Bianca
You look tired.” Aubrey peeked at me from the corner of her eye and bit her bottom lip.
“I am.”
“You’re never around it seems. Is Hail really that fun to hang out with?” she ventured.
I could tell she was trying to be delicate. I knew what she meant though. Hail was toxic as hell. It took a certain kind of person to tolerate him. I groaned inwardly at the thought of how I was going to get out of this. My time was almost up. I had to give Dominic my answer soon.
“Hail is an asshole.”
She let out a laugh. “Oh, thank God you think so. I was worried you were really hung up on him and would defend him. I mean, you are his girl and all.”
I snorted. “I’m no one’s girl. As soon as I can break free of this mess, you can bet your ass I will.”
We stopped outside our rooms. It was a Friday night. Dominic needed my answer by midnight tomorrow. The text I’d gotten from an unknown number said I had to see him in his dorm room, regardless of my choice. I had a feeling once I got to his room—choice be damned—I probably wouldn’t be leaving it without some sort of scars whether they were emotional or physical because I’d seriously beat his ass if this was a setup.
“Is it bad?” She frowned at me, her gaze raking over my face.
I licked my lips, contemplating my answer. “Hail and his goons are piranhas, and I’m a girl who can’t swim.”
“Does he hurt you? He dated Amberly Westcott sophomore year. She said he hurt her.”
I swallowed thickly and looked down. “He’s not a nice guy, Aubrey. I-I’m scared if I don’t get away, he’ll end up killing me.”
“Oh, Bianca.” She sighed, pulling me in for a hug. “I’m here for you, OK? Anything you need, even if it’s just someone to talk to or a place to hide out. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, giving her a slight squeeze.
“I’ve hated Hail since the day I met him. He grabbed my ass and called me a slut.”
“Sounds like him.”
“He needs to be taken down.”
I nodded, thinking about my moment under the bleachers with the kings. I really didn’t want to have to make a deal with them, but I really didn’t want to be under the lords’ thumbs either. I couldn’t shake the way my body felt when I thought of Dominic. Hell, how it felt when I thought of any of them, even the asshole Levin. I pushed away the embarrassing thoughts.
“What happened to Amberly?” I asked, going to my door.
“She died.”
“What?” I stared at Aubrey, my heart thudding fast.
“Yeah. Story goes she went to a party with Hail during summer break between sophomore and junior year. There was an accident. A fire. They said it was faulty electrical wiring, but she was the only one who died. Hail and the lords were there.”
“It wasn’t investigated?”
Aubrey shook her head. “Not past that. The Ivanovs have their hands in lots of pots, Bianca. Just be careful.” She glanced down the hall and shrank against her door. “He’s coming.”
I peered over my shoulder to see Hail sauntering toward us.
Shit. I looked at my phone, frowning. I wasn’t late. He’d come to find me anyway.
“Ladies,” he greeted us, kissing me quickly. “What’s the word?”
“Nothing. We’re talking about our trig assignment.”
“I see.” Hail leveled his gaze on Aubrey. “I heard Larson didn’t assign homework tonight. Fallon is in your class.”