Chapter 1
Austin had let Nolan go.
It was the only thought in my mind as I punched the bag hanging in the gym on our college campus.
He was here, lifting weights, making his muscles even more irresistible.
He didn’t look at me directly, but I knew he saw me.
He always saw me, he followed me. If I was here, so was he.
But I didn’t talk to him, not since I had learned that Nolan had escaped. I had nothing to say to him. He should have killed Nolan.
He should have let me.
I punched the bag even harder, not caring about the pressure it put on my wrist. Sweat dripped down my body, and I gritted my teeth.
Nolan could be anywhere. He could’ve been watching me this whole time, waiting for me to be alone. But I was never alone.
Between Austin stalking my every move and the Snakes always running patrol past the college while I was there, I barely had a minute to think.
But it didn’t matter; I didn’t need much time to think about how this time, I wasn’t going to let Nolan win.
I had started taking self-defense classes. I had been living at the shooting range outside of this hole. I didn't even want to be here.
I had picked a random major- Automotive engineering, and only because I knew how to fix a motorbike better than I knew how to do anything else.
But I had promised Mom I would stay, at least for the year. I couldn’t break her heart now when there was a very real chance I was going to go away for murder.
It would be worth it.
I punched the bag again, and my wrist ached in protest. It could shut up, everyone could. I was sick of hearing noise.
I wanted still silence that made it easier to focus.
I shook out my wrist and went to punch again when Austin was there.
He stopped my punch and held my wrist.
I glared at him. “Let go,” I tried to yank my wrist back.
Austin shoved his damp black hair back, panting as he pulled my wrist, yanking me against him.
My eyes searched his face for what the fuck he thought he was doing when he grabbed strapping tape from his pocket.
His eyes dropped from mine, and he said nothing as he opened the tape and started binding my wrist.
I pursed my lips and let him. It was easier than fighting him and causing a scene.
“Strap them, or I’ll take the fucking bag down,” he said, pressing down the tape before he shoved the roll in his pocket and strode away.
I glared after him. I wasn’t going to have his magic tape when I took down Nolan. Knowing that psycho’s M.O., he’d get me alone, take me by surprise, and drug me.
I wasn’t going to care about the stupid tape when that happened.
But I left it because I had learned the hard way not to call my stepbrother’s bluff. He would take the bag down, and then I’d have to punch him instead.
My phone buzzed a moment later, and I narrowed my eyes at it. I had changed my number, gone to burner phones that Austin left me weekly, so I couldn’t be tracked and stuck to no schedule at all, but I was still paranoid that Nolan had found me.
It made it hard to keep afloat when it felt like the darkness below was trying to drag me down.
One glance at the phone and I saw Angie’s name. I blew out a breath and picked it up.
‘Hey. Can we come for lunch on campus? JJ has some news.’
I held my breath. JJ had been hunting Nolan relentlessly. He was as focused as I was on it.
He wasn’t in a good way, though; he barely slept, barely ate. He and Angie were inseparable, holding each other together, but they couldn’t keep doing that.
‘Yeah, the tree out the front like last time.’
I sent that, then chewed my lip. ‘Is it about him?’ I checked.
Angie sent back a simple, ‘yes.’ And my stomach lurched.
I had been waiting for news or a lead for weeks.
The Snakes had found nothing. The Hunters were saying nothing, staying far away from us.
But Nolan was out there, and he was waiting to strike, like always. I had to be ready when he did.
I glanced up, feeling eyes on me, and met Austin’s. He had a towel hanging around his neck, his phone in his hand. He got the same message.
I turned away from Austin, grabbed my things, and left the gym. I never showered in the communal block. It was sometimes empty, and there were too many corners to get caught in.
So I walked from the building, across the stone paths of campus, toward the dorm building.
I felt Austin following me the entire time.
The sun beat down on me, drying my skin by the time I was inside. I adjusted my bag on both my shoulders, then ran up the stairs.
Elevators only had one exit-I was not getting stuck in one of those with Nolan or risking it happening.
Austin’s steps echoed mine, and even though it was irritating never being alone, it still made me feel safe.
I would be a hell of a lot safer if he had killed the guy trying to kill me, though.
I shoved into my dorm and quickly scanned the room before I locked the door.
It was exactly how I left it.
I dumped my things and pulled out my handgun. I aimed it at the bathroom and crept in on the doorway.
I swallowed hard. This part of the room check always made my heart race.
I kicked open the door and swung with the gun, ready to shoot.
But there was no one there. Just me in the tiny cubicle of a bathroom with a toilet, vanity, and shower.
I blew out a weary breath and left the room, finally relaxing.
There was only a second of that feeling before I sucked in a breath at the shadow that fell on the door.
I hauled my gun up and aimed.
“Jackie!” Austin warned before I could press the trigger.
I gasped and let out panting breaths as I dropped my gun from a perfect hit on Austin’s chest.
He held his hands up and leaned against the door.
“I locked that,” I snapped, tucking my gun in the back of my Lycra leggings.
“I know. I unlocked it,” Austin said, going to the kitchen where he started raiding my few cupboards.
I knew what he was looking for. “Bedside table,” I said, then went back to the bathroom to turn the shower on. I came back out and leaned against the frame as he found my alcohol stash. “Shouldn’t you know where my alcohol is? You stalk me enough.”
“Not in here.”
“Until now. Why?” I asked, unloading my gun on the kitchenette bench before I stripped my leggings off. The room was too small to care for modesty.
I had a bed that faced the door. A kitchenette that ran the wall behind the door. The bathroom was on the opposite wall from my bed. Next to the bathroom door was my desk, and most of my clothes I shoved into those drawers or left on my bed.
It was compact, but that was good. There weren’t many places to hide here.
“If there is news on...” Austin hesitated saying Nolan’s name. I swallowed at the idea of it and went into the bathroom to take my shirt off.
I left the door open so I could still hear him, though.
“It could mean he is close. I have to be closer,” Austin finished.
I said nothing, just took off my underwear and bra, then stepped into the shower. I pulled the curtain across and let the water run over me, hot and burning.
I held my body under the stream as my hair fell around my face. I forced myself to close my eyes for a second. If Austin weren’t here, I never would have risked it.
But he was, which meant I could have this one peaceful second.
The room fell silent as my eyes closed and I leaned my head against the wall, breathing slowly.
Until I heard the shower curtain open.
I didn’t open my eyes.
I knew who it was.
As much as I hated Austin for letting Nolan live, as much as that mistake made it impossible to trust him with my life again, I knew I could trust him with my body.
Which is why whenever I needed him, just to use his body, he was there.
He didn’t question it; he just let me take what I needed, and right now, I needed to feel more than think.
I turned to Austin as he got in the shower with me, my eyes slowly opening. He met mine and stepped against my body.
I sighed as we connected, skin on skin, the warmth and magnetism there, buzzing like electricity.
My breath shuddered out as he traced down the side of my face with his fingers.
“I wish you didn’t hate me, Jack-Jack. I wish I could take it back,” he whispered.
“So do I,” I swallowed, then pulled his head to mine so I could press my lips against his.
