Odessa’s POV
I should have walked away.
That’s what any sensible woman would do; the conversation was over.
I’d embarrassed myself and threatened someone I barely knew, and somehow managed to make him look at me like I was the most naïve person he’d ever met.
I should have gone to class.
Instead, I watched Landon shove both hands into the pockets of his hoodie and continue down the hallway without looking back.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I followed him.
“Odessa?”
I froze.
Maya stood several feet away, balancing two coffees in one hand.
“There you are!
I’ve been looking everywhere.”
“Oh,” I forced a smile, “I was just…” My eyes drifted toward the hallway Landon had disappeared into.
“Heading somewhere.”
She followed my gaze.
“Harlway?”
My expression betrayed me, and her eyebrows shot upward.
“No.
You’re following him.”
“I’m not.”
“You absolutely are.”
“I just,” I sighed, “need to talk to him.”
Maya looked horrified.
“Voluntarily?”
“It’ll only take a minute.”
She grabbed my arm before I could leave.
Her voice dropped.
“Seriously, just let him leave.”
“What?”
“Don’t follow him.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because it’s Landon.”
“So?”
“So,” she searched for the right words, “he doesn’t let people into his life.”
“I don’t want to get into his life; I just want him to agree to the tutoring.”
Maya lowered her voice even further.
“And every single person who’s tried to dig into his business has regretted it.”
A chill ran through me.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted honestly, “but rumors follow him everywhere.”
“What kind of rumors?”
She hesitated.
“I’ve heard people say he gets into fights.”
I almost laughed.
*If only you knew.*
“Others say he’s connected to dangerous people.” My smile faded.
“And some,” she glanced around before whispering, “say he’s in a gang.”
The words echoed in my head.
*A gang?* That didn’t feel right.
Yes.
A gang member?
I wasn’t convinced.
“I’ll be careful.”
Maya sighed.
“I know you think you will.”
“I will.”
She looked unconvinced.
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
She reluctantly let go of my arm.
“If you’re not back in fifteen minutes,” she pointed a warning finger at me, “I’m coming to find you.”
I smiled.
“You watch too many crime documentaries.”
“And you make a lot of terrible decisions.”
With one last worried glance, Maya walked away.
I waited until she disappeared around the corner, then I turned back toward the hallway.
Landon was nowhere to be seen.
“Great.”
I hurried after him, walking past the library and the science building, and past the student parking lot.
He walked so fast—how was I supposed to keep up?
I finally spotted him crossing the athletic field toward the old maintenance buildings at the edge of campus.
The farther he went, the fewer students there were.
Soon, the laughter from campus faded behind me, and only the sound of the wind remained.
Landon disappeared around the corner of an old brick storage building.
I slowed my pace and followed, then I heard voices.
I instinctively ducked behind a row of neatly trimmed hedges bordering the path.
Very carefully, I peeked around the corner and saw three men waiting.
They definitely weren’t students.
They were wearing leather jackets with heavy boots and tattooed necks.
One had a long scar running across his cheek; another lazily spun a set of motorcycle keys around his finger.
The tallest stepped forward.
“There you are.”
Landon didn’t answer.
Instead, he folded his arms.
“What?”
The scarred man looked around cautiously before lowering his voice.
“Boss Vincent wants his money tonight.”
My breath hitched.
*Boss Vincent?
Who was that?*
Landon’s expression didn’t change.
“I know,” he said.
“You’re short again.”
“I said I know.”
“The Boss isn’t happy.”
“I don’t care if he’s happy,” Landon snapped.
The second man laughed nervously.
“You should.”
The first one pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket.
“Interest went up.”
My stomach dropped.
*Debt?*
Landon took the paper without looking at it.
“I’ll have it.”
“You said that last week.”
“I’ll have it tonight.”
The three men exchanged glances, then the tallest finally nodded.
“You’d better.” He leaned closer.
“Boss Vincent doesn’t like waiting.”
“I know.”
“And if you miss another payment,” he smiled, “we stop asking nicely.”
The threat lingered in the air for a moment.
No one spoke, then the men walked away.
I stayed frozen behind the hedge.
Landon was really a big surprise—underground fighting, and now owing loan sharks?
He’d better agree to my deal, so the sooner he passes his exams, the sooner I can be out of his life.
A branch snapped beneath my foot, and the tiny crack echoed through the empty courtyard.
Silence.
*Oh my god, Odessa.*
Landon’s head turned straight toward my hiding spot.
My heart stopped.
Very slowly, he walked toward the hedge.
*No, no, no.
Please keep walking.
Please.*
The footsteps stopped, and a shadow fell over me.
Then a hand shot through the branches, grabbing my wrist.
Before I could scream, I was yanked out from behind the hedge.
Our eyes met, and recognition flashed across his face.
I was practically shivering from the expression on his face, and then he pressed me against the wall and grabbed my throat.
His long fingers wrapped around it, but he wasn’t choking me.
“Who sent you?” he said.
“No one,” I choked out.
“Are you a little spy for Paxton?” he asked.
I shook my head repeatedly, then he leaned in until I could feel his breath on my face.
He smelled like mint and a chocolate musky perfume.
“Mind your business and stay out of my way, or else you won’t like the outcome.”
“Until you let me tutor you, I’ll never stay out of your way.”
He chuckled.
“Then let’s strike a deal.
I let you tutor me, but what’s in it for you?” he asked.
“The grades, and you’ll protect me from bullies.”
He laughed, and it was so refreshing to hear him laugh.
“Alright then.
In six months, I’ll be taking the exam.
You keep my secret and tutor me; I protect you, and then this deal is off,” he said.
“Deal.”
“It’s a deal then, princess.”
I just made a deal with the devil