Page 47 of Redeemed

Forcing myself to stand, I straighten my clothes and wipe at my mouth again. Now that that’s over with, I can head back to mine and Athelia’s dorm and chill out until the party tonight.

As I shove the three twenties in my pocket, I ignore the pang of guilt in my chest. My roommate—and my best friend—thinks I have a work-study job. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that by the time I applied, all the positions had already been filled. She’d beg me to stop if I told her how I’veactuallybeen making money, so I haven’t told her.

Athelia comes from an incredibly well-off family, and she’s never minded paying for anything I need, but I don’t like relying on her. Same with Julie and Ben. I appreciate everything they’ve done for me, and everything they continue to do, but I need to be able to rely on myself.

That’s why so many of Pemberton University’s security guys come to me to get their dicks sucked. Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty good at it, especially considering it’s all I can manage to do when it comes to sex. Every time I try to go further than that, I end up freaking out.

Except for with Colton.

Gritting my teeth, I shove that thought from my mind. Fuck him. It’s been three years to the day since we fell out, and the boy who used to hold me so gently has devolved into nothing more than a bully. Him, Lucas,andXander.

It still stings like it happened yesterday, but I’ve done everything I can to move on. This is our last year at Pemberton, and after that, I already have a job lined up that’ll take me out of their lives.

I’ll never have to see any of them again. Never have to hear one of the humiliating rumors they’ve spread about me. Never have to worry about one of them cornering me and reminding me that, instead of them tormenting me, they could’ve been the ones protecting me.

I push out of the supply closet with an angry huff. The library is mostly empty, but I keep my head down anyway. I don’t need it spreading around the student body what I do in my free time. I’ve managed not to get caught this far, and I intend to keep it that way. There’s no way inhellI’m giving Colton, Lucas, and Xander more fodder for their taunts and insults.

As I round a shelf, a tall man with blond hair comes into view. He’s facing away from me, thank fuck, but that doesn’t stop a wave of panic from gripping my throat. All the air rushes out of my lungs, and I scramble back behind the shelf.

“Have you seen this girl anywhere?” he’s asking one of the students.

Oh my god.

It’s him. It’s Isaiah.

“I don’t think I have, no. She looks a little young to be in college.”

Before I can hear Isaiah’s response, I’m dashing back the way I came. I burst into the stairwell and run down the stairs so quickly, I trip and crash onto the landing. Pain ricochets through my knees, and I bite my tongue to keep myself from crying out.

Have to go. Have to hide.

No. No! It’s not him. It can’t be.

I left Cornerstone when I was eighteen. If Isaiah was going to find me, he would’ve done it years ago. It’s just my mind playing tricks on me. It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before.

Panting, I lean against the wall for support and slowly drag myself to my feet. Over the years, my therapist and I have talked about this often. It’s the CPTSD. My mind never feels safe, and it conjures Isaiah out of thin air whenever I’m feeling particularly on edge.

But I’ve been doing fine lately. I’mnoton edge.

“Have to go,” I hear myself mutter. “Just in case.”

Just as I begin moving toward the second set of stairs, someone grabs me from behind. My scream is muffled by a hand clamped over my mouth. It’s big enough to cut off airflow to my nostrils as well, and I claw at Isaiah’s arm. His leather jacket protects him from my nails, but—

Leather jacket.

Isaiah would never wear a leather jacket.

That means…

Freezing, I stare up at the man pinning me to the wall. No, not a man. He may tower over me, but he’s not twelve years older like my husband. No, he’s still a boy, barely older than I am.

Colton.

Even though he’s still cutting off my oxygen, I slump into the wall with relief. Colton may hate me, but he won’t drag me back to Cornerstone and lock me up for the rest of my life. I won’t be killed if he decides I’m not worthy of forgiveness.

“If you scream again, I’ll shove you down these stairs and leave you broken at the bottom until someone finds you.”

I whimper against his hand.Stupid, stupid, stupid.Just because he’s not Isaiah doesn’t mean he won’t hurt me. He’s proven that in the past. Although there’s always been a difference between him and my husband. Colton would never—never—hurt me physically.

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