Julian (Trinity Academy 4)

Carter takes the phone from me, and I vaguely hear him talk with Miss Sebastian as I slowly walk out of the kitchen.

I reach the library, and my eyes land on Julian, where he’s working at a desk. Walking closer to him, his head snaps up. Rising from the chair, he asks, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“The test came back positive,” I whisper. Closing the distance between us, I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his chest. “I was drugged.”

Julian doesn’t hesitate, and when I feel his arms around me, realization hits.

Julian’s arms were the ones I wanted to feel.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he says.

Julian’s words were the ones I wanted to hear.

Pulling back, I look up at the face of the man I’ve fallen for.

‘I’m not sure he’ll survive heartbreak a second time.’

Remembering Mr. Reyes' words, I take a step away from Julian, and then another.

“Ah… I should go talk to Carter.”

Turning around, I rush out of the room, and when I get to my bedroom, I slam the door shut before the guards can follow me inside.

I don’t know what scares me more, falling for Julian, or knowing there’s a person out there who can end my life before I’ve even had a chance to feel what it’s like to love a man.Chapter 20JulianWhen both tests came back positive for GHB, the police came to interview Jamie again, this time asking about previous boyfriends, and whether she can think of anyone who would want to harm her.

I can see she’s shaken up by the interview because she’s been quieter since we got the results, and the police left.

I walk into the living room, where Jamie is sitting on the couch, lost in her thoughts. Taking a seat next to her, I place my hand on her leg. “Want to talk about it?”

She gets up and gives me a forced, polite smile. “I’m tired of talking about it. I want to go back to Trinity. I’m missing too many classes.”

After dropping the bomb, she rushes out of the room, leaving me confused.

What’s going on?

I get up and go after her. “Jamie, hold up.”

She keeps walking, saying, “I need to talk to Carter.”

I follow her into Carter’s room and watch as she stares at him until he ends the call he’s on. “I want to go back to Trinity. I can’t stay here forever.”

“Jamie…” Carter begins.

“It’s not open for discussion,” she says, then rushing by me, she leaves the room.

Carter turns his eyes to me, looking as confused as I feel, “What happened?”

“I have no idea. This is news to me, as well.”

“We better stop her,” he says. We walk to Jamie’s room and see the two guards standing by her closed door.

“Take a break,” I say, wanting privacy for what’s sure to be an argument.

Carter knocks on the door before he enters. When I step inside, I watch as Jamie throws clothes into a bag.

“Can you stop for a moment?” Carter asks.

“Nope. I’m in a hurry. I have a lot of work to catch up on,” she says without looking at us.

“Della is coming tomorrow, Jamie. It’s Friday. Why would you want to go back right now?”

She closes the bag, then finally turns to look at Carter. “I’m done hiding, Carter. I’m no safer here than I’ll be at Trinity. Changing my address is not going to stop that creep from coming after me.”

“You are safer here,” I argue.

Jamie first glances down and takes a deep breath before she brings her eyes to me. “I’m not going to put my life on hold. If I do that, the creep wins.” She moves her gaze to Carter. “I’ll come to visit Della and the kids, but I’m going back to Trinity today. I also want my own suite. Now that I have guards, I don’t have to stay with Layla and Kingsley any longer.”

What the fuck?

Where is this coming from?Jamie“Can I have a moment alone with Jamie?” Carter asks Julian.

I can see he’s reluctant to leave, but he does as Carter asks.

Once we’re alone, Carter comes over to me and takes hold of my shoulders. “Now, tell me what’s really going on.”

I shake my head and look down when the act I’ve worked so hard to put on, becomes too much to bear.

Carter leans a little down to catch my eyes. “Talk to me.”

“I’m terrified,” I say, harsher than I meant to. “I’m so terrified. What if this person hurts someone I care about because he can’t get to me? What if… ” My breaths come faster, and I cover my mouth to keep the sob back.

Carter brings his hands up and framing my face, he gives me an intense look. “So, you thought it would be better to separate yourself from everyone? Did you actually think we’d allow you to do that?” Pulling me to his chest, he wraps me in a tight hug. “You’ve always been the one who took care of us. Let me take care of you now.”