“He had me lead him to the admin building. And all he wanted was for me to leave that letter in the mail slot. I thought I might die, but he just… dropped me off back at Onyx and called me a good puppet. He also said I could come stay at his house? It was really creepy.”
“A letter,” I say, thoughts churning in my mind.
“He said something about you, Niko. That’s how I knew. He said the letter is a little bomb he can drop to ruin your time at Crimson.”
“I know exactly what’s in that letter,” I say, my stomach turning itself into knots.
I look at Oliver, and he knows, too.
“Percy, you’re okay. That man was Niko’s ex, and he’s in jail now, probably for a very long time.”
Oliver tilts his head back to show Percy the red rope marks around his neck.
“Oh my God, Ollie,” Percy says.
“He shot Niko in the arm, too.”
“Grazed it. But yes,” I add.
I’m surprised when Percy comes in and wraps his arms around me in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I feel so bad, not being around Onyx enough this semester. Julie broke up with me, and now I feel like I haven’t socialized with the boys enough, and it’s all my fucking fault. I wish I had your number so I could have called you, Niko. I thought he was going to kill me.”
“Hey. It’s okay,” I tell him.
But it’s not the truth.
Everything is okay forhim, to be certain.
But it’s very much not okay for me.
“It’s going to work,”Oliver tells me half an hour later.
He charges into the front hallway of Onyx House, reaching for his jacket and scarf and heading out onto the cold street.
“Ollie. Just let it go,” I call after him.
But he’s gone.
He’s trying to cook up a plan to help me, but I’ve been spiraling more and more with every passing minute, knowing that my time at Crimson is going to come to a swift end.
I don’t evenneedto be here anymore, but… the thought of being kicked out feels like fire in my chest.
I thought I would hate it here, and I don’t.
I want it.
I want every minute with a man I don’t deserve to have.
I’m in full panic mode as I head out onto Red Row and follow Oliver toward the Double Daggers house.
“You shouldn’t do this for me. Don’t ruin your life for me more than I’ve already ruined it for you.”
“I don’t care if I get in trouble. I’m doing this.”
My heart feels too big for my chest.
Ollie charges in through the Double Daggers front door and by the time I make it inside, he’s already rapping on Sevan’s bedroom door.
I make it there as Sev swings the door open, frowning at us in his wheelchair, confused.