Page 113 of Merciless Prince
I lay back in the warm water and scrolled through my messages and emails to see what I’d missed over the last few weeks. There were several messages from my friends wishing me luck with the movie in the Adirondacks and telling me to let them know as soon as I was back, and there were also a few emails from Bellingham admin staff asking questions about my enrolment for next semester.
Cori’s mother had sent me a few emails as well, wishing me well with the movie and letting me know that she’d keep me updated on Cori’s condition. According to the latest message, she was still in a coma, but the doctors thought she was improving and they were hopeful she’d wake up soon.
My shoulders slumped, and I closed my eyes as guilt ate away at my insides.Please let her wake up,I silently begged the universe.
When I opened my eyes again, I took another look at my phone and noticed a contact request from a stranger in my unread messages tab. I clicked on the tab and opened the message. It had been sent two weeks ago.
Hi, Shay. My name is Marko, and I’m a friend of Cori’s. She might’ve told you about me – I’m pretty handy with online stuff and I’ve done some jobs for her in the past. Anyway, she recently asked me to look into a couple of guys for her. I let her know my findings but she saw the message and never replied.
When she initially made the request, she gave me your name and told me to get in contact with you in case she wasn’t around, so I thought I’d get in touch and let you know my findings too.
Killian Knight – I was only able to find the most general information on this guy, which I’m sure you already know. He and his family must have a security team scrubbing everything online so that none of their personal info/dirty little secrets get leaked. Sorry, if I was able to get dirt on this guy, I would’ve done so, but it’s just not possible.
Cooper Mickelberg – Total dead end here too. I was unable to find any record of this guy. I tried several different spellings for the last name in case Cori got it wrong, but nothing came up. Cooper Mickelberg just doesn’t seem to exist. I checked the Bellingham servers too, just to be sure, and there’s definitely no record of his enrolment there. His name has never been registered for a dorm on campus either.
Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful. I hope Cori is okay. - Marko
Something cold and sticky spread inside me as I read the message. The tingling sense of paranoia I felt earlier was right on the money after all.
Cooper was hiding something.
Why else would he lie about his identity for so long? Was he friends with Killian? Had he been working with him all along to keep an eye on me? If so, why was he helping me now? Was it just another one of Killian’s games?
Heart pounding, I got out of the bath, dried myself, and went to find some clothes in the room I used to stay in whenever I visited the summer house. Once I was dressed, I headed downstairs, being careful not to make any sound.
The sound of gunshots, masculine shouts, and screeching car tires blared from the TV in the living area behind the kitchen. Cooper must’ve gone in there to pass the time with a movie.
I crept over to the counter and picked up his car keys, moving as slowly and silently as possible.
“What are you doing?”
I jerked like I’d been electrocuted and whirled around. Cooper was standing right behind me.
Suddenly it was hard for me to breathe, as if somebody had wrapped a rope around my chest and filled my lungs with sludge.
“Oh,” I said in a small voice, forcing an amiable smile. “I was just… I was feeling hungry again, and there’s nothing here. I thought you might have some snacks out in the car, so I was going to check. Sorry, I should’ve asked you.”
Cooper didn’t reply. He just kept staring at me.
I swallowed hard and took a short step backward, knowing that he didn’t believe a single word I said. The too-long pause a moment ago, the brief expression of panic flitting across my face, the slight tremor in my voice… it was too late to take any of that back.
He knew that I knew.
I took another faltering step backward. One word was repeating in my mind in rhythm with my racing heart, like a heavy stick banging on a drum.
Run.
33
Shay
I duckedaround Cooper and dashed down the hall, heading for the front door. Before I was even halfway there, Cooper’s thick arms wrapped around my waist from behind and pulled me backward.
“No!” I screamed, digging my heels into the carpet. “Let me go!”
“I’m sorry, Shay. I can’t do that,” he said calmly.
I kicked and clawed at him as he dragged me into the dining room. “Stop!” I shouted. “Please! You can’t take me back to Killian!”
