Page 42 of Saint

Mila grins, shrugging.

“Don’t get me started on you, Vi. You’d know if you didn’t disappear the moment we got to the party.” Patience narrows her gaze on me. “Who were you with all night? Because there’s no way I believe that bullshit you texted. I saw you with Brax and Nixon, and then, all of a sudden, youleft tostudy?”

She throws up air quotes as all three of them turn their attention to me.

“We had a test today,” I remind her. “One I feel pretty good about becauseI didstudy.”

“You’re as full of shit as this one.” Patience nudges Mila’s legs.

“Hey, am not,” Mila squeaks.

“Sure you aren’t.” Patience rolls her eyes. “Both of you need to be careful. Sigma Sin guys are nothing but trouble.”

Don’t I know it.

Luckily, the movie starts, and Patience drops her interrogation in favor of inhaling popcorn and Junior Mints.

Of all the movies she could have picked, she had to go with a jump-scare slasher movie.My favorite.

I curl into the blanket and try not to think too much about it. How every bit of anticipation feeds that slowburn building inside. An urge I refuse to acknowledge from a face I’ve never seen.

Halfway into the movie, my pocket vibrates with my phone, and I sneak it out when Patience isn’t paying attention.

Saint: What are those little fingers of yours doing under your blanket, Violet?

Violet: Don’t you have anything better to do than watch me?

Saint: There is nothing better than watching you.

I roll my eyes. There’s no way that’s true.

But as soon as I think it, the music ramps up, and a scream coming from the movie makes me jump.

My phone vibrates again.

Saint: Fear looks lovely on you. I’d like to feel that… the hair standing on the back of your neck. How wet your pussy is getting with the anticipation. It’s why you’ll never escape me.

Violet: Why would you say that?

Saint: Because you need that feeling, Violet. And you know I can give that to you.

Violet: I don’t want anything from you.

Saint: Then fight me when I come.

Fight me.

I wish those two words didn’t send a hot rush through me the same way they did when we were in the woods. It burns me up remembering the struggle. How I clawed and scratched. How I fought him. Knowing Saint would win, but a dark part of me wanted him to.

I bite my lip and look down at the app open on my phone.

Violet: When?

Saint: Soon.

“Earth to Violet.” Patience knocks my shoulder, and I jump. “Thought this was girls’ night.”

“Right.” I tuck my phone away and force a smile.

---