"Later," I interrupted, suddenly exhausted. "I just got here. Can we just… later?"
Hurt flashed across his face, but he nodded. "Okay. Later. But Emma?" He touched my arm gently. "I'm really glad you're here. I've missed you. So much."
The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache. "I've missed you too," I admitted.
Adrian cleared his throat. "Touching reunion. Shall we?"
As we walked toward the dorms, Adrian beside me carrying my suitcase and Kai trailing behind us like a guard dog, my phone buzzed.
"I warned you about boys with pretty faces. You just met both of them. One will break your heart. One will save your life. Choose wisely. You have 48 hours."
I nearly dropped my phone.
"Something wrong?" Adrian asked, too observant.
"No. Just my mom checking in."
But I could feel him watching me. Calculating. Like he knew I was lying.
We reached Whitmore Hall, and Adrian set my suitcase down. "Room 304. Third floor. Elevator's broken, so you'll have to take the stairs."
"Of course it is," I muttered.
"I can carry it up," Kai offered immediately.
"So can I," Adrian said.
"I can carry my own suitcase," I said, exasperated. "Thank you both. Goodbye."
I grabbed the handle and started dragging it toward the door, the broken wheel making an awful scraping sound.
"Emma," Adrian called. I turned. He was watching me with those intense blue eyes. "Welcome to Riverside. I think this semester just got a lot more interesting."
There was something in the way he said it. Like a promise. Or a threat.
After they both finally left Kai reluctantly, Adrian with an amused smirk I dragged my suitcase up three flights of stairs, my arms burning by the time I reached my door.
Room 304 was small but decent. Two beds, two desks, one window overlooking the quad. My roommate hadn't arrived yet, so I had first choice. I took the bed by the window.
As I unpacked, I kept replaying the messages in my head. One will break your heart. One will save your life.
Kai Sullivan my childhood best friend who I'd abandoned three years ago.
Adrian Blake a stranger who looked at me like he could see straight through my lies.
One of them was dangerous.
But which one?
My phone buzzed again. This time, it was a photo. My blood ran cold.
It was Sarah. Standing in front of this exact building. Whitmore Hall. The timestamp: Two years and three months ago.
The text below read: "Your sister lived in Room 304. You're sleeping in her bed. This isn't coincidence, Emma. They brought you here. Just like they brought her. Find out why before you end up like her."
I sat down hard on the bed Sarah's bed my hands shaking so badly I could barely hold the phone.
Sarah had been here. At Riverside. In this room.
But she was supposed to be at State University. That's what she told everyone. That's what her acceptance letter said.
Why would she lie?
A knock on the door made me jump.
"Emma? It's Kai. Can we talk? Please?"
I opened the door. He stood there, hands in his pockets, looking vulnerable in a way that reminded me of the boy I'd grown up with.
"I shouldn't have pushed earlier," he said. "I'm sorry. I just… seeing you again after three years. I wasn't prepared."
"How long have you been at Riverside?" I asked.
"This is my second year. I'm a photography major." He paused. "Emma, I didn't come here by accident. I came here looking for answers about what happened to my dad. And…" He took a breath. "About what happened to your sister."
The floor dropped out from under me. "What?"
"Sarah," he said quietly. "She was here, wasn't she? That's why you transferred. You're trying to figure out what really happened to her."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I've been investigating it for a year.
And Emma…" His green eyes met mine, serious and scared. "She didn't die in an accident. She was murdered. And the people who killed her are still here."
Before I could respond, my phone rang. Unknown number. I answered without thinking.
"Hello?"
"Emma Chen." The voice was male, smooth, educated. "Welcome to Riverside. I've been waiting for you."
"Who is this?"
"Someone who knew your sister. Someone who knows what you're looking for. And someone who can help you find it… for a price."
"What price?"
"Stay away from Adrian Blake. His family is more dangerous than you can imagine. If you get close to him, you'll end up just like Sarah."
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone, then at Kai, who was watching me with concern.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"I don't know." My voice shook. "But they know about Sarah. They know why I'm here."
Kai stepped closer. "Emma, I meant what I said. I've been looking into this for a year.
Whatever you're planning to do, don't do it alone. Let me help you."
I wanted to trust him. God, I wanted to trust someone. But the message had warned me not to trust anyone.
"Why do you care?" I asked. "Why investigate Sarah's death?"
"Because…" He ran his hand through his hair, frustrated. "Because your sister came to me a week before she died. She said she was investigating something dangerous at Riverside. She asked me to keep an eye on you if anything happened to her. And then she died, and you wouldn't talk to me, and I…" His voice broke. "I failed her, Emma. I failed you both. I'm not going to fail you again."
Tears burned in my eyes. "Kai…"
"I know you don't trust me right now. I know I have a lot to explain about why I'm really here. But Emma, please believe me when I say I would never let anyone hurt you. Never."
Before I could respond, there was another knock. I opened the door to find Adrian Blake standing there, holding a takeout bag and two coffee cups.
"Dinner," he said simply. "You looked hungry earlier. And overwhelmed. I thought you could use both food and company." His eyes slid to Kai. "Though I see you already have company."
"She doesn't want your charity, Blake," Kai said coldly.
"Why don't we let Emma decide what she wants?" Adrian's smile was sharp. He looked at me. "What do you say, Emma? Dinner? I promise the food is amazing and the conversation is… enlightening."
I looked between them. Kai familiar, safe, claiming he wanted to protect me. Adrian mysterious, dangerous, bringing me food like he knew I'd need it.
One will break your heart. One will save your life.
"I…" I didn't know what to say.
My phone buzzed. One more message: "Choose carefully, Emma. Your next decision could be your last. Clock is ticking. 47 hours and 23 minutes remaining."
A countdown.
To what?
"Emma?" Both men said my name at the same time, both sounding worried.
I looked up at them at Kai with his familiar green eyes and Adrian with his dangerous blue ones and realized something terrifying.
I was already falling for both of them.
And one of them might be trying to kill me.