To hateus.
I’ve had my issues with Onyx, but I don’t want anyone getting expelled. And if Kieran is talking with other Double Daggers guys, getting them pissed and ready to retaliate… I have no idea what could happen.
To me.
To Wes, either.
Niko’s approaching me now, holding out his phone this time. My stomach twists into a bitter knot.
Roman’s probably texting him similar shit.
Onyx is probably ready to start a war from the other side.
“Um… Sev? Is this as creepy as I think it is?”
Niko shows me a few texts he received last night from an unknown number.
The first ones are awful, containing more toxic, veiled homophobic shit like the comment I heard made about him at that party.
The last one is the creepiest, though.
Unknown: How much money did you end up with, after all, Niko? Do you actually think you deserve all of it? I was more of a son to your father than you were. Maybe I’m entitled to what’s mine.
I frown. “Money you didn’t deserve?”
Niko sighs. “I recently got my final payout from my father. When he died. It has to be something relating to that.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter. “So whoever this guy is, he knew your guys’ father?”
Wes peeks out from the edge of the hallway, a very concerned look on his face. “If he knew our father, then we can’t take his threats lightly.”
“Fuck.Fuckthis shit,” I say under my breath.
I’ve never been happier that I havezerorelation to that side of Niko’s family.
Weston’s father was a terrible person, and it’s clear that Niko is right. This stranger had some association with that evil prick.
“Sev,” Niko says. “You don’t think Kieran is…workingwith whoever this stranger is, do you?”
“Can you both please clue me in on what the hell is going down?” Wes protests.
I nod solemnly. “I’ll tell you on the drive back, Weston. Niko, I’m going to ride back to campus with Wes, understand?”
“Fine with me.”
I run my fingers through my hair. “We’re going to eat these cinnamon rolls and pretend everything is okay when my mom gets home. Period. End of story. I don’t need her worrying aboutmewhen she’s got her own shit. Then we’re going to go back to campus and fix shit, so that frat wars never fucking happen again.”
They agree, and as Wes walks over toward the kitchen counter, I let myself run my palm along his back, trying to comfort him even though I know he’s confused.
Niko can’t see me doing it from this angle, but even if he did, I wouldn’t give a shit.
I need to touch him, right now.
Because he needs to know everything is okay, and maybe I fucking do, too.
Breakfast is a blur.
Mom is sweet, like she always is. I try to hold in my anger, but inside I feel like I’m constantly two seconds away from snapping.