The effect of the liquor had rendered his stupid, smirking demeanor somehow even more obnoxious. I physically recoiled at his touch, but he took no notice. “Listen…” He leaned in, his hot breath reeking of booze. “Since you and Sinclair are—” he made a gesture with his finger like a knife across his throat.
He knew?I shrank away from him.
“—I was thinking that this summer might be the perfect time for you to come up and see my family’s vineyard. We could take the schooner out for a spin.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “No one would have to know. It could be our little secret.”
I wrenched out of his grip with a noise of disgust. “No thanks,” I scowled. “I’ll pass on that offer.”
Monty laughed as if my rejection was meaningless. As if it were no obstacle at all. “Come on, Farrow,” he slurred. “S’not every day I invite a girl up to the estate. You should count yourself lucky.” His demeanor changed then, and he glared down at me with cold gray eyes.
I felt like prey. Like an animal with nowhere to run. I made to bolt from the room, but despite being drunk, Monty was too quick. He lunged, catching my wrist.
“Let go of me, Monty,” I warned, hating the tremble in my voice.
But Monty leaned down to hiss into my ear, “You let Sinclair keep you all to himself. But he’s done with you now.”
The words chilled my blood even as I understood the truth in them. I didn’t bother to lick my lips for traces of deceit; I knew there were none to be found. August had used me and then discarded me, and now apparently, the whole of Ouverham College knew it too. Shock precluded my awareness of the danger this drunken boy presented, and I stumbled over my feet as hetugged at my wrist, dragging me closer. Dimly, I realized I had been right about one thing when it came to Monty. He wasn’t used to being denied something he wanted. And he’d certainly never heard the wordno.
The trance broke at last, and adrenaline pulsed through my veins as I struggled in earnest. “Fucking—let me go!” I cried out, wrenching my arm painfully in an attempt to evade his grasp.
Monty only pulled me closer, laughing as he watched me struggle. “So what, you’ll open your legs for Sinclair, but not for me? You’re hunting for gold in the wrong places. Sinclair’s skint, his fortune’s ruined.” He released me, and I fell hard against the bar, breathing hard. My wrist throbbed from his punishing grip.
“Your loss,” he said. With a final, disdainful shake of his head, he turned back toward the foyer, but halted as something solid blocked his path.
Monty grunted, annoyed. “You’re in my way, Wrayburn.”
The look on Casimir’s face was indescribable. Fury, disgust, and cold malice fought for space over his features.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Casimir demanded.
I didn’t know how much of our unpleasant exchange he’d witnessed, but from his expression, he’d seen enough.
Monty’s brows disappeared beneath his sandy-blonde hair at the sight of Casimir looming over him. “I was trying to top off my drink,” he replied blithely.
“No,” said Casimir, stepping closer, his expression menacing. Bloodthirsty. “What I saw you doing was assaulting a girl who told you to fuck off.”
Casimir caught Monty’s wrist in a crushing grasp, and Monty grimaced.
Casimir went on, “You’re leaving, now. And if I ever catch you so much as looking at another girl against her will—” With his free hand, he bent one of Monty’s fingers backward at an unnatural angle, smiling as Monty whimpered in pain. “—I’ll break your fucking hand.”
Monty’s eyes were wide with pain. Sweat beaded over his pale forehead as he struggled against Casimir’s grasp.
“Alright, alright,” he panted. “I won’t bother her again. You’ve made your point.”
Casimir paused, his muscles taut, dark eyes assessing. “No,” he said finally. “I don’t think I have.”
And then I heard the sickening crack of Monty’s middle finger as the bone snapped.
Monty’s scream was somewhat muffled by the blaring music, but several onlookers gasped. Casimir shoved him aside. The room broke into excited titters.
“Is that the Farrow girl? Oh my god, did you see?—?”
“Let’s go, Farrow,” Casimir growled, and before I could protest, he was pulling me from the room.
I followed, still dazed from my fear, from the sound of Monty’s finger snapping, from the violence in Casimir’s gaze. Monty’s hot, hateful words still rang in my ear.
You let Sinclair keep you all to himself. But he’s done with you now.
It could be our little secret.