Page 18 of Deadly Sacrifice

Food. That’s my goal here. Once I eat, I can go back to the safety of my room and sulk. But I only manage a few steps before Asher grabs my arm again, roughly hauling me into his side and almost making me lose my footing.

“You’ll sit with us,” he reminds me, whispering the harsh words into my ear. “I won’t ask again.”

My nod is weak, jerky, but he takes it as a confirmation anyway, and leads me down the hall toward the cafeteria. Creed joins us on my other side, silently studying me. His fingers brush mine at my side, like some show of solidarity, and the gesture helps unfurl some of the sickening panic in my stomach.

Asher drops me off at a table with Griffin, manhandling me until I sit down. “I’ll get your food,” he says, sliding his eyes to Griffin and then back to me. He leans down, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Not a word, Prudence,” he warns quietly. Then he’s gone, Creed following behind him, and I’m left to tremble alone.

Well, not alone.

It takes a lot of effort to get my eyes up, and when I meet Griffin’s captivating gaze, I almost cry. I feel the sob get caught in my throat, the burn behind my eyes begging to be released. He looks so open and concerned as he regards me. As if he cares. And it’s been a long fucking time since a single person has truly cared.

I clear my throat and avert my eyes, feeling self-conscious about the red marks that are surely on my cheeks. The way Asher treated me only moments ago is unsettling. I came here thinking I’d be strong enough to hunt down answers about my mom and her past here at Blackwood University. I’ve basically been on my own since I was sixteen. I’ve had to strengthen my armor, build up my shields, and push myself forward even when I’ve wanted to die.

But against a cruel man with enough money to make me disappear without a trace? Turns out I couldn’t hold my own in that hallway. What might happen if he catches me alone one day? Or if he convinces Creed and Griffin to join in next time?

I feel sick and dirty and ashamed of myself. Maybe I’m not strong at all. Maybe I’m just delusional, thinking I could do this on my own and come out of it in one piece.

Griffin felt safe the other night, and because of that, I want to tell him what Asher did out in the hall, but I hold my tongue. I can’t let myself fall into the naïve notion that he might protect me from Asher. These three have been friends for a long time, and they’ll continue to be close years later, once I’m long gone.

So I continue to ignore his overwhelming presence across the table while we wait for Asher and Creed. But I guess he’s not having any of it.

Griffin reaches across the table, tapping a finger three times on the surface. I see it in my periphery, but I don’t look over until he does it again. He raises his brows at me, signing, What happened?

“Nothing.”

Griffin rolls his eyes, pointing at his cheeks and then at me. Did Creed do that?

I do my best not to show the shock on my face, but I’m not sure I manage. Sure, Creed has been… kind of intense from day one, but he’s never been cruel. But I guess I wouldn’t have expected this from Asher until it was happening, either. Griffin assuming Creed put these marks on my cheeks is a walking red flag; it all but screams that Creed would be just as capable of something like this.

Noted.

I shake my head, trying to offer an easy smile. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me,” I tell him, thankful that my voice doesn’t crack the way I thought it might.

He frowns, studying me with those glacial eyes. Something heavy is sitting just behind them. I saw it the night we met, and I see it now. Like maybe he’s not as put together as he wants people to think.

Before either of us can make more assumptions about the other, though, Asher and Creed are back. Asher drops down next to Griffin, instantly stealing his attention with a half-hushed and half-signed conversation. I pretend the loss of Griffin’s gaze doesn’t stab through me.

Creed sits beside me, putting his arm around my shoulders as he pushes his tray of food in front of me. “I didn’t know what you’d like, so I got a bit of everything,” he explains, almost sheepishly, gesturing to the overflowing amount of food before me. “Pick what you want, and I’ll have whatever is left.”

I feel so stupid, but the gesture isn’t something I’d have expected, especially not after the way I was treated in the hall and Griffin’s assumption that it was Creed. The action is such a simple, kind offer, that it nearly overrides my decision not to let my guard down around Creed.

When I try to turn my face away to keep the onslaught of emotions a secret, Creed rumbles softly in disapproval, taking my chin with gentle fingers and forcing my eyes up to his. His face is blank, but his light brown eyes hold me hostage for a long time. He smooths his fingers up my jaw and cups my cheek, leaning in, and then he murmurs quietly, “You’re alright, Ember. It’s okay. Eat and then I’ll walk you home.”

I’ve never felt so fucked up in all my life.

Not during the high school parties I went to when I drank piss-warm beer to fit in. Not after the car accident that left me dizzy and bleeding out. Not even every time I think about my mom and everything I wish could have been different.

But these guys?

It’s like I’ve got an exposed nerve and they’ve all found a different way to pick at it.

Asher has chosen violence. Griffin has taken up the friendly act. And Creed… I don’t know what he’s doing, except offering me something I never thought I’d get; a guy who sees me and wants to be around anyway. And even before anything else can happen, I know I’m so fucked.

12

Prudence

I have my room to myself for once, thank god. The absence of my roommate and her boyfriend is like striking gold. Rare and fucking wonderful.

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