Page 38 of Deadly Sacrifice

Once I’m outside, I take the knife I stashed in my back pocket and stroll right up to the gray Dodge Charger Hellcat parked out front. I’ve seen it driving around campus, but it wasn’t until this morning that I put the dots together and realized who owned it.

It’s the car that I was trapped in. Locked in the trunk of until Creed swooped in to save the day.

With a deep, cleansing breath, I swing my arm up and then ram the knife into the front passenger tire. And just to make sure the tire is well and truly fucked, I do it a few more times. And then I shrug and do the other three, as well.

With the knife left sticking out of the rubber of the final tire, I spit, “Fuck you, Asher.” Then I walk across the street and continue on with my day.

21

Prudence

Another day, another load of bullshit.

Asher has officially ruined my love of the cafeteria and all the amazing food choices they offer. Nothing tastes as good when I’m forced to sit across from him and Creed every day.

After my mid-day class lets out, I make my way there, as much as I don’t want to. Asher and Griffin are waiting for me at the cafeteria entrance, and I assume Creed is already inside getting food. Griffin’s lips pull into a barely there smile as I approach. It’s the only upside about this situation.

Asher doesn’t say a word when I stop in front of them. He turns and heads inside, leaving me with Griffin.

Hi, he signs. Library tomorrow night?

I nod. It’s apparently all I can do as he stares down at me with his icy blue eyes. I try to give him a smile, but my stomach is in knots, like it is every day when lunch rolls around. Putting on a tough act is one thing, but in reality, sitting with these guys is the fucking worst. I’m surprised I haven’t broken out in hives yet.

Griffin opens the door for me and gestures me inside, walking beside me until we part ways halfway to our table. He heads off to get his food and I keep walking toward the table and Creed, who has made it his personal assignment to get my meal every day. He still just overflows the tray for the two of us and eats whatever I don’t want.

It’d be sweet if I didn’t kind of hate him.

Sitting down, I pointedly ignore Creed’s presence, like I have since the morning after the party. But fuck me, the guy is persistent.

He scoots closer, leaving a few inches between us, and then slowly reaches over and pushes my hair out of my face. “Can we talk?” he mumbles when I still don’t look up at him.

I swallow down my anger, reminding myself that I really didn’t have any claim on Creed and he could stick his tongue anywhere he likes. Still, though, it stings.

“Please, Ember,” he adds softly.

Rolling my lips together, I lift my eyes and meet his vibrant amber ones. “What if I don’t want to hear anything you have to say?”

He frowns, looking lost for a second, before he tilts his head at me with a sad smile. “I’m sorry that I hurt you. Becky is an old fling, and I was already too many drinks deep to realize I was wasting my time with her and risking everything with you,” he says.

“Mmm, yeah, that’s the problem, Creed,” I point out, forcing my emotions back. “I don’t want a guy who gets drunk and falls into bed with the first girl who throws herself at him. I don’t want someone who’s going to order me to get him another beer while groping someone else right in front of me.”

His face falls, and he opens his mouth, but I just don’t want to hear it.

“Axe throwing was a lot of fun, but I’m not interested in a second date. Enjoy Becky, or whoever else. I need to stay focused on why I’m here,” I say before he can fumble through another apology. Am I being too hard on him? I almost feel guilty when he looks so dejected, but I don’t know how else to handle him and my emotions right now.

Asher and Griffin sit down across from us, stealing my attention, and effectively ruining the last of my appetite. I pick at a salad, tossing a few olives into my mouth, but my stomach is just not in the mood now.

“Here,” Creed says, pushing a gooey, cheesy pasta dish in front of me. “Your favorite, right? I’ve been paying attention. Had to fight someone else off for the last one.”

Damn, it does smell good.

When I meet Griffin’s eyes across the table, he looks down at the plate and gives me a small nod, as if he’s telling me to try to eat. I purse my lips and then stick a small bite in my mouth. Just for him.

“How are your classes going, Prudence?” Asher asks with a smile so fake that I could laugh.

I don’t though.

“Like you care,” I reply sweetly, flashing him an equally plastic smile.

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