Page 61 of Smoke the Enemy

“What about me?” Alex asks in disbelief. “Do you not love me?”

“I’ve already pledged my loyalty.”

I shove the knife into the picnic basket. The dark spot on Alex’s side quickly begins to spread. He is gasping for air as his hand is painted in red liquid, clutching his side.

“Don’t leave me… I need help. Help me!”

What have I done?No. I did what needed to be done.I can’t do this on my own, though.Taking the basket, I hurry to find Steffan for help. I never told them my plan because I knew they wouldn’t have let me go through with it, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I could go through with it. I’m sweating by the time I reach the mansion.

Steffan is inside Soren’s room. My poor Soren looks so peaceful asleep.You’re okay now. Alex can’t hurt you.

“Steffan,” I whisper. “I need your help. I need to hide a body.”

“What the fuck?” He jumps up from the bed and towers over me. I explain everything in a rush.

“Fuck!”

I chase after Steffan as he runs through the frat house and out the door. Only when we get there, the body is missing. I see a faint trail of blood drops.

Steffan slowly turns his head from the ground to me. “Was he dead when you left him, or just injured?”

“I stabbed him. Hard. Hence the blood.”

“He wouldn’t die immediately from a stab wound, Taylor.” Steffan pulls out his cell phone. “Let me make some calls. He’s injured so he couldn’t have gotten far.”

I go wait with Soren in his room. My body is trembling.How could I have been so foolish?I might’ve killed a man. And if I didn’t, I angered a monster more than he already was. I’ve gone past poking or provoking the beast. I’ve just made everything a hundred times worse. Either way, I’ve damned my soul.

“I should’ve slit his throat,” I mumble.

“I really hope it’s not me you’re talking about,” Soren’s sleepy voice jokes.

“I stabbed someone.”

“Damn. You’re really blossoming, my Little Mouse. I’m beginning to think we might be a bad influence.”

“I’m serious.”

“Who?”

“Alex.”

Soren raises up and is fully alert. “Tell me everything. And if he hurt you, I’ll finish the job.”

By the time I finish the story, Soren’s eyes are glacial. Steffan gets back shortly after that with no news. There is no trace of Alex anywhere. “Tell Steffan what you told me, Little Mouse. Tell him about your plan and that you let that sick fuck think you wanted him.”

Steffan’s eyes snap to mine, his jaw clicks. “What? I think you missed that part, Taylor. You glossed over it on your way to the stabbing portion.”

I swallow and lift my chin in defiance. “It was the only way. I made a deal to help Soren”

“So that’s why you’ve been dodgy this week?” Steffan glowers.

“It had to be believable. I didn’t think I would for sure stab him, but he wouldn’t let it go how much he wants to destroy you both. I couldn’t let that happen. I love you.” I glance from Steffan to Soren, my eyes softening, “I love both of you.”

Soren’s eyes blaze with fire, and Steffan starts to move to grab me when Kali comes to find me still in Soren’s room. “Hey, I need to head back to the house to rotate some of my clothes.” Her eyes bounce between us, “Wanna come with?”

The room suddenly feels too warm, too full of emotion, and I don’t know how to process it all. “Ooh, yes. I need to.”

Steffan’s fingers tap along his cell phone. I can tell he doesn’t want to let me go right now, not with my confession hanging between us, but now Kali is here. “Lee is going to take you.”

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