Page 97 of Rival (Elite of Elmwood 4)

Ignoring the leaves and branches that smacked my arms, I made sure to stay close behind Mads. She slowed down only when we got to the corner of Greek Row and turned onto Scenic Drive, the road that would take us to my house. “Do you think they saw us?” she panted, bending over slightly to catch her breath.

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Sterling will know.”

Panic shone in her eyes, and I would have given anything to extinguish it. “Micah, what am I supposed to do? I can’t go home.”

She meant her dorm. I had already been thinking down that road, and I’d planned to say and do whatever it took to convince her not to stay in her room. I didn’t give a shit if she was still pissed off at me. I’d kidnap her and handcuff her to my bed if I had to. “You’re not,” I started.

She swiped the back of her forehead with the sleeve of her hoodie. “I can’t live at your place.”

Break over, I started walking down the lit pathway, keeping my strides slow. “You can, and you will. This isn’t up for debate. The other girls will have to stay as well. At least until we can sweep your dorm and have Fynn check it out.”

“I thought you wanted me to stay away from you,” she retorted dryly, tossing my own words back in my face, but I deserved it.

My lips narrowed. “That was before.”

“This changes nothing,” she clarified.

“It changes everything.” No matter what I did, I couldn’t erase the sight of Mads’s bed displayed in some sleazy back room. My fists curled at my side as we continued to walk. I had to draw on all my control to stop from bolting across campus and beating Sterling to a bloody pulp. Once I started, I didn’t think I’d be able to stop. Iwouldkill him.

Her frustrated huff was audible, and a beat of silence passed before she said, “This is a fight we’re going to have to have later. For the night, I concede.”

She must have been seriously shaken and exhausted to back down so easily. Mads did not shy away from a fight, and Sterling was to blame. An added layer of anger festered in the pit of my gut.

When we trotted up the steps to my front stoop, lights were glowing from inside. I prayed that meant Grayson and the girls had made it home.

Chaos greeted us as Mads and I stepped inside, but that wasn’t shocking. Any time the triplets were in the same room, mayhem tended to erupt. Kenna, Josie, and Grayson paced around the furniture, talking over each other so it was impossible to hear what anyone was saying. Ainsley sat in a chair enjoying the show. I nearly asked if she wanted me to get her some popcorn.

The trio turned their heads in perfect unison, finally noticing Mads and me in the doorway.

“Fuck, man,” Grayson cursed, shoving a hand through his chestnut hair. “It’s about time.”

Kenna folded her arms over her chest. “What the hell took so long?”

“We were worried,” Josie added with a sigh, her tense shoulders loosening.

“I can see that,” I replied, devoid of any sympathy.

Ainsley sat up from her position on the couch. “Did you get caught?”

A snort breezed through my nose. “Did you forget who I am?”

“Mads?” Josie eyed her cousin thoughtfully, edging past Grayson. “Are you okay?”

Mads blinked and rubbed a hand up and down her arms. “I need a cigarette.”

I didn’t stop her as she moved through the lounging area to the sliding doors that led to a small porch off the side of the house. She didn’t want to stay and listen to me recount what we’d discovered, and she needed something familiar and calming. Despite wanting to be that for her, I knew she would shove me away. Mads wasn’t ready to forgive me.

Grayson waited until Mads slipped outside with Josie behind her before he peppered me with questions. Ainsley and Kenna stayed. “What did you find?” he asked, taking a seat on the edge of the couch. Kenna sat on the other end.

My eyes flickered to the open curtains, seeing the burning spark from the end of Mads’s cigarette. I plunked down into the chair opposite Ainsley’s. “Are Brock and Fynn back yet?” I wasn’t keen on having to relay our findings more than once. My barely contained anger couldn’t handle it. I didn’t think I’d be able to stop myself from confronting Sterling.

Kenna shook her head. “Josie tried Brock’s phone, but he didn’t answer.”

Grayson and I shared a look, and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was.Should we get them or wait?Brock not answering Josie’s call wasn’t a good sign.

There was no question that Brock and Fynn could take care of themselves, especially against a group of frat boys, but that didn’t mean it sat right with me leaving them. We always had each other’s backs, and if something went down… If Sterling already learned I’d been in his house, found his secret room, would he try something with Brock and Fynn?

Shiiit.

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