Page 52 of Brutal Prince

The bell rings, signaling the start of the next period. But nobody moves.

Fallen angel?

No…Angel Falls.

Behind me, Addison chokes. Her warmth disappears as she steps away. My mind scrambles. I thought Addison was accusing Briar of rape or something but now…? Could she honestly believe he had a hand in Jessica’s death? Why? Because she’d rat him out? He’d probably be sentenced to a year or two in juvie, if anything, and that’s if his parents didn’t throw enough money on the situation to make it disappear.

But what if he didn’t realize that at the time? Briar hasn’t exactly proven himself to be a calm, rational human being. He’s aggressive, impulsive, passionate.

What if…?

“You did it,” I whisper, disbelief dripping from each word. “You killed her.”

Briar’s smile drops away. “If you’re so convinced, then it’s best you stop tangling with me.”

He steps back, glaring at me as if to impress that last threat on my mind, and then heads for his locker.

Around me, students start moving again. A quiet hush fills the air as I make my way to my locker, by hand throbbing like I had it under too-hot water.

Briar might think he’s invincible, but I felt his heart under my palm.

It was racing.

Not with anger…but with fear.

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