Drop Dead Queen (Corium University Trilogy 2)

“It doesn’t look like anyone is here. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

I glance back at him, my hand still on the door handle. I nod. “Yeah. I’m used to being alone.”

“If you say so…” His voice trails off, and I finally open the door and hop out of the Tahoe.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say before shutting the door.

I half expect him to roll the window down and tell me to get back into the SUV, but he doesn’t, so I start my walk across the lawn.

The grass is long, another confirmation that my mother hasn’t been here for some time. Not that she would ever be caught dead mowing the lawn. It just means she’s not spending money on someone else to upkeep it. I reach the front steps and look up at the huge white door. This place used to be my home, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to see it as a home again. It’s a reminder of how broken my family is.

I shake the thoughts away. In my haste to escape Corium, I didn’t get the chance to grab my keys, so I flip the ugly gnome near the front door over, where the spare key is.

My eyes light up when I spot the metal key, and I pick it up from the concrete and shove it into the door. I turn the key, and the lock disengages. Slowly, I twist the doorknob and push the door open.

At least I didn’t have to break in.

I step inside the dark house and reach for the light switch. The lights flick on, and I must admit that I’m shocked. The shock gives way to sadness when I close the front door and find myself alone in this gigantic house. I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone, still surprised that I brought it with me.

My chest feels heavy, and my fingers move across the screen, involuntarily typing out Quinton’s name into my contact list.

No, no. I can’t call him. I won’t. He left without a goodbye, and I don’t want to be the first to give in and try to contact him, even if it is to let him know I’m no longer at Corium. I don’t need him. It’s time to grow up and take care of myself.

At a snail’s pace, I walk through the house and up the grand staircase. I always thought this house was too big for three people to be living in. Lonely and quiet.

When I reach the landing, I walk the short distance to my bedroom. With a twist of the knob, I’m back in my bedroom, a space that was mine but feels like a thousand light years away now.

The sheets are still crisp, the bed made, not a single pillow out of place. It’s so perfect, it’s almost creepy. I stare in rage at the perfection of the room, of the emotions left inside of this place.

I want to cry, scream, and yell. I want to break things and let the ground swallow me up, but I do none of those things.

Instead, I walk over to the bed and fall face-first on it. I’m beyond exhausted, and I just want a hot shower and some food, which I’ll be lucky to find. I peel the sweater off my body and toss it onto the bed when I hear the creak of the front door opening and closing.

“Mom?” I yell and rush toward the stairs, where heavy footfalls are approaching.

No, that can’t possibly be my mother.

My heart leaps out of my chest, and I stop just before the landing, realizing my mistake of calling out for my mother. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when my eyes land on Matteo, who is mere feet away from me.

Oh, god! No one is here to save me this time. Behind him are two other men, and I stumble backward before I twist around and start running down the hall.

I can hear Matteo gaining speed. His heavy boot-covered feet slap against the hardwood, reminding me that if I don’t find a way to escape him, I will become the rat stuck under his foot.

“Where are you going, Aspen? You don’t want to play a game?” I swear I can feel his breath on my neck. Sweat breaks out across my forehead and straight ahead is my door.

If I can just make it to the door. If I can make it inside the room and shut the door behind me, it’ll buy me a little time. I reach forward, my fingers graze the knob, and I’m sure I’m safe when Matteo’s thick arms wrap around my middle, breaking the false sense of hope.

He tackles me to the ground, his hulking frame lands on mine, knocking the wind out of me. I shove at his body as we roll, trying to escape his grasp, but his fingers dig into my flesh. I ignore the pain and lash out with my hands and feet, kicking and hitting any part of his body I can touch.