“Yeah,” he snaps. “Thought I did, too, Tor.”
“Mike—”
“Stop.” He cuts me off as he glares across the field.
I eye him, and after a moment, he swings an easy grin my way. “I just... wanted to see you.”
It settles something inside me.
I run my fingers along his jaw, only to snatch the cigarette from his mouth to lighten the mood.
It works, he chuckles, a shred of light coming back into his eyes, but as quickly as the atmosphere shifts, it shifts again.
The cigarette is slapped to the ground.
My head snaps to the right, and I squint as the sun meets my eyes, only for a heavy shadow to block it a moment later.
Captain stands there, face blank, but that’s not what has me slowly rising to my feet.
His fingers begin to disappear into his pocket.
“Cap—” I cut off as his chin lifts, his hand now at his side, brass knuckles already on and firmly in place.
“Get out of here.” Captain’s eyes slowly lift over my head, locking onto Mike as he adds, “Now.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
Captain’s glare slices back to mine, and at first, annoyance flares, but then it’s gone and a mocking glint takes its place.
“What, you thought he was brave enough to try and sneak his way to you?” A taunting laugh leaves him. “Come on, Tor, I thought you knew more about this place than that, clearly he does.”
I whip around, looking at Mike.
He approached them?
When?
Where?
Shit.
I shake my head, and he shrugs, anger making the movement stiff.
“You know how it goes.” Something flickers across Mike’s face but it’s gone just as quick. “Bray Girls are off limits.”
And I’ve been deemed one.
Mike licks his lips, stretching to his full height. “The price is worth it,” he dares, shifting closer.
Captain understands what he’s saying, sees his challenge, and moves an inch in as well.
He narrows his eyes on me, and while I shouldn’t, I can’t resist using this moment in my favor, to bate him, wishing he’d bite as hard as he’s able.
“What all did they give you permission to do?”
Captain’s jaw flexes and he slides forward right as a gargled sound leaves Mike.
I whip around to find a long, tatted arm wrapped around his neck.
Royce grins, tightening his grip as he kicks Mike’s feet from under him, causing him to fall to his knees. “Hiya, VicVee, doin’ stupid shit again, I see.”
Suddenly, I’m gripped around the thighs, my body lifted into the air and I yelp, trying to reach for something to hold on to, but the move has me almost falling forward, so I lock my knees straight and growl, hoping not to fall flat on my face as Captain takes the bleachers two at a time.
“Is this necessary?”
“Shut up, Victoria.”
I’m passed off, now stuck in Maddoc’s hold like a child as Raven laughs near his side.
I flip her off, making her laugh even harder, quickly looking toward Captain as he rushes back where Mike is being held in place by Royce.
Not that he tried to fight free.
Not that he’d get free.
I relax, and Maddoc allows my feet to hit the ground, but spins me so my arms are wrapped around myself, wrists in each of his hands at my sides.
“Nice to be on this side of the grab and go game for once.” Raven grins, sipping on her coffee.
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes and she smiles wider, quickly jolting back as Captain appears again.
I expect him to pause in front of me, yell and scream, but he doesn’t.
He dips, lifting me from the front this time, leaving me no choice but to wrap my legs around him or be a pencil in his arms.
With angry, jerky movements, he carries me across the grass, past the cement and doesn’t pause for a second until we’re entering the side building that leads to the media rooms in the school.
Once inside, his arms fall, and I’m dropped to my feet.
I stumble backward, forced to use the desk to catch my fall, but shove off as quick as I hit it.
“Why the fuck is he so interested in you?”
“Why the hell would you give someone permission to come to me if you didn’t want them to?”
“I’m asking the questions,” he booms.
“Oh,” I mock like an asshole. “All of a sudden you’re about asking what you want to know?”
“God damn it,” he growls.
He grips me and tugs me close, our body’s now flush and heated for more reasons than one.
His heavy glare falls to my lips, his hand flying up in the same second to grip the back of my neck. He drives me backward until my spine meets the cooled wall, but before either of us can speak another word or give in to the heavy, desire-coated tension we’re falling headfirst into, a tearful shriek fills the air and we freeze.