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Walking out of the office with my schedule in hand, I head towards the math wing for the AP class.I don’t have a chance in hell of understanding half of what’s taught in there.I’m smart, but not like that.I’m more of a man of action, good with my hands and getting a point across.There’s a reason people steer clear of me, and it’s not because my parents named me appropriately.I’m a fighter—scrappy, I was once called—which fostered my violence, and now people hear my name and run the other way.
There’s no doubt that some of these kids know who I am.They may not recognize me yet, but they'll be sure as soon as they hear my name.Which makes me want to claim Odette in front of everyone so there’s no mistaking whose protection she is under.
Her father’s name should be enough to scare the shit out of them, but Carmine doesn’t deal with these kids, he interacts with their parents.And certainly, their parents won’t talk about their shady dealings with a bunch of kids, so it’s up to me and Holy to spread the word that the Cavanaughs aren’t soft.That there is more to fear than the old man.
Blowing out a breath as the bell rings, I enter the class and hand the teacher a piece of paper from the office.Things happened rather quickly overnight, and no one was warned I would be here until thirty minutes ago.
“Looks like we have a new student,” he begins, but I shake my head and move to the back of the class, where I see Odette sitting.Girls stare at me, lust in their eyes, while boys watch me curiously, debating if they’ll befriend me because of the way the girls are watching me or if they’ll try to challenge me.
Dragging out the chair next to her, she doesn’t look up, but her chair scoots away as I sit down, avoiding contact.With all eyes still on me except hers, I drape an arm across the back of her chair and begin playing with the ends of her blonde curls.She’s using them to try to cover the bruises on her face and neck.Unsuccessfully to someone as obsessed with her as I am.
“Don’t touch me,” she hisses, and I grin as the teacher begins writing on the board at the front.I don’t give a fuck about what he’s saying, and as is apparent, most of the students don’t either because I feel their eyes on us.Likely wondering who I am and what my interest is in the girl none of them care to know because it’s clear she hasn’t any friends in this class.
Leaning over to her, I whisper in her ear, “Are you always so rude, Odette, or am I just special?”Her head whips around to stare at me so fast, I’m surprised she doesn’t fall out of her chair.
“What are you doing here, Malice?”I register the panic in her voice, notice it in the way her eyes flit around the room to gauge who is watching us.
I don’t care about any of it.“I’m here for you, my pretty little rabbit.”Caressing her jaw with a finger, I hear a sharp intake of breath from beyond my sight.It doesn’t phase me, though.Nobody else in this room matters to me as much as Odette.Nobody else deserves my attention, either.
CHAPTER3
Odette
Sitting by myself in the alcove behind the school, I breathe for the first time all day.Malice is here.In school.And it feels like he’s following me around everywhere.I don’t know if it’s true or not, but he’s always right on my heels.
Getting away from him wasn’t easy and only happened through luck—the café supervisor wanted a word with him.I got the feeling they knew each other, and from the look on Malice’s face as I left, it wasn’t a good thing.
As soon as I had the chance, I ran.I didn’t stop for anything and disappeared out here, away from everyone.I needed the space.After yesterday, I didn’t want to return to school, but I knew I’d have to tell my father what happened, and I wanted that even less.Now, that’ll never happen.It's probably why Malice is here.To report back to him, tell him everything that’s been going on, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I only have a few more months until I graduate, then I can leave this place for good.I just don’t know what’s to follow.I haven’t applied to many colleges because I don’t know if I want to go, let alone what I want for a career, but I can’t stay here anymore.There’s so much pain, so many reminders of the life I hate.
“I saw you running.”Steve Fox’s voice chills me to the bone as he approaches.I’m sure the others won’t be far behind.“Did you miss me,Oddette?We never got to finish our evening.”Reaching forward as he kneels in front of me, his hand grasps my ankle, stopping me from jumping to my feet and running away.
Trapped.
Again.
“You need to leave me alone,” I seethe.I hate how afraid I am, how weak I feel in his presence.
“Or what?What are you going to do to me, ugly duckling?”His laughter gets cut off.
“It’s not her you need to worry about.”Malice stands behind Steve, a pocketknife pressed to his neck.“It’s me.”The muttered words feel like a punch as I see Steve’s face pale.“On your feet, big man.”
“I’m sorry,” Steve whispers, his voice cracking.
“You know who she is, don’t you?”Malice’s voice shifts from deadly to curious, but his eyes, oh, his eyes, they speak everything he is keeping inside.
“Odette Cavanaugh.”Steve says my name right for the first time since I’ve known him, which is eight years.
“Yes, but do you know who her father is?”Steve nods.“Then why, why would you torment a girl who could have you disappearing with the snap of her fingers?”
Steve’s eyes flash at me in question, and I nod.“I didn’t know she could.”
“And that makes it right?”He shakes his head.Releasing him, Malice comes to me, holding out a hand to help me to my feet.“Do you know who I am, Steve?”I watch the soccer player glance around before shaking his head no.
Malice tips my chin with the knife he’s still holding, careful not to nick my skin.I should be afraid.In this moment, I should be running scared, but my body is on fire for him, dying to know what he’ll do next.
Leaning forward, he brushes his lips across mine.Just the faintest whisper of a touch—enough to tease but not tantalize.“Tell him, little rabbit, tell him who I am.”His eyes are closed, his face looking pained.
