Chapter 45

Seraphina POV

The weight of the day is heavier than I expected. I can feel their eyes on me, always watching, always waiting for me to crack. Damon, Tyrone, Marius—all of them taking turns as my personal bodyguards. They’ve turned my entire day into a high-stakes game, each of them making me promise over and over to stay out of trouble, to be safe, as if I’m some helpless little girl they need to protect.

They don’t know anything, though. They don’t know what I’ve been planning. They think this is just about keeping a few girls safe, making sure nothing goes wrong at the parties. They think I'm just a naïve sorority girl, but I’ve been playing my part well—too well.

Classes drag on, but I keep up the act. I’m the innocent one. The girl who could never be involved in something as dangerous as this. I’m the one who worries about everything and everyone. But when I’m alone, in my room at Alpha Phi, that’s when the plan runs through my mind again. Every detail. Every person in position. I can’t afford any mistakes.

The plan is simple. If one of the girls gets taken, I’ll be there. I’ll stop it before they even know what’s happening. I won’t let anyone else fall victim to this game. But I can’t show them that I know what’s coming. I have to pretend like I’m just an innocent bystander.

The only thing I can’t plan for is my own feelings. I’m supposed to be distanced, calm, focused—but every time one of them touches me, talks to me, it’s harder to keep my emotions locked away. Especially when Damon looks at me with that possessive gleam in his eye.

I glance at my phone and check the messages from my men. They’re ready. They all know their roles. My heart is pounding, but I can’t let it show. Not yet. Tonight is the night I end this, and I won’t fail.

Marius POV

I’m pacing back and forth in the frat house, barely able to sit still. The guilt gnaws at me, sharper than it’s ever been. I keep thinking about my sister—what happened to her three years ago. I wasn’t strong enough to protect her. I wasn’t prepared when it mattered most, and now I’m paying the price.

But this time will be different. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her.

Her.

Seri.

I can’t let it happen again. Not with her. Not with anyone else.

I take a long drink, trying to steady my nerves. Tonight is the night the stakes are the highest. If something goes wrong, I’ll never forgive myself. I’ll have failed her like I failed my sister.

My mind keeps going back to her face—her eyes. She’s the one I need to keep safe, but I don’t know if I can focus on the job at hand if she’s in danger. She’s too precious to me now, and I won’t let anyone touch her. Not while I’m around.

I glance at the clock. It’s almost time to head to the party. I need to focus. No more thinking about her, no more distractions. I have to keep my head in the game.

Tyrone POV

I’m organizing the men, making sure everything is set in motion. I don’t leave room for error. Every move is planned, every person in their place. We’ve got eyes on all three parties tonight, and I won’t allow anything to slip through the cracks.

I can feel the tension building in the air. This is what I was born to do—strategize, control, execute. But there’s something about tonight that feels different. Something off. I’m not worried about the plan; I’m worried about her.

Seri.

I can’t get her out of my head. I know I have to keep her away from all this. She doesn’t need to get tangled up in our mess. But the more I think about it, the more I realize—she’s already in it. She’s already playing the game.

And I can’t stop it.

I shake off the thoughts and focus on what I need to do. Tonight, everything changes. We find the people responsible for these abductions, and we take them down. No one gets hurt. Not while I’m in control.

Damon POV

I’m putting on my jacket, readying myself for what’s to come. The men are in position, and I know I should be focused on the party, on the people we need to watch. But my thoughts keep drifting back to her.

Seri.

I can’t help it. Every time I see her, every time she looks at me with that cool, calculated gaze, I feel this need—this damn need to claim her, to contorl her. It’s frustrating. She’s not like the other girls. She’s harder to break, harder to control. But that only makes me want her more.

I keep telling myself that it’s just about tonight—that I’m here to make sure everything goes according to plan. But I know what I’m really thinking. I want to be close to her. I want to take what’s mine. I want her to feel the same way about me.

When I slip into her room at the sorority house that night, I’m not even sure what I’m looking for. Maybe just a moment alone with her. A moment where I can let go of everything else and just focus on her.

I find her sitting at her desk, working, the faint glow of the lamp casting shadows on her face. She doesn’t even hear me come in.

“Damon,” she says, her voice like a warning.

I shut the door behind me and step closer, my eyes locked on hers. “I couldn’t stay away.”

She doesn’t say anything, just watches me. And it’s enough. It always is.

I reach for her, pulling her to her feet, and I kiss her. A slow, possessive kiss. It’s not about passion this time; it’s about control. I need her to understand that she’s mine. She belongs to me.

When I pull away, she’s breathless, her eyes dark with something that almost looks like frustration.

“I’m not asking you to stay out of it,” I murmur, my voice low. “I just want you to stay safe. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Her lips curl into a defiant smile. “I can take care of myself.”

I cup her face, my thumb brushing over her lips. “I know. But that’s not what i mean.”

I kiss her again, this time harder, more urgent. She responds with just as much intensity, but when I pull away, I can see it in her eyes. She’s not giving in, not yet.

“Stay safe, Seri,” I whisper. “Promise me.”

She doesn’t say anything, but the look she gives me is answer enough. She’s in this, whether I want her to be or not.

Seraphina POV

The door clicks shut behind Damon, and I stand there for a moment, feeling the lingering heat from his kiss. His possessive grip on me still burns on my skin, and as much as I want to forget it, I can’t. His presence, that dangerous pull, it leaves me shaken, but I can’t let that derail me. Tonight isn’t about Damon or the other two men. It’s about what’s coming. What I’m going to do.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and glance at the time. An hour before the parties start. An hour before everything changes.

I move to the mirror, adjusting my hair for the final time. My outfit—carefully chosen, crafted for one purpose—clings to my skin, sleek and purposeful. It’s tactical, but designed to keep up the illusion. A fitted black dress that hugs me in all the right places, enough to turn heads, but not enough to make me feel exposed. High neck, long sleeves, subtle yet bold. I’m walking that fine line between being desirable and being prepared.

I slip on black heels, just the right height to give me confidence without the risk of losing my footing if I need to move quickly. I strap the small, slim belt around my waist, and under the fabric, I feel the weight of the knife hidden there. A quiet little safety net, tucked away but accessible in a heartbeat. No one will know it’s there. Not unless they need to.

I take one more look in the mirror—studying myself, scrutinizing every angle. It’s not just about looking the part; it’s about playing the part. To everyone else, I’m just the sorority girl, pretending to care, pretending to be innocent. But I’m not. Not really. I know the truth about what’s happening tonight, and I have to keep the men in the dark. They can’t know my real plan. They can’t know I’m more than just a spectator.

I pull out my phone, double-checking the messages. My men have all confirmed their positions. I close my eyes for a moment, running through the plan once more. If one of the girls is taken tonight—if someone tries to abduct anyone—I’ll be there. I’ll stop it. But no one can know that I’ve been tracking this. No one can know that I’ve pieced it all together. It’s too dangerous. So, I keep up the façade. The scared, innocent girl. It’s what they expect.

When I step out of my room, I’m the picture of calm. The perfect blend of the innocent sorority girl and someone who knows exactly how to play this game. The men may be watching, but they don’t see me. Not really. They never will.