Page 82 of Kings of the Campus

Max steps back into the room one last time and holds up a box of matches. “Max, please!” I beg, my voice rising in terror. “Don’t do this! You don’t have to do this! Please, Max!”

He drags the match against the striking surface, a sharp hiss echoing in the room when it lights. Then, with one last smile, he drops the match on the ground a few feet in front of me.

The gasoline catches instantly, turning into a blaze within seconds. He saunters out as the cabin starts to burn, smoke filling the air.

I cough, struggling against my bonds. I don’t want to die. I can’t die. I have to protect my babies.

“Please!” I beg, the pain in my shoulder throbbing as I wriggle about wildly, attempting to stand up and free myself.

Please.

47

JACE

We speed back toward campus, the urgency pushing me to hit the gas harder than I’ve ever driven before. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white, as Devin and Alec sit in the back, their faces etched with worry.

I’m trying to keep my focus, pushing aside the gnawing fear that Max could be hurting Tessa right now. As we pull onto campus, we spot Ryan walking away from theSentineloffice and I slam on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt.

Without waiting for the engine to fully die, I throw open the door and charge toward him. Ryan’s eyes widen in surprise as he sees me barreling toward him. He doesn’t have time to react before I shove him up against the side of a nearby building, pinning him with a force that leaves him gasping.

“Where is she?” I growl, my voice low and dangerous. “Where the hell have you taken Tessa?”

Ryan’s face goes pale as he struggles to regain his composure. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

I tighten my grip, pressing him harder against the wall. “Don’t lie to me, Ryan. We know Max is behind this, and if youthink you can play dumb with us, you’re sorely mistaken. Tell me where he’s taken her, or I swear?—”

Before I can finish, Ryan’s eyes flicker with fear and resignation. He finally stammers out, “I-I can’t tell you. Max will kill me if I say anything!”

“Talk!” I yell.

“He promised he wouldn’t hurt her!” Ryan bursts out. “He said he just wanted to talk.”

“Where is he?” Alec shouts, getting into Ryan’s face. He shrinks back, staring at the three of us helplessly. “Where is he?” Alec repeats. “We have no qualms about hurtingyouif you don’t start talking.”

“There’s a cabin in the woods,” he stutters out. “He’s got a family cabin in the woods, about ten miles outside of town. He said that he didn’t think she would listen to him if he didn’t get her somewhere private.”

“If you truly believe he wouldn’t try to hurt her, you’re a bigger idiot than I took you for,” Devin growls out.

“He promised!” Ryan insisted. “He said he just wanted her to know his side of the story.”

But Alec is already searching Max’s family property records online and he finds an address immediately.

“Is this it?” he says, thrusting the phone in front of Ryan’s face. Ryan looks nervous but nods.

I let Ryan go, not caring that he drops to the ground in a heap as the three of us sprint back to the car and pull out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.

I’m driving over 120 miles an hour now and praying that it’s not too late. I feel sick as I think of all the ways Max might be hurting Tessa even now. My mind races, but I try to focus on the road, blocking out all other distractions.

It feels like the drive takes forever, but really we arrive in record time, pulling to a screeching halt just as we watch Max walking out of the cabin, his hands in his pockets.

My stomach drops, a kind of fear twisting inside me that I’ve never felt before when I look behind Max to see that there’s a fire spreading rapidly inside.

Devin and Alec jump out of the car before I’ve even parked. Devin doesn’t waste a second. He bolts past Max and slams into the cabin, disappearing into the smoke and chaos. I see Alec already charging at Max as I kill the engine.

Max sees Alec coming and braces himself. When Alec tackles him, the two of them hit the dirt in a cloud of dust. Max grunts and fights back with surprising strength. He’s grown stronger and more resilient, and it’s clear that prison didn’t weaken him—if anything, it hardened him.

I jump out of the car and run toward them. Max gets his knees up, forcing Alec off-balance but I don’t hesitate, charging at Max, and throwing a punch that lands squarely on his jaw. He staggers but recovers quickly, his eyes blazing with defiance.

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