Page 46 of Heirs of Havoc

He grins that grin right at me. “Happy to be here.”

“No!” The word blurts out of my mouth. This was all thought out. All planned out. And I don’t know what the outcome of all this will be, but I don’t want to stick around to find out. “I have to drop out.” Relief should hit my chest when the words come out, but my lungs feel like they’re caving in.

“You what?” McQueen and Dom ask the same question in unison.

“Why would you need to do that?” McQueen takes over the inquisition, his brows knitting. “I know things have been rocky for you, but according to Cyrus, your grades are topnotch.”

That doesn’t sound right. With all that’s happened, I’ve missed classes, tests, and assignments. There’s no way I’m staying afloat.

“He’s right,” Dom chimes in. Or Cyrus. “Took the time to go over everything this morning and Mia, right?” My jaw tightens and I hate the way he’s looking at me, like he’s not holding me hostage. “You’re a good girl.” My stomach twists. “Straight-As.”

“Brilliant!” McQueen claps. “See, Mia, you don’t have to go home.” And now I wish I never begged to stay here. “I promise, things are changing. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Not a thing,” Dom echoes, his eyes dropping to my blouse.

What the hell is he planning next?

McQueen smiles between us, completely oblivious to the lies swirling through the air. “Enjoy your class, Miss Marshall.”

Dom chuckles, "Oh, she will."

Chapter Eighteen

Am I really expected to focus on class, on anything, with Dom as my new TA?

What’s his game plan?

Like Dom, this place is a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode with me in it.

Telling Dean McQueen I’m on my period got me out of my first class with Dom, but I can’t use that excuse forever. I’ll need to think of a plan. But now that I’m out of class, I kind of wish I wasn’t.

Eyes are on me everywhere I go. The halls. The cafeteria. The energy on this campus is so much worse than when I got here, and I don’t know if I’ll survive.

“So where are the hotties?” Chaya’s voice startles me on the way to the campus cafe, my steps coming to a halt as my muscles tighten. My eyes widen, my heartbeat racing, my skin balmy. I’m tired but it’s clear I don’t need coffee with my body this on edge. “Woah, you okay?”

“Stay away from them, Chaya.” My firm words surprise me. Turning around, they surprise Chaya too with the way her brows raise. I’m definitely cranky from, well, everything. “They’re trouble.”

“The twins?” She fixes the black beret over her hair. “Why? So you can have them all to yourself?”

“Chaya,” I groan at her teasing. “Stay away. Really.” My roommate getting involved in all this will only complicate things. “Trust me.”

“I kinda don’t.” Chaya’s brown eyes wander my tired face. “Trust you, that is.”

“What do you mean?”

“You like them, don’t you?”

“No!” A pang hits my chest. Hard. “And just because I won’t freely give their junk to you on a golden platter, doesn’t mean I do.”

Chaya’s head jerks back, her eyes narrowing like she’s trying to figure me out. “You don’t get a say whose junk I enjoy, Mia.”

“Stay. Away.” My hands turn to fists, my eyes scanning behind her to make sure they’re nowhere in sight.

“What’s wrong with you? I’ve done nothing but have your back, and you’re being super mean right now. Over some ass?”

“Not everything’s about ass.” She wouldn’t understand what I’m going through if I told her.

“And not everything is about you.” Her words sting, and hell, this escalated. “But if you wanna keep it that way, then I’ll keep it moving.” She nudges me as she walks by.

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