Pretty Little Savage (Sick Boys #1) - Lucy Smoke Page 0,89

few seconds, I quickly grab my bag and try to press my way out of the opposite side of the row. I'd rather take on both Braxton and Abel than Dean.

They don't stop me, but Dean's deep baritone does as he calls after me. "Be good, baby," he says loud enough for the whole class to hear.

If there was any question about the attention he's drawn to me, that one statement is the final nail in my coffin. My legs restart and I stomp out of the room. I'm so furious as I make my way out of the building that I don't even realize that I have a shadow until I turn a corner and spot him behind me.

"Jesus fuck!" I scream, rounding on him. "You scared the shit out of me."

Braxton rocks back on his feet, his hands in his pockets—and no book bag of any kind, I notice. "Sorry?" He smiles at me.

My brows lower as I stare at him for a moment. "How the fuck can someone as big as you make no noise?" I find myself asking.

His shoulders lift in a shrug, that smile remaining in place. "Why are you following me?" I demand after that nonanswer.

"Just going to class, li’l savage," he says, that nickname reminding me of his reaction to my fighting. He, at least, hadn't acted like such an overgrown asshole.

Turning abruptly, I start off in the opposite direction of my next class, calling over my shoulder as I go, "Have fun! I'm skipping today."

Not even a minute goes by and he's right back at my side, striding along with me. I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, my fists clenching and unclenching at my sides. "Didn't you hear me?" I ask. "I said I'm skipping."

"I heard you." He nods. "And if you're skipping then so am I."

"What the fuck, Brax?" I demand. "Are you Dean's lapdog now?"

Braxton lifts one hand out of his pockets and scratches at the back of his inky dark hair; a floppy curl falls over one brow as he cocks his head to the side. "You heard the man, Ava," he says lightly. "You're on lockdown."

"So?" I gesture between us. "This is not your normal lockdown. I've been on lockdown before. Just put me on that again and leave me the fuck alone. This isn't necessary."

Brax drops his hand. "If Dean says it is, it is," is all he says in response.

I inhale through my nose until it hurts and I let out a short, frustrated scream. Flipping around, I don't stop walking until I’m standing in front of the building to my next class. "This is fucking ridiculous," I comment as Braxton stops alongside me.

"Want my advice?" he asks.

I tip my head back and gaze up at him—all six foot five inches of him. "Fine," I huff, "just spit it out."

"Accept it," he says, making my lip curl back in disdain. He chuckles. "I'm serious," he continues. "You're not going to make him stop by fighting it. Just let him feel like he's in control and he'll let you have some freedom."

My head rolls back and my eyes turn from Brax's face to the sky. Slowly, with great effort and a lot of breathing, I let the tension drain from my body. "He can't control me, Brax," I say. "He might control everyone and everything else, but nobody controls me."

"I don't know why you don’t just give in," he replies as he steps forward, walking the ten steps it takes to get to the entrance. He reaches for the handle and holds the door for me. "Who knows? You might like it."

"That's not just doubtful," I say, taking a step towards him as I pass through and into the cooler interior, "it's fucking impossible."

34

Avalon

Murder. I'm honestly considering it. How to commit it and how to get away with it.

"Angry about something, princess?" Abel mocks as he walks behind me. I grit my teeth and ignore him, but he doesn't seem to mind all that much. He keeps talking. "I did warn you," he continues. "But you didn't listen."

"You never said he'd become this obsessive," I snap back, unable to stop myself.

Abel ambles forward, his longer legs easily overtaking mine even though I'm walking as fast as I can without breaking into a jog. He smirks down at me and it only makes me want to punch him in the face. "No one could have predicted that," he replies, "but you really only have yourself to