Chapter 42 – Cover Fire
Sam's POV
I knew the second Declan’s voice rang across the common room that something was wrong.
“Hey, Hale,” he called, too loud, too smug. “Mind explaining this?”
My stomach plummeted. He was holding something in his hand, dangling it like bait.
The binder.
No, no, no.
My heart nearly exploded out of my chest as every pair of eyes in Dorm 9 turned toward me. Mason leaned forward eagerly, Connor snickered, and even a couple of guys from the rival dorm paused in their game to watch.
I forced my feet to move. “Give it back.”
Declan twirled it in his fingers like it was a toy. “What is it? A secret stash? A weapon? Or…” his smirk deepened, “something a little more interesting?”
My throat closed. Words caught like barbed wire in my mouth. If I lunged, I’d look guilty. If I laughed it off, they’d want to see more.
I was cornered.
Before I could even think of an answer, Elias stood up from the couch. His voice cut through the room, calm but sharp.
“Declan.”
Everyone froze.
Elias walked toward us slowly, hands in his pockets, like he had all the time in the world. His gaze was locked on Declan, cold as steel. “Put it back.”
Declan arched a brow. “Why? Hale’s not denying it’s his. What’s the big deal? Unless…” He held it higher, smirking. “Unless you’re hiding something.”
I opened my mouth, desperate for words, but Elias beat me to it.
“It’s mine.”
My head whipped toward him. What?
Elias didn’t flinch. He just plucked the binder out of Declan’s hand and tucked it under his arm. “I left it by Hale’s stuff last night. Didn’t think anyone here was pathetic enough to snoop.”
The room erupted with whistles and jeers. Mason laughed. “You? Keeping a secret stash? What is it, Cross, your diary?”
“None of your business,” Elias said flatly. “And if you touch my things again, Declan, you won’t like how it ends.”
Declan’s smirk faltered just a fraction, though he covered it quickly. “Relax. No need to get defensive.”
“Good,” Elias said, already turning away. “Then we won’t have a problem.”
He didn’t look at me as he walked past, but when he brushed by, his hand tightened around the binder, protective and deliberate.
My lungs worked again. Barely.
Later, back in our room, the silence was unbearable. I sat on my bed, staring at my shaking hands, while Elias dropped the binder onto my desk with a heavy thud.
“Care to explain?” His voice was low, dangerous.
I swallowed. “I—I can explain.”
“I’d love to hear it.” He leaned against the desk, arms folded, eyes locked on me like he could peel the truth right off my skin. “Because I just lied for you in front of everyone.”
My throat felt raw. “I didn’t ask you to.”
“No,” he said sharply. “You didn’t. And that’s the point. I did it because if Declan had opened this in front of the whole dorm, whatever you’re hiding would’ve been over. You would’ve been over.”
I dropped my gaze, heart pounding so loud I couldn’t think.
“Sam.” His voice softened, but it wasn’t gentle—it was edged with frustration. “What the hell are you doing?”
I bit my lip until it hurt. “I can’t tell you.”
Elias pushed off the desk, pacing. “You can’t tell me, or you won’t?”
“Both.”
He let out a sharp laugh, running a hand through his hair. “You’re insane. Do you even realize how close that was? Declan isn’t going to stop. Mason won’t stop. They smell blood now.”
“I’ll handle it.” My voice cracked.
“You can’t handle it!” He turned on me, eyes burning. “You’re one slip away from being caught, and when that happens, no one’s going to save you. Not me, not anyone. So, what are you going to do then?”
I blinked hard, fighting the sting in my eyes. “I don’t know.”
For a long moment, Elias just stared at me. His jaw clenched, then loosened. Finally, he muttered, “You’re going to get yourself killed.”
Silence pressed in, heavy and suffocating.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He frowned. “For what?”
“For covering for me.”
Elias exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “Don’t thank me. Just… be smarter. Or at least give me something, Hale. Anything. Why are you doing this?”
I almost cracked. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue—I’m not who you think I am. I’m not a boy. I’m here because of my sister.
But the weight of it, the risk, pressed my mouth shut.
“I can’t,” I said finally.
His eyes searched mine, long and hard, like he was trying to dig out the truth by force. Then, quietly, he said, “You’re going to make me regret this, aren’t you?”
I didn’t answer.
The next day, Declan wasn’t done.
He sidled up to me in the hallway, that same smug grin plastered on his face. “So, Hale. Rough night? Must suck having your roommate babysit your secrets.”
I kept walking. “Get lost, Declan.”
He matched my pace easily. “You know, Cross can’t protect you forever. One of these days, I’m going to find out what you’re hiding. And when I do…” He leaned close, his voice a whisper. “You’re mine.”
My stomach turned. “You’re pathetic.”
He chuckled. “We’ll see.”
Before I could retort, Elias appeared out of nowhere, stepping between us. His tone was calm, but there was an edge that made even Declan hesitate.
“Problem?”
Declan smirked wider. “Not at all. Just chatting.”
“Good,” Elias said, eyes like knives. “Then chat somewhere else.”
Declan’s gaze flicked between us, calculating. Then he laughed, holding up his hands. “Fine. I’ll leave your little friend alone. For now.”
He sauntered off, and I realized my hands were fists at my sides.
“You okay?” Elias asked, his voice quieter now.
I nodded, though my throat felt tight. “Yeah. Thanks.”
He studied me for a moment, then said, “You don’t have to do this alone, you know.”
I looked at him, my chest aching with how badly I wanted to believe him.
But I couldn’t. Not yet.
That night, when the dorm finally quieted and the others drifted off, Elias sat at his desk, tapping a pen against his notebook. He didn’t look at me when he spoke.
“You’re hiding something big.”
I froze in my bed. “Why do you care?”
He finally turned, his gaze sharp in the dim light. “Because I keep finding myself covering for you, and I don’t even know why. Because I can’t stand watching Declan circle you like a vulture. And because if you fall, Hale, I think you’re going to drag me down with you.”
I swallowed hard. “Then stop helping me.”
His lips quirked, humorless. “It’s too late for that.”
We stared at each other across the shadows, silence stretching until it was unbearable.
Finally, Elias shook his head, leaning back. “One day, I’m going to find out. And when I do, I hope you’ve got a damn good reason for all of this.”
I turned away, pressing my face into the pillow, hiding the tears burning at the corners of my eyes.
Because he was right. And the worst part was—
I wasn’t sure if I’d survive the day he found out.
But the cliff came faster than either of us expected.
The very next morning, Mason barged into our room without knocking, laughing loud. “Hey, Hale, Cross—you guys coming or what? Declan’s got a new game lined up.”
Elias groaned. “What kind of game?”
Mason smirked. “The kind where secrets spill. Don’t be late.”
My blood turned to ice.
Secrets.
If they set me up again, I didn’t know if Elias could cover for me twice.
And maybe… maybe he wouldn’t.