The Risk (Kings of Linwood Academy 3)

Yeah. He did.

And maybe that means he’ll actually listen to what I have to say.

A few minutes later, we pull up outside River’s house. He slips into the back with Chase, and I turn around to fill him in on my phone call with Dunagan. He listens intently and nods when I finish, seeming to agree with the other two that it’s about the best we could’ve hoped for.

Lincoln is waiting for us outside Linwood’s front doors when we arrive. By the way he straightens as we approach, I know he’s anxious to hear about the call too.

I repeat the story for him as we make our way through the halls, keeping my voice low, and when I finish, he leans down to press a kiss to my temple. It shocked me the first time he kissed me at school, but since then, all the guys have become more openly affectionate in public. Every time something like that happens, we draw stares from some people and glares from others, but I’m trying to ignore both.

“So now we just have to get through the week,” I say with an exhausted laugh as we reach my locker. “Maybe I’ll actually do my homework for once.”

Linc gazes down at me, gripping my chin li

ghtly between his thumb and fingers. “You’re an amazing girl, Harlow Thomas.”

When he looks at me like this, it’s hard to remember that he ever looked at me any other way. That there was a time when we both disliked each other intensely, fighting against the attraction that pulled us together even then. When he looks at me like this, it’s hard to imagine my life without him.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Lincoln Black.”

The right side of his mouth lifts in a lopsided smile, and he drops a kiss to my lips. The other kings all kiss me before they head to class too, and I do my best to return the soft press of their lips without making it obvious that I’m hyperventilating.

That’s another first.

And I can tell it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Quiet whispers ebb and swell around me as I pass, but I steadfastly ignore them, marching into Political Science as if nothing at all is out of the ordinary.

I do my best to focus on the lecture. My grades have been slipping this semester, and I should really try to catch up. But between the call with Dunagan and the kisses floating around in my mind, there’s just no way Mr. Becker’s droning voice can hold my interest.

I’m heading toward my second class of the day, Biology, when someone grabs my backpack and hauls me backward. I dig my feet into the floor, but before I can regain my balance, I’m pulled through a door into a first-floor stairwell.

Savannah shoves me away from her, dusting off her hands as if they need to be cleaned after touching me.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I growl.

Okay, fine, I pulled the same move on her a week ago, but I had a damn good reason. I’m sure she doesn’t.

She smiles, and there’s something both vengeful and self-satisfied in it that makes my stomach clench.

“Oh, I just wanted to let you know I’m planning on keeping my word,” she tells me in a falsely sweet voice.

“Your word about what?” I bite out.

“About getting you back.” She smiles cruelly. “I mean, I could consider the fact that your mom’s going to be convicted of murder to be enough, but it really isn’t.”

The dig at my mom stings, twisting a knife that seems to be permanently lodged in my heart these days.

“Do whatever you want, Savannah,” I say curtly, tired of dealing with her and her petty bullshit. “But if you come after me, I’ll just tell the cheer squad everything I know about you. I’m sure the whole school will hear about it pretty quick after that.”

Instead of fading, her smile only grows wider.

What the hell?

“No, you stupid skank.” Triumph gleams in her eyes. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. You won’t do that.” She holds up her hand to stop me before I can speak. “Because if you do, I’ll make sure everyone at Linwood finds out about Samuel Black and his little baby momma. About the fact that his wife is leaving him because he knocked up the fucking maid.”

That stops me.

I stare at her for several longs seconds, absorbing her words and the full meaning behind them.