Shame (Ruin #3)(51)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken

“Wow!” I shook my head. “Should I just let you guys move in? And where are Kiersten and Saylor? Do they know how much you check up on me? Because I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t approve of all the babysitting.” I was tempted to text Kiersten or Saylor but knew both of them were super stressed since they’d taken on so many credits to graduate early.

Gabe gave me that look, the one that said he was seriously pissed, while Wes just paced. It seemed, most of the time, Gabe was ready to attack, and Wes was there to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.

“Thirty,” Gabe said, tossing the threats onto the table. “How the hell do you have thirty threats without me knowing?”

Feeling slightly guilty, I sat down next to him and stared at all the different pieces of paper; they varied in size and color, not one of them the same. The angry black block letters were always present, though. “You just got married, Gabe. I’m not going to slam you with all this after you just got over Princess’s death and moving in with Saylor and — it’s just a lot!”

“And me?” came Wes’s stern voice. “Why not me?”

I rolled my eyes. “Because I think dealing with cancer and playing for a professional football team should be enough stress to last you a lifetime, not to mention you have a wife too.”

Neither seemed convinced.

In fact, it was like the more I talked the angrier their expressions became.

“Sorry?” I finally offered.

“Damn right, you’re sorry.” Gabe groaned into his hands. “How can I protect you if I don’t know these things?”

“It’s not your job.”

“It is,” Gabe said loudly. “It is my job. I’m your family, Lisa. Me and Wes, we’re not going anywhere, and if there’s one thing I learned last year, it’s that you can’t just carry everything yourself and hope it doesn’t kill you. It will kill you. I think you know I know this. Now, we have a plan.”

“We?”

“Me and Wes.”

“And me?”

“You get no vote because you’ve been like an errant child.” Gabe shook his head. “But I think you’ll like it.”

“I’m listening.”

Gabe put an arm around me and sighed. “First things first. Pack up your crap. You’re moving off campus.”

“To where? Witness protection?”

“Sort of…” Wes and Gabe shared a look before Gabe swore and pulled his arm away.

“Let it just be known that I’m not a fan of this part of the plan, but dipshit over there thinks it’s a great idea because of the security. But I swear, Lisa, if he touches you without you as much as begging him to touch you, I’ll break every single finger from his hand.”

Wes rolled his eyes. “What he means is… if he’s anything less than a gentleman, tell us, and we’ll move you right away but because of who his father is…” He nodded. “His security is probably better than mine and Gabe’s combined.”

“He?”

“Tristan,” they said in unison.

I smiled.

Gabe groaned. “Stop smiling.”

I smiled harder.

“Don’t make me regret this, Lisa. I’m serious!” He pointed his finger at me and stood. “Just pack up enough stuff to stay for the week, and next weekend we’ll help you move. I can’t today because I’m flying back down to Portland with Saylor for a wedding, and Wes has practice.”

“Okay.” I stood. “Did you talk to the police?”

“Going there next. Your safety is first. The police tracking this bastard down is second. Just be careful, carry your Mace, and stick close to Tristan.”

I smiled again.

At my third or maybe fourth smile, Gabe barked, “And stop looking so damn happy about it.”

“Love you, Gabe.” I ducked into his arms and sighed as he wrapped them tightly around my body.

“Love you too, Lisa. Just be careful, okay? Not just in general, but with your heart. I couldn’t handle it if it broke.”

“Promise.” I kissed his cheek and went over to give Wes a hug too. Both guys left a few hours later, after going over more of the plans they were going to put into place around campus, and by the time they left, I was exhausted.

I set my alarm so I’d wake up in time to meet with Jack and fell into a dreamless sleep.

“Don’t move,” a voice said. “Keep your eyes closed. I like you like that.”

Terrified, I didn’t move. My heart rammed against my chest. Someone was in my room! Someone was with me in my dorm.

“It’s almost time, Mel.” The voice was muffled, like the guy was talking through layers of clothing. “Almost time… shh… so pretty lying there, so innocent, when we both know you aren’t. I’ll be back. You can count on that. Scream, and I’ll only hurt you. Call the police, and you’ll just look crazy. Now keep your eyes closed like a good girl so I can leave.”

I squeezed my eyes tighter.

Terrified that if I opened them, the guy would attack me.

When I heard the door shut, I jolted from the couch and ran after the guy. When I opened the door, it was Jack waiting on the other side, raising his hand to knock. “Whoa!” He gripped my shoulders. “Are you okay?”

“A guy—” I choked out the word. “—a guy came into my room, and he — he said things, and… did you see him?” I tried to peer around him, but Jack’s expression was furrowed, his eyebrows drawn in.

“Lisa, I’m not trying to be a prick, but I’ve been standing here for at least a minute. There wasn’t anyone leaving your room. They would have run right into me.”

“But, Jack, he was here! I swear!”

Jack nodded. “Okay, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but what were you doing when he came in?”

I backed away. “Sleeping, but—”

Jack shook his head. “Then it was probably a nightmare.”

“But he was in my room!”

“Lisa.” Jack braced my shoulders again. “You’ve had a lot of stress lately, with having your room broken into and being romanced by our professor.”

Great. He was making jokes.

“Why don’t I take you to get some food? I’ve got my laptop anyway. No need to sit in your creepy room.”

“I don’t know…”