Page 75 of The Pawn

Her expression changes all at once. Her eyes go wide, and she sputters, clearly caught.

But I don't give her a chance to explain. Jerking my eyes away from her—and from Tanner, whose pants have sagged down to his thighs, his erection still out—I run down the garden path, away from their illicit scene, through the grass until the darkness swallows me whole.

Chapter 39

The thing about darkness is, you can't see in it. Human eyes are useless at night. It's the best time for predators to descend on us, claws out and teeth ready to swallow us whole.

So it feels almost inevitable that I've gotten too close to danger in the darkness, my feet leading me astray. I smell him before I spot his silhouette in the thin streaks of moonlight that filter through the oak trees.

He smells like a mother's kitchen, full of life, sugar and spices being turned into wondrous things. It seems unfair that someone so sharp and predatory should have such a scent. If the world had any sense of justice, he would smell like bloodstained knives and bitterness.

"Brenna." I don't know how he recognizes me, but he does, his eyes finding me in the dim light. "Are you enjoying this Hallow's Eve Festival?"

My throat feels scratched and strained from nearly drowning, I'm still holding back tears about Holly, and I just saw one of the few people here who I thought might be on my side on her knees for a boy I wanted to destroy. It's been the second worst day of my life.

The worst day of my life is on my mind as I ask Cole, "It was you who looked through our purses, wasn't it? And it was no coincidence when mine was pulled off my shoulder and thrown on the ground in front of Holly. You planned all that."

"Did I?" My eyes have adjusted to the darkness enough that I can see him cock his head to the side—and I certainly feel it as he gets close enough that the heat of his body brushes against my cold skin. "The only thing I ever wanted, Brenna, is for you to tell the truth. If someone figured out a way to make that happen, well, I'm all for it."

"The truth." The word comes out a snarl. "You don't give a flying fuck about the truth."

"You wound me," he mocks, placing a hand over his heart. "What could matter more in this world than the truth, justice, and the American way?"

My hand tightens around my phone, and as I think of the photos I've just received, a smile curls up on my lips. "You're right. The truthmatters.So if you'll excuse me, I have something to do."

I step around him to the side, trying to walk past him and back to the dorms, but of course he reaches out and grabs onto my wrist. Gritting my teeth, I try to break his grip—but he's too strong and clever. He just twists his hand around to avoid me getting out of his grasp.

"Tsk tsk, Brenna. I'm not done with you yet Ms. Wilder."

"What do youwantfrom me?"

"Everything. Nothing." He pulls me towards him, and I shiver, from the cold or his grasp on me I can't tell. "You never should've come here."

"You've said that already, but I don't remember you being put on the admissions staff here, so I don't think your opinion on my enrollment matters atall."

"This place isn't for you."

I finally manage to jerk my wrist out of his grip, and as soon as I do, I shove him back. This time, unlike that moment in the rock climbing facility, he actually stumbles. I wish there were more light from the moon overhead so I could see the shock on his face.

"This is where Ibelong." It's the last dream my brother had before he died, and I'm dreaming it for him in my own way. "You'll never get rid of me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Too bad." Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stares at me, whatever emotions crossing his face hidden in the dark. "You know it's funny, you said Holly would get tired of my shit and leave. But it looks like that happened to you first."

I thought I'd pushed it all down, but another round of tears goes down my face, cruel and humiliating. I can only hope the darkness hides them from view. "Shut up."

I wait for him to say something snide back, something cruel or heartless. Or maybe he'll grab me again, pull me against him and—I don't want to think any further. I've already descended into madness once tonight and actually kissed Blake Lee. I can't betray Holly again, even in my dark and twisted thoughts.

Cole doesn't say anything more, though. I guess he knows that I've already destroyed myself, and there's nothing more he needs to do or say to ensure that everyone here on campus hates me. He just spins on his heels and leaves me alone with my thoughts, shivering in the dark.

There's still a fire inside me, though, and there's no time like the present to let it out to burn the world.

Before everything crumbles, I want to make sure I take him down with me. Forever.

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