Page 34 of Merciless

CHAPTER 14

EDEN

DAY 3 OF THE BET

Elijah opens the door to the local shake-and-burger shack and gestures for me to go in first. I side-eye him as I pass him, fully expecting him to close the door in my face and laugh about how stupid I am for falling for his trick.

It wouldn’t surprise me if he did.

But he doesn’t. He waits until I go by him before following me inside.

This place is a hole in the wall. I’ve been here a few times after a shift at the pub. It was never packed like it is right now.

The servers weave through the tiny tables. The air buzzes with different conversations, and when I inspect the patrons here, I notice that most of them are college students.

They must have had the same idea to grab lunch between classes.

I want to leave.

I can’t be here.

Elijah’s hand presses into my lower back to keep me walking through the room. I’m rooted to the spot, sweating bullets about being here.

What if the secret texter is here?

What if he punishes Elijah?

I step back.

“Why are we here?” I mumble to Elijah.

He eases the pressure on my lower back and looks down at me with furrowed eyebrows. “I told you. I want to show you something.”

I gesture toward the room. “Not much to see other than the assholes of Astar Elite. I’d rather be anywhere else but here.”

Elijah tucks me closer to him, and he leans down with a mischievous smile. “If you’d rather be anywhere else, then how about my dorm?”

My lips part. “Wh-what?”

Elijah flashes a smile before grabbing my hand and leading me to the only empty table. He grabs a chair and pulls it out for me.

I bite the inside of my cheek and glance at him before easing myself onto the chair. The cuts on my bottom send electric zaps up my back, and I swallow a whimper.

Elijah grabs the chair across from me and drags it beside mine and sits down. I suck in a breath when he winds his arm behind my chair and rests it on the back of my seat.

I tilt my head to look up at him, then around the room.

Why isn’t he afraid?

Old friends have ghosted me. At first, it confused me. Then I’d pass by them and notice bruises and cuts on their faces. It doesn’t take an idiot to know that someone was sending a message. Not just to them, but to me as well.

Make friends and you’ll pay with their blood.

“Did something happen to you?” Elijah’s question filters through my mini panic attack.

I blink and look up at him. “What?”

“This is the second time you’ve winced while sitting down.”