Page 6 of All The Pretty Little Lies

“What’s wrong?”

“We need to get home,” he growls under his breath. He tries to cut down the side hallways, but it’s just as crowded as the main hallway. “Fuck,” he snarls. He tries another one, but it too is blocked with a throng of students gathering their belongings to head home for the weekend.

“Where are you going, Rossi? I hope you don’t think our little one on one this morning was the end of the conversation.” I peer away from my brother and notice that Oscar and Zaire are waiting ahead of us with two other guys with them. On one side stood Talon St. James, known as the golden boy of our school and the bastard son of the leader of the British mob. His perfectly styled brown hair was pulled back into a man bun at the crown of his head. To his right stood Alexander Rafnar, a recent transfer from Iceland and member of one of Europe's biggest drug smuggling families. While the Petrov twins and Talon exuded effortless confidence and tanned skin worthy of Gods, Alexander’s pale blonde hair, lean frame, and towering height set him apart like a beacon amongst darkness.

“If shit goes south, I want you to run to the car and call Father.”

“Wait, why would it go south?”

“Just listen to me, Vesper. Run and call Father. Do you understand me?”

Luca pushes me behind him, his stance defensive and strong. I can see the tension in his muscles as he prepares for whatever may come next. His action must be amusing to them because Talon laughs aloud at Luca’s reaction.

"Little Luca playing protector for his sister. Remind me, that’s our job, isn’t it, brother?" Oscar sneers. He stands with his arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips and daggers in his gaze as he stares down Luca and me.

“Yes, it is.” Zaire steps forward, a sinister glint in his eye. "It's cute that you think you can keep her safe from us. Adorable, really, considering in what, six days, she’ll be a Petrov, too."

A surge of fear rushes through me as I stand behind Luca. The tension between our two groups crackles like electricity on a stormy night, the air thick with hostility. Luca stands tall and unwavering, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing with determination. “She’ll be a Petrov over my dead body,” he growls, his voice low and dangerous. His words are a promise of protection, and I can feel shivers run down my spine at the strength in his stance.

Zaire sneers and examines his nails with a smug smile, goading Luca further. “That can be arranged,” he taunts. “The world could use one less Rossi.” His words hit Luca like a slap in the face, stoking the fire of anger within him.

Luca's fists clench tightly at his sides as he locks eyes with Zaire, their gazes filled with silent defiance. A tense energy radiates from both of them, threatening to erupt into chaos at any moment. But instead of backing down, Zaire only laughs cruelly, his arrogance fueling Luca's temper. The hallway walls seem to tremble with the force of their animosity.

"What are you going to do, Luca? Cry for mommy and daddy to come save you?" Zaire taunts, dripping with scorn. “Not even your father would be stupid enough to let this kind of alliance slip through his fingers because his heir objected.”

“There’s always another heir to take your place,” Talon chimes in. “Oh, wait. I guess there isn’t in your case.”

“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, Talon? How many bastards has your father sired?” my brother fires back.

“You say that I should care about being his heir. I'm not daft enough to want the title. You, on the other hand, relish it. That title defines your very existence. Without it, you’d be nothing more than a low-level lackey for your father. A role that would suit you better now that I think about it.”

My heart races in my chest as I frantically plead with Luca to halt, but it's already too late. With a guttural snarl, he charges at Zaire, his body tense and ready to attack like a predator stalking its prey. Zaire's eyes widen in surprise at Luca, but he quickly regains his composure, his own stance shifting into one of deadly readiness.

The sound of their fists colliding echoing through the now silent hallway of other students. Zaire's eyes narrow in determination, his stance firm as he meets Luca head-on, each blow exchanged with a ferocity that sends shivers down my spine.

“Luca!” I bellow out, but he doesn’t hear me.

I watch in horror as Luca fights with all the pent-up rage and frustration he has carried for so long, his muscles strain with every powerful strike he delivers. Zaire, no stranger to combat, matches him blow for blow, his face a mask of grim determination as he defends himself against Luca's relentless onslaught.

"Run, Vesper!" Luca's voice cuts through the chaos of battle, his words a desperate plea that tug at my heart. But I am rooted to the spot, unable to tear my gaze away from the brutal spectacle unfolding before me.

Zaire stumbles back after taking a punch from Luca, blood trickling down his face from a split lip. He wipes it away casually, flashing a twisted grin that sends chills down my spine. He seems almost feral, driven by a primal urge to dominate and destroy.

“Didn’t know you had that in you, Rossi,” he taunts my brother, which only enrages him further. “Figured your sister would have more of a right hook than you would.”

Luca charges toward Zaire again. His attention is so focused on him that he doesn’t notice Alexander moving behind him.”

“Luca!” I bellow. “Watch out!”

Luca swings wide and falls back against Alex. Both tumbling back in my direction. Suddenly, a hand reaches out and grasps mine, pulling me away from the chaos. I turn to see Oscar, his face a mask of determination as he yanks me out of harm's way.

“Delivering damaged goods is not on my death wish list, solnishko. I’m not taking shit for you getting banged up for being too close to a fight.”

“Let go of me. I have to help my brother.”

Oscar's grip tightens on my arm, his eyes pleading with mine. “Can’t do that, solnishko. It’s better for us both if you’re away from the fray. Well, better for me.”

“I’m not going to leave my brother like that.”

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