Malice

10

JJ.

I haven’t heard Je

The sad part is I don’t even have time to properly react to the news that this guy has been in touch with my mom before Saint issues a low, rumbling noise.

“I’m going to ask you one more time,” he says. “Who are you and who is JJ?”

The dark-haired guy turns his gaze to Saint, as if remembering he’s standing there for the first time. “The fuck you care?” His voice is so calm, it makes his words that much more menacing. “I need to speak to Mallory. Alone.”

“I’m not leaving her alone with you.” Widening his stance, Saint folds his arms over his broad chest and levels the guy with a hard glare. I don’t know why he’s acting this way. It was only a month ago that he so ruthlessly humiliated me, but now he’s pretending to give a shit. I can’t keep up with him.

Tilting his head, Tattoos arches one dark eyebrow. He doesn’t look intimidated by Saint in the least, which is a strange thing to see. Everyone is intimidated by Saint Angelle. Everyone cowers when he glares at them like that because they’re convinced the bastard is God.

Not this guy. Because even though I don’t know him, I recognize the look on his face. He’s from my world, not Saint’s.

“Listen carefully,” the newcomer says in a tone that sends a shiver ru

I can see in his pitch-black eyes that he’s serious, and I know just how bad someone like him can hurt another person. Saint doesn’t.

Pushing past Saint, I plant myself in between them and turn my face up to his.

“Angelle, go away,” I order, jabbing a finger toward the door.

Fury flashes in his eyes. “Are you fucking deaf? I already said I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

“I trust him more than I do you,” I snap back. It’s a somewhat low blow, but I really shouldn’t worry about hurting his feelings, now should I?

“Mallory—”

“Don’t.” I shake my head sharply. “Don’t start that shit with me. Don’t pretend you actually care what happens to me. Just get out before I call the campus police to escort you out.”

I think I’ve caught him off guard because his jaw goes slack. After a moment, however, he sneers. “Whatever. But just so you know, we’re not finished. I’ll be back, Mallory.”

I scoff, even as my treacherous heart flutters. “Joy,” I say, giving him a sarcastic golf clap.

He pivots toward the door, pausing long enough to give the dark-haired guy a venomous look before he stalks into the hall, slamming the door so hard that my walls seem to tremble. Once he’s gone, I stare at the door for a long time, chewing on the tip of my thumb, before turning back to my surprise guest.

“Okay, who are you?”

“Told you already, your momma sent me.”

“That’s not an answer.” I slip my phone from my pocket and hold it up. “Start talking, or I’m calling the cops.”

Faster than I can clock, he moves forward and snatches my phone from my hand.

My heart leaps into my throat, but then he smirks and tosses the device to my bed. “You ain’t calling the cops, little girl. Not if you want to see Je

He doesn’t make another move to touch me, and even leaves space between us. Is he intentionally trying to make me feel more comfortable?

I relax a little and think about the reason he’s come here.

What is my mom up to? She’s never gone to such lengths just to contact me before.

“Is Je

She’s not a kingpin.

Is she?

Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past her. Even in her sloppiest moments, Je

“You need to meet Je

This is feeling more and more surreal. My mom sent a mysterious messenger to set up a secret rendezvous with her. What the fuck is this? Blacklist?

“How do I know this isn’t all bullshit? How do I know Je

“Yeahhh, she said you’d say some shit like that,” the guy explains, laughing softly as he shakes his head. “She sent this along.”

He drags something from the back pocket of his jeans and dangles it off the tips of his fingers toward me. It’s an envelope.

I cautiously take it from his hand. Casting him an uncertain look, I open it and pull out the folded piece of paper inside.

Glancing over the page, I instantly recognize my mom’s handwriting. I’d studied it carefully as a kid so I could forge her signature on permission slips and report cards whenever Je

Mallory,

Stop asking so many questions and trust Ghost. Don’t waste time.

Xo

J

It’s a very Je

Crinkling my nose, I blurt out, “Ghost? What kind of name is that?”

He slants me with a brutal look. “You talk too fucking much, you know that?”

“So I’ve heard.” Exhaling, I crumble the note and blink up at him. “All right, fine. Looks like you’re not bullshitting me, so what happens next?”

“Sunday night. Wait for my instructions.”

Yeah, this definitely seems like an episode of Blacklist. Hesitantly, I nod. “All right, Sunday night it is then.”

He gives me a lingering, bemused look before turning and walking out of my room. I stare after him as the door shuts, and wonder what fuckery my mom is dragging me into now?

The next morning, my mind is awhirl as I continue to ponder what Je

And when the hell did she get to California?

It’s all so weird and screwed up, and I honestly don’t need one more piece of drama piled on top of me, but I do need answers. And then there’s that little piece of me that just wants to see her, in spite of everything.

I’m so wrapped up in my thoughts as I enter the dining building that I don’t see Saint until he snatches my arm and drags me away before I can enter the busy hall.

“Seriously, Saint?” I sputter, but he doesn’t answer me.

He stops in front of a utility closet, opens the door, and shoves me inside, following after me.

I round on him as the door shuts behind us and he flips the light switch.

“What now?”

He crowds me up against the shelves behind me, trapping me with his hands on either side of my head. If he thinks I’m going to cower, the bastard has another thing coming. I roll my shoulders back and lift my chin in defiance.