God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2)(36)

“Don’t thank me yet. Jeremy will find out about this one way or another. Before anyone else opens their mouth, I’ll be the one to tell him about this whole scene.”

“I understand.”

I think I’ve gotten myself in worse trouble than I bargained for.





So I might have overestimated my abilities to deal with the fallout from the fire.

After Jeremy woke up and found out about the thing with Creighton, he downright forced me into house arrest.

I’m escorted back and forth between REU and the mansion. I’m not even allowed to volunteer at the shelter.

His excuse: it’s dangerous.

And this time, Mom is on his and Papa’s side. She even told me that it was a good idea to come home for a while.

It’s been a week of constant security, boundaries, and stupid locked-up prison.

I can only talk to the girls via texts or sometimes when I beg the guards to let me have lunch with them.

Well, not really beg. I’ve learned to threaten, too.

The silver lining about this situation is that Jeremy didn’t personally go against Creighton. Probably because he knows he saved his life.

But he still told me he’ll be a dead man if he sees him in my company.

Which is why I’ve kept my distance.

Remi and Bran picked him up that day, and Remi said to absolutely not let Eli know about the incident of his brother’s kidnapping or torture attempt.

“If the psycho Eli finds out this happened to Cray Cray, he’ll burn the entire mansion down after making sure all the Heathens are in it this time,” Remi said.

“And he’ll make sure no one escapes his wrath,” Bran continued in a sympathizing tone. “Take it from us, Anni. Eli and Lan are the two people you want to avoid and never, under any circumstances, get on their bad side.”

I haven’t seen or talked to Creighton since they took him away.

He sent me a few texts soon after, mostly asking if I was okay and how I managed to get him out, and this time, I’m the one who left him on Read.

I may have embraced the courageous me, but she can’t be reckless. Not when I’m sure Jeremy’s threats could become reality in no time.

And maybe it’s for the best anyway. I’d never forgive myself if something were to happen to him because of me.

Besides, since the fire, it’s been getting absolutely dirty between the three clubs.

It’s still unknown whether the Serpents or the Elites were behind the fire, or if it was a joint effort.

Tension has been rising in the air at both universities and it’s very similar to the Cold War. All three of the clubs are packing their forces and no one knows when mayhem might strike.

Today, I managed to convince Jeremy to let me go to the shelter without the guards.

He only allowed it if the guards remained outside, so I couldn’t really complain.

The first thing I do as soon as I arrive is go to check on Tiger. I jog to his cage, grinning for the first time in a week. “Missed you, baby! How have you—”

I stop short when I find a small hamster where Tiger is supposed to be.

My heartbeat picks up and I back away slowly. Harry, who’s walking down the hall, catches a glimpse of me and comes running.

“Where have you been, girl? We missed the shit out of your face.” He gathers me in a hug and I return it, still stupefied about my find.

“I was busy with school,” I offer as we break apart. “Hey, Harry, where’s Tiger?”

“Tiger?” he repeats. “Oh, Tiger, the cat you let ride your face? He’s gone.”

I nearly faint, my feet taking a step back. Harry grabs my arm and slaps his forehead. “Jesus, me and my mouth. I don’t mean gone as in dead gone. No, nope. I would have told you that and we would’ve had a proper funeral and shit. He’s gone, as in, he was adopted.”

“Oh.” My breathing slowly returns to normal, but the stab of pain doesn’t subside. I’m glad he found a loving owner, but I wish I could’ve said goodbye. “Do you know who adopted him?”

“No clue. Heard about it from Dr. Stephanie when I went to feed him this morning.” He playfully tugs on my cheek. “Now, spill the actual reason you’ve been gone. And don’t give me the ‘busy with school’ bullshit. Did you go on a beauty retreat without taking me? I’m gonna need deets on where you do your facials, because, sweet Jesus, you don’t only look like a doll, but your skin also feels like a doll’s.”

I smile. “Shh, don’t tell anyone about the beauty retreat. It’ll be our little secret.”

“I knew it. This little bitch, I swear.” He teasingly pinches my cheek more. “Take me with you next time?”

“Can you let go of me first?” I laugh.

“Not until you promise. Just the two of us so none of the others find out the secret.”

One moment, I’m laughing at Harry’s antics, the next, I’m pulled back by a savage grip on my waist.

I slam against a hard chest as an all-encompassing presence looms over me.

Creighton’s fingers dig into the fabric of my dress at the waist as if he’s intending to burn it and engrave his fingerprints on my skin.

My head whips up to get a glimpse of his face. There’s no trail of blood now, no soot or impurities over his criminally attractive features.