Destroyed by Deception (Amethyst College Saga Book 1) Read online

  He huffed a breath before saying, “Come on Trix, I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important.”

  “What is it Abe? It better not be another one of your football buddies whose had too much to drink, because if it is, I’mma beat the shit outta you.”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. There’s a girl…”

  “A girl, you woke me up for a fucking girl? Are you actually serious right now?”

  “Trix, jeez will you let me talk? A girl in my dorm was assaulted, but she doesn’t want to go to the ER. I think she has a concussion and needs some stitches, so can I bring her round?”

  “Why the fuck doesn’t she wanna go to the ER?” My face paled at the thought of having to go into my reasons, but Abe spoke up before I could dwell on it too much.

  “That’s her business. Please, Trix, I’ll owe you big time.”

  “Yeah, you fucking will. Bring her round in the next ten minutes and if you aren’t here in ten, my phone is going off and I’m going to sleep.”

  She hung up. Abe stood up and pulled my hand away from my head. He took the compress away and walked over to the kitchen, running the tap before coming back. “Here, keep this in place, okay Ells?” I smiled at him and put my hand over his. This time he linked his fingers with mine and gave me a small squeeze. My eyes closed and a small shudder ran through me.

  Abe looked me over, pressed his lips to my forehead before slipping one arm under my shoulders, his other hand moved behind my knees as he scooped me up. “Don’t puke on me O.K.?” I nodded at him, holding the towel he had placed on my head as he carried me to his Toyota pickup. His breath huffed at the effort and his muscles bunched under me. Being in his arms made me feel safe, tears filled my eyes as I thought about how long it had been since I last felt safe and loved. I could smell his masculine scent as he placed me onto the seat of the car.

  He buckled me in and as he moved towards the door, he turned and looked at me, whispering, “please don’t vomit in my car.” I gave him a weak smile, watching as he jogged around to the front of the car. The short drive left me feeling dizzy and my head thumped in time with every hole in the road, but we made it in nine minutes.

  On the way, he explained that Trixie was a doctor, who had just qualified and had moved back to care for their grandmother. She worked in the local clinic part-time. He filled the silence with chatter about classes, he enjoyed literature, but hated maths, loved science, but hated anatomy. He seemed nervous in case I vomited in his car, or perhaps he was just nervous to be around me. His hand stayed on my thigh and he squeezed it gently each time we stopped, or whenever my head rolled on my shoulder. He breathed a sigh of relief when we stopped.

  “Thank god, Trix would have gone to bed if we hadn’t made it in time.” He jumped out of the car and came around to the other side. As he walked I took in an old-fashioned white house. It was a semi-detached, two story house and the windows were all painted a sky blue, with a driveway and a small garden at the front. Abe glanced back at the house and picked me up. He moved with me in his arms, up a wraparound porch, complete with sofa and chair at one end and porch swing at the other end.

  He kicked open a heavy blue door causing a shudder to shoot up my back and my grip around his neck to tighten. His eyes darted about as he carried me into a warm, brightly lit sitting room and laying me softly in a battered old leather armchair. I looked around the room, taking in the old fashioned décor; blue and cream wallpaper, shelves crowded with china figurines and decorative plates, family photos hanging proudly on the walls and lining the mantelpiece. An old mahogany parlor clock chopped up the seconds in the corner, declaring the time to be ten thirty. Before I could take a closer look at the photos, a girl with a pixie cut, blue eyes to match Abe’s, and a friendly smile breezed into the room. She nodded at Abe, muttering, “Good timing, kid.” before she turned her attention to me.

  “Let me have a look at you.” Her hands gently peeled the towel away from my head and her grimace told me she wasn’t happy with what she saw. Her voice was ice cold as she asked me, “Jeez kid, what happened to you?”

  I opened my mouth to answer but was beaten to it when Abe answered for me. “Our neighbor’s a bitch who attacked her. Is she okay, Trixie?”

  They exchanged a glance before she turned towards me. “It’s not too deep,” she tutted, “grab my bag from the kitchen please, Abe?”

  Abe strolled out of the room and my heart began to race, I didn’t know where I was and I couldn’t get back to college if he left me. I tried to look around to see where he had gone, but Trixie gripped my chin firmly and held my hair out of the way. Within moments, I heard footsteps returning and a small medical bag was passed over my head. Trixie turned a table lamp on and examined the cut on my head more closely. Abe put his arm on my shoulder and stroked my neck which helped me to stay calm. He hadn’t left me, I was okay. I had to talk to myself so I didn’t bolt. I was tempted, but the gentle pressure of his arm anchored me and made me feel safe, which scared me, because he would have the potential to break me if I let him.

  I sat as still as possible as she cleaned my head with a damp cloth and smeared some cream around the wound, but when she sat back looking at me, I began to squirm. Her eyes examined me and I knew she could see more than I had shared with anyone. Her doctor’s eyes missed nothing, not the tears I was fighting to hide or the terror I felt at how complicated my life was. She reached up and turned off the lamp before bringing a pen light up and shining it into my eyes. Her hand gently touched my arm and she held my wrist as she spoke to me. “It’s okay. You’re safe honey.”

  My heart dropped like a stone. Was it that obvious that I was a wreck? Her words both confused me and relaxed me a little because I knew that I was safe. For once I felt safe and as I watched her work the tension I was feeling left me. Abe sat down behind me and moved his hand onto the small of my back. He didn’t say anything, but his being there was comforting enough for me.

  Shaking her head, she turned to Abe and said, “you were right, she does have a mild concussion, but she’s still going to need to be monitored overnight, because concussions don’t come on their own, they bring their friends to the party, nausea, dizziness and no small amount of pain.” She turned back towards me, “What’s your name honey?” I tried to speak, but my jaw had seized, my tongue felt wooden and my lips made of stone. She looked at me worriedly as I sat in silence, my eyes fixed to the floor.

  “Do you know your name honey?” She repeated at me, her face filled with concern. Abe made a sound and Trixie shot him a glare and he didn’t say anything else. I nodded and tried to get my mouth into action, my throat felt parched and gluey and I knew I should give her my full name. I couldn’t bear to say the name that caused me so much grief, so I swallowed slowly and licked my lips.

  “Ella,” I whispered, “my name is Ella.”

  She smiled at me.

  “Lovely to meet you, Ella, it’s a shame about the circumstances, though.” She glanced at Abe with a puzzled look and raised her eyebrow curiously. “Do you know what day it is?”

  The pounding of the hammer on my skull increased as I tried to nod to show I wasn’t mute and that I had no trouble understanding. I winced as I answered her. “It’s Sunday isn’t it?” She smiled and pressed her finger gently to my head. I could barely feel it and she seemed satisfied with whatever she was checking for. She pressed a small needle to my head and the area went numb which was a blessing because it was throbbing painfully. As soon as she’d finished, she clicked on a lamp and nodded at her bag. Abe pushed it closer and pressed his palm against my hip with his other hand. Butterflies shot through me and I wanted to lean back on his chest and go to sleep.

  Something about this must have shown on my face because the next second Trixie spoke again.

  “Abe, go into the lounge while I clean Ella’s head up.” Abe squeezed my shoulder as he scooted backwards and Trixie’s eyes widened as he left closing the door softly. “So Ella, how do you know Abe?” She asked without making eye contact with me, but I could feel the curiosity coming off of her in waves.

  “We’re neighbors in the dorms.” I didn’t know what else to say to her, but she began stitching my head, so I winced as I felt the needle begin knitting my skin back together.

  “Do you know him well?” She continued pressing me.

  I smiled as I answered, “not really. I’ve only been there a few days, but he’s saved me from the craziness a few times.”

  She pulled back and stared at me for a moment and then nodded, “Abe’s a good guy. He must like you a lot. He wouldn’t bring just anyone here and he watches you in a way I’ve never seen him do before. You’re a lucky girl.” She kept going for a few minutes and we sat in silence as I reeled from her words and my thoughts. I wasn’t a lucky girl. I’d never been lucky, but maybe I could be from now on. We needed to talk though; he’d need to know everything.

  That thought brought me up cold; I didn’t know if I could trust anyone with it. Nobody had ever believed me and I didn’t want him to think poorly of me. He’d probably hate me if he knew about my past and I couldn’t have anyone else hating me. Maybe it would be better if I didn’t let it go any further, but my heart throbbed painfully at that thought. He had a girlfriend though and she hated me, so we couldn’t be friends, not really. He’d always see me as the victim across the hall. Perhaps it would be better if I stayed away from him.

  A few seconds later and Abe came back into the kitchen, and my heart sped. Somehow I needed him in my life, he had to fit somewhere. My heart raced as his eyes roamed over my face and Trixie smiled at us. “It’s done Ella, these stitches will dissolve in a few days, but if you get any pain, nausea or dizziness then you need to go to the ER, okay?” I nodded and she turned to
Abe.

  “Abraham, she shouldn’t be alone tonight. Keep her with you and keep an eye on her. If she starts vomiting, or her headache gets worse then I don’t care what she says, take her straight to the ER.”

  He let me walk from his cousins to his pickup, but picked me up and bundled me up into the car. I was too tired to protest and my head felt as though I’d taken nine rounds with a boxing heavyweight and lost. My eyelids began sliding closed, sleep creeping in as the pickup’s engine rumbled into life and the world vibrated gently in my muffled darkness.

  “Seatbelt.” He whispered as he pulled out of the driveway, the gravel crunching under the rubber. It took more than a minute for my brain to process his words and grasp what they meant. By the time I’d figured out what he wanted, the car had pulled over again. I heard the metallic click as he unbuckled his seatbelt, his body heat washing over me as he reached across me for the seatbelt above my right ear. He pulled it down across my body, his fingers grazing my breast as he reached down to my thigh and pushed the seatbelt head until it clicked. My eyes closed at the sensations, shooting through my body as I shuddered at his touch. His breath caught which told me he’d either felt something or noticed my reaction.

  His fingers grazed my thigh and my eyes shot open, only to lose myself in the blue depths as his eyes met my own and locked. His gaze heated and I could see a fire smoldering in those pools of burning azure as he gazed at me. He moved closer and I could almost taste his breath, his lips were so close to mine. My eyes drifted to his lips and I watched as his tongue darted out wetting his lip. My heart was thundering in my chest, in that quiet moment, I forgot about the knife ache in my head and the spinning in my skull, as I was consumed in Abe’s eyes.

  He broke the connection first, his expression souring as his attention moved away from me. He turned back to the steering wheel, breathing harder than I remembered, his jaw clenched. He thumped the heel of his hand off the steering wheel angrily and started the pickup again, swerving violently back onto the road. Abe drove a little faster than I was comfortable with, but I didn’t dare ask what had brought on the change in his mood. He drove us in silence and my heart pounded loudly in my ears.

  He pulled over again and turned towards me, his eyes hidden by the darkness of where we stopped. His breathing was rapid and his fingers landed on my legs. “Ella, damn it,” he murmured and thumped his fist on the steering wheel, “I need to stay away from you, you’re gonna break me apart.” His words tore at my chest and I nodded, unable to speak. He leaned over and pressed his lips to my cheek, holding there for a moment, before he turned and started the car again.

  I swallowed convulsively and the words of Disloyal Order of the Water Buffalo rolled through my head. I was coming apart, but it didn’t matter because there wasn’t anyone to catch me as I fell. I needed to catch myself. I didn’t look up until we reached the edge of campus singing to myself, ignoring Abe and trying to hide the pain his words had caused. He was completely right. I was trouble and I would break him.

  The car rolled to a stop at the lot on campus and Abe jumped out as soon as the engine was turned off. He slammed his door and moved around the car. As he opened my door for me, I fumbled with the seatbelt, suddenly feeling nervous at being alone with him. He held his hand out and I let my fingers link with his as he helped me from the car. His touch sent a jolt up my arm, but as soon as I was outside the car, he dropped my hand and rubbed his hand on his jeans. Before he moved off, he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to mine. My body froze in shock because I hadn’t expected it. He spun away and darted towards the doors. It took me a moment to follow because my eyes darted around to make sure we were really alone. He didn’t wait for me and continued moving ahead. My heart hammered as I watched him, but he remained ahead of me. He held the door open and then sprinted for the stairs, running up them two at a time.

  He paused at the top of the first landing, his hand skimming my waist as he moved me into the corner, pressing his lips to mine more firmly. It took me a minute before I realized why it was a bad idea. He had a girlfriend or at least a girl he was seeing. I opened my mouth to protest and his tongue slipped inside. A loud shout broke the eerie silence, breaking the moment between us and making my skin prickle with alarm. It seemed like the majority of the campus were getting an early night for class, though I could hear the sounds of partying somewhere close. My head had started to throb in time with my pulse and each step I took sent a shockwave into my skull. The tension was building up into a full blown headache, I just wanted to lie down and sleep.

  The halls were silent and still, which was disconcerting, to say the least. As we walked, the silence between us became almost unbearable and my step faltered a few times, but he made no move to touch me again which hurt. It seemed that since he’d done his moment of chivalry in rescuing me, and given into the temptation to taste me, he wanted nothing more than to be rid of me. His eyes met mine as I passed him by, but his eyes darted away almost as soon as our eyes met.

  I stumbled along in his wake as he bounded up the stairs. I knew he was there and it calmed me, although his silence was really starting to get to me. He was acting like a stranger. His breath on my neck as he let me pass him at the next landing, made my skin break out in gooseflesh, but he made no move to touch me again. I was confused, but it was secondary to the pain that was increasing with each step I took.

  As we reached the door to the third floor, Abe flicked the door open with one hand and waited until I passed, before following me. I stepped through and there was a lump the size of a boulder in my throat, but I nodded at him and stepped past him into the corridor. I continued to make my way unsteadily along the corridor, fighting the pain in my head that was making my vision blurry.

  We walked along and I noticed slivers of light seeping out from under a few of the doors, as we moved slowly along, Abe a few steps behind me. Just as we reached the inside of the common room, my momentary confidence that we’d almost made it undiscovered was betrayed, as Liv sauntered into the room after us. She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to, her eyes said enough.

  I completely froze up and Abe took my arm, gently pulling me along until we reached Liv, her eyes smoldering with venom as she noticed I was with Abe again and his hand on my wrist. She turned and stormed into her dorm, slamming the door shut behind her. My whole body began shuddering at the thought of being anywhere alone with her and my breath came in short, sharp gasps as panic overtook me. Abe snaked his hand around my waist, turning me to face him. He took one look at my face and groaned, frustration creasing his forehead.

  “Come on then.” He whispered in my ear as he dragged me away from my room and into his.

  Abe led me towards the door leading to his bedroom, opening the door and swinging it wide with one arm to invite me in. He flipped the lights on, throwing a t-shirt two sizes too large for me beside me, while my eyes were still adjusting to the glare.

  “Your dress is covered in blood. Put that on.” He bit out, but waited until I nodded at him before he strolled out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. I glanced around the room, taking in the neatness. Sam’s room was never this tidy, with clothes in neat bundles and books standing straight on a desk by the window. His laptop was open and flashing, and the desk lamp was crooked, but the rest of the room looked spotless. The double bed was against the wall behind the door and his drawers on the opposite side of the room. The walls were a pale apple green and the bed I was currently sitting on was bottle green with a lemon comforter. I startled as I realized I was supposed to be getting changed. I struggled with pulling my dress over my head, it was sticking to my skin and every movement made my head twinge unbearably. I glanced again around the room, taking in the posters as footsteps sounded outside the door again.

  Abe knocked and walked back in, smiling at the sight of me sitting there, shirt half way off, and mouth open, with a confused look on my face. I realized in that moment how ridiculous I probably looked, and that I was badly in need of a shower. I watched him as he moved closer, drinking in the grace with which he moved and he sat beside me on the bed before gently lifting my dress over my head, his fingers skimming along my skin delicately as he removed my clothing, while taking care to avoid my cut. My heart thudded in my chest looking up at him and my face heated as I realized I was sitting on his bed in just my underwear Abe didn’t seem to notice, or if he had, it didn’t show as he slipped the baggy white t-shirt he had thrown earlier onto me