Page 62 of Obsessions of the Heart

After we finished our food, we went back to our dorm. When the elevator doors opened, loud music thrummed against the walls, the whole hallway packed with people. They were hanging out and dancing, cups in their hands. Cin growled in frustration as she shoved people out of the way.

When I came here, I knew I wasn’t planning on going to a lot of parties. Me being a twenty-one-year-old freshman was already bad enough. I needed to focus on school and catch up if I could, with this first semester as my tester to see how it worked as a full-time student, then bump up my schedule to take on more. Cin, on the other hand, was a true freshman, and on top of that, she was naturally likable and fun. I thought she would be all over something like this, but seeing her shove and growl at people opened my eyes.

The only time she had ever been social was over at the Alpha Sigma Xi house. Everyone already knew her even though it was a fraternity she wasn't a part of. If my memory served correctly, it seemed like Luca, Elio and Cin were in charge that night. She had even mentioned taking care of a fight. Why would a bunch of male upperclassmen let a freshman girl boss them around, no matter who she was related to?

Once we got to our door at the end of the hallway, where the bodies were sparse and the music not as loud, I asked, “Did you want to see what this is all about?”

She spat out, “I don't hang out with fillers.” For some reason, it was like those words flipped a switch inside her. Her eyes widened, looking around from side to side before she glanced back at me with a wince. She whirled back around, opened the door as fast as she could, and bolted inside.

I palmed the door before it closed. “What do you mean by that?”

She had already grabbed her night clothes and was heading to the bathroom. “It was just a slip of the tongue. I didn't mean it.” Her smile wavered, and I still didn't understand. I reached out, trying to stop her, but she dipped, crouched, and twirled away from me like she had been practicing evasive maneuvers her whole life.

Both of us stopped, and my hand slowly dropped as we stared at where she’d stood just seconds ago. What the hell? How was she so fast? Her movements were so smooth and controlled, and for a second, she’d reminded me of the triplets.

She quickly excused herself, leaving me standing in the middle of the room with more questions than answers as she closed the bathroom door.

What did she mean by fillers? Did this have something to do with her being part of a legacy family?

I knew she was a genius hacker, the youngest of the Ricci family. Luca had seemed to distrust me up until the library incident, and then there was Elio. While eccentric, he also showed me that he could be serious even though he never took our class seriously. He was always messing with me, missing classes, but when the professor posted a class update on grades, Elio was somehow in the top ten percent, which made no sense.

Something always seemed off about them, but I chalked it up to them being raised as rich kids. Then again, the whole campus was full of rich kids and the super smart, so why wouldn't she want to make other friends, or at the very least connections in the same world… unless they weren’t part of the same world?

The boys warned me about them, the Riccis, like they were a boogie man while the triplets were my white knights. What they had been doing to my body flashed before my eyes, and I bit my lip. Definitely not white knight status… more like an even bigger, darker monster, but one that wanted me.

My phone dinged.

Ravi: Okay. I feel like we have been thoroughly punished. It has been 4ever! I can’t stand this.

The corners of my lips tipped up as I chuckled. As much as they drove me crazy, I had to admit it was nice to have someone who cared about me so much.

Rin: It's only been a few hours.

Ravi: Lies! I don't believe it!

Rion: That's because you just switched time zones on your phone

I giggled, trying to keep my giddiness from spilling out.

Rin: Ravi! That doesn't count!

Ravi: Snitches get stitches, Rion!

Rion: I could ruin your life with just two clicks… or setting your closet on fire. I’m not afraid.

Text bubbles appeared, but in the meantime, the silent one entered the chat.

Roux: So are you done pouting?

Glaring at the phone, I took a long inhale through my nose, about to rain down hellfire, when I remembered what I’d promised Cin. That put cold water on my rage.

Rion: Was your outing with Cinzia helpful?

I clutched my phone in my hand when his next text came in. I should’ve known better.

Rion: You may not have wanted to talk, but I wasn’t about to let you go out in the world unprotected.

As fast as my fingers could type, I replied.

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