Page 45 of Pawn

I love Damien King.

And he loves me too.

When I get back to the academy, I’m much more relaxed than I’ve ever been in these stuffy halls. Brain-busting sex isn’t the only thing I can credit it to.

Allie and I are working on our relationship, and I’m actually getting along with Lea. Mostly. Who knew I could get this close with both of my bullies?

With Lea and I at a cease-fire, the days go by in a breeze. I don’t have to worry about missing clothes during swim class and I can let my guard down without worry of walking right into another prank.

That makes it easy for Willow to come around now that her sister isn’t a complete outcast. She hasn’t asked about Marion and I feel like she’s starting to get over it. With the new high I’m on, Marion’s death is finally starting to feel like a thing of the past.

“Hey, Jo!” Pixie is by my locker when I get there on a Wednesday morning. A few of Lea’s minions stand behind her. They’re not in their usual headbands and sparkly belts. This time they’re all in leather jackets and combat boots.

“Uh, hey?” I raise an eyebrow, scooting by her to unlock my combination. She stands there watching me bright-eyed with half of her head pinned back. An imitation side-shave. “What the fuck?” I mutter to myself, hiding my face with the wooden door. She doesn’t move. So I whip the door closed when I have my books in my hand. Pixie takes a step back when I finally ask, “Okay, what is it? I thought we were cool.”

“Oh, we are!” she reassures before she holds out her hands like she wants me to lay my books on them. “We’re here to escort you to class.”

“What? Why?” Holding my books to my chest I look between the girls, all with eager smiles on their faces. What is happening? “Don’t you have to shine Lea’s shoes or something now that she’s back?”

Lea hasn’t spoken to her parents since she’s come back but Damien worked his magic to get Lea in to finish her last semester with Allie. Luckily for Nate, he’s been too busy with Carlos and university tours to care.

“No,” she scoffs. “Ever since she and Allie got together, all they do is each other.” She straightens her posture, black polish on her nails. They’re really going for this grunge thing. Wait, is that how I look? I eye her doubled knee-high socks. “So, we’ve come to you! It’s better since you’re the one who’s actually dating King and all. Is it true he said he loves you?” She flutters her lashes like she’s waiting for me to say something. Anything.

“I … gotta go,” I say, shuffling around her.

“See you after class!” she calls. “I’ll bring you a black coffee!”

I’m halfway down the hall, dodging around a corner when I bump into something hard.

“Jo Rowland?”

I don’t even have time to wonder why Pixie knows how I like my coffee because who the fuck is this guy? He’s dressed in our uniform but he looks older with the broad body of a college quarterback.

“Uh, no?” I finally answer.

He flips out his phone, looking at it then flicking those dark eyes to me. “I’ll be escorting you to class from here on out as per request by Mister Damien King.”

What? “Listen, I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sure you can.” He checks the watch on his beige wrist. “Two minutes until Biology. I’ll be right behind you.” His smile flashes before it’s gone as quickly and when I start moving, he’s right on my ass.

Damien gets a text from me right away.

Jo: A bodyguard? Really?

Does everyone here all of a sudden think I can’t take care of myself?

He’s quick to fire back.

Damien: Go to class, Rowland.

I’m about to call Damien and ask him what the fuck he thinks he’s doing but the bell rings and I’m behind on my class as it is. I keep my head down all the way to the door, Bigs, that’s my name for him, following behind me.

“You can’t even be here,” I whisper to him over my shoulder.

“I’m authorized to be here,” he responds.

Fucking Damien.

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