Chapter 20
Andrea sat alone on the locker room bench, her mind spinning. Aiden’s words replayed over and over in her head. The cold, emotionless way he had told her about Emma’s disappearance and the fallout that followed had left her shaken.
She rubbed her bruised knuckles absentmindedly, staring at the tiled floor. He had warned her—“Keep this to yourself if it’s satisfied your curiosity.” But had it?
No, she thought. It hadn’t.
Aiden’s honesty, rare and cutting, had felt like both a gift and a punishment. He hadn’t sugarcoated anything, hadn’t tried to make it easier for her to hear. He had simply laid the truth bare and left her to deal with the weight of it.
Andrea exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. She was starting to understand what Sophie meant when she’d warned her about the Sinclair brothers. They were dangerous, yes, but not just because of their power. They had a way of pulling you in, making you feel like you were part of something bigger—and that was dangerous in its own right.
Andrea was still lost in her thoughts when she received the message.
“Meeting. Tonight. Don’t ignore this. – Nathaniel.”
She stared at her phone, her stomach twisting. Nathaniel rarely messaged her directly, and when he did, it was never casual. She knew better than to brush it off.
The Sinclair brothers’ dormitory was as intimidating as ever, its tall windows glowing faintly in the night. Andrea hesitated at the door before finally knocking.
Gabriel opened it, his expression unreadable. “You’re late,” he said simply, stepping aside to let her in.
“I wasn’t given a time,” Andrea shot back, her nerves making her sharper than usual.
Gabriel smirked faintly but didn’t reply, leading her into the sitting room where the others were already gathered.
Aiden leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his expression dark. Liam was sprawled on the couch, twirling a pen between his fingers, while Nathaniel stood by the fireplace, his gaze fixed on the flames.
“Nice of you to join us,” Nathaniel said without looking up.
Andrea bristled but bit back a retort. “What’s this about?”
Nathaniel finally turned, his piercing gaze landing on her. “You,” he said simply.
Liam chuckled, breaking the tension. “Well, that narrows it down.”
Nathaniel ignored him, stepping closer to Andrea. “The threats against you are escalating,” he said, his tone clipped. “We need to address it before it gets out of hand.”
Andrea folded her arms. “And what does that have to do with you?”
Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. “More than you realize.”
“We have a reputation to protect,” Damien said from his seat near the window, his voice calm but cold. “If someone is targeting you, it’s because they think they can get away with it under our watch. That’s not acceptable.”
“So this is about your reputation,” Andrea said, her voice laced with bitterness.
“It’s about more than that,” Aiden interjected, his voice sharp. “It’s about control. If someone thinks they can come after you, what’s stopping them from coming after us next?”
“Exactly,” Nathaniel said, nodding. “Which is why we’ve come up with a plan.”
Andrea glanced between them, her unease growing. “What kind of plan?”
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed. “A party.”
Andrea blinked. “A party?”
Liam grinned, sitting up straighter. “Oh, come on, Queenie. Don’t sound so surprised. We’re not all work and no play.”
“It’s not just a party,” Nathaniel said, cutting through Liam’s teasing. “It’s bait. If someone is bold enough to target you, they’ll show up.”
“And what happens then?” Andrea asked, her voice wary.
“We deal with them,” Aiden said simply, his tone dark.
“Each of us will have a role,” Nathaniel continued, ignoring Andrea’s skepticism. “Gabriel will monitor the crowd. Liam will keep people distracted. Damien will handle… logistics.”
Andrea frowned. “And you?”
Nathaniel’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “I’ll make sure no one steps out of line.”
Andrea crossed her arms, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “And what’s my role in all of this? The helpless damsel?”
Nathaniel’s eyes flashed with something unreadable. “Your role is to stay alive, Andrea. Let us handle the rest.”
Andrea clenched her fists, wanting to argue but knowing it was pointless.
The next day, the cafeteria buzzed with excitement as Nathaniel stood at the center of the room, his presence commanding attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, his voice carrying effortlessly over the noise. “This weekend, the Sinclair dormitory will host an exclusive event. Attendance is mandatory for anyone who considers themselves a part of this academy’s elite.”
Murmurs rippled through the room, the air thick with curiosity and anticipation.
Andrea sat at her usual table, her heart pounding as Nathaniel’s gaze swept the room before landing squarely on her.
His eyes locked with hers, their intensity sending a shiver down her spine. There was something both protective and foreboding in his expression, a silent promise that left her breathless.
