Deceit (Gallows Hill #1)

31. Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Skyla

T he cold night air pricks at my skin, the damp midnight dew of the grass chilling my feet to the bone. I’m moving through the old graveyard of the school, desperate for a way out, but I keep looping back to the same place. I look down at the headstones surrounding me, trying to make sense of where I am so I don’t keep going in circles but, they are the same three over and over again.

Bridgette Bishop, Sarah Osbourne and Elizabeth Proctor.

I turn left, running down the row through the clouded mist, glancing at the next three graves.

Bridgette Bishop, Sarah Osbourne and Elizabeth Proctor.

Whipping around, I look at the row in front of me to read the names.

Bridgette Bishop, Sarah Osbourne and Elizabeth Proctor.

They are everywhere, surrounding me. My pulse begins to race as my eyes flick around the graveyard when a hand cups my shoulder, and I let out a blood curdling scream.

I throw myself upright, panting and blinking rapidly as my mind struggles to comprehend that I’m in my room. My heart is practically beating out of my chest when the door is thrown open, a shadowed figure standing in the doorway. He lowers his foot, and I’m about to let out another scream when I recognize the figure.

“Vincent?” I breathe out roughly, before running my hands through my hair.

He takes several steps in, and for the first time I notice a gun in his hand. He points it towards Liam, and I practically jump on top of my comatose boyfriend.

“It’s Liam, it’s Liam!” I say quickly.

He looks down at him before his eyes come back up to me.

“I heard you scream.”

“Yeah,” I pant. “It was a nightmare. I—”

I pause.

“Wait, were you outside my door?”

Vincent stands up a little taller, tucking his gun behind his back as he nods.

“Why?”

“Your stalker…I haven’t found anything. It’s driving me fucking nuts,” he says, his eyes becoming wild for a moment before he closes them and shakes his head. “I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

Shooting a snarled look at Liam, he scoffs. “Clearly he’s not going to protect you if there is danger.”

I look down at him. His mouth is slightly parted, a soft snore coming from him as he appears to be having the best sleep of his life. He’s not wrong. I’m not sure an earthquake would wake Liam right now, or ever.

“How long have you been outside my room?” I ask.

Vincent looks down at me, rolling his lips together as if he were contemplating how much to share before he speaks.

“Since the day you told me about your stalker.”

My eyes widen. “Every night?”

He nods.

“When do you sleep?” I ask.

He shrugs.

“When I can.”

I frown at that. “You need to go get some sleep. I’ll be okay.”

Vincent shakes his head.

“I’m fine. Sorry I scared you. Go back to sleep, Siren.”

He takes a step towards the door when I call out to him.

“Wait.”

Carefully, I crawl over Liam, scooting off the bed before I stand in front of Vincent.

“Stay?” I ask softly, looking at the plush couch pushed to my back wall.

He swallows roughly but doesn’t say a word before he looks down at me, those slate grey eyes illuminated by the night sky. Slowly, he nods before shutting my door and engaging the lock that Liam and I definitely didn’t use before bed. Oops.

When Vincent comes to stand beside me again, I tentatively reach for his hand. I’m surprised when he doesn’t swat me away or brush me off, but instead, laces our fingers together. My stomach flips at the feeling, as I look up to see him staring at me intently.

I pull him towards me as I slowly walk us to my couch, before gesturing for him to lay down. He releases my hand, shrugging off his jacket and setting his gun on the floor beside him before laying flat on his back. I smile softly at him when his hand reaches up, catching my hip and gently pulling me towards him. I don’t know why I let him pull me. I’m even more unsure why when I get to the edge of the couch, I crawl on top of him, settling my body to lay on his.

My head rests against his chest, where I can hear his heart beating like a drum as I feel his arms wrap around me like a cocoon. The feeling of safety that washes over me is indescribable. I’ve never felt anything like it in my entire life. Like absolutely nothing could hurt me. Like I’m invincible.

I feel his chest heave up as he inhales the top of my head, releasing that same breath with a content sounding sigh that sounds very uncharacteristic for this broody, grumpy man.

“How did you get into my room?” I ask softly.

“Made a duplicate of the one Liam made,” he answers easily.

I frown, turning my head up to find him already watching me.

“How did you know he made one?”

“I study people, Siren. I watch them. I follow them. It’s what I do.”

“Why?” I ask.

“No better way to beat your opponent than to memorize their every move.”

“Liam is your opponent?” I laugh lightly, though my laughter dies at the seriousness of his voice.

“Yes.”

Those piercing eyes are staring at me so heavily, his sharp features painting him more like a warrior in this midnight lighting. I’ve never realized just how gorgeous he is before now. I knew he was good looking, obviously, but god. He’s seriously beautiful.

I want to ask him why Liam is his opponent. What they would even be fighting over. What the prize would be. Before I can though, he leans down and presses his lips against my forehead, sending a flurry of confusing butterflies rushing through me as he does.

“Sleep, Siren. I’ve got you.”

I feel my eyes shut of their own accord, as if they answer only to him and I fall asleep to the rhythmic beat of his heart beneath my head.

Sunlight warms my face and like a sunflower, I smile into it. Slowly, I blink my eyes open disoriented at first when I realize I’m not in my bed. I’m even more confused when I see Liam standing over me shirtless, with just his sweats on, smiling at me with a mischievous smirk. The thing that throws me completely though, is when I hear a voice I was definitely not expecting come from beneath me.

“Good morning, Siren.”

My head turns to find Vincent staring at me, that same impassive look on his face, though I could swear his eyes look lighter today somehow. His arms are still wrapped around me, and my body is on top of his.

Turning to face Liam again, he’s still watching me with that damn smirk.

“I’ve got to be honest, this is not what I expected to wake up to,” he says.

I push away from Vincent quickly, standing to my feet before faltering for a moment. Vincent’s large hand reaches out to my hip, stabilizing me until I’m balanced. Liam’s eyes flick down at the move, intrigue filling his green gaze as he looks back up to me.

“Vincent heard me yell last night. I was having a nightmare, and you didn’t wake up and I didn’t want him to sleep in the hall or anything so I told him he could stay and—”

“And you thought you’d be a good host and snuggle up with him instead of offering a blanket?” Liam asks, his amusement clear in his tone.

I frown as Vincent sits up on the couch, shrugging his leather jacket back on and tucking his gun into his pants. When he stands up I can practically feel him tower over me and the same feeling of safety cloaks me as he steps forward, resting a hand on my hip and pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

“See you soon, Siren,” he says, before he’s moving through the room and slipping out the door.

My mouth is parted in surprise, but not as much as Liam’s is. He turns back to face me with wide eyes and a laugh.

“Lucy, you got some explaining to do!” he says, in a terrible Ricky accent from I Love Lucy.

When I don’t laugh, he shakes his head.

“I’m not mad, baby. A little confused to wake up and find my girlfriend snuggled up with another man. The meanest, coldest man on campus, of all people, honestly. What’s going on with all that?” he says, as he gestures towards the couch.

“I don’t know. I was kinda freaked out from my dream and he made me feel…safe. Nothing happened. I swear,” I assure quickly, to which he pulls me into his arms and shakes his head.

“I know, baby. Even if it did, I’m cool. I’m already sharing you with Ronan. Why not Griggs too?”

I scoff, attempting to push him away as I shake my head.

“Me and Vincent? Yeah, right. The guy hates me and he’s an ass. There is no way. Us? Ha!” I laugh sarcastically, knowing how defensive and ridiculous I sound to my own ears.

Liam’s smile only grows, as he shakes his head and gives me a quick peck. “Whatever you say, babygirl. I’m just saying, I wouldn’t mind adding another man to this little thing we have going. You guys would be hot as fuck together.”

Something unfamiliar runs through me at his words and I can feel his eyes watching me carefully, as if he were testing me. I don’t respond and thankfully he doesn’t push it anymore. Vincent and me? The most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of. I’m taken, happily. I don't have just one boyfriend, I have two! And an asshole fiancé. I’m so good. Yeah, no. Hard pass.

Right?