Page 76 of Brutal Prince

When I look up, Marcus is gone.

Addy steps closer and leans in. “What the fuck was that about?”

“Briar pulling my fucking hair again,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. I grab a bunch of the roses, sniff at the offending piece of underwear sitting in my locker, and slam closed the door. “Catch you later, Addy. Gotta trim my roses.”

* * *

Briar

Fuck,I’m tired. Marcus and I stayed up until two in the morning playing video games, drinking, and smoking weed. And when I finally did get into bed, I spent another hour thinking up kick-ass pranks for my little virgin. I’ve already been in homeroom ten minutes, and I’m about to put my head down and take a nap when I hear someone nearby murmur, “There she is.”

Indi storms inside the classroom, faltering when she sees me in the far corner. She purses her lips like she’s bitten into sour candy and flings herself down in her usual seat close to the door.

I allow myself a grim smile, but it doesn’t last long. I’d thought she’d been sobbing in the bathrooms, but she just looks angry. That prank was legit — she should be a blubbering mess — but that’s not how Indi fucking Virgo rolls, is it?

My phone vibrates with a new message. I sigh and take it out of my pocket as Ms. Parsons starts going through the day’s announcements.

Leave Indi alone.

I frown at the message, and then at the strange number. Who the hell sent this? When I look up, my eyes latch onto Indi. She’s glaring at me.

Was it…?

I’ve known her less than a week, but she’s not the type to threaten me with a message. She’d rather get up in my face and say something, like she did in the hall this morning.

She’s either really brave, or very stupid. And I have a feeling she’s more than just a pair of tits on legs.

I type out a quick reply, and immediately look up.

Who is this?

Indi doesn’t move, but a second later I get another message.

I have proof.

My skin prickles.

Addison Green. It’s the only thing that makes sense. But she doesn’t have jack shit. Marcus took care of everything. And even if she did, she’d never have waited until now to use it. She’d have shown it to the police, and I’d be in jail right now.

What if she did show it to them? What if they found it inconclusive…or my father called in a favor?

Addy must have gotten herself a new number; I’d blocked her old one months ago after the hundredth message and threatening voice mail.

Crazy bitch.

Why the fuck is she dragging this all out into the open again? Is it because of Indi? Did she…?

I look up and lock eyes with Indi. She’d been staring at me with a soft frown on her face, no doubt trying to figure out why I look so fucking pissed off.

I draw a huge breath, and slowly let it out. Then I get up and walk over to her, ignoring how Ms. Parson’s stops talking mid-sentence, and take the seat behind Indi’s desk.

Ms. Parson’s doesn’t pause for long — she starts yammering on about something happening at assembly on Friday — but Indi’s acting like I’m a viper that just slithered up to her and now she’s too scared to run in case I lash out and bite her.

I lean in, my elbows on the desk and my fingers laced. “How much did you tell her?”

Indi’s sitting in her seat at an angle, and turns her head just enough to catch me from the corner of her eye. “What?”

“Stop playing dumb. Did you tell Addy about us?” I’m gripping my hands so hard, my fingers are starting to tingle from lack of blood.

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