Page 75 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Without thinking, I scramble up the low wall. The adrenaline pumping through me puts wings on my feet, because I didn’t even know if I could get over—and then I’m landing on the other side with a slap of bare feet.

I race for the door.

Apollo drops his video camera and chases after me.

Blood sings in my ears as I grab the door handle and wrench it open.

But there’s someone blocking my way.

I bounce off Zachary’s chest and land with a pained yelp on the floor. I’m up a second later, turning around and stabbing a finger toward Cassius.

“He…he was going to—to?—”

Apollo skids to a halt, raising his hands like I’m pointing a gun.

Cassius turns to face the door, props his elbow on the cubicle wall, and rests his chin on his palm. “Christ, Zach, what took you so fucking long?”

None of the guys look like they’ve been caught assaulting a female student.

None of them even look remotely guilty.

Which means…

I turn, my eyes going wide. My heart’s about to explode in my chest.

Zachary steps into the bathroom and closes the door behind him.

Then he locks it.

Chapter 26

Zach

Whattookme so long? I came as soon as I got his fucking message. I scan the room, taking a snapshot of the situation. Trinity tries to dart past me, but I catch the back of her vest and haul her back.

That vest and a pair of white panties is all she’s wearing.

I sling an arm around her throat and put her in a lock. Not enough to choke her. Not even enough to cut off oxygen to her brain. Though I should have if I’d known how much trouble she’d be.

“This wasn’t what we agreed,” I drag Trinity forward with me despite her struggles. She sinks her nails into my arm, but even when she draws blood I barely feel it.

The ache in my wrists and ankles though? That’s another story. That shit’s been keeping me up at night. Getting high is the only thing that keeps it at bay lately.

When she starts gasping and gagging like I’m actually strangling her, I slap her ass. She yelps, whimpers, and goes still. I expect her to start bawling like a little girl, but her only response is a hitched breath.

“I told you to keep her contained until I arrived.”

Cassius waves a hand at the shower cubicle. “Container.” Then, he leans over and turns off the water. “In which she was contained up until a second ago.”

I shake my head through a long-suffering stare. “Where are the ropes and?—?”

At this, the girl lets out an indignant gasp and starts struggling again. Another smack on her ass shuts her up as abruptly as the first time. Her knees give out, but I just drag her up again.

“And the gag?”

She screams.

I haul her up against my chest and clap a hand over her mouth. No one lives on this level and the walls are thick, but we can’t risk someone hearing the commotion.

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