Trouble at Brayshaw High - Meagan Brandy Page 0,18

Collins’ jaw.

He falls back, banging against the metal beside me.

Collins spits and rushes for Maddoc who holds his hands out, inviting him in.

Students hear the commotion and rush into the hall, but Captain and Royce create a brick wall, forcing them back and slam the cafeteria doors closed.

When I hear a deep groan, my eyes snap back to the two.

Collins nails Maddoc in the gut, but he laughs and bends slightly, gripping Collins under the leg and behind the shoulder. He lifts him, slamming him sideways into the wall before letting him crash to the floor with a loud thud.

“Grab her like that again, motherfucker and I’ll break your arms.”

Collins’ eyes fly to mine quickly, and it’s written across his face.

Fix this.

Damn it.

I bite through the soft flesh of my cheek, hard and quick, until blood trickles down my throat. My cheeks will be raw by the time this is all over.

Maybe if my body bleeds, my heart won’t.

“He can grab me however he wants,” I say, and I’m surprised it’s come out so strong when in my own head it feels like a filthy fucking whisper.

Maddoc swings around, his eyes wide and wild. He has to convince himself I’ve just said what I did.

Royce and Captain are now taking slow steps closer, deep frowns directed at me, and I didn’t miss Perkins slide in on the other side of the hall.

I’d swear he wears a smirk.

Maddoc’s shoulders tense, but he moves toward me.

Anger and uncertainty.

God, what am I doing? This wasn’t supposed to hurt them like this.

I release a deep breath and take a half step toward him, but Collins jumps to his feet and steps forward.

Maddoc glares down at me, his hands twitching at his sides.

Students have shuffled in now.

“Rae...” Collins calls, the fakest tenderness I’ve ever heard ringing through loud and clear for all these fuckers to witness.

Can I do this in front of all their people? With the enemy?

Do I have a fucking choice?

I drop my eyes from his, unable to look him in the eyes this time, and step past, but of course, his hand shoots up and he stops me at his side, shoulder to shoulder, my front facing one way, his the other.

We both shift to look at each other.

His grasp shakes against me as his nostrils flare.

I see in his eyes what I feel.

This is torture.

“Madman,” Royce says quietly.

It works, Maddoc snaps out of it, a shield suddenly hiding his eyes from me, and I’m released. He storms down the hall.

Collins steps forward and I grind my teeth discreetly as he grips my hand and feathers my fingers over his lips. He pulls me away with a gentleness he fights hard to keep.

Fake ass bitch.

As soon as we’re around the corner, he shoves me into a dark classroom and gets in my face.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” he growls, slamming his hand against the wall beside my head like he expects me to jump.

I don’t.

“Why do I keep having to remind you to keep your ass in line?” he seethes.

“Because I’m shit for a listener.”

“Well you better fucking learn, or else the video will end up not only on the damn school website but on the evening fucking news.”

“You don’t have the balls.”

“If you believed that, you wouldn’t be here.”

I shove him away.

“I know you do, baby,” he says randomly, quickly moving in. He whispers, “Stay still, and do not look, Bray number three is about to be watching.” His hand finds my waist and squeezes.

Bray number three?

He’s a fool. There is no number three, there are only three number ones – each as strong as the next, none weaker than the other. If he’s hoping to find a kink in their line, he’ll be disappointed.

“I’m going to lean in, and you’re going to let me. Do not push me,” he warns quietly.

“You’ll pay for all this eventually, Graven. In one way or another,” I hiss.

He chuckles against me, his breath growing closer to my neck, his grip on my waist lifting higher.

I dig my nails into his bicep, enough to leave a mark and he tenses like a bitch.

“I promise, baby,” he says purposely. “He barely touched me, don’t worry.” His lips slide across my jaw and I close my eyes so I don’t have to see his face.

His mouth comes down on mine, and in the same instant, there’s a loud bang in the hallway, followed by retreating footsteps.

I shove him away before his lips make full contact,