Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 48 - Khaleel

Matilda crawled onto her bunk and stopped talking to me. I guess my offer wasn't tempting enough. I didn't think there was anything I could say to change her mind either, so I climbed back up to my spot too. Why did she have feelings for someone who wasn't looking for a relationship? I never, not once, gave the impression that I wanted to be tied down. Well, I hoped she found what she was looking for, even if it wasn't with me. I didn't want to continue to hurt her, if that's what I was doing.

Matilda was gone by the time I woke up. I jumped down to look for her but found Arisa instead. She looked like she was doing a lot better and most of her injuries had been tended to with bandages. I wanted to make sure she wasn't afraid of me anymore but her priorities were set on contacting her mother. I told her Matilda took care of that. I wasn't sure if she heard me but I didn't care. Her soft baby blues were filling me with temptation—it was different than what I felt towards the Vice Prez. I didn't want to just hold her. I wanted to hold her and then make sure no one else ever did.

Shit. That made me as bad as Matilda.

Loyal walked out of the guest room and whisked Arisa away. I didn't stick around to hear the door shut—I didn't want to picture what they were doing together. I headed for the stairway and took the steps down into the foyer. I got a quick look at the grandfather clock in the den and confirmed that classes would start in an hour.

Matilda and Tomasia stood by the front door, dressed in their school uniforms, chatting about the upcoming student council meeting. I didn't hesitate to intervene on their conversation. I was ready to do anything to forget about Arisa Hoffman.

"Ah fuck," I groaned. "Please tell me I don't have to attend that shit."

Matilda rolled her eyes. "Put a shirt on."

"Don't worry about me, sweetheart," I said, refusing to make eye contact. I felt guilty about last night. Matilda wanted me the way I wanted Arisa—not just for my body but to keep me strictly for herself. Unfortunately, I couldn't give her that.

It was all so fucking frustrating.

If I couldn't have Arisa then maybe I should try harder with Matilda? No, something felt wrong about that. Fuck. Why couldn't people enjoy one another without adding labels to it? What the hell was so great about being in a 'relationship' anyway? I didn't want Matilda doodling my name in her fucking diary, planing our wedding, and picking names for our nonexistent children.

"I don't have to go?" I asked Tomasia.

"According to Loyal," Tomasia drawled, slipping into her black pumps. "You need to watch over Arisa. If you can convince her to attend then I will allow it."

"Hard pass. Appreciate the thought though."

"Suit yourself," Tomasia replied. "And for the love of god, be careful. Contrary to belief, I don't want anything bad happening to you."

"I'm touched but have a little faith."

"Who could possibly have faith in someone with that many scars?"

Annnnd, she was back to being an asshole. "See you around, Tommy," I seethed. I waited for a rebuttal but never got one.

The girls made their exit and left me to wander into the kitchen. I found Zander there, sitting on one of the velvet high-stools, enjoying a bowl of cereal all by his lonesome. "I didn't know you stay over too," I commented, from behind the double sink.

He glared daggers, his lanky figure hunching over to slurp a spoonful of milk. "Why would you know?" he asked. "What the hell is it to you?"

I raised a brow. Did someone shit in his bed this morning? The Wilsons did not own any pets, so that couldn't be it. I thought he was over what happened yesterday? He seemed to have cooled down when we brought Arisa to the manor. So, what the hell was his problem? God, he was such a moody little shit.

"Get a grip, Z," I said. "If you're going to hold grudges over our decision to leave you out of things, then learn to control your anger when it comes to Dobberman."

"Why should I?" the playboy asked, staring me down. Normally, I would have laughed at his attempt to intimidate me, but I was feeling sorry for him, so I decided to listen instead.

"After what he put Tomasia through?" he went on "We all want to see his head on a spike!"

"Yeah," I drawled. "Figuratively."