"She doesn't know he's dead?"
"In case you didn't notice, she's in shock. Now help me get rid of him."
"Fine, but I better get a full explanation later," Mike said.
"You will."
Mike helped him strip the sheets from Sera's bed and wrap Jacob in them. "Your car's out back, in the alley."
"Can you take him down by yourself?"
Mike lifted him and flung him over his shoulder. "Yeah. I'll meet you down there."
"Is Michelle at the house?" he asked, stopping Mike in the doorway.
"I don't know."
Liam nodded as Mike strode out the door. He instantly busied himself with cleaning up the mess in the room. He sopped up Sera's blood, and the little bit of Jacob's, with towels he tossed into a plastic bag. She'd been in the bathroom for a while, but he could still hear the shower. He had one more thing to do before he could make sure she was all right. He crossed the room, picked up the phone, and dialed the house number. His eyes searched the room for anything he might have missed, but the room appeared to be spotless.
"Is Kathleen there?" he yelled into the phone the minute someone answered.
"Who?" someone drunkenly shouted above the music, and the distinct chant of, "Strip, strip, strip!"
"Kathleen! Little blonde, big chest!"
"Oh, yeah, hold on."
The harsh clatter of the phone dropping made him flinch. "Hello!" Kathleen called into the phone.
"Kathleen, it’s Liam."
"Hey! Whassup?" she asked drunkenly. "You comin ta join the party?"
"Kathleen, sober up!" he snapped.
The sounds of the party began to fade. "What's wrong?" she asked, no longer having to scream into the phone.
"I just need to ask you a question."
"Is Sera okay? What's wrong?" Her voice raised an octave with every word.
"She's fine; everything is fine. I was just wondering if you had told someone about Jacob?"
"Jacob who? Wait a minute... oh, the ass?"
"Yes."
"No, of course not! Why? Don't tell me he tried to contact her. Bastard! No, I never told anyone. I wouldn't do that. She doesn't think I did, does she?" she asked in a shrill rush.
"No, no," he assured her. "Nobody thinks you did; I just had to make sure."
"What did he say to her?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it right now."
"Of course I'm going to worry about it. I'll be right there."
"No. Stay there; we're coming over."
"Are you sure? Does she need me? Are you sure she's okay?" Kathleen demanded.
"I'm positive. Just stay there. Is Michelle there?"
"Yeah, she's here. Where else would she be?"
"I'll be right there."
"Okay."
Liam hung up the phone and walked over to the door. He fiddled with the latch and put the screws back in as he fixed it to the best of his ability. There was nothing he could do about the splintered jam, but he didn't care. He looked into the hall as Sera emerged from the bathroom with a towel draped over her arm. Her hair hung wetly around her shoulders; her clothes were wrinkled and damp. The bandage was placed securely against the wound in her neck, a fact he was incredibly grateful for.
He stepped away from the door as she walked into the room. Her eyes still looked a little dazed, but she seemed calmer. Her skin was a livid red. His teeth ground together as he realized she’d scrubbed herself raw. "Feeling better?" he asked.
She looked around the room before focusing on him. "Yeah."
"I need to go to the frat house. I need to talk to Michelle."
She looked at him questioningly as she dropped the towel on the floor. "Why?"
He clasped hold of her arms. "I just do, and you're coming with me."
"Okay," she mumbled.
He was desperate to ease the lost look in her eyes, but he didn't know what to do to help her. He pulled her against him as he attempted to comfort her. "It'll be all right," he whispered. "He's never going to bother you again."
"Where is he?"
"He's gone."
She didn't seem to know how to take this as her forehead furrowed. Taking hold of her arm, he led her out the door to the elevator. They descended, and he walked her out the back, avoiding the main lobby, and the party. His car was parked by the door. Mike was leaning against it; his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at them. Liam opened the door for Sera and helped settle her into the car. She sat numbly as he hurried to the other side and Mike slid into the back.
He drove back to the frat house and pulled into the driveway. Throwing the car into park, he turned to look at her. "I need you to stay here."
"Why don't I take her in?" Mike suggested.
Liam shook his head as he squeezed her hand. "Will you be okay here?"
"Yes."
He kissed her as his hand lingered on her cheek. He hated to leave her, but he had to go inside and take care of this. "Stay with her," he ordered Mike.
He forced himself to release her as he flung the door open and climbed out. Mike hopped out of the back seat and slammed the door shut. "Liam, let me take her in," he said quietly.
"No, she stays here."
"Liam—"
"I have something I have to do. She's staying with me. Just watch her, I'll be right back."
Liam turned away and hurried into the house. Climbing the stairs, the music became louder as he ascended. Making it to the attic, he flung the door open to a packed room that shook with music and reeked of alcohol.
He hurried through the crowd as he searched for Michelle. Kathleen found him first. "Where is Sera?" she demanded her hands on her round hips.
"Outside," he answered as he peered over her head through the crowd.
"Is she all right?"
"She's fine. Where's Michelle?"
"She was on the dance floor. I'm going to see her."
He grabbed Kathleen's arm and halted her in place. "Not right now, okay?"
Kathleen glared up at him. "She's my best friend!"
