Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,89

the eyes. “I’m just another in her collection of rich, lovesick bastards willing to pamper and shower her in everything she wants. All Valentina cares about is money and sex.”

My knees buckled. “Jaxson? How could you—?”

Bianca shook me. “Shut up! Jaxson, if you knew the truth, why didn’t you leave her?”

“Because I loved her. Until I got those chocolates, keychain, and the album. I realized there was someone out there who loved me for me. Now I know it’s you.”

Her grip loosened slightly. “You do?”

“Yes,” he said. “That’s why you can’t kill her.”

“What?” She tightened her hold again. “But you said— I thought you understood!”

Jaxson put his hands up. “I do understand. But don’t you see she doesn’t matter anymore? I choose you, Bianca. We can walk out of here right now and start our life together.” He leveled a finger at me. “If you kill her, that life will be on the run. Always looking over our shoulder. I’m set to take over Interstellar Records. I thought you supported that.”

“I do,” she said, voice quavering. “Of course I do.”

“Don’t force me to give up my home, family, job. If you love me, walk out of here with me right now, and let’s have all of those things together.”

“Jax-son.” She cracked his name on a sob. Just like that, she shoved me away.

Bianca ran to his open arms. “I love you so much.”

“I love y—”

She leaped for him. Jaxson whipped something out of his back pocket and jabbed her throat. Bianca went down, convulsing and writhing on the earth, the faint charged clicks of the taser echoing in my ear.

I gaped at her and then at him.

“Crazy bitch,” Jaxson muttered. He stepped over her body. “Baby, are you okay?”

“You— How—”

“I’m sorry I said that stuff.” Jaxson erased the distance and scooped me into his arms. I buried my face in his neck. “You’re not with me for sex and money. You’re with me because I’m never fucking letting you go.”

I clutched him tight enough to break him, my own voice cracking. “How did you find me?”

“Ryder put a tracking app on your phone.”

I reeled back. “He did what?”

My Jaxson grinned that grin. “I told him you’d be pissed even if it paid off. You had no reason to be hanging out in the forest. I broke the speed limit the whole way.”

“I’m just glad you’re here.” I peered over his shoulder at the still body on the ground. “She was going to do it, Jaxson. I saw in her eyes she wasn’t letting me out of here alive.”

“I took your taser out of the nightstand in case Gwen decided to crack my skull open. I didn’t for a second imagine Bianca...”

I hugged him tight. Jaxson liked and respected his boss. This betrayal cut him deeper than he’d let people outside of our family see.

“Let’s call the police and go home,” I said. “Cuddling on the couch with you, my loves, and my son in the next hour. That’s where I want to be.”

Chapter Ten

Valentina

“I’m not sure they want me there.”

“This party wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for the hard work you put in.” Maverick snaked his arm around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder, and smiling at me in the mirror. “You’re at the top of the guest list, Val.”

“Don’t think Ortega and Kessler feel the same way,” I muttered. “Jade only deals with me for house business and Kessler doesn’t return my calls.”

“We’re on to them now. We couldn’t find a trace of half of those students who dropped out. They’re avoiding you, so they can’t be caught saying or doing anything incriminating.”

I met his eyes in the mirror, a grim twist to my lips.

In the weeks since Bianca attacked, I retreated into the safety of my boys and friends, letting the police do their work. As a result, the rest of my semester was somewhere approaching normal—a word not often ascribed to my life. I say approaching normal because in the background was Maverick, searching for people who left no trace behind.

I smoothed the chiffon gown, rippling over the beaded bodice. The night of my charity dinner had arrived. The decorations I chose transformed the ballroom. The menu I approved was whipped up in the kitchen. Blair and I collected and organized the prizes. This was my party and Maverick was correct, I had every right to be there, but...

“It’ll be hard to smile and trade small talk about the weather now that we know