na'

certain I would bruise. I tried to pull my hands away, but his grip was firm. It was a silen

laughing softly as he placed a hand on his son's broad shoulde

across my knuckles one last time. It was a ling

head of the table looking relaxed and happy, completely

bbed a bottle of wine. "How long has this

been dating for six months. Elena is a brilliant woman. She's the

s eyes never leaving mine. "St. Jude's. Right. I believe I've se

voice sounding thin even to my own ears. I reached for a w

"Professional. That's funny. Because you look like som

rthur, but he was busy cutting into his fish with a small, content smile on his face. There was

a?" Arthur asked, his brow furrowed w

d, forcing a forkful of food in

e of my thigh. "Dr. Vance here is actually quite a specialist in social deviance. We were discussing i

knew you were impressive, but to have my son actually

bite of my fish

yes locking onto mine with a terrifying intensity.

an. It seems you're turning

of the dinner was a blur of torture. Every time Arthur turned his head to speak to the maid or answer a quick text, Julian would r

lian just the way I do in class. I pretended he wasn't

said, dropping his

son?" Arthur asked, barely

me, but I didn't dare to look at him. After a few moments, he

ce fo

me?" Arthur asked, finall

s for the f

ion to what Julian says or does. He is currently g

time," I said, my mind spiraling. There

having a really hard time with school and

I hope he gets better," I

sk for a

t's

I see how he looks at you and I can tell he respects you a lot. Havin

stiffened. I could tell wh

e Julian pri

n

s?" I asked, letting

you can brin

ll

, but my schedule is really

. Surely, you ca

ind working fast to think of excuses. "Also, I think you should t

said. The rest of the meal was done in sile

my chair back as soon as the dessert plates were

k you to your car. Julian, she's about to leave,

have to c

ootsteps approach, like he h

ulian asked as he g

nice evening

rthur got a

is height dwarfing both of us. "I need to go out

d, then nodded.

couldn't focus on him. Not while the predator was standing close b

eavy oak doors of the mansion clicked shut behind us, Julian's han

s from mine. He smelled like tobacco and expensive cologne. "You think you can p

red, trying to push against his chest,

ve light. "But I see you, Elena. I see the way your pulse jumps when I walk by. I see the w

et me go," I said,

rushed my ear, "I'll make sure your career is the first thing to burn. T

heat left me shivering. I didn't have time

Vance," he shouted, h