Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

W hen I see all the police and the news crews, the panic I feel can't be contained. I grab someone at random as they hurry past. "Have you seen Alice Anders and Evan Shaw?"

The girl nods. "They went inside." She points, and I sprint up the stairs, taking them two at a time, only to run into Alice at Tommy's side just inside the door.

Tommy nods. "Alek."

"Alice, are you okay?" I grab her, looking her over. "Talk to me."

"I'm okay, I'm okay," she replies, covering my hands. "Shh, I'm okay, I promise."

Relief makes me slump, but then I look around. "Where's Evan?"

They share a look, one I don't like, and my heart skips a beat. "Alice, where the fuck is my boyfriend?"

"He was taken away by the cops," she whispers.

"What?" I snap, peering into her eyes. "Why?"

"There were two bodies, Alek, hanging here. They were the guys who bothered me. They knew Evan assaulted them, and they took him away. I'm worried. He isn't going to be blamed for saving me, is he?" Tears flow down her cheeks, and I pull her closer, kissing her head. I try to contain my anger and panic as I comfort her, but my entire focus is on my boy.

"No, it's okay. It's probably just routine," I say, but I look at Tommy, who appears concerned.

"Tommy, I need you to take Alice home, okay? Or to your dorm, or call Lally." I kiss her head and brush her tears away like I did when she was a kid. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She nods, wrapping her arms around herself. "Where are you going?"

"I need to help Evan," I reply, torn between my duty to my sister and the man I . . . well, him.

"How?" she asks.

"I don't know, but I have to try." I point at Tommy again. "Straight home, and call me if anything happens." Turning, I yank my phone out as I race to my car.

Evan. Arrested. Bodies. The words repeat in my head.

God, pretty boy, please be okay.

"Where the hell have you been?" I snap, pushing away from the police station wall as Bones heads my way, dressed head to toe in a fancy as fuck suit that cost more than my entire house. He's the only person I could think of. I'd consider him a friend, or at least a sparring partner. He teaches a lot of self-defense classes, but I know he is training to be a lawyer and his dad is one.

"Is he inside?" he asks calmly, appearing smooth and cold as usual.

I nod, clenching my fists. "They won't let me in or tell me anything, just that it's an informal chat."

"Good, that's good. They can't charge him or haven't yet." He straightens his tie. "Don't worry, Alek, I've got this."

"Shouldn't we call your dad or something?" I ask. I mean, he hasn't passed his exams yet .

"No need, I can handle this. Besides, Evan is one of ours." I frown at that, and he smiles. "Don't worry, just wait here."

I can't do anything but watch him head inside the station, and then I wait again. Minutes turn into an hour, and then two. I'm about to storm in and drag them out when the door opens. A pale-faced, exhausted Evan comes out after Bones, who looks pissed.

"What the hell took so long?" I demand as I stop before them.

Evan's eyes widen when he sees me. "Alek?" He frowns. "What are you doing here?"

"He called me." Bones shrugs. "Just remember what I said, Evan. Ignore them, you told them everything you know. They have nothing on you. Come to me if they bother you again." He pats Evan's shoulder before nodding at me and heading back to his car, leaving Evan and me staring at each other.

I cover the distance, but he steps back, and I drop my hands. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just tired, and my head hurts," he admits as he walks past me. I follow him to the sidewalk where he turns to face me. The distance between us is killing me.

"What happened?" I ask, my hands in my pockets to stop myself from reaching for him, assuring myself he's okay.

"Those two guys that we beat up . . ." He lowers his voice. "They are dead. I admitted to what happened that night, but I left you out."

"You didn't have to?—"

"I wanted to protect you," he protests. "They questioned me, but they have nothing, so they had to let me go, which they weren't happy about, and Bones was pissed." He looks up at me. "I also didn't mention your name because I was worried."

"Worried?" I repeat, confusion lacing my tone.

"I have to ask," he murmurs. "Did you do it? Did you kill them?"

"Me?" I snort. "I'm flattered you think I'm capable of murder, though I am sad you think I wouldn't hide it better, but no, I didn't kill them, Evan. I would have if they touched my sister, so don't think I'm a good guy."

He relaxes, scrubbing at his face. "I had to ask."

"Pretty boy . . ." I step closer, and his hand drops.

"I'm really tired, Alek. Can we do this later?"

My heart aches, but I nod. "Okay, let me take you home, and we can talk tomorrow?—"

"Can we not?" My heart stops as he looks away. "Can we just not talk tomorrow?"

"What do you mean?" I whisper, panic filling me as my stomach plummets. Staring at his pale face, I have a sinking feeling I've lost him. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"We would have to be dating for me to break up with you," he retorts, his voice filled with venom as he looks at me before he sighs again, his shoulders dropping. "I just need some time to process, and I think we both need some space."

"This morning—" I start. "I was wrong." I don't know what else to say, and when I don't explain further, he laughs bitterly.

"You want to know why I wanted to show those photos? Not because of what you are doing in them, but because it's you and I'm so proud to be yours, even if it's in secret, but you don't feel the same. You're not proud, you're ashamed, and that fucking hurts, so give me space."

I take one step back, letting him track the movement. "You want space? There, that's all the space you'll get from me."

"Alek," he snaps, annoyance flaring in his eyes. "You don't get to control this or order me around. You don't get to stop me from being hurt or upset. You made the choice to deny us this morning. Now, I'm allowed to make my choice to figure out how I feel about all this." He waves his hand between us, his voice deadly serious and laced with pain.

He's right, and I hate it. I step back again, my heart aching something fierce. "Sure, okay," I respond coolly, calmly, even though my insides are anything but. If I push this now, I'll lose him and he'll leave. He's hanging on by a thread.

"Let me take you home," I offer, hoping for one more moment in his presence.

He shakes his head. "I'll walk." He hesitates, grinding his jaw before he meets my gaze. "Thank you for calling Bones. Bye, Anders."

He called me Anders, not Alek, princess, or asshole. Anders.

He's putting space between us, and I hate it. I hate that I ruined the only good thing I had. He turns without another word and wanders away, looking far too lonely and tired.

As I watch him go, I wonder how everything went so wrong.

How could we go from being so happy to being so broken?