Page 49 of Blades of Obsession

“Didn’t know you had one. But you’ll have to refresh my memory. I kill a lot of people.”

A half sigh, half chuckle leaves his mouth, but this time it sounds more defeated than smug. “Does Eli ring a bell?”

I knew it.

I knew he didn’t come back just to catch up with Amelia, his so-called childhood best friend, as he claimed. Revenge is what he wants, not Amelia. I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse.

I start to gather information from him. “If Eli was your brother, how come you didn’t have the same dad? I heard his high ranking was because of his dad’s ranking.”

“We’re stepbrothers. But we grew up together as brothers, so I’m still going to destroy you.”

I chuckle. Does he think his threat is supposed to scare me? I haven’t felt fear in years. “I’m only going to say this once. Hurt me all you want. But if you hurt her, I will kill you.”

“Speaking of her, how is her pussy these days?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know how it is,” I bite out.

“Oh, I don’t have to wonder. Just ask her who took her virginity. Maybe I should dip back in, it was pretty good the first time. Oh yeah, and the second and third time too.”

I take a step forward, my fists clenching. “If you don’t keep your hands to yourself and off what’s mine, I will break them. And then kill you. Then that’ll be two sons your parents have to bury. So your best bet is leaving this college altogether.”

“You’re not usually the territorial type, Aiden.” He chuckles. “Mad that I’ll always be her first?”

“Don’t fucking call me that again,” I growl, gritting my teeth. “And I don’t care if you were her first because I’m going to be her last.”

“Why shouldn’t I call you that? Isn’t that what your mother named—”

I don’t let him finish. My knuckles collide with his nose, immediately drawing blood. The force of the punch whips hishead to the side, sending him crashing into the pillar. He stumbles, trying to catch himself, but the impact is too much.

Before I walk away, leaving him laid out on the ground, I warn again, “As I said, you’re best off leaving this campus.”

Well, at least now I’ve killed three birds with one stone.

Chapter 19

AMELIA

This is the third freaking time Jessica from my product development class has glanced back at me. And she’s not the only one.

I make a face—eyebrows scrunched, lips puckered, just to see what she’ll do. She huffs, rolls her eyes, and turns back to her friend, whispering something behind her hand.

Talk all you want.

I try to focus on the professor, but the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when more people steal glances, some snickering. I catch a guy a few rows aheadstaring, but he quickly looks away when our eyes meet. Then another.

Seriously, what is with everyone today?

My stomach twists. Is something wrong with my hair? I didn’t even look in the mirror before rushing to class. No, no, no. Please don’t let them be staring because my hair is a mess. I swipe at my bangs, then smooth down my shirt, suddenly hyper-aware of everything I might’ve done wrong this morning. The whispers seem to multiply. What are they saying?

The vibrating buzz of my phone snaps me out of my spiraling thoughts, making me jump.

Frankie: Girl, meet me in the fourth quad hall! Urgent!

Urgent? Frankie doesn’t text things like this unless it’s something big. Somethingbad. My heartbeat quickens, and I can feel sweat gathering at the back of my neck.

The professor’s lecture and the scattered whispers blur together as I shove my tablet into my tote bag and slip out of the room. The hallway is worse. More people looking, more whispers. I swear I can feel their eyes burning into my back.

I check my reflection in the glass door as I pass—nothing’s off. I speed up, practically running by the time I reach the fourth quad hall. Frankie is already here, and she doesn’t look like her usual bubbly self, quite the opposite actually. The look on her face says everything.

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