Page 7 of Shattered Sinner
As I walked through campus to get to my car, I began to form a plan for how I could get back onto Bianca’s good side, although I was questioning whether I deserved it or not.
As if someone had heard my thoughts, my phone vibrated in my hand, but it wasn’t the Henson I was expecting. After debating with myself briefly, I answered the phone.
"Hey, Nash," I said as I tried to keep my tone even.
"Listen, I need you to come to Chevalier Manor tonight. We have something important we need to discuss."
The last thing I wanted to do was be in Nash’s presence around a bunch of Chevaliers with this hanging over my head. However, it wasn’t as if I could say no to the incoming chairman of this chapter.
"What time?"
"Nine p.m."
It would be good and dark by then, and I wondered if that was done by design. A prickly sensation flew across my neck as I thought about whether I should go there this evening.
"Fine," I said, resigned. "I'll be there."
"Good." Nash ended the call before I could say another word.
I was going to ask him if this was the reason why he hadn’t made it to class today, but he hadn’t given me the opportunity to do so. His curt attitude made me wonder if I was walking into a trap. Although this was just rumors at this point, it was thought that the rules were different once you stepped onto Chevalier property. I wasn’t afraid of taking on Nash if necessary, but having to deal with other members of the secret society in addition to him hadn’t been on my to-do list for today.
When I finally reached my SUV, I threw my book bag into the passenger seat as I slammed the driver’s side door. The drive to my apartment was quiet because my mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of how to fix this shit.
If Bianca hadn’t told her brother about what happened between us, I needed to come clean first. Nash would still be pissed, but it might serve me better to be the one to break the news to him. If he would give me a chance to explain why I did what I did and why I now wanted to make it up to her, then maybe this would go smoother. It seemed like wishful thinking, but that was where I was at this point.
When I arrived home, I distracted myself by working on some of the homework I desperately needed to do. On top of all of this, the last thing I needed to do was fuck up my grades, because I wasn't sure if I would recover even with the money my parents would be willing to throw in to convince the school to pass me.
When I took a break from studying, I stretched my body and reached for my phone. I quickly found the texting thread that Bianca and I shared and typed out a quick text to her.
Me: I know you're pissed, but we need to talk. I will find a way to do so, one way or another.
Threatening her wasn't the best course of action, but I was determined to show her that I wouldn't give up, no matter what. I grabbed a meal that my mother had dropped off at my apartment a couple of days ago and ate that while I went back to my coursework.
Working on my homework and having dinner ate up most of the time I needed to burn until it was time for me to head over to Chevalier Manor. I took a shower, changed my clothes, and then left my apartment. As I put my SUV into drive, I couldn't help but wonder about the uneasy feeling that had settled into my stomach. I tried to brush it off as being on edge about everything since things had blown up between Bianca and me, but my gut was telling me I wasn't wrong. As I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, I tried to mentally prepare myself for any surprises that might be thrown my way as a result of my stepping foot onto their grounds.
The manor came into view, its sprawling stone walls stark against the night sky. When I pulled my vehicle into the Chevalier Manor driveway, an eerie feeling passed over me. Something about this felt all wrong.As I pulled to a stop, I noticed there was no one around.
I turned off the engine and stepped out of the vehicle. But I wasn’t alone for long.
A hand grabbed me from behind, and a dark hood was thrown over my eyes. Panic and confusion warred inside me as I fought against whoever had a hold on me. Who the fuck was this? What did they want? I struggled against the hands restraining me, and I was able to put together that two men were holding me, but I couldn’t break free.
As they began to drag me, I assumed toward Chevalier Manor, my heart pounded hard in my chest as I stumbled along.
"If you assholes don’t let me go…” I said, as I fought to get free. No one said anything back. They hadn’t taken the bait.
They hauled me over uneven ground as my sneakers brushed against rocks and sticks on the ground. I noticed the change in the ground and noticed that I was placed on a more even surface, and the sounds around me became quieter. I assumed I’d been brought into the house. There was more dragging, but when we finally stopped, I was shoved roughly into a chair. My arms were pulled so that they were behind my back, and I felt a zip tie being put around my wrists. I strained against the binds, but they didn’t budge.
A floorboard creaked behind me. I whipped my head around, straining to see through the hood, but there was nothing but darkness surrounding me.
"Comfortable?" The voice was low and mocking, but after the last couple of minutes, I didn’t expect anything else.
I calmed my emotions before I spoke because I didn’t want to show anything like that. "Nash, this is a bit much. Take the fucking hood off me.”
There was a brief pause and then a long, bitter laugh. I heard some commotion and then a hand grabbed the hood and snatched it from my head. I blinked at the sudden light, squinting against the glare as my eyes tried to adjust.
Nash stood before me; his stance deceptively casual as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. But the anger I saw in his eyes was loud and clear.
He knew.
