Page 100 of Blades of Obsession

What gets me is the lying about it all. He didn’t just, not tell the truth.He blatantly lied. Countless times.

If he can lie about things that big, what else can he lie about? If he can lie straight to my face, he can be with another woman and come kiss me right after. He can make a mistake and pretend it wasn’t him. He can lie about… loving me. He can lie about his whereabouts, his plans for the future, his friends.

I reach for the door to the main fashion studio, but before I can open it, I’m suddenly bumped—hard—by a figure rushing past me. The impact is so forceful, it knocks me to the ground, hitting my chest against the floor.

Pain shoots through my breasts, and I wince, trying to catch my breath. Before I can even see who bumped into me, the figure has already disappeared around the corner. In their rush, they dropped a letter beside me. So I pick it up.

I stand and grab the handle to the studio doors, but it’s locked. I’m sure this is the right place, it’s written clear as day onthe note Mr. Harrison gave me. I don’t have time for any of this. “I’m having the worst freaking day ever,” I groan in frustration.

I huff and decide to start heading to Frankie’s dorm. I can meet the professor later. The only thing I want to do right now is take a nap—maybe take some cough medicine to knock me out so I can forget about everything.

As I walk, the letter slips out of my hand. Shit, I forgot I was holding it. It lands right side up.

Wait.

It has my name on it.

So that wasn’t an accident. It was someone delivering something. I was going to turn the letter into the Dean in case it was important to somebody.

Might as well open the stupid thing. The envelope is thick, and after struggling with it for a while, I give up and rip it open with my teeth. Can anything go right today?

Reading through, the contents of the letter makes my blood run cold.

Your father owes a substantial debt, and now he’s in our custody. Each day that the balance goes unpaid, the amount will collect interest. You have15daysto settle what is owed, or we will dispose of him. We will come for your mother next. After her,youwill be next in line. Do not underestimate us. We will receive what is rightfully ours, one way or another. Due:$114,700.

I gasp, the letter slipping from my hands. It’s typed, the letters uneven like they came from an old typewriter. At the bottom, a snake is coiled around a largeS—the signature.

This has to be some kind of joke. Or a prank. I’ll call my dad just in case… after seven rings, no answer. I’ll call again... No answer. And again. A third time, and still nothing.

Okay, maybe I’m starting to panic a little now. My hands tremble as I dial my mom’s number, my heart racing withunease. When she picks up, I try to keep my voice steady. “Hey, mom. I’m sorry I’ve been busy lately. Can you tell me where you are right now?”

“I’m uh… well, sweetie, I have to tell you something.”

My stomach knots, fearing the worst. “Yeah?”

“Your father and I are getting back together.”

“What?!” I shout, drawing a few stares from people in the hall. A little embarrassed, I hurry outside to my car. “What about Lauren?”

“He left her.”

This is insane. My mom comes back, my dad leaves my stepmom, and now my mom and dad are getting back together. All within a week.

“Mom, are you crazy? He tried to kill you!”

“Don’t call your mother crazy, young lady,” she snaps. “I’m an adult, and I can make my own decisions. Not like you’re the higher calling when it comes to decision-making these days, anyway. Look at whoyouchose to be with. And you let him disrespect me right in front of you.”

“Fine, whatever.” Maybe they deserve each other. It sounds bitter, but they both sure know how to put me down. “Well, where is dad?” I start the engine of my car, heading towards Frankie’s dorm.

“I don’t know. He hasn’t been around for a while. Now that I think about it, a day or two. Would you like to leave a message?”

“No, but just…” I sigh. “Be safe, okay? If you’re at dad’s alone, maybe lock the doors and windows.”

I hang up, park the car, and lean against it outside Frankie’s dorm building. This is so messed up. One or two days he hasn’t been around? So it has to be real. What am I supposed to do now?

Inside Frankie’s dorm, I pace back and forth. Back and forth. Fifteen days. Then they’ll come for my mom. And then me.

The ticking of the clock on the wall and the otherwise silence presses on me like a weight. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Grabbing my phone, I dial Frankie.

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