Page 74 of Vicious Intentions

“What’s wrong?”

As I pulled away from his hold, he slipped his fingers into his mouth. Everything I thought I knew was wrong. I was certain of it. I folded my arms, the icy chill coursing through me burning.

“Rose. What is it? You’re white as a ghost.”

I lifted my head, uncertain what to say. “Are you going to be at the show?”

The concerned look remained on his face. He gripped both of my arms, and I shuddered, certain what I was experiencing was a memory.

“That’s one reason I stopped by. We have some business to handle, so we won’t be at the show. However, we’ll return by the time your last set is complete.”

“We, meaning the three of you?” Three different families. Three different businesses. One connection.

Crandall University.

“Yes, just something we’re considering doing together. Some business. I’m going to ask you again. Are you certain that you’re okay? Did anything happen?” He continued to brush his fingers up and down my arm.

“I’m perfectly fine, and why would anything happen?” I pulled away, sensing he was concerned about something himself. What were they hiding from me? I wasn’t fine at all. In fact, I was certain that whatever my parents had hidden from me revolved around a university I’d never been to.

The pieces of the puzzle were starting to collide.

“We’ll see you later. Knock ‘em dead, baby.” Hunter returned his fingers to his mouth, licking whatever taste lingered on his heated skin.

Before he walked out the door, he turned his head, studying me intently.

There was no doubt I’d met him before, that I’d been with him before.

And with the others.

I could also feel their combined touch searing my skin, echoes of their whispers tormenting the fog wrapped around my memory. But it was being peeled away minute by minute that I remained with them. My head was pounding, my blood pressure skyrocketing. I could feel it, as if at any moment my head would explode. I’d never felt such pain before in…

Pain.

Yes, I had. Very slowly I lowered my head, glancing at the scar on the inside of my wrist. As I pressed my fingers across the indentation, a ghostly sensation of agony almost made me double over.

Knife. Blood,

“Kill the fucker,” Cain roared.

“I’ll do it,” Cristiano snarled.

All I could think about was getting away from them. No. No!

“No, Sage. Come back here. Don’t run,” Hunter pleaded.

As happened every time, the vision faded before I was provided with answers. But the sensations remained.

Panic. Terror.

I couldn’t stop shaking, the vision as if it had just occurred. This time, I was able to capture and store it in the back of my mind, as well as the feelings I’d had. Run. I’d convinced myself to run far away from them. But why? Who had they intended on killing? They were chasing me. A dark forest. Rain. And blood. I clenched my eyes closed, trying to clear my mind and control my breathing. Slowly, another memory slipped into the darkest part of my mind.

“Where the fuck are they?” the male voice yelled. “She needs help. Now!”

Sirens. Lots of sirens.

“They’re coming! I hear them.”

“Not fast enough. Stay with us, baby. Stay with us.” His voice, pleading.

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