I step forward, feeling less and less nervous. “Why would he go to such lengths and hack the system when I gave him my access card?”
Killian presses the Taser against Creighton’s cheek harder and it takes everything in me not to flinch. “You’re trying to tell us you invited a guy over under Jeremy’s roof?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Jer is watching my every move, so the best way to go unnoticed is to meet Creighton where he wouldn’t suspect it.”
I remain standing strong under the scrutiny of their watchful eyes. I’m pretty sure I’ve convinced them, or at least, I’ve opened up their tunnel vision.
Nikolai’s gaze bounces between me and Creighton. “Wait a minute. If he was in your room, how come I didn’t see him with you when the fire first broke out?”
“I told him to stay put until I investigated the situation since I didn’t want him to run into you guys.” I’d high five myself if I could. Now, that’s a believable lie.
“Still…” Gareth starts.
“Still what?” I lift my chin. “Creighton saved my and Jeremy’s lives. You should be rewarding him instead of beating him up for it. Besides, if you’re worried this is the Elites’ doing, it still doesn’t make sense to threaten Creighton. He was never a part of that club.”
“His cousin is,” Killian says matter-of-factly.
“But he isn’t. Never was and never will be. The time you’re wasting here could’ve been used to worry about the Serpents that you so thoroughly offended, Kill. Surely you realize they’re the most likely culprits behind this mess?”
I can tell that I’m getting to them, considering the subtle change in their expressions. They must’ve thought about the Serpents’ angle, too, but since they had Creighton in their grip, they chose to believe it would be the Elites instead.
Nikolai tosses away his weapon, appearing dejected that his fun has been ruined.
“I must admit, the whole story sounds convoluted,” Killian says. “You’re not even worried that Jeremy can and will hear about this incident?”
I swallow, not feeling so brave anymore. Still, I try my best to preserve the façade. “I’ll talk to my brother when he wakes up. In the meantime, let Creighton go.”
Both Killian and Nikolai step out of the room.
Only Gareth stays behind and helps me untie him. The dried trail of blood looks gruesome against his ethereally beautiful face.
The lack of light gives his features harsh angles, almost sinister to the eye. His lips are slightly parted and I can’t help reaching a hand out to touch them, or touch him. But then I recall he doesn’t like being touched, so I let it drop to my side.
After we’re done removing the ropes, I crouch by his chair. “Is he going to be okay?”
Gareth leans back against the wall, arms crossed, expression nonchalant but alert. Dirt smudges his wet shirt, neck, and face as lingering evidence of the fire. “He’s just unconscious. Will probably wake up in a few.”
“I’ll call Remi and Lan to come pick him up.”
“Or you can wait until he wakes up and leaves on his own.”
“I don’t trust Kill or Niko not to come back here and finish what they started.”
Gareth smiles. “That’s true. Call away, but instead of Landon, make it Brandon. Elites aren’t welcome here.”
“Okay. Thanks, Gareth.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Jeremy will find out about this one way or another. Before anyone else opens their mouth, I’ll be the one to tell him about this whole scene.”
“I understand.”
I think I’ve gotten myself in worse trouble than I bargained for.
So I might have overestimated my abilities to deal with the fallout from the fire.
After Jeremy woke up and found out about the thing with Creighton, he downright forced me into house arrest.
I’m escorted back and forth between REU and the mansion. I’m not even allowed to volunteer at the shelter.
His excuse: it’s dangerous.
And this time, Mom is on his and Papa’s side. She even told me that it was a good idea to come home for a while.
It’s been a week of constant security, boundaries, and stupid locked-up prison.
I can only talk to the girls via texts or sometimes when I beg the guards to let me have lunch with them.
Well, not really beg. I’ve learned to threaten, too.
The silver lining about this situation is that Jeremy didn’t personally go against Creighton. Probably because he knows he saved his life.
But he still told me he’ll be a dead man if he sees him in my company.
Which is why I’ve kept my distance.
Remi and Bran picked him up that day, and Remi said to absolutely not let Eli know about the incident of his brother’s kidnapping or torture attempt.
“If the psycho Eli finds out this happened to Cray Cray, he’ll burn the entire mansion down after making sure all the Heathens are in it this time,” Remi said.
“And he’ll make sure no one escapes his wrath,” Bran continued in a sympathizing tone. “Take it from us, Anni. Eli and Lan are the two people you want to avoid and never, under any circumstances, get on their bad side.”
I haven’t seen or talked to Creighton since they took him away.
He sent me a few texts soon after, mostly asking if I was okay and how I managed to get him out, and this time, I’m the one who left him on Read.
I may have embraced the courageous me, but she can’t be reckless. Not when I’m sure Jeremy’s threats could become reality in no time.
And maybe it’s for the best anyway. I’d never forgive myself if something were to happen to him because of me.
Besides, since the fire, it’s been getting absolutely dirty between the three clubs.
It’s still unknown whether the Serpents or the Elites were behind the fire, or if it was a joint effort.
Tension has been rising in the air at both universities and it’s very similar to the Cold War. All three of the clubs are packing their forces and no one knows when mayhem might strike.
Today, I managed to convince Jeremy to let me go to the shelter without the guards.
He only allowed it if the guards remained outside, so I couldn’t really complain.
The first thing I do as soon as I arrive is go to check on Tiger. I jog to his cage, grinning for the first time in a week. “Missed you, baby! How have you—”
I stop short when I find a small hamster where Tiger is supposed to be.
My heartbeat picks up and I back away slowly. Harry, who’s walking down the hall, catches a glimpse of me and comes running.
“Where have you been, girl? We missed the shit out of your face.” He gathers me in a hug and I return it, still stupefied about my find.
“I was busy with school,” I offer as we break apart. “Hey, Harry, where’s Tiger?”
“Tiger?” he repeats. “Oh, Tiger, the cat you let ride your face? He’s gone.”
I nearly faint, my feet taking a step back. Harry grabs my arm and slaps his forehead. “Jesus, me and my mouth. I don’t mean gone as in dead gone. No, nope. I would have told you that and we would’ve had a proper funeral and shit. He’s gone, as in, he was adopted.”