Page 48 of Duplicitous
She shakes herself slightly, as though tossing off a reverie.
“Thank you, Professor,” she says earnestly.
“Rand.” I keep my voice deep and demanding.
“Thank you, Rand,” she replies, softer this time.
“I’m here if you need anything. Day or night. I’ll make sure you’re safe, Lena.”
I hate using the shorter version of her name, but it’s close enough that I won’t slip up. No matter what I call her, Karolina will always belong to me.
14
KAROLINA
That night, I lay awake for hours, consumed by guilt over Rich’s death. As soon as I finally drift off, I’m dragged into my worst nightmare.
Carter’s weight pins me beneath him, and blood drips onto my cheeks from his broken nose. His eyes glint with fury and something far more disturbing.
His groping hands imprint bruises on my breasts, taking what he wants from me.
Part of my brain warns me to soften and submit; to let this happen with minimal damage to my body.
But I know Brandon is only minutes behind him. I can’t bear it if the boy I love violates me too.
I strain against Carter’s hold on my wrists, wrenching my torso upright—just enough to allow me to sink my teeth into his neck. I taste copper on my tongue when his skin gives way beneath my vicious bite. My stomach lurches, but I don’t allow the nausea to distract me.
For a precious second, his grip loosens. I wrench my hands free and grab the discarded horseshoe that I was using to breakthe lock on the trunk where the gun is stored. I smash the aged steel into Carter’s head, putting my full force behind the blow.
He reels back, clutching the side of his head. A crimson stream pours over his fingers. His eyes widen with disbelief, and he drops to the hardpacked dirt floor.
He twitches once, then stops moving. Blood pools around his frozen face and darkens his blond hair. His eyes are open, staring at me without seeing.
A horrified wail fills the tack room, and I don’t recognize that I’m making the anguished sound.
Carter is dead. I killed him.
“Karolina!”
Fear sharpens my mind. Brandon is coming for me. I’m not safe yet.
My heart shreds. I can’t hurt him, no matter what he tries to do to me.
The threat of the gun will have to be enough to keep him at bay.
I force my fingers to grasp the bloody horseshoe and slam it against the damaged lock on the trunk. Wood splinters, and the latch breaks.
I wrench the lid open and grab the shotgun.
My hands have barely gripped the weapon when Brandon bursts into the room. I round on him, brandishing the gun.
“Stay away from me!”
His dark blue eyes go wide, and he comes to a jerky halt several feet away from me. His gaze flicks from me to Carter’s dead body.
“Karolina…” he breathes. “What did you do?”
“What did I do?” I shriek. “What didyoudo? You were going to share me with him. You told him where to find me.”
