Home > Here Lies a Saint (Here Lies #2)(5)

Here Lies a Saint (Here Lies #2)(5)
Author: C.L. Matthews

The officers come back and speak with me and Mel once more and by the time they've interviewed us both, extensively might I add, we head back to my dorm. For the most part, that's where Mel stays. Her dorm is on a lower level, and she shares it with some chick she doesn't seem to like much.

As soon as I open my door, I'm greeted with the two most handsome men. I've been missing these last few weeks. Immediately, my eyes well with tears. Seeing them when I feel like utter shit breaks something inside of me. It takes every degree of my control to stay rooted and not jump into their arms.

"Darlin'," Justice says.

At the same time, Pru says, "Princess."

My tears come, unable to stop. The twins stare at me with several levels of concern and need. The separation sadness makes zero sense. We didn't get that much time together, but somehow, we connected on a deeper level.

"Oh, look. You're here," Mel drones on, sounding irritated and bored. Did she think they wouldn't come? Her father is laying low, so of course, her older brothers would be forced to fly out. This is traumatic, but Mel doesn't seem like it's anything other than another night.

People cope differently, I guess. While I'm soft, shaking, and in need of a sandwiched cuddle with my boys, she seems impassive, like she could go for a run and feel fine.

Prudence stares at me with longing, his brown eyes warm and caring. Just goes to Mel, forcing himself to sidestep me.

I'm pretty sure we both flinch at the action.

"Little sis, are you okay?" Just's voice actually carries worry. I mean, Yang was murdered hours ago, all while we were both hunting for my brother's murderer.

"I'm fine, Justice. Just need a shot or two and some sleep."

I balk, feeling chills break out. How can she brush this off so easily? Does she not care that Yang's life was taken? Is this how she copes? My mind travels to Psych and what I've learned on how people handle death.

Some cry.

Some don't.

Some numb themselves entirely. Maybe that's it. I can't judge her. That's kind of what I did with Cass.

"Go take a shower, and we can watch something if you're up for it," I offer, wanting her to go away so I can seek comfort in her brothers, which she doesn't seem to mention. They haven't stopped looking at me with high levels of concern.

She gives me a wave, her way of telling me sure, and leaves to the spare room. After grabbing her caddy she heads toward the communal showers.

"Don't forget my badge!" I yell after her, reminding her that her card won't work on this level.

After she gets the card and leaves, I let out the heaviest sigh known to man. Before I even finish the exhale, the boys surround me.

No words are shared as they box me in a hug. They're taller than I am by a bit, and their heads rest above mine.

"We missed you," Pru lets out and my body visibly relaxes.

As soon as Just nods in agreement, I lose it. The tears come. The full body-shaking sobs and the feeling of absolute failure rest on my body all while they hold me together.

"We've got you, princess," Pru reassures, kissing my temple. They both pull away, and Just lifts me in his arms, kissing my forehead as they start walking down the hall. "Last door?"

"Yes. The other one is the spare," I explain. It's the one where Mel stays or Yang... Shit. Her stuff is still in here. Her clothes. Her makeup. Her belongings.

My sobs ramp up, clogging my throat with awareness.

Just kisses my head over and over. "It's okay, sweetheart. We've got you." He carries me into my room, laying me on my bed. Not only the one I slept with Ross on but it's the one I've sexted them from.

"I-I need to take these off," I whimper, my chin wobbling with the realization I'm still covered in mud, sweat, and blood. My body shakes as I remember the horror of feeling the warmth spilling from her, touching the frozen ground beneath her. How her body felt so warm but her heart didn't beat. The way her blood caked my hands, chest, and legs as I sobbed for her.

"Shower?" they both ask.

I want to cry and never breathe again. I want to erase the horror of Yang's death, I want to forget the knowledge that what's left of her life is all over me.

"I-I don't want Mel to see us together."

It's true. Her seeing me with them would be traumatic enough. Add in blood, crying, and them trying to comfort me and it isn't good.

"Where then?" Just stares at me, giving me hopeful eyes, all while I'm literally dying from the outside in.

"Crystal," I say automatically, wondering if my card will give me access to the tower I once called home. Unlike with Ivory, there aren't communal showers. Each room has one. Since it's more like a mansion than a tower, it's more homely.

They stare at me as if asking me what the fuck Crystal is.

"The Student Gov Tower," I offer. "I might still have access."

They both nod, and I grab my caddy and escape the room.

The sky is brightening with daylight. It gets brighter a little bit earlier in these mountains. Our elevation is higher, and the sun seems to hit us a lot faster than in the city limits.

We make it to the tower, and. I go to the door when I realize I've given Mel my key card. How the fuck did I not realize this?

With a muttered curse, I smack my head on the door, and one of them touches me.

"What's wrong, princess?" Pru's voice soothes me, and I groan.

"I gave Mel my dorm key." A self-deprecating laugh leaves me, the sound choppy even to my ears.

No one litters about, and I take that as a blessing in disguise. At least they won’t have reason to further their vamp calling torture. Instead of wallowing, I do something I know I'll regret later. I pull out my cell and text Ross. I'm outside Crystal. Covered in blood. Need a shower.

My text is impersonal, wrong, vacant like my current state-of-mind, but if I offer more, he’ll think I’m going to give in to his poor excuse for a relationship he’d always deny.

His response is nearly immediate. I'll let you in, but the guys aren't going to like seeing two dudes with you.

I nearly forget they're territorial. Instead of a pissing contest, they do stare downs and asshole remarks that aren't funny at all.

How do you know people are with me?

You’re literally in front of the main lobby’s windows.

I roll my eyes at his response. He must’ve been hiding from the others.

Please, Ross. I'm desperate. I'll pay the repercussions later.

"So?" Just asks, breaking me from my texts.

I'm going to respond, but the door unfastens, and Bridger is the one opening it.

"The fuck are you doing here?" he barks at them. Not me. Them.

I stare up at his hollow gaze and shiver. It's already been a traumatic night. There's no reason we should be hostile. There's enough going on as is.

"Bridger," I whisper, hoping he can sense my fragility, something I would never willingly put to the front.

Ross comes running a second later. "Looks like socio over here was watching the feeds again," he jokes, but I see the stiffness in his posture and the troublesome expression on his face.

Bridger is daunting. Tall, broad, with a lying face and terrifying eyes, he’s formidable to anyone who dares stand against him.

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