Page 4 of Tell Me Why
“No.”
He laughs a little. “You know I can find out.”
He’ll ask Professor Cannon, or he’ll get the class attendance list. But the name he’ll see on that list, Eve Verone, isn’t mine. When I enrolled at Exeter University West, I used my mother’s maiden name. Turns out, fake documents can be purchased, and they look surprisingly legit. Legit enough for the admissions office, at least.
“Go right ahead,” I spit back.
I should just tell my fake name so he doesn’t go digging around in my student files. My fake ID, birth certificate, and high school transcripts fooled the ExU gatekeepers, but would they hold up under closer scrutiny? I’m not trying to find out.
But telling him my name—actually saying it out loud to him—feels like a step too far, and I can’t get myself to do it. I’ve been desperately trying to lay low for months now, so giving himanyinformation, even my fake name, feels like I’m playing with fire.
Slowly, he pulls away, removing his hand from my body and stepping back. My heart is still thundering inside my chest. I have no idea what to expect next. Will he pull me into a bathroom and fuck me? Or will he do it right here, in the hallway, where everyone can watch?
Shaking his head, he brings the tip of his finger up to his mouth and sucks on it, pulling it out with apop.“Sweet,” he growls, his voice seductively smooth. He holds his finger up. “But no blood, which means you lied to me. And I’ve already told you how much I hate liars.”
The fucking asshole. I don’t owe him the truth. I don’t owe himanything. The entitlement of this guy is so colossal, it’s unreal. But I swallow back that reply because it’ll just piss him off more—and if he’s pissed, or intrigued, or both, then he won’t let me go. He won’t forget about me. Which is exactly what I need him to do.
“I’m sorry,” I say, the words nearly choking me on the way up my throat. They taste bitter in my mouth. “I was embarrassed. It won’t happen again.”
He leans in, but makes no move to grab me again, thank God. “I don’t believe that for a second.” His voice dropping to a low, threatening tone. “You’re trying to throw me off, but it won’t work. I’ve just made it my mission to learn everything about you,Miss Eve Verone.Every dark, lurid secret.”
With a deep chuckle, he just walks away, and I’m left standing in the hallway, too shocked to speak, move, or make sense of what just happened. How does he know my name? I’ve only caught his gazeoncein class. It doesn’t make sense.
But there’s one thing I do know—now that I’m officially on a Sacred Son’s radar, I’m royally fucked. And not in a fun way.
CHAPTERTWO
Eve - Present
Forthree months,I’ve been a paranoid mess. I walk around campus, expecting Christian West to jump out at me like an offensively attractive boogieman. But…nothing. After that incident in the hallway, I dropped out of Abnormal Psychology. I just couldn’t risk running into Christian every week.
I thought about dropping out of ExU altogether, but my pride wouldn’t let me do it. I’d have to slink back to my brother and admit that he was right. He didn’t want me to come here. It’s too risky. ExU is too deep in enemy territory. But in my mind, the reward of a psychology degree from the most prestigious University on the West Coast outweighed the risk.
Until said risk—with a capital R—had his fingers buried deep inside me.
But by some insane miracle, Christian just…lost interest in me. Despite his threats. Despite that ember of fascination in his eyes. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little disappointed that he just disappeared.
It’s fucked up, I know.
Not that Iwanthim to harass me—because I don’t—but for a split second, I understood why every girl on campus wants to climb him like a goddamn tree. Because beneath the disgust I felt, there was a thread of excitement, too.
I hate myself for admitting that, but it is what it is. I’m only human. And I haven’t been fucked in a very long time. I’m chalking my reaction up to that because it’s the only way I can sleep at night.
Glancing down at the time on my phone, I mutter a curse. I woke up late, which threw my whole morning off, and now I’m speedwalking across campus, thighs burning. Just past the cafe, I hear someone call my name. I deliberately ignore it, because I havetwo minutesbefore my ass needs to slide into class.
“Eve!” The voice is louder now, and I recognize it.
Without slowing down, I turn and see my bestie, Skye, rushing toward me. “I’m late for my psych class,” I say, my throat dry. “And Professor Slater is going to eat me alive.”
“Eve, wait.” She rushes up to me, keeping pace. Sweeping a strand of her blond hair out of her face, she puts a hand on my arm, stopping me. “I’m glad I ran into you. I’ve been trying to text you.”
I blink at her, agitation making me twitch. “I wish I could chat. But my class lets out in two hours.” I flick my chin toward the cafe. “Meet you at the coffee shop after?”
I move to continue walking, but she squeezes my arm and pulls me back.
“You can missoneclass, Eve.” There’s concern in her wide cobalt-blue eyes. I’ve always thought they looked like pieces of polished sea glass. “This is important.”
The worry in her voice catches my attention. “What? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
