Page 101 of Reckless Vengeance

Why couldn’t I just treat my relationship with Jensen the same as I could with Rory? I didn’t want to be ashamed of my feelings, but it felt like everyone was judging us for it, even if they weren’t.

I let his hand go as my thoughts got worse, and he thankfully didn’t mention it, giving me the space I needed.

I knew it was Mom in my head, but I couldn’t shut her up or stop thinking about it.

We walked into the classroom where we had Business, finding Rory and the guys already sitting at their tables. The tension returned, but then Caden looked over at me with a wince.

“Hey. I’m sorry.”

“Can you repeat that?” I asked lightly, his eyes narrowing.

“I said I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“For making you cry like a little—” Rory kicked him, and he huffed. “For being insensitive to your concerns.”

“Are you still having a party?” I asked, and Tyler rested his arms on the desk to look around Caden and answered.

“Yes, but we’ll hire proper security. Student ID checks at the door. Most of the Soldiers look older than teenagers so they’ll be pretty obvious anyway.”

It made sense, even if it still made me nervous.

“Do you guys really care if we’re top of the food chain here? Honestly?” I sighed, sitting down at my desk as Jensen pushed it a little by sitting on it and dropping his legs either side of me.

I wanted to scoot back a little and tug him onto my lap, I liked holding him, but I just couldn’t right now.

“No, I don’t give a shit about it,” Caden scoffed. “The problem is, people will turn on us. Soldiers can get leverage, Rory would become a target all over again, and it’s one less thing we have to deal with if we keep the peace. We’ve only got six months left in this shithole, dude. Then we’re out of here and none of it will matter anymore.”

“I’m happy to burn this place down and say fuck everyone,” Rory piped up, giving Tyler a dirty look when his face lit up. “Metaphorically, baby.”

“I think we should take a match to it,” he grumbled, but he let it go.

“This is a classroom, not a bedroom,” Claire said bitterly as she walked in and sneered at us as if Jensen and I were making out or something, and I forced myself to push down the anxiety.

“Guess you’re lost then. Whorehouse is at the docks,” I deadpanned, making her gasp in outrage.

“You’re one to talk. You’re fucking two people. Unless Holloway and Ty are getting in on that too? Maybe Rory’s not the only one that gets run through like a train.”

Caden laughed, shaking his head a little. “Damn, you think Luke would let me fuck him? C’mon, his standards are way higher than me. No matter how much I beg, he just won’t let me.”

“Luke’s too busy with me,” Jensen grinned, giving her a wink. “I just can’t keep my mouth off him.”

“Wait, you actually suck dick?” she asked with surprise, his grin only widening.

“Can’t be that hard if you can do it.”

“Is this a hoe contest? Because I’d win,” Tyler cackled, smacking a hand on his desk. “I haven’t sucked dick but I’ve stuck mine⁠—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Rory warned, halting him.

“My bad.”

Caden rolled his eyes, flicking a hand at Claire. “Go away or I’ll let Rory at you.”

“That’s cute. You think I’m scared of her?” she exclaimed, taking one glance at Rory before taking a step back.

Rory looked ready to strangle her, and I knew if Caden told her to go for it, she would. Thankfully, Claire saw it too and sat in her seat across the room from us without another word.