“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
We sip in silence for a second before he clears his throat.
“We need to get the police involved in this, Brynn. What that man was doing was exploitation and blackmail. Both are illegal, and—”
“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “No, no police.”
He scowls. “Brynn, this isn’t a game. Those guys meant serious business back there.”
“I know that,” I whisper. “But if I go to the police, what does that do for my dad?”
His scowl deepens, his arms folding over his chest.
“Pardon?”
“No, I just mean, my dad’s already in a ton of shit. But if I bring up the fact that he’s tied to mob guys too?” I shake my head, aware of how stupid this sounds. “Look, my dad did bad things, but he’s still my dad, you know? I don’t know why he ran, but I want to give him a chance to make this right before I throw him under another bus.”
I make a face. “That sound ridiculous, given what’s going on with him, doesn’t it?”
But Colton just shakes his head. “No, I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
He takes a deep breath. “So those guys back there were mob?”
I nod. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted anyone else to get caught up in—”
“It’s fine, Brynn.”
“They’re dangerous.”
“I can handle myself,” he growls quietly. “But I’m assuming they know you’re a student here?”
I nod, and he swears under his breath.
“You think they’d come after you?”
My face pales, a shiver rattling through me. I want to say no, but I know that’s not true. Not when there’s this kind of money owed to a guy like Lorenzo Tonelli. Slowly, I nod.
“I’m… I’m not sure.”
He nods, a growl rumbling in his chest as his eyes burn into me.
“Fuck it,” he finally mutters. “You’re staying here.”
I blink, my heart jumping into my throat. “What?”
“You can’t go back to the dorms. At least not tonight, and not until we figure this out. So, you’re staying here.”
“With you?” my voice breaks, and I cringe, but he just smiles.
“I mean, I have a guest room, Brynn.”
I blush furiously as I nod, our eyes meeting.
“Principal—Colton, I—I don’t want to get you—”
“I’m a big boy, Brynn,” he growls quietly. “I can take care of myself. And you.” He nods. “You’re staying here, at least for the tonight.”
I nod, a hot shiver teasing through my core as I rake my teeth over my bottom lip.
“I really don’t want to put you—”
“You’re not,” he growls. “And that’s final. You’re staying here, Brynn. You’re staying with me.”
…I probably shouldn’t be as warm or as excited as I am when he says that.