Page 34 of Duplicitous
As though he didn’t just corner a woman and try to force a kiss on her unwilling lips.
My predatory focus sharpens, and my hand finds the familiar shape of my switchblade in my pocket.
There are only three other people on the dimly lit bridge: a woman across from us and a couple holding hands several yards ahead.
I keep my posture loose and my pace casual, moving closer to Rich with each of my longer strides. He’s nearing the shadowy end of the bridge, at the edge of a pool of yellow light cast by the streetlamp.
He slips farther into shadow when he turns right and takes the stone steps down to the riverside path. I’m a ghost behind him, unnoticeable even if he were more alert.
When we’re alone beneath the bridge, I sling a restraining arm around his shoulders and tug him close to my side like I’m greeting an old friend. He tenses in surprise, but he doesn’t have time to ask what I’m doing before a single swipe of my blade across his throat silences him.
I shove him hard to the right. He’s gasping for the breath he can’t draw as he drops into the dark water.
No one’s close enough to hear the splash over the music from the Irish bar. No one knows that Rich’s pathetic existence is coming to an end.
I stroll away from the kill site, whistling to the jaunty tune emanating from the bar.
A vision of grabbing Karolina’s creamy flesh with his blood coating my hands flashes across my mind, and my cock stiffens. I’m desperate to claim her, to fuck her. To show her how I’ll always protect her.
No other man will ever touch her.
10
KAROLINA
One Week Later
“Have you heard from Rich?” Amala asks me when we walk out of the quiet library.
I try to smother a grimace of revulsion at the creepy boy’s name.
“No, I haven’t,” I reply. “I noticed he wasn’t in class this week, but I figured he’s sick or something.”
Truthfully, I’ve been relieved not to see him after his sloppy kiss in my kitchen last weekend.
My new friend’s eyes are tight with concern. “I texted him earlier in the week to see if he wanted to share my notes from his missed classes but didn’t hear anything back. I’m worried.”
I flick my fingers in dismissal. “I’m sure he’s fine. Maybe he’s been out partying too much.”
He hasn’t seemed particularly concerned about our course. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to drop out and go back home to be a caretaker for his family’s estate. He was quick enough to brag about his dad’s wealth.
Amala bites her lower lip. “I don’t know. Some of us went to karaoke last night, and he didn’t answer the invite to that either. He hasn’t even posted on social media.”
“I didn’t realize you were so close to him,” I remark, trying to read the situation.
Given the fact that he made a move on me, I assumed there wasn’t a romantic connection between them. But if he’s been flirting with her, I should probably warn her about his drunken behavior.
“We’re not that close,” she replies. “But he knows one of my housemates from undergrad. They introduced me to him over the summer, so I spent some time with him before term started. It’s weird that he’s ignoring my texts.”
I take a moment to consider. Amala is a kind young woman. I won’t tell her about his inappropriate behavior unless I think she’s at risk.
And I’m not ready to create a closer bond of friendship by confessing that Rich freaked me out with his advances.
I decide to make light of it. “Maybe Rich just couldn’t stand another lecture with Professor Asshole this week, and that’s why we haven’t seen him on campus.”
Amala offers me a weak smile. “Maybe. Professor Hirst hasn’t been as bad since that icebreaker, though.”
I flip my hair over my shoulder. “First impressions matter. He chose to be a dick as his introduction to our class.”
