Breaking You (Blackthorn Elite 2)

Once upon a time, he had protected me from them. Staring straight ahead, I’m hit right in the chest with a memory from when he was my savior, my all…

How is it that I’d much rather have things thrown at me than be called names? At least, I could clean my clothes, my skin. But words, those couldn’t be washed away. They sunk deep into a person’s heart.

“Where did you get those shoes, fatty? Goodwill?” Tanya one of my least favorite people ever taunts as I walk into the lunchroom. I can feel her evil eyes against my skin. Without Warren, as my shield, I’m nothing more than a target for everyone’s hate. I don’t do anything to draw their attention, and I learned a long time ago, there isn’t any point in fighting back. I’m a maid’s daughter, in a school full of rich assholes.

Keeping my eyes trained on the floor, I make it through the line with my tray of food in hand. Warren was supposed to meet me for lunch, but he’s late, so I guess I’ll just sit by myself. Peeking up through my lashes, I survey the room. There are students everywhere, which makes me feel a little anxious. I hate being in crowds. Deciding that maybe eating in the bathroom is my best bet, I make a beeline for the double doors that lead out into the hall.

Walking, I keep my eyes trained on my steps, and not on what’s going on around me, which is most definitely why I don’t notice Griffin until it’s too late. The asshole jock slams into me, sending my tray filled with my lunch right into my chest.

“Ooopssss,” he snickers, taking a step back. I don’t dare look at my shirt because if I do, I know I’ll start crying.

“Wrong move, prick,” Warren’s voice comes out of nowhere, and when I look past Griffin’s stocky frame, I spot him. My savior, my white knight. I can breathe a little better, my lungs fill with air at the sight of him. Running across the space separating us, with his fist clenched and his face a mask of fury, he truly does look like a knight. A knight who is about to save his princess…

That wasn’t the first time Warren ever hit someone for hurting me. There were many times before that, and after, that he defended my honor. Blinking away the memory, I remind myself that Warren isn’t that boy anymore. The one that beat the crap out of a guy for making me wear my lunch.

Lost in thought, I realize how close to my apartment I am. As I walk the rest of the way, this eerie feeling creeps up my spine, the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Someone is watching me. Whirling around, my gaze darts over every little thing. The lights in this area are dim and fewer than a couple blocks back, making it difficult to see. Anyone could be hiding in the shadows, though it’s probably just Warren following me home, trying to get the upper hand and scare me.

Shaking the feeling away, I hurry the rest of the way to the apartment, picking up speed with each step I take. I’m only a block away when it happens.

Out of nowhere, someone grabs me from behind. With his hands clawing at my upper arms, he drags me into the alley next to my apartment complex. A shrill, piercing scream rips from my lungs, but I might as well do nothing because, in this neighborhood, you can shoot guns, and no one cares.

Panic grips me by the neck and squeezes tightly as my attacker spins me around and pushes me against the cold brick wall. It’s dark, and I’m disoriented, my vision blurry with tears. Frantically, I flail my arms around, trying to get this guy away from me.

This is bad. This is so bad. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die in a horrible way.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Warren’s deep voice wraps around my throat, just as he gets a hold of my wrists, halting my movements.

Sucking in a shaky breath, realization sets in…Warren. This is Warren. Even though he has been an ass to me, especially today. I can’t help but feel relieved to see him. He was my protector for so long, it’s hard not to feel safe with him, no matter how he is acting toward me now.

“Jesus, you scared the shit out of me!” I sob. I hate that I’m crying, but I really thought I was gonna die in this alley. I need to move, find somewhere safer to stay, but I can’t afford anything else right now.

“Why the fuck are you here?” His voice is deep, rough, and with his hands still on my arms, I can feel his touch burning through my thin jacket.