Page 47 of Into Ruin

He’s not wearing Shadow Valley U red today. He wears a purple FSU cap, a black FSU hockey sweatshirt with purple lettering, jeans, and white sneakers. He tilts his head, his eyes steady on me. His blond hair is hidden, but there’s no hiding the cool way he regards me with those dark eyes of his.

He’s here.

He left the flowers, then?

Not Camden. I never even brought it up with him—just saw the flower on his desk and assumed it was all part of the torture. I refused to mention it, in fact.

But what if I had?

What if I told Royal the truth?

I bite back a scoff. This situation would’ve still happened, just as Max designed. He found a way to get me alone.

Who knows how long he’s been watching?

“Harper, darling. I think you’ve been avoiding me.” He pauses in the middle of the room, dropping a large duffel bag at his side. It hits the floor with a dullthud.

I open and close my mouth, but the words seem to get stuck. I swallow against my sudden fear, my gaze glued to the bag. What’s in it? Things to murder me? Or kidnap me? My mind goes to ropes, blindfolds, handcuffs. A knife or gun. Something to subdue me if I don’t cooperate with his fantasy.

His expression suddenly clears.

“It’s my fault, isn’t it? I told you how I felt, but I didn’t follow through enough.” He nods, more to himself than me. “I understand that, Harper, I do. My mother was always waiting on my father. He told her so many lies that she justbelieved. It’s better this way. It’s better I prove myself. The roses were a weak attempt.”

I shake my head. I used to read about stalkers. The kind that turned violent—just in case. That’s what I told myself. What Max did in the beginning was innocent enough, but I always had the fear he would escalate.

He didn’t, though. Not in high school.

And now, it seems unclear. His expression isn’t mean or cold, it’s warm. Like the more he looks at me, the more he implores me to understand, the happier he gets.

I’m going to be sick.

I clear my throat. “I don’t think we’re on the same page about that.”

He approaches. I back up, hitting the seat of Royal’s cubby. My knees almost fold, but I manage to stay on my feet.

He grasps at me. My forearms. His hands slide down to my wrists, then my hands. His gaze bores into my face. “Harper. I left you flowers. I was telling you that you’re it for me, baby. You’reitfor me. When you disappeared, I was devastated. But then fate put us back on the same path, and suddenly I could see again.”

Disappeared? It’s called going to college and not informing your stalker.

But I followed Royal, and my brother is easy to track. There are articles online about him, his performance, his stats. He plays for a great college—he’s going to the NHL. They say he’s one of the top prospects for this summer’s draft. Whoevertheyare.

If Max Keegan wanted to find me, all he had to do was find Royal.

And sure enough… that’s what he did. But by the sounds of it, he didn’t expect it to be so easy.

“I have a plan this time,” he continues. “I’ve got a job all lined up in San Francisco. You’ll never have to work a day in your life. And the weather there—it’s gorgeous. My family used to vacation there. You’re going to love it.”

“I want to work.”

It just comes out—but it’s true. Max and I have never seen eye to eye.Clearly. But what does he want me to do? Sit at home? Wait for him to return? Keep the house clean, cook dinner, servicehim, and rely on his income?

Never.

His next step forward, into my space, is more deliberate. I try to step back, but my heels bump into the seat in front of Royal’s cubby again. His grip tightens subtly on my hands, keeping me from sidestepping away.

“You know, it’s kind of cute how your roommate thought I was your brother.”

My blood runs cold. I didn’t think of that—I mean, I should’ve. It was right there in front of my face. I eventhoughtit… but Cynthia said he was an FSU hockey player. Clearly, seeing him dressed now, he’s been playing the part.

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