Page 53 of The Brat: Prequel

Maxim:

TWENTY-FIVE

THE FUTURE MR. VASOV

Victoria: Thank you for the flowers

Maxim: You’re welcome.

*Victoria sends picture*

Maxim: I should always make sure you have magnolias. Their coloring offsets yours

Maxim: How are you settling in?

Victoria: It’s weird. You weren’t wrong about freedom and how good it is to have your own place

Maxim: Enjoy it. When classes start, that’ll change

Victoria: Gah, classes will be easy.

Maxim: How confident you are…

Victoria: Well, I have this man who’ll kill people who hurt me. Honestly, it’s great for your self-esteem

Maxim: Should I be sad that I don’t have someone who’ll do that for me?

Victoria:

*Maxim sends picture*

Victoria: Navy is totally your color

TWENTY-SIX

WHY CAN’T I KILL THEM AGAIN?

“Who’s this?”

I stare at the picture Misha placed in front of me and try not to let my blood boil.

It’s an immediate fail.

Some ass has his hands on her. They’re dancing, she’s into it in a way that makes me want to get a private dance from her at some point in my life, and this jerk’s slimy hands covet her curves…

A boundary needs to be set.

“A Rho Epsilon Beta.”

“Another one?” I sputter. “What the hell’s she doing hanging around that fraternity so much? O’Donnelly is a goddamn brother and he’s at that frat house less than she is.”

Misha shrugs. “She’s been acting weird for most of the year.”

I can’t deny he’s right.

She attends her classes. Performs well. Mostly A+s, a few A-s that she somehow persuades her professors into As, but she’s coasting.

I know her well enough to sense that.