My attention bounces between them, but I remain silent.
Can I really trust them? Am I just going to dig myself deeper into the hole I’m in already?
“I got beaten up.” Kellan touches his face. “That’s why Eli didn’t meet you at the right time. It was hard to keep him from tearing down to your room when we figured out what was happening, but you told us you were being watched. We didn’t want to tip anyone off that we knew what was happening.”
I don’t reply.
Kellan smiles. “Let’s eat, and then maybe you’ll be in the mood to talk.” He rises and moves to the table.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You need food, Kitten.” Eli insists. “No more skipping meals. You need to let us take care of you.”
He’s so close, I can feel the heat from his body reminding me that he’s been holding me the last few hours. He’s watching me intently. Part of me wants to melt back into his warmth and seek out the comfort I need. Instead, I hold myself stiffly, still clutching the pillow like a shield.
Eli is Sin?
I’m so mixed up inside—hurt, furious, betrayed.
Is this all another mind fuck? Are they really not behind the texts and orders?
The last messages I received flit through my head. I’m supposed to go to the Valentine’s Ball tonight. They want to see the Monster of Churchill Bradley Academy. I don’t know what they’ll make me do. The thought of attending leaves me feeling sick inside.
Chapter 5
Eli
“I need to use the bathroom.” She stands and drops the pillow she’s been hugging onto the mattress.
Kellan waves a hand toward the door. “Through there. If you need towels, they’re on a shelf. There’s a spare toothbrush in a wrapper if you want to use that. Although I’d suggest waiting until after you eat to brush your teeth.”
She crosses the room and slips through the door, closing it behind her. Kellan’s easy smile drops away and he faces me.
“She still doesn’t believe us.” He keeps his voice low.
“She doesn’t believe me,” I correct. “And why should she? I lied to her for months as Sin.”
“She’ll come around.” Kellan empties the bags of food and separates it out. “Soup of the day for Bella, and plain rice. Noodles and chicken curry for you. Satay Chicken for me.”
“Did anyone say anything?”
His smile returns. “Of course not. They’re waiting for me to retaliate. Now the sun has risen on their fuck up, they’re rethinking their recent life choices.” His voice is light.
I reach for my food and silverware. “You saw all their faces, right?”
“Every single one.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to wait. Let their anticipation build. We have other things to deal with right now.”
I nod around a mouthful of food.
The click of the door precedes Arabella coming back into the room. She stops in the doorway, chewing on her bottom lip and tugging at the hem of her shirt in a fruitless attempt to cover her thighs as she looks at us both. Setting my food to one side, I stand and cross to the dresser. Without a word, I pull out a pair of sweats and hold them out to her.
Her gaze drops to my hand, then up to my face.
“They’re too big, but it’ll do until we can get you some of your own clothes from your room.