Page 48 of Saint

“So…” I rub my arms. “I guess you still haven’t heard from Liam?”

My voice shoots up, and I hope it’s not obvious. But the fact that it manages to pull Kole’s attention from his book tells me it is.

“Nope.” Declan hitches an eyebrow. “You?”

I shake my head, swallowing hard.

Yesterday, Braxton called me again, asking if I’d heard anything. I hadn’t, and I won’t. But people are starting to question what’s going on, and like seasons changing, I sense this reaching a breaking point soon. Things are about to get messy and complicated, and the fact that I’ve kept the truth to myself this long leaves me at a loss for what to do when people start figuring it out.

“Well, let me know if you do.” Declan tucks his thumbs in his pockets.

“Hey, Vi.” Maddox tips his chin up at me, tucking his blond hair behind his ear. “You coming to our party this weekend?”

“Funny.” Declan knocks Maddox on the arm, and Kole chuckles, still reading his book but clearly finding the notion ridiculous.

I narrow my gaze on him even if he’s not looking at me. “Maybe.”

I’m not, but I don’t like that the three of them think I’m too uptight to be seen at Sigma House a second time. So I appreciate that my answer is surprising enough to drag Kole out of the pages of his book.

“Damn, I was expecting you to tell us to fuck off.” Declan tips his head back, laughing. “All right, party animal.”

Kole doesn’t look nearly as amused as Declan does. Then again, Kole doesn’t look much of anything at all.Staring at me with icy eyes that chill me to the bone. The only character on his blank face is that scar that cuts along his cheekbone.

“We done?” Kole asks, still looking at me for a beat, then turning to Declan. “Places to be.”

Places to be.

The most annoying thing about Sigma Sin is how important they think they are. Like every moment they spare for the rest of us is a waste of their precious time.

“Yeah, man.” Declan tips his chin up, and Maddox stands, spinning his chair around. When I stare too long, Maddox winks at me.

Kole punches him in the arm. “We’re out.”

“See you at the party, Vi.” Declan backs up but doesn’t spin yet. His gaze does a once-over that turns my insides cold.

Kole’s eyes narrow at his friend’s clear perusal. Setting his book down, he grabs the edges of his long sleeves and pulls them up his forearms, almost like he’s thinking about decking Declan in the face for looking at me.

But then, Declan turns, and his shoulders relax.

My gaze drifts down as they start to walk away, and that’s when I spot them—four half-moon cuts on Kole’s wrist. Red and puffy where they’re still healing from what looks like nails being dug into his skin.

My breath catches as my memory takes me back to the forest.

Scratching, clawing, trying to escape. I fought Saint, even if it didn’t do me any good. And when I gave into hissick, twisted game, I grabbed his arm, and my nails sank in.

I can still feel the flesh breaking.

Blood pooling beneath them.

It’s him.

16

Don't Chicken Out Now

Violet

The truth was supposedto set me free.

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