eaten sand.

Thinking back to the night before, the last thing I remembered was taking a sip of Luca’s wine, but that was it. One sip. There was no way I’d been drunk, but I couldn’t remember anything past that point.

“Here. It's an old family recipe.” Cin shoved that green drink into my hands, and my stomach churned at the smell.

I must’ve made a face because Cin laughed. “Just drink it. Hold your nose if you have to. You want to feel better, right?” Nodding, I did what she said. I would do anything to get rid of the pain pulsing in my head.

Cin reached for the empty glass and put it on my desk before the bed dipped, her face lined in concern. “Lay, I was so worried about you. You were my guest, making me the one responsible for you, and I failed you.” She looked down at her clenched hands, and I felt sorry for her.

“I’m a big girl. I can make my own decisions.” I closed my eyes, trying to remember more, but it was like a fog had settled in during that time. “I just don't know what happened. I only had one sip with your brother. It doesn't make sense that I can't remember.”

Cin’s face pinched before she put her hand on mine. “It's my fault because I took you there in the first place.” She swallowed loudly before adding in a softer voice, “How did you get home? Do you remember anything?”

I pinched my eyes hard, trying to move the fog clouding my mind, but it wouldn't budge. Taking a couple of deep breaths, I tried again and again, but nothing came. Fear bubbled up inside of me. What happened to me?

I got up and ran to the bathroom, holding myself over the toilet before I remembered the green drink and slammed my lips sealed. I needed to try to keep everything down. Moving over to the sink, I splashed water on my face, trying to calm down. The sooner I was calm, the better decisions I could make.

A thought hit me, I was in college, and I couldn't remember what happened. Did I….? Dread filled me as I lowered a shaking hand to feel between my thighs, praying I was wrong. I finally let out a long exhale. I didn’t feel anything wet, nor was there any soreness or pain. My mind went on overdrive, thinking about all the things I’d heard when others talked about being drugged and violated—loss of memory, the feeling of having had intercourse, wetness of semen around the vagina or anus, torn or ripped clothes, clothing out of place.

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