Forbidden Obsessions (Deviant Desires of Bennington University #2)

Chapter Thirteen

Olivia

M y eyes feel like someone has glued them shut. I blink, trying to open them, but they’re stubborn and desperate for more than the appetizer of sleep that I’ve had. I realize it’s not my eyes. It’s the pitch black room.

“Vanessa?” Compared to how loud this place was tonight, it’s too quiet. I can barely hear the music that’s been blasted all night. My stomach sinks lower as Vanessa doesn’t respond.

Crawling on my hands and knees, I feel my way around the room. The clothes rack. The dresser. Finally, the door. Hesitant, I press my ear to it, praying for a clue to the outside world. There’s some faint music and laughter, but nothing that provides me with the information I need. I’m going to have to be patient or hopeful or make a run for it.

It’s probably stupid, but I decide to make a run for it. The only illumination in the hallway is the stupid fucking strobe lights. I feel like I’m having a fever dream. The wall supports me as I head toward the bathroom. I stop short, seeing a group of figures in front of the door.

“Liv? We’ve been so worried,” Mia cries, wrapping her arms around me.

“Shhh,” I hush, looking around. My mouth falls open as I watch Tomas slam Vanessa to the wall, her head bouncing off of it. “No, no, no, Tomas. Stop,” I yell, pushing my way out of Mia’s arms.

“Olivia?” He turns, stunned. Vanessa rubs her head softly as she slides down the wall.

“What did you do?” I rush to my knees, cradling Vanessa. No, no, no. “We need her,” I say to Tomas hopelessly.

Tomas kneels. “No, we don’t. We need you. I’ve been so fucking worried.” He envelops me in a tight hug, but it provides me little comfort right now. Nathan is still out there, biding his time and watching this whole thing from the shadows.

“I know, but we’re not out of the woods yet. We need to get her and ourselves somewhere,” I whisper, looking around.

“We still haven’t found Lex,” Mia swallows. I don’t want to split up again, but we may have to.

“We leave Vanessa here, find Lex, and get the fuck out.” Tomas is already moving to stand, pulling my arm.

“No,” I scream. “I’m not leaving her, Tomas.”

He looks at me like I have two heads. “I don’t understand. You’re protecting her now?” He asks incredulously.

“You don’t understand,” I tell him. Vanessa could be lying through her teeth, but after everything she’s told me, I choose to believe her.

“She’s untrustworthy. Didn’t you see how she raked me through the coals?”

“She made a mistake, Tomas. You two made the same mistake we did. The only difference is a psychopath used it to his advantage.We’re chess pieces in a narcissist’s game. She’s been trying to protect me tonight, and she deserves the same.”

“Goddamnit,” Tomas mutters, raking a hand through his messy hair.

“Mia, call nine-one-one. We need to get somewhere safe,” I call, gently shaking Vanessa. Mia springs into action, rattling off the address to the dispatcher.

Vanessa stirs, stretching out her legs with a slight groan. “Tomas,” she mutters. My fists ball at my sides. We’re beyond jealousy and hatred. It’s not going to help either of us.

“Olivia told me what happened. Thank you for trying to protect her. We’ve called nine-one-one. We’re going to get somewhere safe.” Vanessa nods.

Tomas and I wedge her between us. She hobbles along weakly. “Does she have a concussion?” I ask.

“Probably,” Tomas admits, looking stricken.

“Wait, where’s Mia?” She’s vanished. I feel like a sitting duck up here—utterly exposed. Tomas moves to the railing of the staircase, leaving me with Vanessa, watching silently and gripping my neck.

“No, “ he seethes. “Get into that room, lock the door. Don’t open it until I say the word.” Our safe word: tulip.

“ What’s going on?” I ask before Tomas turns for the stairs.

“Someone is sending the police away,” he says through a strangled noise. He sprints to the landing, then pauses, watching the front door helplessly. I can’t make out many details, but there are two cops talking to someone and laughing by the front door. The walls close in as I watch them shake someone’s hand and turn to leave. Fuck.

Nathan turns slowly from the door, locking eyes with us as he does. The dread intensifies as I recognize the fistful of blond hair he uses to pull the girl closer to him.

“Tomas,” I whimper.

“I know, apple. I see. Go inside,” he grits. But I can’t move. Vanessa tenses next to me. I readjust my grip on her reassuringly, silently reiterating that I won’t throw her to the wolf.

“Come up here, you fucking coward. It’s me you want,” Tomas booms, garnering attention from a few people along the stairs. They scurry away as Nathan climbs the stairs, a wide-eyed Mia complying by his side.

“Wow. Now, this is a party. How nice of you to join us, Professor,” he says, clapping him on the shoulder like an old acquaintance. In another life, they could be two friends, getting ready to go golfing together. Nathan strolls by us, a handgun pressed firmly against Mia’s lower back.

Vanessa and I sidestep, letting them pass into the room. Mia is silent, save for her shallow breathing, giving away her terror. Tomas shuts the door behind us. I can tell he’s trying to work shit out in his head.

It’s an unspoken fact that he can’t get us all away from Nathan’s clutches without one of us taking the fall for it. “Oh, Professor,” Nathan sighs, guiding Mia to sit in a leather office chair across from the bed. “Olivia’s still a spoiled fucking brat, and you’re still a narcissistic prick who believes everything is about him.”

“Oh, but isn’t it all about me? This is all about me having toys, like Olivia, that you want.” Tomas taunts nonchalantly. Nathan’s scowl deepens as Tomas folds his arms, leaning against the door frame.

Nathan cocks the gun. Vanessa hangs on to the sleeve of my dress as I instinctively shuffle to rush to Mia’s side, holding me in place. Mia closes her eyes, trembling, as Nathan pushes the barrel harder against her back. A mix of tears, snot, and makeup trail down her face. My heart breaks yet again tonight. I can’t fucking take it.

“Let her go and take me. You want to punish Tomas? It’s me you want,” I scream, loosening Vanessa’s grip. I hear Tomas yell something, but I can’t stop or look at him. I’ll change my mind if I do, and it’s too late for that.

Nathan’s massive palm seizes me by the neck. I cough and sputter as his bruising grip crushes my trachea.

“You’re wrong, DeLuca,” he spits, removing the barrel from Mia’s back and resting it against my temple instead. I steal a glance at Tomas and die inside. So much agony in those honeyed brown eyes.

“I love you,” I mouth to him. My knees tremble so much, they threaten to give out. I’d be on the floor if it wasn’t for Nathan supporting my weight.

“How so?” Tomas asks, holding my gaze.

“You said toys, as in multiple. The only person I want is Vanessa.” Nathan turns his icy blue eyes on her.

“This is about your stepsister, Nathan? You’re more fucked up than I initially thought,” Tomas marvels.

“Well, you’re preying on a twenty-year-old college student again, DeLuca. I think you know, better than anyone, you can’t help who you love,” Nathan snarls.

“He’s not preying on me. I chose him, and you sure as fuck saw that last semester.”

“Shut the fuck up, whore,” he spits, saliva landing on my lips. He cracks my cheek with the barrel of the gun. My arm aches as I shift my weight. Blood drips from my cheek, soaking my arm and the floor beneath me.

Tomas inches closer to me. Nathan delivers a swift kick to my ribs. I curl into the fetal position, coughing and crying. As Tomas hovers above me, Nathan trains the handgun on my temple again.

“Do you not realize, the closer you get, the more she’s going to hurt, Tomas?” I cower between both sets of feet, accepting my fate. It doesn’t matter, though. Tomas almost died for me once. Seems like it’s my turn now.

“Nathan,” Vanessa commands. Our eyes flit to her piercing glare, shooting daggers at her tormentor. He relaxes his arm marginally, his undivided attention on her.

“Be honest. This is about us—not them. Us. You want me?” She purrs, strolling toward him seductively. No, don’t this, Vanessa. But I can’t bring myself to say it aloud.

His mouth parts as she lewdly strokes his gun. Tomas and I look at one another in a mix of horror and relief. Nathan’s lips turn up in a smirk as the barrel disappears into her mouth. “You dirty girl. If you wanted foreplay, all you had to do was ask,” he tsks, shaking his head. She withdraws the barrel with a pop. My skin crawls watching this fucked up scene. I just want to get out of here.

The three of us watch in stunned silence as Vanessa pushes the barrel into Nathan’s waiting mouth. “Go,” she whispers. Panic flares in Nathan’s frosty blue eyes. He grabs her wrist, but it’s too late. Tomas helps us to our feet and whisks us through the door.

Not a minute later, the gunshot sounds. I sob, praying for someone I never thought I would. She better have fucking shot Nathan and get to walk away from all this.