Chapter 4 The Rules

Kai ignores me, closes the door and releases my arm.

I round on him immediately, all the fear and panic crystallizing into anger.

"Why did you do that?" My voice is too loud in the small room. "Why did you make it worse?"

Kai's expression doesn't change. 

"He needed to believe it," he says simply.

"He's my best friend!" I'm close to shouting now. "He's been my best friend for three years and you just, you just..."

"I just saved his life," Kai interrupts. "Along with yours."

"What are you talking about?"

Kai runs a hand through his hair. "If Asher thinks something's wrong, what do you think he'll do?"

I open my mouth, then close it, nothing coming out.

"He'll dig," Kai answers for me. "He'll ask questions. He'll try to protect you. And the second the Morellis catch wind that Asher Donovan is asking questions about what happened at that party, he becomes a target."

My stomach drops.

"They'll use him to get to me," Kai continues. "Or they'll eliminate him as a loose end. Either way, my baby brother ends up dead."

"But..."

"The best way to protect Asher is to make him believe this is real. To keep him as far away from this situation as possible. So yeah, I made it worse. I made it hurt. Because hurt keeps him away. Anger keeps him away. And away keeps him alive."

The logic is cold and brutal and I hate that it makes sense.

My anger deflates into misery. 

I sink down onto my bed and drop my face into my hands.

Everything is falling apart. My reputation is destroyed. My best friend thinks I betrayed him. And I'm trapped in a fake engagement with a dangerous man I don't know.

"This is a nightmare," I whisper.

"Yeah. Welcome to my world."

I hear him moving around the room. His phone buzzing. 

When I finally look up, he's standing in front of me holding his hand out.

"What?" 

"Give me your hand." 

I'm confused, but reluctantly put my hand in his.

He puts his hand in his pocket, brings out a small velvet jewelry box and drops it in my hand.

My heart sinks.

"No."

"Yes." Kai smirks. "If you're going to be my fiancée, you need to look the part."

He opens it. The ring inside is massive. A diamond that catches the light and throws it back in sharp angles. The band is delicate but the stone is anything but. It's the kind of ring I've only seen in magazines or on the hands of girls whose parents have summer homes.

You know, rich people.

"Put it on."

"I can't..."

"Put it on, Aria."

My hands shake as I take the ring from him and slide it onto my left ring finger.

It fits perfectly.

Of course it does. 

Wait, why did he even have a ring box in his pocket in the first place?

Kai suddenly catches my wrist before I can think more. He examines how the ring looks on my finger, turning it slightly to catch the light.

His thumb brushes over my pulse point and I couldn't help shivering.

"Good," he comments, more to himself than me. Then he releases my wrist and steps back. "Now pack a bag. You're moving in with me today."

"What? No. I can't..."

"You can and you will." His tone leaves no room for argument. "Engaged couples live together. My father will expect it."

"I have classes," I say desperately. "I have this room. I have a roommate."

"Your classes can be attended from anywhere. Your life just changed completely. And Maya will understand or she won't, but it doesn't matter." Kai pulls out his phone again. "You're coming with me today. That's final."

I want to fight, argue, tell him he can't just upend my entire existence.

But the cold certainty in his eyes stops me.

This man is used to being obeyed and I'm terrified of what happens if I refuse.

"How much should I pack?" 

"Enough for a few days. I'll have someone get the rest later."

The rest. Like I'm never coming back here.

Maybe I'm not.

I stand on shaking legs and grab my duffel bag from the closet. Start throwing things in without really looking. Clothes. Toiletries. My laptop and chargers. Textbooks I'll probably need.

Kai makes phone calls while I pack. His voice is clipped and cold. Arranging things I don't understand.

"...have the apartment ready by the time we arrive... No, she'll be staying indefinitely... Just make sure it's done..."

Indefinitely.

The word echoes in my head while I zip the duffel.

I look around my tiny dorm room. At the secondhand furniture Maya and I bought at Goodwill freshman year. At the posters on the walls. At the string lights we hung to make it feel more like home.

Everything familiar is being ripped away.

My phone buzzes on the bed. Again. And again.

I grab it with numb fingers.

Seventy-three unread messages now.

I don't open them. I can't handle whatever people are saying.

But I can see the preview of the latest text. From Maya.

"Aria, please call me back. Something feels wrong. Are you ok? Do you need help?"

I should probably call her, explain, tell her..

"Time to go." Kai interrupts, already standing by the door with my duffel in his hand.

I look at my phone.Then I pocket it and follow him out.

The hallway is empty for once. Sunday morning, most people are still sleeping off their hangovers or listening to gossip apparently.

We step outside into the cold morning air. The parking lot is across the quad.

More people are out here. Doing laundry. Walking to dining halls and they all stop and stare when they see us.

Kai doesn't acknowledge them. Just keeps walking like he owns the place. Like all these staring eyes mean nothing.

His car is impossible to miss. A black BMW parked in a visitor spot. A car that probably costs more than my entire four years of education.

He opens the passenger door for me.

I got in. The interior smells like expensive leather and cologne. Everything is pristine and perfect.

Kai puts my duffel in the trunk and slides into the driver's seat. The engine purrs to life.

We pull out of the parking lot.