Page 63 of Make Me Lie (Rich Demons of Darkwood 1)

She wasn't going to be a problem. I'd make sure of that. Nothing was going to interfere with my goals.

Especially not The Demon's daughter.

18

Aurora

Isighed as I pulled the last textbook out of my backpack. I had so much studying to catch up on. Remington, Stellan, Cain, and Pax were definitely not good for my grades so far, although I wasn't sure how fairly any professors were going to grade my work anyway. That girl’s threat that I would fail out kept bothering me.

As I slammed the book onto my desk, a piece of paper floated off the back and landed on the floor. I frowned as I picked it up and unfolded it.

Familiar handwriting was sprawled across the page, and my stomach clenched.

Dad.

How the hell had this gotten to me? Someone must have slipped it into my bag, but when?

Even from prison, he had gotten close to me. I rose from my seat, but there was nowhere to go. My legs felt shaky beneath me, and I sank back into the chair, trying to fight the adrenaline suddenly coursing through my body.

My hands shook as I opened the page, and I bit down on the inside of my cheek to steady myself, so hard I tasted the iron tang of blood but barely felt the pain.

My girl,

I hear you’ve started a new life for yourself. How exciting.

Are you being good? Remember our rules.

You can’t trust anyone but family.

I’m always with you in spirit, even when we’re apart. But I know we’ll be together again soon, having fun.

Dad

I folded the letter in half, then again, then again, then again, until I’d worried it into a tiny square. I stuffed it into the back of a book as if I could hide it away and protect myself from him.

He was trying to escape. He was trying to come find me.

He wrote as if he didn’t know I was the reason he’d been caught, but that didn’t mean it was the truth.

Everything was a game with my father.

If he knew, though, he’d want to torture me and kill me himself. He’d never delegate such an important kill. So his ‘friends’ might hurt me but they wouldn’t kill me. My mind raced, trying to think of what he would do and how to get two steps ahead of him.

My skin crawled at the thought of him, my chest tightening, my muscles heavy as if he’d already injected the drugs to make me helpless. I shook my head, refusing to let him make me feel that way.

I had to get out of here. I had to ground myself. I moved in quick, jerky movements to pull out a sports bra and a pair of leggings, to lace up my running shoes.

I never wore earpods. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down and lose myself in the music. I reached for my knife and clipped the sheath onto the high waistband of my leggings, before jerking a baggy t-shirt over my head to cover it.

Maybe Remington or Pax would go with me… I longed to have Remington jog with me, his easy smile and flirtation helping distract me from my racing thoughts. Or Pax. Pax would be quiet like always, but there was something steadying and comforting about his presence. Cain was terrifying and yet I felt safe when I was by his side.

I hesitated in the hall, debating trying to find one of them. I glanced down the hall at the row of bedroom doors. Cain was right next door, although I hadn’t overheard any orgies lately. I’d noticed which room each of the guys was in as I happened to run into them in the hallway. I took a step forward, about to knock on Remington’s door.

But I shouldn’t feel safe with them.

They were just as dangerous to me as anyone else.

Maybe worse, because some rogue part of me wanted to trust them.

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