My hand, poised to knock, froze. I hadn't expected Mateo to be here, but that wasn't why I hesitated to let them know I was here. No, it was the anger in his voice that had given me a pause.

"Answer me, damn it," Mateo demanded.

Looking through the crack in the door, I could only just make out Mateo's back.

What had he meant by Callan knowing about it? Knowing about what exactly?

I didn't want to think the worst, but I couldn't help it, no matter how much I trusted Callan. He would've told me if he'd known about me being Mateo's student. And yet, as confident as I was about that fact, there was still a part of me that was afraid I was wrong–which was why I now found myself eavesdropping instead of making my presence known.

"I'm so sorry," Callan said sincerely, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke.

"Fuck your sorrys, they don't mean shit. Now tell me."

"You remember the private investigator I'd hired to find Emma for us?" No. I took an unconscious step back, creating distance between me and whatever I was hearing. "He found out she was a student at your school, and he told me."

No. Please, no. I shook my head as new tears filled my eyes.

"You fucking bastard," Mateo cursed his friend. The last word was almost a whisper, but for those who knew Callan and his childhood knew it would cut deeper than any other word. A sliver of me could still feel bad for him, even while my heart was breaking for me.

"I should've told you, and I swear to you I didn't know she would be your student. We thought–"

"We?" Mateo cut him off. "Did Gideon know too?" Callan didn't answer back in words, but he didn't need to; Mateo's reaction was answer enough.

He laughed harshly. "Oh, this is great. Just fucking great to know that not only one of my best fucking friends, but both were keeping this from me."

I held a hand against my mouth, trying to mute my soft cries. My body shook as I tried to contain them. I wanted to get away, I couldn't bear to hear any more, but limbs refused to move.

"We thought," Callan tried again. "We thought by not telling you, neither of you would ever find out. You only have one semester left, and we figured that since you hadn't crossed paths by now...you were unlikely to."

Pressing my eyes closed, I tried staving off a wave of nausea.

"And look how that turned out!" The anger from Mateo and Callan's painful truths finally became too much. Not caring if I made any sounds, I pushed away from the door and staggered out of the club. The last thing I saw was Jennifer's smug look. I didn't even have it in me to care.

Private investigator...

It had all been a lie, I realized. From the first moment we'd met, they'd lied to me. They had pretended they didn't know who I was.

Oh, God. The sponsored membership. Did they have something to do with that too? After hearing how they'd hired a freaking PI to find me, I knew they must've also been behind getting me back to the club. They'd made me think they were going to help me find a dominant, that this arrangement between us was just a convenience, after they'd gone through all of that to find me.

They'd lied, and for what? So they could have me? Why? Why me?

Right from the start, I'd been manipulated and I'd fallen for it–I'd fallen for them. My fear really did come true. Falling for these men really did shatter me.

I made it a block before I threw up. My feelings were too deep, too messy for my body to handle. I threw up until my stomach hurt, and I didn't have anything more to empty, and even then, I dried heaved.

With a shaky hand, I used the hem of my t-shirt to wipe my mouth and continued walking down the road. I didn't know where I was going, but anywhere was better than here.

I jumped when my ringtone jerked me out of my thoughts. For a second, I contemplated ignoring it, but I was too curious about who was calling. Some stupid part of me hoped it was one of them, which was just damn dumb of me.

Why was it that the people who hurt me were also the ones I wanted comfort from?

But it wasn't any of them calling.

"Hi, girly. I just wanted to hear how your first day went?" His cheery mood broke me further.

"Kevin," I gasped as I held the phone to my ear. All my heartbreak went into that one word.

"Where are you?" he demanded, suddenly too serious for my friend's usual personality.

"I–I don't know."

"Send me your location while I'm on the phone with you." I hadn't done that before, but he guided me through it. "Alright. Stay on the line with me. I'm getting there as soon as I can."

"But you're still sick," I protested weakly.

"Nah, I'm feeling better, and even if I wasn't it wouldn't have mattered. When you need me, I'm there." His kindness brought fresh tears to my eyes. "Stay on the line with me," he repeated, and I did. Other than asking if I was safe, he didn't question me, and for that, I was grateful. I wasn't ready to talk. I stayed on the phone with him until I saw him running down the street forty-five minutes later.

He dragged me into his arms and held me as I broke down. Deep sobs wrecked their way through my body, and he comforted me through it all.

"It'll be alright, honey." He kept whispering reassurance to me. I didn't believe them.

I was beginning to calm down when he started stroking my hair, and that gesture only made it worse. It reminded me of Callan, and right now, I couldn't stand thinking about him.

"Shh. I'm here," Kevin cooed. "Come on, let's get you home."

Home, as it turned out, was his apartment. He must've known my apartment was the last place I wanted to be right now. Whenever the guys found out I knew the truth, I was afraid they'd show up at my door, and I didn't have the strength to face them any time soon.

Kevin hailed a taxi and helped me inside before joining me. His hand holding mine throughout the drive.

By the time we drove down his block, my tears were dry and a headache was building behind my eyes.

"That'll be seventy-six dollars," the taxi driver stated. Kevin paid the ridiculous amount of money without blinking an eye.

"I'm paying you back," I promised, but he just waved me off.

"You'll do no such thing." I narrowed my eyes, but I didn't have the energy to argue with him about money. With my hand still in his, he led me inside his apartment building.

His living room was ridiculously clean and tidy for someone who'd been sick. His floors were shining, and not a single clothing article was anywhere in sight, which was unusual for him.

Seeing me taking in the room, he shrugged, "Thomas cleaned it while I went to get you. He wanted you to be comfortable here."

My lips stretched in a watery smile. "That was nice of him. Where is he now?"

"He went home. It'll be just you and me." I was relieved to hear it. Thomas was a good man, but I needed my best friend for myself right now.

"Do you want something to eat?" Kevin asked, but I just shook my head. "What about something to drink?"

"Could I get some water? And maybe an aspirin?"

He nodded. "You look exhausted. Go lie down in my bedroom. Take whatever clothes you want from my closet. There's also a new toothbrush in the bathroom, and the sheets on the bed are all clean," he said. "I'll bring the water and aspirin to you."

"Thank you." My voice was low and tired, but he could still hear me.

After changing into one of his t-shirts and brushing my teeth, I climbed into bed. Kevin came soon after with a glass of water and painkillers. He didn't ask me any questions, only joined me in bed when I'd asked him to. I didn't want to be alone.

My phone rang from where it laid on the nightstand, and my entire body stiffened at the sound, but I didn't make a move to get it. After it rang for the third time, Kevin asked, "Do you want me to check who it is?"

"Yeah."

Kevin leaned over me and reached for my phone. "It's Callan. Do you want to take it, or...?"

A tear fell from my eye, and I shook my head. "No. Could you put my phone on airplane mode, please?"

"Sure thing, girly. Should I set an alarm for tomorrow for you?"

The thought of going to school tomorrow only made me burrow further inside the blanket. "Set if for ten o'clock." My first class didn't start until twelve PM, but I already knew I wouldn't go. I just needed a day to gather myself back together; that wasn't too much to ask, was it?

It took too long to fall asleep, even thought I was exhausted from the crying. My eyes flitted to my phone regularly, wondering if Callan had tried calling me again or texting me. Did he know I'd been at the club today? Did he know that I'd overheard his conversation with Mateo?

I wanted to check my notifications. But I didn't.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow I would figure out my next steps. Right now, I just wanted sleep to take me under and make me forget, if only for a couple of hours.

I know you might be getting impatient, but I promise povs from the guys will be coming soon xx