Page 57 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

So, apparently, he didn’t know my name but knew who I was. And has given me a nickname.

Awesome.

“Hey,” Noah starts, moving forward protectively.

“I got this,” I cut him off with a look. Then I cross my arms and mirror the auburn guy’s snotty attitude. “Northside trash, huh? So, you do know who I am. Or, at least, where I come from.” I step forward, getting in his face. “But I’m guessing you have no clue how northside works, so I will lay it down for you. Your gangly, little bitch boy ass would get beat down by the most pathetic of the north-siders, which FYI, isn’t me. I lay more in the middle, mostly because I have a mean right hook, like to carry a can of pepper spray and a Taser on me at all times, and I’ve been known to kick the hell out of guys’ balls when I get really pissed off. In fact, I kicked one guy so hard he had to have surgery, and now he’s impotent.”

His eyes darken. “You’re so full of shit.”

“Wanna test out that theory?” I challenge. “Because you’re standing in kicking range right now.” I move to lift my leg up.

He stumbles back so swiftly he bumps into one of his friends.

I bite back a laugh, and Noah covers his mouth with his hand.

Auburn hair dude turns livid but doesn’t step toward me again.

“I’m giving you an extra twenty-four hours.” He points at Noah. “If you don’t pay up, even your girlfriend won’t be able to bail you out.” With that, he reels around and storms off with his lackeys hauling after him.

Great. I have a plummeting feeling in my gut that a rumor will be whirling around school that Noah and I are dating.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Noah mutters once the guys are out of sight.

“I think you meant to say you’re welcome.” I bend down to scoop up a phone that’s lying on the ground. “Is this yours?”

He takes it from me and shoves it into his pocket. “It must’ve fallen out when I tripped over the bench.” His chest rises and falls as he huffs out a breath. “I’m so screwed.” He reaches up, drags the hood of his head, and yanks his fingers through his hair.

“Why?” I wonder, shifting my weight.

“Don’t worry about it.” He starts to walk away.

I snag a hold of the sleeve of his jacket. “You owe me an explanation because I have a feeling that what I just did is going to come back to bite me in the ass.”

His eyes search mine, and then he sighs. “I was supposed to sell them something, but I couldn’t get the merchandise.”

“What? Like steroids?”

“No,” he responds too quickly. When I lift a brow, he anxiously scratches the back of his neck. “It’s not steroids, but another type of performance drug … How did you even know it was about that?”

“Lucky guess,” I reply. “But mostly, it was because the auburn hair guy looked like a wannabe athlete.”

“That auburn-haired guy’s name is Daniel, and he may look like a wannabe athlete, but Greyson—the big dude—is on the boxing team, so Daniel could’ve had mine or your ass kicked. I think he just backed off because you’re a girl.” He pulls an apologetic face. “Sorry, that probably sounded sexist. I just meant that most guys don’t feel comfortable hitting girls.”

“You’re fine,” I assure him. “And maybe most guys around here don’t, but on northside, they do.” My mind drifts back to the night I was arrested when Drew and his friends jumped me. God knows what would’ve happened to me if the police hadn’t shown up. Then again, I was arrested, so …

“How come you came up short?” I wonder. “I mean, with the steroids? And why are you even dealing, anyway? Because I’m guessing you don’t need the money.”

He wavers, fidgeting uncomfortably, heavy reluctance flowing from him.

“You owe me,” I remind him again. “So, come on; tell me your story, bro.”

His gaze slides to mine, and his eyes are sparkling with shocked surprise. “You’re extremely pushy.”

“And you’re being extremely cagey. Which, whatever, I really don’t care. But like I said, I just put myself on the line for you, and I’d like to know why.”

He blows out a breath, his lips parting, “When I was in high school?—”

“Maddy?” River’s voice cuts through the moment as he walks toward us from the direction of where I was heading before I decided to intervene with this guy’s drama.

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