Page 39 of Prince of Malice

It was painfully difficult to see him like that—battered and bruised, a wreck of his usual self. There was something about it that was just so terrifying to see. That’s all probably down to those unexplainable feelings I have for him, but no matter how troublesome they are to define, I still have them.

Antonio’s accomplice spoke of an anonymous tip given to the campus security guards, something I’m more than confident was their doing as a way to worsen Dominic’s situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was money changing hands to get this whole fighting operation up and running. Valmont College has a rightful reputation for being filled to the brim with the extremely wealthyand privileged heirs and heiresses of Montcove, but most of the staff are just regular people looking to earn a decent wage to make a living for themselves.

And the students are all well aware that while words talk, money shouts. Even those whose family fortunes aren’t built on less than legal affairs like the Rossis and the Valentis know that sometimes cash had to be put aside to make sure that parties, pranks, and any other clandestine activities could go off uninterrupted.

Not that I can judge. I have never been one to refrain from doing what is necessary.

But none of that matters right now. Right now, I need to get out of here without anyone noticing. Even if I can try my luck with a bribe, the Grecos have the go-ahead from their patriarch to use whatever funds necessary. I don’t have that.

Keeping myself low, I creep my way down the halls of the college gym and the long, exposed corridor of the building, the small beams of moonlight crashing through theglass skylight overhead and lighting up my path.

It’s great in terms of my ability to see where I’m going, allowing me to dodge stray chairs and a forgotten gym bag not too far from the walls. However, it also makes it easier for everyone else to see what is going on in the hallway.

Most importantly right now, and most detrimental to me, the pair of security guards just making their way into the gymnasium can see a lot better. Especially when they whip out their heavy-duty flashlights.

“You!” one of the guards bellows after me. “You shouldn’t be here.”

I can almost feel the soft burn of the flashlight on my back. If I don’t turn around, they shouldn’t be able to know who I am.

I book it down the hall, immediately breaking into a full sprint, not turning back for a single moment to get an idea of the leeway I have between myself and the pursuing guards to make my getaway. Instead, I focus everything I have in getting away.

“Get back here!” the other security guy yells.

Not listening to them, I fly past the doors and trophy cases that adorn the walls. The small frame of the doorway grows larger as I get closer and closer to it. Finally, it becomes larger than I am as I crash through the double doors.

The doors swing wildly to the sides, exposing me to the cool nighttime breeze. Feeling the fresh air of freedom, I make a harsh turn out of the gym and cut off to the left, seeing the height of my dorm block come into view in the distance.

Hearing the rapid footsteps of the trailing guards behind me, I try my hardest to break their line of sight before they get out of the gym, ducking behind a row of dumpsters along the way. Keeping my pace as I run alongside them, the barking commands of the security team slowly fade into an unintelligible mess of distant cries.

I was free, but I couldn’t stop yet.

Continuing my escape, I dash toward the dorm hall and rush through the doors. Climbing the stairs, my feet barely touch each step before they’re propelled forward onto the next one.

Reaching my floor, I race down the hallway,almost crashing in through the door to my room, and slam it shut behind me.

I struggle to catch my breath, fighting off the incredible pain my legs building off of everything they had endured so far tonight, remembering the only good part of this night.

I think of Dominic and everything we’d done so far, imagining the possibilities of whatever great things that could come soon for us and forgetting, even if just for a moment, all of the danger we’re in and trouble I would need to face.

My entire mind falls away, leaving only my thoughts of him.

Collapsing onto my bed, still wearing my ragged clothes from what will soon be two days ago, I can only manage to think about the way I feel about Dominic.

About how no matter how much I’ve tried to resist it, despite everything I try to reject, I always seem to find myself with him when we both need it most.

For now, I don’t care what it might mean for our families. I care about him, and I need to protect him. That’s what matters to me right now.

With the warm thoughts of Dominic filling my mind, and the way his dick felt so incredible deep in my ass, my eyelids gently crash into each other, and finally, I fall asleep. Faster and better than I have in what feels like years.

13

DOMINIC

My room illuminates quickly as the morning sun rises well past the horizon, shining on my eyes and waking me from sleep. Tearing myself away from the sheets of my bed, I sit up straight and kick my legs off the side of the mattress. The aftershock of all the pain and pleasure from last night hits me instantaneously like the worst hangover of my life.

I wipe my face with my hands, scrunching my eyes hidden behind my palms.

We didn’t talk about when we would actually see each other again, but part of me hoped I would’ve seen him after leaving thegym last night. I waited up most of the night, staring out from my window, hoping to catch a glimpse of him going past. I’m confident he would have gotten out of there okay; he is far too smart to have gotten caught, but I still never saw him.

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